Bear Vs. Layla Mattress Comparison – Which Is Right For You?

Choosing the right all-foam mattress can be difficult. It is especially hard when you’re deciding between two quality mattresses like the Bear and the Layla. If you can’t make up your mind, I’m here to make your life easier. I have the information you need to make the right decision for you. Which will it be: the Bear or the Layla? Read on for my full Bear vs Layla mattress comparison.

Bear vs. Layla

Product

Firmness

Score

Product

Bear Original Mattress

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6.5/10

Score

3.8 / 5

Check Price

Read Bear Original Mattress Review

Product

Layla Mattress

Firmness

Multiple firmness options

Score

4.3 / 5

Check Price

Read Layla Mattress Review

Key Similarities

• They are similarly priced and are both all-foam mattresses.
• They have similar base layers and both have memory foam in their top layer.

Key Differences

• Layla is flippable, while the Bear is not.
• The comfort layer is thicker on the Layla’s soft side.
• Layla has a classic memory foam feel, while Bear has a balanced foam feel.
• The soft side of the Layla is noticeably softer than the Bear.
• They have some differences in terms of their materials.

Bear Construction

• The mattress is 10” tall and features four different foam layers.
• The cover is soft and is woven together with Celliant, a unique fiber that is said to improve sleep and athletic performance. (It’s a good idea to do your own research to see how you feel about these claims.)
• First, there is a 1.5” layer of graphite-gel memory foam, which provides great body contouring, pressure relief, and cooling.
• This is followed by 1” of a latex-like comfort foam that prevents sleepers from sinking in too far into the mattress.
• Next, there is 1” of a transitional performance foam.
• Finally, the base layer is 6.5” of a high-density support foam, which is pretty standard for all-foam mattresses.

Layla Construction

• The Layla is 10” tall and features four separate foam layers.
• The cover is infused with Thermogel to help with cooling but doesn’t affect the overall feel of the mattress significantly.
• From the soft side down, there are first 3” of a copper-infused memory foam, which is very soft and contours very well to the curves of the body.
• Next, there are 2” of a convoluted support foam, which has channels to help with airflow.
• The support layer is 4.5” of a 2-lb base foam and is pretty standard amongst bed-in-a-box mattresses.
• On the firm side, there is 1” of copper-infused memory foam, which is the same material on the top of the soft side of the mattress.

Construction Differences/Notes

• They both have soft covers, and they each use materials that boast special properties. The Layla has Thermogel, which is cool to the touch, and the Bear has Celliant, which may help with recovery and blood flow.
• The soft side of the Layla has a thicker comfort layer than the Bear, which means Layla will probably be a better choice for side sleepers.
• Also, because of this thick comfort layer, people will sink into the Layla and sleep “in” the mattress. That said, the soft upper layer is fast to respond, so people will get good pressure relief without the feeling of getting stuck in the mattress.
• The Bear doesn’t let people sink in too far because there is only a 1” comfort layer. If people prefer to sleep “on” the mattress, the Bear is the better choice.
• Bear should be more breathable because of the Celliant cover and the graphite-gel. People should be sleeping cooler on the Bear most likely.

Firmness and Feel Differences

The Bear felt like a 6.5  out of 10 in terms of firmness, or about average of the mattresses tested on this website. The soft side of the Layla felt like 5.5 (softer than average), and the firm side felt like an 8 (firmer than average). On the Bear, I feel best when I am on my back because of the body contouring and general level of support. Since it is medium-firm, this does not surprise me. On my side, I feel some pressure on the shoulder and hips, but not too much, so it is a decent match in that position. On my stomach, I need a bit more support and would probably want a firmer mattress overall. On the Layla, I feel great pressure relief when I am on the soft side of the mattress. This side is not supportive enough for me when I am on my stomach, but I feel decent support when I am on my back. The firm side of the Layla generally gives me the support I need when I am on my stomach. In terms of feel, the Bear has more of a balanced foam feel that has some memory foam and latex-like qualities. The comfort layer isn’t very thick, so people won’t sink into the mattress too far. It is quite easy to move around, and it feels more like people will sleep “on” the mattress rather than “in” the mattress. The Layla has more of a classic memory foam feel where people really sink into the mattress. The comfort layer on the soft side is very thick, so people sleep more “in” the mattress rather than “on” it. See what I thought of the Bear’s firmness and feel in the video below. Watch what I thought of the soft, classic memory foam feel of the Layla mattress with the video below.

Motion Transfer Differences

Between the two mattresses, the Layla definitely handles motion transfer better. Memory foam is often quite good at isolating the motion people may feel when their partner moves around, and the Layla has a thick layer of soft memory foam on top of the soft side. That is definitely the case here, which means Layla is probably the better mattress for couples who don’t want to be disturbed by their partner’s movements. See how the Bear mattress handles motion transfer in the video below. Now, see how well the thick memory foam layer of Layla cuts down on motion transfer with the video below.

Edge Support Differences

Based on testing and personal experience, the Layla features better edge support than the Bear. When I sit near the edge of the Layla, I feel less like I am going to fall forward, and I feel more comfortable tying my shoes. In addition, I feel less like I am going to roll off the mattress when I lie near the edge of the Layla. People can see the edge support differences in the photos below. For more information on the performance of these mattresses and how they compare to competition, it should be helpful to also check out our other popular Bear and Layla comparisons like Bear vs Casper and Layla vs Leesa.

Marten’s Take

Marten is a staff writer at Mattress Clarity and has a much different body type than me: He is 6’7″ and weighs about 230 lb; I am 5’9″ and 160 lb. Here is what he thought about these two mattresses and how appropriate they are for heavier sleepers like himself: I said the Bear was a 7/10, and the Layla was a 6/10 on the soft side and an 8/10 on the firm side. Lying on my back on the Bear, I feel good overall support and body contouring. On my side, I feel a little bit of pressure on the shoulders and hips, perhaps because the comfort layer is a little too thin. On my stomach, I am bowing in at my hips, getting out of alignment, and generally not getting enough support. On the soft side of the Layla, I’m feeling okay support on my back, but not really enough. On my side, I’m feeling barely any pressure on the shoulders and my hips and think the mattress really excels in this sleeping position. On my stomach, I’m bowing in at the hips on this mattress as well and not getting enough support. If someone is a heavier back sleeper, they should lean toward the Bear to get enough support. If someone is a heavier side sleeper, they should lean toward the soft side of the Layla. Finally, if someone is a heavier stomach sleeper, they should lean toward the firm side of the Layla to get proper support. Marten thought the soft side of the Layla and the Bear were a bit firmer than I did, but other than that, we agreed on what types of sleepers these mattresses are best for. We both think the soft side of the Layla is better for side sleepers, the Bear is best for back sleepers, and the firm side of the Layla is best for stomach sleepers.

Who Should Pick Bear…

• People who prefer a medium-firm mattress- The Bear felt about average in terms of firmness compared to other mattresses reviewed on this website. If someone wants something right down the middle in terms of firmness (that isn’t too firm and isn’t too soft), this mattress could definitely be the way to go.
• Back or combination sleepers- If someone likes to sleep on their back or to change positions throughout the night, the Bear might be the better choice. Because it is medium-firm, it could suit all three positions fairly well. If someone sleeps primarily on their back, they should get the lumbar support and body contouring they need.
• Those who want to sleep “on’ their mattress- If someone doesn’t want to sink into their mattress and sleep “in” the mattress, the Bear is probably the better choice. People will sleep on top of the mattress rather than sinking into it and feeling enveloped.

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Who Should Pick Layla…

• Side sleepers- If someone sleeps primarily on their side, the softer side of this mattress is most likely going to be the better choice. It has especially nice pressure relief, so people shouldn’t feel too much pressure on their shoulders or hips.
• Stomach sleepers- If someone sleeps primarily on their stomach, the firm side of this mattress should be the right pick for them. It should be supportive enough to ensure the hips don’t sink in very far and take someone’s spine out of alignment.
• Those who like a classic memory foam feel- If someone wants to slowly sink into their mattress and sleep “in” the mattress, the Layla is the way to go, because people will get that slow compression with this mattress.

Overall

With the information above, the decision should be an easy one, because the two mattresses really are quite different. If someone is a side sleeper and likes a classic memory foam feel, the Layla is definitely the way to go. Also, if someone sleeps only on their stomach, the firm side of the Layla could work for them. If someone is a combination sleeper and prefers to sleep “on” their mattress, the Bear is a clear choice.  Consumer should take a look at this article a few times, assess their preferences and preferred sleeping positions, and then make a more informed decision.