Looking for a new mattress on a budget? The Bear Original and Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid are both reliable mattresses under $1,000 for a queen. But which should you buy?
Budget is important when choosing the best mattress for you, but your sleep style is also a vital consideration. The Bear Original is the brand’s most affordable mattress, a medium-firm model made with an all-foam construction. The Brooklyn Bedding Signature is a hybrid and sits at around the mid-range price point in the Brooklyn Bedding line up.
In this Bear Original vs Brooklyn Signature Hybrid mattress comparison, we will look at both beds in terms of price, design, support, comfort and temperature regulation. Both of these mattresses are on sale this month, so now is a great time to upgrade your sleep space and invest in a new mattress ready for the holidays.
Bear Original vs Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid: Key differences
Type: Memory foam
Firmness options: Medium-firm
Height: 10”
Sizes: 7
Sleep trial: 120-nights
Warranty: Lifetime
Price (on sale): From $455 at Bear Original
Free gift: Two cirrus cloud pillows worth $150
Type: Hybrid
Firmness options: Soft, medium, firm
Height: 12.25”
Sizes: 14
Sleep trial: 120-nights
Warranty: 10-years
Price (on sale): From $498.75 at Brooklyn Bedding
Free gift: No
Bear Original vs Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid mattress: Price & Trial
- Bear Original is lower mid-range, Signature Hybrid is mid-range
- Both come with 120-night sleep trials
- Bear offers a lifetime warranty, Brooklyn Bedding just 10 years
Both the Bear Original and Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid feature in our best mattress under $1,000 guide because they offer excellent value for money. Neither brand ever sells these mattresses at full price, so let's explore what you can expect to pay.
Bear runs regular site-wide sales that tend to stick around the 25 to 35% off mark. That brings the cost of a queen Bear Original down to just $649 (was $998). Be aware that you often need to add a code (it will be displayed at the top of the page) to get your discount. With Bear, you also get a free gift of two Cirrus Cloud pillows. On very rare occasions, Bear does run a 40% off sale – act fast if you spot this discount.
Brooklyn Bedding also offers evergreen sales so you don’t have to worry about paying full MRSP. Typically, Brooklyn Bedding offers 25% off, reducing a queen size Signature Hybrid to $999 (was $1,332). On special occasions, this discount rises to 30%, but we've never seen it go higher.
Both mattresses come with a 120-night sleep trial plus free shipping. Bear does offer a better warranty period, with a lifetime warranty (compared to only 10 years at Brooklyn Bedding). While it’s free to return the Bear Original, you will have to pay $99 if you need to return the Signature Hybrid.
Bear Original vs Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid mattress: Materials & Design
- The Bear Original is a memory foam mattress
- The Brooklyn Bedding Signature is a hybrid mattress
- Signature Hybrid is 12.5 inches tall, Bear Original just 10"
The Bear Original is an all-foam construction, and like all the best memory foam mattresses, it features multiple foam layers. A cooling gel-infused memory foam layer sits on top of a middle layer of proprietary Bear Dynamic Foam (for contouring and pressure relief), and then a bottom layer of high-density foam for durable support. These layers are topped off by a breathable quilted cover for extra temperature relief, which can be upgraded to a Celliant-infused cover for extra cooling (at an added cost).
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid has a more complex construction which is common in many of the best hybrid mattresses. Starting with the premium quilted top, next is a layer of supreme response comfort foam. This is followed by a layer of variflex transition foam, for deep compression support and pressure relief, before eight inches of individually encased coils. A thin flex base foam adds durability to finish things off. There is an option to upgrade to a GlacioTex pillow-top for extra cooling and pressure relief.
The Bear Original comes in seven sizes which covers all the basics, but it is worth nothing that the Signature Hybrid has 14 different sizes to choose from. This includes Olympic Queen and a range of RV sizes, so it's ideal if you need an odd size.
Bear Original vs Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid mattress: Comfort & Support
- The Bear Original has a medium-firm feel
- Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid has three firmness
- Both are suitable for all sleeping positions
The Bear Original is a medium-firm memory foam mattress. The best medium-firm mattresses can suit all sleeping positions, and that's just what we found during our Bear Original Mattress review. Light weight side sleepers might find it a little too firm, but for the most part, this is a versatile mattress.
The supportive memory foam is excellent at keeping the spine aligned and despite being an all-foam construction, sleepers won’t sink too far into this mattress. Our tester found that it was incredibly supportive around the hips and lower back and they had freedom to move around during the night.
The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid comes in three firmness ratings; Soft, Medium and Firm. So whatever your preferred firmness, there’s something here for you. During our Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid review our testers felt the Soft best suits lightweight and side sleepers, while the Medium is good for side and back sleepers and the Firm is best for back and stomach sleepers.
Much like the Bear Original, you won’t sink deep into the surface of the Signature Hybrid. While the top foams do have a soft feel, they don't offer that traditional memory foam 'hug'. This does make changing positions easier, but if you prioritize pressure relief, be sure to upgrade to the pillow-top – it brings down the firmness slightly.
Both of these mattresses excel when it comes to motion isolation. Of course, we expect this from the all-foam Bear Original (foam is good at absorbing movement) but the Brooklyn Signature also does a stand-up job. Edge support on both of these beds is excellent, with a sturdy feel all the way to the perimeter.
Bear Original vs Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid mattress: Temperature Control
- Neither mattress excels at temperature regulation
- Both earned average marks from our review team
- Both have the option of a cooling upgrade
Typically, hybrid mattresses are more breathable and therefore cooler than all-foam models, but to be honest, we were disappointed in the temperature control of both these mattresses. While neither is terrible, hot sleepers should consider the best cooling mattresses instead (the Cocoon by Sealy Chill mattress is a good alternative in a similar price bracket).
The Bear Original has a breathable quilted cover and cooling gel memory, but on warm nights, our lead tester woke up feeling hot. Surprisingly, despite the enhanced air flow of the Signature Hybrid, we rated it even lower for temperature regulation; our tester regularly woke up from overheating.
If you're hot sleeper considering either mattress, we recommend paying for the cooling upgrade. You can add a Celliant-infused cover to the Bear Original, or a GlacioTex pillow-top to the Signature Hybrid. Although we haven't tried these upgrades for these specific mattress models, our testers have experience with both materials and rate them highly.
Bear Original vs Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid mattress: which should you buy?
Buy the Bear Original if…
✅ You like the feel of memory foam: If you love the feel of memory foam then the Bear Original is an exceptional all-foam mattress.
✅ You’re on a tighter budget: Whilst there’s not much in the price when it comes to the smaller sizes, anything above a full and the Bear Original is a lot cheaper. I you’re on a tighter budget it’s a great choice.
✅ You share a bed: If you share a bed with a restless sleeper or pet then while we can't guarantee you a good night's sleep, we can say the Bear Original will stop you from feeling their every little toss and turn.
Buy the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid if…
✅ You want customizable firmness: With the Signature hybrid you can pick between soft, medium and firm feel, so there’s something to suit your own individual needs.
✅ You like a bit of bounce: This hybrid is bouncy and responsive so it’s easier to move around at night. That's perfect for combination sleepers who like freedom to move.
✅ You need an unusual size: The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid comes in 14 different sizes. If you are looking for an unusual size like a short queen, RV or Olympic queen, you’ll find it in this line up.
