Bear vs Nectar Mattress: Which Should You Choose?

Bear and Nectar are so similar, it’s hard to choose between the two. Yet, they are different in subtle ways. In this Bear vs Nectar comparison, we’ll guide you through those differences. Due to their construction and firmness, these two mattresses are designed for different sleepers. Which new mattress is right for you? Read on to discover your match.

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

Nectar Mattress

Firmness

Medium-firm: 7/10

Score

4.3 / 5

Check Price

Read Nectar Mattress Review

Bear vs. Nectar Overview

Bear is known for producing mattresses with great quality and value. The Bear mattress was originally designed to be a mattress for athletes. This all-foam mattress stays cool throughout the night. It can support muscle recovery if you opt to purchase the celliant cover and balances pressure relief and support. Many types of sleepers could find a good night’s rest on this versatile mattress. You might also want to check out their Bear Star Hybrid and Bear Pro mattress so you get the right fit for you. The Nectar is popular for its soft, memory foam feel. It contains multiple levels of high quality foam that allow sleepers to sink into the bed. It’s a great option for those looking to prioritize pressure relief and contouring.

Who Should Get the Bear Mattress

• Those who prefer a firmer mattress
• People who like a balanced foam feel
• Back and stomach sleepers

Who Should Get the Nectar Mattress

• Side sleepers
• Those who prefer a softer mattress
• People who like the classic memory foam feel

Bear vs. Nectar Mattress Video Comparison

Here at Mattress Clarity, we like to run a series of subjective and objective tests on our mattresses. Check out our video comparison of Bear and Nectar queen size mattresses to see these tests.

Bear vs. Nectar: Top Similarities

• They have similar firmnesses
• They have pretty similar base layers.
• They both have memory foam in their top layer and have a classic memory foam feel.

Explore more Bear mattresses comparisons on our comparisons page.

Bear vs. Nectar: Key Differences

• The Bear is thinner than the Nectar.
• The comfort layer is thicker in the Nectar, making it a better pick for side sleepers.
• The Bear has a balanced foam feel, and the Nectar has a classic memory foam feel.
• The Nectar is cheaper than the Bear by a noticeable amount.
• The Bear offers a $200 celliant cover, but the Nectar does not.

Check out comparisons between Nectar and other mattresses on our comparison page.

Firmness and Feel Differences

Now, let’s explore firmness and feel! We’ll take a look at how these mattresses feel for light, average, and heavy sleepers.

How Firm Are the Bear and Nectar Mattresses?

The differences in firmness are subtle between them. The Bear is a 6.5/10 on the firmness scale. The industry average is 6.5/10, so Bear has a classic medium firm feel. The top layer feels softer, but it’s balanced out by a firmer transition and support layer. At first Nectar’s memory foam is firmer, but it softens over time. It will even out to a firmness level of 6/10 pretty quickly. The top layer is soft, but the bottom layers get progressively firmer.

Sleeping on the Bear and Nectar Mattresses

Let’s look at how both mattresses will suit sleepers who prefer different sleep positions. If you sleep on your back, you should feel your hips sink in on the Bear. The foam contours around back sleepers to provide support. Side sleepers should feel some initial firmness on the nectar but the pressure goes away as the memory foam provides excellent sinkage. Stomach sleepers will prefer the Bear between the two, though it will still be too soft. For back sleepers, the Nectar should provide an equal amount of support as the Bear. If sleeping on your side, you should also feel some good pressure relief, though the Nectar may be better for side sleepers. Stomach sleepers will find the Nectar too soft.

What Do the Bear and Nectar Mattresses Feel Like?

The Bear will hold you firmly in place while you sleep. The top layer has a bit of that “quicksand” memory foam feel, but the transition layer is more responsive and will prevent you from feeling stuck. If you don’t want a memory foam feel, check out our Bear Star Hybrid mattress review. The Nectar also has a slow moving memory foam feel. You will slowly sink into the Nectar and it should create some excellent body contouring.

Average Weight Sleepers – 130lbs – 230lbs

The Bear is ideal for average weight back sleepers. It provides a balance of comfort and back support in this position. Side sleepers on the lighter end will find this mattress to give great relief on pressure points, while those close to 230 pounds will probably feel pressure on their hips and shoulders. Most average weight stomach sleepers will want to find a more supportive mattress. On the Nectar, average weight side and back sleepers will find the support they need. This mattress will help eliminate any back pain. Nectar is especially good for average weight sleepers with hip pain because of its memory foam. The majority of stomach sleepers should look at our best mattresses for stomach sleepers.

Heavyweight Sleepers – Over 230lbs

Heavyweight back sleepers will feel great spinal support and comfort on the Bear mattress. Heavier folks who sleep on their side will most likely press through the comfort layer and into the firm support layer. This will cause too much pressure, and these folks should look elsewhere for a mattress. Similarly, heavyweight stomach sleepers will want to look elsewhere because they will sink too far into the mattress, causing lower back pain. Larger people who weigh closer to 230lbs might get the support they need when back sleeping on the Nectar. However, those close to and over 300lbs need to find a mattress with more support and coils in its construction. Larger side sleepers will want to seek out a different mattress with a thicker comfort layer. Heavyweight stomach sleepers will need a firmer mattress, as their hips will bow out on the Nectar.

Lightweight Sleepers – Under 130lbs

Lightweight sleepers should find the Bear mattress to be a great fit in any sleeping position. Back sleepers will feel spinal support and pressure relief. Lightweight side sleepers will enjoy plenty of pressure relief too. Stomach sleepers should find this mattress okay, though some might prefer a firmer mattress. The Nectar is a good option for lightweight side and back sleepers. Lightweight sleepers will feel comfortable and supported in both of these positions. Most lightweight stomach sleepers will need something firmer.

Mattress Construction Differences

Their mattress constructions are similar, but different in subtle ways. Let’s check them out.

Cover

Bear has a soft cover that can be woven with celliant fabric if you’re willing to pay an extra $200 on top of your mattress purchase. This material could help with cooling, blood circulation, and muscle recovery. The Nectar also has a cooling cover. It’s made of polyethylene which is a breathable, cool-to-touch fabric.

Comfort Layers

The top layer of the Bear is a soft, thick layer of memory foam infused with gel and graphite. These infusions help dissipate heat to make for a cool night’s sleep. Underneath, there’s a transition layer made of bouncier, firm foam. On the top of the Nectar is a layer of gel memory foam. Because it isn’t very responsive, it takes a few minutes to snap back into place after you touch it. The gel infusion offsets the heat of the memory foam, which makes for a cool sleeping experience. The Nectar also has a second comfort layer that is made of soft conventional foam. This layer is firm and made of high-density foam.

Support Layer

The Bear’s support layer consists of high-density polyfoam. This layer creates good structure and support for the mattress. The Nectar has a thick base of support foam. Because it’s high-density, it’s durable and offers a good amount of support.

Mattress Height

The Bear mattress is 10” tall. The Nectar mattress stands taller at 12”.

Bear vs. Nectar Mattress Size Options and Price

Take a look at the most up to date sizes and prices for the Bear  and Nectar mattresses.

Bear

Size	Dimensions	Price
Twin	39″ x 75″	$786.00
Twin XL	39″ x 80″	$849.00
Full	54″ x 75″	$911.00
Queen	60″ x 80″	$998.00
King	76″ x 80″	$1304.00
California King	72″ x 84″	$1304.00

Nectar 

Size	Dimensions	Price
Twin	38” x 75”	$699.00
Twin XL	38” x 80”	$899.00
Full	54” x 75”	$949.00
Queen	60” x 80”	$1099.00
King	76” x 80”	$1399.00
California King	72” x 84”	$1399.00

Use our coupon to get the best prices on these mattresses:

Bear vs. Nectar Performance Differences

There are also significant performance differences between the two. Let’s learn whether they sleep hot or cold, if they work well for couples, and more.

Sleeping Hot or Cold

The Bear mattress has many features which cool it down, so it feels much more breathable than a typical memory foam mattress. The gel in the comfort layer and the Celiant cover both help keep the Bear mattress cool throughout the night. As an all-foam mattress, the Nectar might trap some body heat. However, it does offer some cooling features such as a gel-infused memory foam and cooling cover. If you are a hot sleeper, the Bear might offer more features than the Nectar to keep you cool at night.

Motion Transfer

Thanks to its all-foam construction, the Bear isolates motion well. Partners won’t disturb each other in the middle of the night on the Bear. Similarly, Nectar is also a great mattress for couples. The thick, slow-moving memory foam doesn’t transfer motion, and you shouldn’t feel your partner if they move around during the night.

Edge Support

The Bear has decent edge support, but it’s not great. The edge may collapse when you sit on it, but when lying near the edge, you shouldn’t feel like you’re going to roll off. Nectar has better edge support, though it will still collapse a bit when you sit near the edge. However, when lying near the edge, you won’t feel like you will roll off. Overall, the Nectar has impressive edge support for a foam mattress.

Durability

Since the Bear doesn’t have innerspring coils, it’s unlikely to last as long as a latex or innerspring mattress. However, because it’s made with high-quality materials, it should be fairly durable. While the Nectar is an all-foam mattress without coils, it should still be pretty durable too. We expect both of these mattresses to last at least 7 years.

Off-Gassing

Bear mattresses are CertiPUR-US certified, meaning the materials do not contain harmful chemicals. There shouldn’t be any noticeable odors or off-gassing. However, the Nectar is a different story. Customers can expect some off-gassing from the mattress, but the smell should only last about 48 hours.

Noise

There was no noticeable noise when testing out the Bear and Nectar mattresses because they’re both made entirely out of foam.

Sex

Because of the Bear mattress’s firmer transition layer, couples shouldn’t feel stuck and the bed should have some bounce. This would be a decent option. The Nectar is not one of the best mattresses for sex. It might be difficult to move around and switch positions because the Nectar is not the most responsive.

Company Policies

Let’s look into the differences in the warranties, sleep trials, and return policies.

Warranty Info

The Bear mattress comes with a lifetime warranty. The Nectar also comes with a lifetime warranty.

Sleep Trial

The Bear mattress has a 365-night sleep trial period. The Nectar also has a 365-night sleep trial period.

Return Policy

The Bear mattress comes with free shipping and returns. The Nectar also has a full refund policy (not including fees for shipping, state-based recycling fees, White Glove Service, and/or promotional value).

FAQs

Check out some of the most frequently asked questions about these two mattresses.