By Ben Trapskin
Yawnder founder · firsthand showroom evaluation · no lab score
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commission if you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps support our research and testing. Our reviews remain unbiased regardless of affiliate partnerships.
Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid
Bear's top hybrid: Celliant cover, copper memory foam, microcoils and a five-zone core
Ben Trapskin has evaluated this model in person at Yawnder. No controlled lab score or overnight sleep-test result is claimed.
Queen price on record
Warranty
Limited lifetime warranty
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping
Free shipping; ships in 5–8 business days
Height
13.5 inches
Our verdict
The Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid sits above the Elite Hybrid in Bear's line-up, and the differences are specific: an adaptive microcoil comfort layer and the CoolForce cooling layer included as standard rather than as an upgrade. It is 13.5 inches tall with a quilted Celliant infrared cover, copper-infused memory foam, microcoils, transition foams and an 8-inch five-zone coil core with reinforced edges. It comes in Soft, Medium and Firm, so unlike most luxury hybrids you choose the feel.
Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid Photos
Verdict & testing evidence
Hands-On Evaluation- Evidence type
- Hands-On Evaluation
- In-person experience
- Ben Trapskin · Yawnder showroom
- Published firmness
- 6.5/10 in our product record (not a lab result)
- Lab performance data
- No documented lab measurements
Product-gallery photos and manufacturer specifications are not independent test measurements. We do not assign numerical cooling, motion, pressure or durability scores without documented evidence.Editorial policy.
Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid Overview
The Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid is a 13.5-inch luxury hybrid at $1,977 queen in Soft, Medium or Firm: quilted Celliant infrared cover, CoolForce cooling layer included, copper-infused memory foam, a microcoil comfort layer and an 8-inch five-zone coil core with reinforced edges. 120-night trial and a limited lifetime warranty.
Firsthand mattress experience
Ben Trapskin has personally evaluated this model in person through his mattress retail work. Ben also owns Yawnder, a mattress retailer. These personal observations are distinct from Sleep Sage's research assessments and instrumented laboratory tests. In-person familiarity does not establish overnight home testing or measured performance results.
Sleep Sage may earn commissions from qualifying purchases. Disclosure · Our methodology
Our Hands-On Experience
Bear now sells two beds with almost the same name, and the difference is narrow enough to matter at checkout. Bear's own description is that the Elite Ultra builds on the Elite Hybrid with a responsive microcoil comfort layer and the CoolForce layer included as standard rather than as a paid upgrade. Everything else — the Celliant cover, the copper-infused memory foam, the five-zone coil core — is shared DNA.
The firmness choice is the reason to look here first. Soft, Medium and Firm all cost the same, which is unusual in this price bracket and makes the Elite Ultra one of the few luxury hybrids you can match to your weight and position rather than hoping a single medium suits you.
On cooling, we repeat Bear's own framing and nothing more: the brand cites third-party testing comparing a mattress with the CoolForce layer against the same mattress without it. That is a claim about the layer, not a SleepSage measurement of this bed, and we have not run it through our thermal protocol.
At $1,977 queen, the honest question is whether the microcoil layer and the included cooling layer are worth the gap over the standard Elite Hybrid. If you sleep hot or want that extra lift under the shoulders, yes. If not, the cheaper Elite Hybrid gets you the same coil core and zoning.
Performance assessment
How we score (1–10 rubric) →Firsthand in-person showroom evaluation, without a completed instrumented lab protocol. We do not publish quantitative Sleep Sage lab scores for this model. We do not publish cooling, motion-isolation, edge-support, pressure-relief, response, durability or off-gassing scores for the Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid until the full protocol is complete. Everything below — construction, materials, firmness, pricing, trial and warranty — is verified specification and editorial analysis.
Showroom evaluated — lab score unavailable
Our team has physically evaluated the Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid, but it has not gone through the instrumented protocol — pressure mapping, thermal imaging, motion transfer and edge-deflection loading. Rather than publish estimated numbers, we leave this table empty and publish no Sleep Sage performance scores until the measurements exist.
Firmness Level
Medium (6.5/10)
What We Love
- Three firmness options (Soft, Medium, Firm) at the same price
- Microcoil comfort layer adds lift and easier movement than foam alone
- CoolForce cooling layer included as standard on this model
- Five-zone coil core with reinforced edge coils
- Limited lifetime warranty and GREENGUARD Gold certified
What Could Be Better
- $1,977 queen at current pricing — a real step up from the Elite Hybrid
- 120-night trial rather than a full year
- Celliant cover claims relate to the fabric technology, not to this mattress's own testing
- Around 115 lb in queen — awkward to move alone
Best For
- Sleepers who want to pick their own firmness in a premium hybrid
- Hot sleepers who want cooling built into the comfort layers
- Back and combination sleepers who want zoned lumbar support
- Active sleepers who want an easy-to-move-on, responsive surface
Not Ideal For
- Shoppers who want the longest possible trial period
- Anyone happy with the standard Elite Hybrid — the Ultra's additions are incremental
- Buyers looking for a sub-$1,500 hybrid
Mattress Construction
Quilted Celliant infrared cover
Cover fabric woven with Celliant fibres, which Bear describes as converting body heat into infrared energy.
Cooling quilt foam with CoolForce layer
Quilted comfort foam with Bear's CoolForce cooling layer included on this model.
Copper-infused memory foam
Contouring memory foam infused with copper for its cooling effect.
Microcoils
A compact layer of individually wrapped steel coils that adds lift and pressure relief.
Responsive comfort foam
An extra comfort layer aimed at deeper pressure relief and easier repositioning.
Dynamic transition foam
Joins the comfort system to the support core so the transition is not abrupt.
Zoned Ascension coils (8")
An 8-inch individually wrapped coil core with five targeted support zones and reinforced edge coils.
DuraDense base foam
High-density foundation foam beneath the coil unit.
Sleep Position Analysis
Side Sleepers
At 6.5/10 firmness, the Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid may be worth trying for side sleepers who prefer a medium surface. Body shape, shoulder width and individual preferences can change how the same mattress feels.
Back Sleepers
The Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid's listed firmness of 6.5/10 may suit back sleepers seeking a medium-to-firm surface. Spinal alignment and hip support have not been objectively measured for this model unless documented test results appear above.
Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleepers generally need sufficient hip support. At the published firmness of 6.5/10, the Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid may suit some stomach sleepers, but a medium pillow-top model may be too soft for others. We have not recorded instrumented hip-sinkage or alignment measurements for this model.
Combination Sleepers
The Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid's hybrid construction provides responsive support that may make changing positions easier than with some slow-response all-foam designs. Pocketed coils can add responsiveness, but ease of movement varies with the comfort layers and the sleeper.
Which Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid Model Should You Buy?
Bear now sells two closely named flagship hybrids, plus a natural and a value line. Queen pricing below is Bear's current sale price against its list price at verification.
| Model | Firmness | Best for | Queen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elite Ultra Hybrid | Soft, Medium or Firm | Buyers who want a premium hybrid tuned to their own firmnessThis review. 13.5", Celliant cover, copper memory foam, microcoils, five-zone coil core, CoolForce included. | $1,977 |
| Elite Hybrid | Soft, Medium or Firm | The same platform without the microcoil layerBear states the Ultra builds on this bed with the microcoil comfort layer and CoolForce included as standard. | Lower tier |
| Bear Natural | Medium | Natural-materials shoppersLatex and natural fibres rather than copper foam and Celliant. | Mid tier |
| Bear Cub | Medium | Kids' rooms and guest bedsThe value bed in the range. | Entry tier |
Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid Prices by Size
Bear queen pricing read from bearmattress.com on 15 September 2026. Bear discounts heavily and near-continuously, so the sale price is the realistic figure.
| Size | Dimensions | List price | Typical sale price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queen | 60" x 80" x 13.5" | $3,041 | $1,977 |
Prices were read from the brand's own site when this review was last updated and change with promotions, so confirm the price at checkout. See our current mattress deals hub for live discounts.
Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid vs. the Alternatives
Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid vs. Bear Elite Hybrid
$1,290 queenChoose the Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid if: You want the microcoil comfort layer and CoolForce cooling included.
Choose the Bear Elite Hybrid if: You want the same coil core and zoning for less and do not sleep especially hot.
Read the full Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid vs. Bear Elite Hybrid comparison →Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid vs. Helix Midnight Elite
$3,278 queenChoose the Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid if: You want three firmness options and a lower price.
Choose the Helix Midnight Elite if: You want the deepest comfort system and the most cooling technology available.
Read the full Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid vs. Helix Midnight Elite comparison →Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid vs. Leesa Legend Chill Hybrid
$2,059 queenChoose the Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid if: You want to choose your firmness.
Choose the Leesa Legend Chill Hybrid if: You want dual spring systems and plant-based foams in a single medium feel.
Read the full Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid vs. Leesa Legend Chill Hybrid comparison →Elite Hybrid or Elite Ultra Hybrid?
Bear's own comparison is the clearest statement available: the Elite Ultra builds on the Elite Hybrid with a responsive microcoil comfort layer and the CoolForce layer included as standard. Everything else in the stack — the quilted Celliant infrared cover, copper-infused memory foam, transition foams and the 8-inch five-zone Ascension coil core with reinforced edges — is common to both.
So the question is narrow: do you want a coil layer in the comfort system, and do you want the cooling layer without paying for an upgrade? If you sleep hot or like a surface with lift rather than sink, the Ultra earns the gap. If not, the Elite Hybrid gives you the same support core.
Three firmnesses at one price
Soft, Medium and Firm all cost the same, which is rare above $1,500. It also changes how you should shop: rather than reading a single firmness rating and guessing, match the option to your weight and position. Side sleepers and lighter sleepers generally do better on Soft or Medium; back and stomach sleepers, and most sleepers over about 230 lb, do better on Medium or Firm.
Because the comfort system is the same across the three, the differences are in surface feel rather than in support structure — the zoned coil core and reinforced edges are identical whichever you choose.
Celliant, copper and CoolForce — what is actually claimed
The cover is woven with Celliant fibres, which Bear describes as converting body heat into infrared energy. Copper is used in the memory foam for its cooling effect. CoolForce is a separate cooling layer, and Bear cites third-party testing that compared a mattress with the layer against the same mattress without it.
Those are the manufacturer's claims about materials and about that comparison. They are not SleepSage measurements of this bed, and we do not restate them as physiological or recovery outcomes. This review is a research evaluation of published construction, specifications, policies and available owner feedback.
Support, zoning and edges
The support core is an 8-inch pocketed coil unit with five targeted zones and reinforced edge coils. Zoning means the coils under the hips are built to resist compression more than those under the shoulders, which is the standard construction answer to hips sinking out of alignment on a back sleeper.
Reinforced edge coils do the same job at the perimeter: they keep the usable sleeping surface out to the border and stop the edge collapsing when you sit on it.
Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid Buyer Questions
What People Cross-Shop Against the Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid
The five beds closest to the Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid on price, firmness and build in our catalog — and the one thing each does differently. These are research evaluations, so no numeric ratings are shown (why).
WinkBed is a nearby alternative by price, firmness and construction. Compare the verified specifications, policies and evaluation method before choosing.
Leesa Legend Chill Hybrid is a nearby alternative by price, firmness and construction. Compare the verified specifications, policies and evaluation method before choosing.
Saatva HD is a nearby alternative by price, firmness and construction. Compare the verified specifications, policies and evaluation method before choosing.
Brooklyn Bedding ThermoBalance Elite is a nearby alternative by price, firmness and construction. Compare the verified specifications, policies and evaluation method before choosing.
King Koil PureBliss is a nearby alternative by price, firmness and construction. Compare the verified specifications, policies and evaluation method before choosing.
Want a different pairing? Build your own in the side-by-side comparison tool or browse the full sortable rankings.
Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid Estimated Sale Pricing
Queen pricing. List price $3,041, currently advertised at $1,977 (35% off).
Pricing note: These estimates are based on current MSRP and common manufacturer promotions. They are not recorded historical prices for this exact mattress.
Worth waiting if you can. Estimated Black Friday range for the Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid: $1,675–$2,130 around Black Friday (Mid-late November), roughly $302 below today's price. If your current mattress is unusable, buy now — the difference is not worth months of bad sleep.
| Estimated sale event | Window | Typical off list | Estimated queen price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presidents' Day | Mid-February | 20–35% | $1,975–$2,435 | First real sale of the year. Good depth, thin inventory on new models. |
| Memorial Day | Late May | 25–40% | $1,825–$2,280 | One of the two deepest events of the year and the best spring window. |
| Fourth of July | Late June – July 4 | 20–35% | $1,975–$2,435 | Similar depth to Presidents' Day, usually with better bedding bundles. |
| Labor Day | Late August – early September | 25–40% | $1,825–$2,280 | Model-year clearance. Best time to buy last season's flagship. |
| Black Friday | Mid-late November | 30–45% | $1,675–$2,130 | Deepest discounts of the year on most brands, plus the best free-bundle value. |
| Cyber Monday | Monday after Thanksgiving | 30–45% | $1,675–$2,130 | Usually identical pricing to Black Friday; occasionally $50–100 deeper online. |
How to read this: the list and current prices are the Bear advertised figures at our last check. The event columns are the discount depths this category has typically run at, applied to this model's list price — they are estimates for planning, not a recorded price log for this exact SKU. Always confirm the live price before buying. See our best time to buy a mattress guide and current mattress deals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Themes in Owner Reviews
Owner feedback summarized from published customer reviews on Bear's website and major retailer listings. SleepSage cannot verify individual purchases, so no purchase-verified badge is shown. Common themes in owner reviews of the Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid line up with the points below. We summarise recurring praise and complaints rather than republishing individual reviews, reviewer names, dates or helpful-vote counts, because those belong to the retailer and we cannot verify them here.
Praised most often
- Three firmness options (Soft, Medium, Firm) at the same price
- Microcoil comfort layer adds lift and easier movement than foam alone
- CoolForce cooling layer included as standard on this model
- Five-zone coil core with reinforced edge coils
- Limited lifetime warranty and GREENGUARD Gold certified
Most common complaints
- $1,977 queen at current pricing — a real step up from the Elite Hybrid
- 120-night trial rather than a full year
- Celliant cover claims relate to the fabric technology, not to this mattress's own testing
- Around 115 lb in queen — awkward to move alone
Verified owner reviews written by Sleep Sage readers appear separately and are attributed to real accounts.
Quick Specs
- Type
- Luxury Hybrid
- Firmness
- Medium
- Height
- 13.5 inches
- Trial
- 120 nights
- Warranty
- Limited lifetime warranty
How We Evaluated the Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid In Person
Ben Trapskin has firsthand experience evaluating this mattress in the Yawnder showroom. That is an in-person comfort and construction assessment, not an overnight home trial or quantitative lab test. The published specs and policies are reviewed separately.
Hands-On Evaluation: Ben Trapskin evaluated this mattress firsthand in the Yawnder showroom. No controlled pressure mapping, thermal logging, motion-transfer or durability measurements have been documented for this model. Manufacturer specifications and research are identified separately from these in-person observations.
Firsthand Showroom Evaluation
Ben Trapskin has evaluated this mattress in person at Yawnder. This confirms direct product familiarity, not a documented multi-night sleep trial.
Construction & Feel Context
We identify the specific model, firmness options, material layers and manufacturer claims, separating published specifications from individual comfort impressions.
Purchase Terms
We review published trial, warranty, return and price terms. Manufacturer promotions may change, so readers should confirm the current offer.
Quantitative Tests Not Documented
We have not published standardized temperature, motion-transfer, edge-deflection, pressure-map or durability measurements for this particular mattress.
Editorial transparency: Ben Trapskin owns Yawnder, a mattress retailer, and Sleep Sage may earn commissions from qualifying purchases. Retail and affiliate relationships do not substitute for independent measurement evidence. We identify which observations are firsthand and which claims come from manufacturer sources. Read our full editorial policy and detailed testing methodology.
Owner Reviews
Real opinions from Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid owners. 0 reviews
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How Bear Elite Ultra Hybrid compares
Side-by-side breakdowns we've published featuring Bear.
Related Mattresses
Relevant Guides
Every Bear model in our directory
Specs, construction, size options, and prices on record for each Bear model we track. Some entries are research-only and have no completed hands-on or instrumented testing.
More on Bear and its closest rivals
Brand-level context for this review: Bear's construction philosophy, pricing bands, trial and warranty terms, plus the competitors we cross-shopped it against.
- Bear review & brand guideRecovery-focused mattresses with Celliant cover technology for athletes.Queen $998–$2,499 · 120-night sleep trial
- Helix review & brand guidePersonalized hybrid mattresses with a sleep-quiz-driven match.Queen $999–$2,499 · 120-night sleep trial
- Brooklyn Bedding review & brand guideArizona factory-direct brand that builds its own mattresses — and many others'.Queen $699–$2,499 · 120-night home trial
- Layla review & brand guideFlippable copper-infused memory foam — soft on one side, firm on the other.Queen $999–$1,899 · 120-night sleep trial
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