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The Saatva Classic hybrid mattress is a firm favorite among Tom's Guide's sleep team. It sits proudly at the top of our best mattress of the year guide and our entire expert testing panel agrees it deserves its five out of five star rating, delivering top-notch support and comfort. But as a keen runner and occasional hot sleeper, there's another bed that I rate just as highly: the Bear Elite Hybrid mattress. Infused with specialist cooling and recovery fibers, this bed is marketed at athletes looking to optimize their recovery, and after sleeping on it for three weeks I'm not disappointed. With both mattresses sitting around $1,800 for a queen size in early Black Friday mattress sales, deciding which one to buy is no easy matter. So, here I'll round up my experience with both beds to make that choice a little easier... Saatva Classic vs Bear Elite: Price As two of the best hybrid mattresses in the market, the Saatva Classic and Bear Elite Hybrid are investment buys, but ones that are sure to elevate your sleep for years to come. There are lukewarm savings to be had in current Saatva mattress sales and Bear mattress sales, and we expect to see even lower prices by the time Black Friday officially rolls around on 28 November. Just $15 sets a queen size Saatva Classic apart from a queen Bear Elite now, so price won't be a major deciding factor in which one you buy. Rather, you'll want to consider the feel and design of each bed (discussed below) and benefits from each brand. Saatva Classic vs Bear Elite: Quick comparison Both are hybrid beds offering a great balance of pressure relief and support The Saatva is more cushioning and better for back pain The Bear Elite offers active temperature regulation for hot sleepers As premium hybrid mattresses, both the Saatva Classic and Bear Elite Hybrid are built with sturdy, responsive coils and cushioning foams, offering a superb balance of spinal support, pressure relief and temperature regulation. What are they like to sleep on? Honestly, a delight. Both are available in three firmness levels (soft, medium and firm) so you can customize them to suit your sleep style and body type. As an average weight combination sleeper who spends most time on their side, I found the medium model of each mattress perfect for me. On the Bear Elite Hybrid, I'm able change position seamlessly thanks to the responsive coils (though I get complaints of some motion transfer if someone's sleeping next to me). When I end up in my dominant side sleeping position, I sink into the foams enough to avoid pressure build-up, but not enough to force my spine out of alignment. On the other hand, while I haven't slept on the Saatva overnight, I've spent many hours testing it in our sleep studio, getting a good feel for the bed and what it's like to sleep on. I found my body felt perfectly straightened out on the Saatva Classic, with plenty of contouring around my joints in all sleeping positions. The Saatva Classic certainly feels softer than the Bear Elite thanks to its Euro pillow top. I personally found it most comfortable when lying on my side. Our lead tester, Senior Sleep Editor and Certified Sleep Coach Claire Davies says of the Saatva: "This luxury innerspring hybrid has revolutionized my sleep. There's no more hip pain, lower back pain, or painful pressure points anywhere when I lie down." Saatva Classic vs Bear Elite: Which sleeps cooler? After carrying out our new, more accurate temperature checks on both beds, we rate them as two of the best cooling mattresses of the year (honestly, what can't these beds do). While the Saatva Classic remains temperature neutral through the night, the Bear Elite offers active cooling technology in the form of Celliant and Phase Change Material (PCM). The Saatva Classic's innerspring hybrid construction, coupled with its breathable organic cotton cover, allows air to freely circulate through the bed so heat doesn't become trapped. Instead, body moisture is wicked away during the night so you remain cool, dry and comfortable with neither hot spots nor cool spots appearing on the surface of the mattress. Moreover, the Bear Elite Hybrid's synthetic Celliant fibers keep you cool by absorbing excess body heat and transforming it into infrared energy (which is reflected back to the body to bolster muscle recovery). Additionally, the PCM acts like a heat reservoir, absorbing and releasing heat as it changes state from a solid to a liquid state in response to body temperature fluctuations. What this means is that if you're an average temperature sleeper, you're sure to sleep soundly on the breathable, temperature-neutral Saatva, while people battling nighttime hot flashes to the point they're waking up covered in sweat, would benefit from the active heat-zapping capabilities of the Bear Elite. While there's no scientific way to prove for certain that the Celliant fibers boost muscle recovery, I can vouch that I've been sleeping deeply and waking up refreshed and ready to hit a run while on the Bear Elite. Saatva Classic vs Bear Elite: Final verdict Ultimately, I recommend the Bear as a great mattress for athletes, extremely hot sleepers and combination sleepers who want a plush, supportive bed that you can move around on easily throughout the night. Note that restless couples may not be fans of the responsive sleep surface, as it means motion can be felt across the bed. You won't have this problem on the Saatva Classic, though. I felt next to no motion transfer on the Saatva Classic when testing it in our sleep studio. And don't just take my word for it; our lead reviewer Claire has slept peacefully on it for seven months even when bed-sharing with her toddler. The Saatva is a solid choice for side sleepers who value deep pressure relief, or anyone who is struggling to sleep due to aches and pains in their back or joints. Claire says it offers "epic lower back support" and Saatva is endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association. Scores of customers praise the Classic for helping them to maintain a healthy sleep posture.
