Picking out a new mattress? Swamped with choices? You’d be surprised to know that you aren’t the only one whose suffering from this dilemma. The sleep industry has come a long way and today offers dozens of types of mattresses, each one offering something “unique”. Picking out a mattress from scratch can therefore be cumbersome.
The Bear vs. Layla comparison aims to provide you an insight into both the mattresses, helping you figure out which product resonates with you the best.
Bear Breakdown
Bear mattresses deviate from the original path of memory foam mattresses and can be classified more of as hybrid products. The company has been in business for 25 years and has managed to penetrate deep into the sleep industry, with its product being likened by both regular sleepers and physically active individuals.
Construction
Cover
Celliant Cover technology is from where it all starts. The Bear’s cover is designed to promote thermoregulation and ensure that you get a cool mattress to sleep in. The technology converts the body’s heat into infrared energy, before dispersing it into the surroundings. The infrared rays may even be absorbed the body, but they don’t have the same heating effect. Instead, it has been found that exposure to these rays can bring a number of benefits to one’s health, some of which include boosted oxygen levels, pain relief and lowered blood sugar.
First Layer
Bear deviates from the original memory foam design by infusing Cool Graphite Gel within this layer. With a thickness of 1 inch, the special type of foam modifies the behavior of the mattress. After the initial contouring effect, the layer issues a resistive bounce back response, preventing your body from getting trapped. This gives the product the classic viscoelastic feel along with a certain degree of firmness.
In addition, the infusion of gel takes the edge off the heat trapping issues of the layer.
Second Layer
The layer has a pronounced conforming effect that supplements that generated by the first layer. Made of quick response form, it provides pressure relief through conformity while you lay on the mattress.
Third Layer
Also made of quick response foam, the layer has an ILD of 18 pounds, serving as a filter for unwanted movements and damping the stress due to the body’s load.
Fourth Layer
The final layer of the mattress, it is 6.5 inches thick with a sharply increased ILD of 30. This prevents the contours from going down any further and generates conformity. The layers ability to stop excessive sinkage means the mattress is suitable for heavier individuals. However, permanent deformation may occur for loads greater than 500 pounds, making the mattress not a viable option for sharing between two heavier persons.
Firmness and Feel
Comfort and Support
The Bear is available in one firmness level, medium-firm. This is suitable for most sleepers and provides a healthy balance between conformity and plushness. The first two layers generate the classic hug of a memory foam mattress but at the same time offer resistivity that prevents excessive contouring. This helps keep the sag to a minimum, relieving pressure off sides, hips and stomach. Finally, the high-density foam base keeps the body well-aligned as you sleep and halts any further contouring.
Edge Support
There have been considerable developments in the bid to resolve the longstanding problem of poor edge support with memory foams. While the Bear does offer some edge support due to the foam base and bouncy response of the upper layers it certainly isn’t an excellent choice for someone looking to utilize all four corners of the bed.
Cooling
The mattress fares quite well with thermal regulation. Starting from the top, the Celliant technology takes the body’s heat away, converting it into infrared energy. Even on absorption, infrared rays don’t have the same heating effect on the body. Next, the Graphite-Gel infused layer takes away any residual heat, transferring it into lower layers, away from the body. Finally, heat is transmitted into the foam base from where it is dispersed away. In this way, the Bear manages to keep the body cool during the night.
Motion Transfer
To study the motion isolation capabilities of the mattress, two medicine balls were used. One was placed at one side while the other was dropped at the opposite side. The disturbances that came as a result were damped significantly and the stationary ball didn’t go through excessive movement. This makes the mattress suitable for sharing with another person, without worrying about the ensuing disturbance as one of you moves during the night.
Unique Features
Pricing
The Bear is cheaper than Layla, period. Even though the difference is cut short by the discount coupons, the numbers are still in Bear’s favor. For an affordable price, you get a comfortable hybrid mattress with health benefits-inducing characteristics.
Health Benefits
The incorporation of the Celliant cover gives the mattress a considerably unique feature. Through decades of research, the technology has come into existence and it has been found that exposure to the resultant infrared rays can help athletes recover better. From helping with muscle tears to alleviating Congestive heart failure, Bear can help with a lot.
Cool Sleeping Environment
Bear has included a number of different technologies at almost every layer of the mattress to downplay memory foam poor thermoregulation. The Celliant Cover is a great way to start, converting the body’s heat into infrared rays. Next, the Gel-infused memory foam takes care of heat trapping problems transferring it into lower layers, away from the body.
Customer Care
The company is a family-run entity, and their devotion to their clientele is evident from the swiftness in which they respond to customers’ queries. In addition to being fast, the professional team is very comprehensive with their reply, which can help someone who’s confused with choosing the product.
Click for price
Layla Breakdown
The Layla sports two layers of memory and support foam. Similar to Bear, the company has also developed a hybrid mattress, utilizing the pros of memory foam while rectifying its cons.
Construction
Cover
The mattress features a thermoGEL cover, which is made up of three different materials:
- 66% polyester
- 30% viscose
- 4% lycra
The feel of the cover is similar to that off cotton while having the smoothness of silk. In addition to this, it has thermal regulation properties, reducing the buildup of heat. Being removable, it can be dry-cleaned as well.
In comparison, Bear’s Celliant Cover stands out as it possesses bodily benefits in addition to being excellent at thermal regulation.
Comfort Layer
The upper most layer is 3 inches thick, made up of memory foam and absorbs the first impact the body makes on the mattress. It adjusts according to the body’s shape and provides classic viscoelastic response. There is a difference however, compared to typical memory foams. The layer is infused with Copper, something Layla has done to tackle the heat retention problems. This allows heat to be conducted away from the body, keeping the upper layer temperature within a comfortable range.
The layer is also capable of providing deep-compression support, meaning if you carry a lot of weight then it won’t yield to excessive pressure and ensure that you don’t get trapped.
Support Layer
The layer is composed of 2 inches of 30 ILD convoluted support foam. The foam, which has a shape similar to egg cartons (also sometimes called by this name) does a good job at promoting airflow within the mattress. As there is considerable space between each successive pocket, heat transferred from the copper infused memory foam can be easily dispersed through the passage of air.
This is then followed by 4.5 inches of base support foam, with a slightly increased ILD rating of 36. This stops excessive sinkage into the mattress, keeping the body aligned while you get comforted by the hug of the upper layers.
Final Layer
1 inch of copper infused memory foam, same as the top, makes up this layer. The ILD rating is also same. This serves as an outlet to any heat that may transfer all the way down to the mattress. Furthermore, this allows the mattress to be flipped, giving it two firmness levels.
Firmness and Feel
The mattress is available in two firmness levels as it can be flipped. In the normal orientation it has a plusher response but when reversed it is more conforming. The Bear has a similar firmness level to Layla in the normal orientation however, the latter is firmer when placed in the reverse orientation.
Normal Orientation
When placed in the normal manner, the top layer has an ILD of 10, responsible for generating the initial plush response. Next, the ILD increased sharply as you progress downwards, getting all the way up to 36 before dropping down to 10. The increase in ILD generates resistance to your body and keeps the memory foam from sinking too deep.
You may expect the mattress to sink 7 ¼ inches when placed in this manner.
Reversed Orientation
When you flip the mattress over you get 1 inch of memory foam, followed by a sharp increase in the ILD from the support layer. This keeps the plush sensation to a minimal level while generating considerable conformity, making it ideal for heavier individuals. Even if you don’t carry a lot of weight, this orientation is well-suited for people who sleep on their stomachs.
Expect to sink 5 ½ inches while sleeping on this side.
Edge Support
Since Layla doesn’t have a reinforced border, it offers similar edge support to that of the Bear, but due to the sharp rise in ILD, Layla does fare a little better.
Cooling
Layla has tackled thermal regulation by infusing the memory foam layer with copper and also introducing a layer of convoluted foam. Both these layers are responsible for breathability within the mattress, transferring heat to the lower layers. These actions are supported by the thermoGEL cooling agent used in the cover of the mattress. However, in this regard, the Bear takes the lead due to the Celliant cover technology.
Motion Transfer
Since memory foam is quite good at absorbing disturbances within the mattress, the motion isolation of this product is decent. Bear is better however as the memory foam layer has graphite infused in it which gives it a slow bounce back, followed by layers that have similar effect thus damping any movements that occur.
Unique Features
Dual Firmness
Simply flipping over the mattress allows you to change its firmness levels. When placed in normal orientation, you get more contouring while reversing it makes it firmer, more suitable for heavier individuals.
Longer Trial
Layla offers a 120-day trial to its customers, which is longer than what Bear does. This gives you enough time to try out the product and make sure your body accepts it before settling onto it.
Lifetime Warranty
The company offers lifetime warranty on the mattress, reiterating the trust it places in its product. With peace of mind, you can comfortably lay down on the mattress and get a replacement in case it does break down.
Which One To Get?
Bear
Here are some reasons to consider the Bear:
You want a Celliant Cover: The mattress makes it possible to gain additional health benefits as you sleep. The idea is quite exciting and is a major factor as to why the mattress has been endorsed by athletes.
You want a Cheaper Mattress:The Bear costs less than Layla. This gives you a comfortable product within an affordable price range, along with a couple of unique features.
You want a Cooler Mattress: Both Bear and Layla have worked hard to downplay memory foam poor thermoregulation, but Bear has emerged victorious through its Celliant Cover technology. The conversion of heat energy into infrared rays greatly brings down the chances of energy getting trapped within the mattress and disturbing you throughout the night.
You value customer support: Being a family business, Bear values its customers and has a trained team of professionals to guide interested individuals into the specifications of its products.
Layla
However, you might want to choose Layla if:
You want two levels of firmness: Layla has embedded ingenuity within its mattress by offering two firmness levels, simply by flipping it. This way you get a plush and a conforming mattress, within one package, giving you the freedom to experience both sides, whenever you want.
You want a longer trial period: Layla has a longer trial period for its customers, giving them ample time to test out both sides of the mattress, before making their decision.
You’re overweight: The ability to flip the mattress and turn it into a firmer product is resourceful for people who carry extra weight. When using the reverse orientation, you get a firmer response, suitable for people who would exert a lot of pressure on the mattress.
You want a longer warranty: With a lifetime warranty tag, Layla gives its customers peace of mind, allowing them to get a replacement if the mattress breaks down. This however shows that the company places a huge amount of trust in its product, something that shows its durability against the test of time.
Bear vs. Layla Comparison
| Bear | Layla | |
|---|---|---|
| Layers Used |
|
|
| Height | 10 inches | 10.5 inches |
| Firmness | Medium-Hard | Medium and Below-Medium through flipping the mattress |
| Motion Transfer | Minimal | Minimal |
| Breathability | Above average | Below-Average |
| Trial Period | 100-day | 120-day |
| Warranty | 10-year | Lifetime |
| Pricing (Queen) | $850 | $899 |
| Shipping | Free | n/a |
Conclusion
I hope the comparison would’ve brought some clarity regarding buying a mattress that suits your needs. If you found it helpful, don’t forget to share it with others, and as always, leave your feedback in the section below.