If you find yourself getting out of bed in the morning and feeling older than you are when you try to stretch out your muscles, it could be your mattress. Generally, if there are no pre-existing conditions to cause pain in the joints or muscle cramps, then the typical cause for this infliction is the mattress you are sleeping on. It could be that the bed is too firm, the mattress is aged and not as supportive as it once was, or it could be simply that the type of mattress you are sleeping on doesn’t suit your individual needs or body type.
Whatever the reason, with so many different types of beds available today, from hammock beds to latex beds, from air beds to hybrid beds, and from waterbeds to memory foam mattresses; there is no solid reason that the bed you are sleeping on isn’t right for you.
But confident in the knowledge about each type of mattress that catches your eye, it is possible to determine what mattress is the best for you. Perhaps the ever-popular memory foam is what caught your eye! So let’s dissect a couple of brands that are producing memory foam beds that has everyone talking about the quality and the price!
Breakdown of the Bear Mattress
Construction of the Bear Mattress
The Bear Mattress is becoming highly recommended by sports specialists because of its supportive and comforting contouring abilities. It also helps that the bed cover is made from a specialized material called Celliant, which is gaining recognition across the sports industry as a revolutionary material that can aid in muscle repair and healing.
Top Layer – Celliant Cover
Not only is the Bear Mattress designed with numerous layers of memory foam, but it also features a revolutionary material called Celliant within the mattress cover. Celliant is a breathable and cooling, stretchy and smooth material that has been infused with technology to aid in muscle repair.
This material reportedly transforms trapped body heat into infrared light, using the heat as a sensor for certain areas of the body that are currently feeling the effects of low blood circulation. This infrared light will then target these areas, allow the infrared light to soak into the blood cells and increase the circulation. Good blood circulation can aid in the repair of lesions or tears in the muscles that come from physical activity.
Second Layer – Graphite-Gel Memory Foam
Resting directly below the Celliant cover is an inch and a half of graphite-gel memory foam. Using a graphite-gel infused layer of memory foam will reduce the temperature of the mattress because the gel is a naturally cooling material. This hybrid layer is filled with tiny gel particles that expand and contract to open air channels, removing heat from the bed before it gets the chance to rise to the sleeping surface.
The graphite portion of this layer will act as the contouring layer, operating in such a way that allows the body to recline in a position will allow for proper spinal alignment. Proper spinal alignment during sleep will help reduce any tension that occurs during the day, relieving you of discomfort and pain
Third & Fourth Layer – Proprietary Foam
The third and fourth layers of the Bear Mattress can be combined into one section of this dissection article because they are both layers of proprietary foam. Each of these layers is an inch thick and works in sequence to add a level of movement to the mattress that is not generally found in memory foam.
They will act as the transitional layer to the denser memory foam layer that is the final layer of the mattress. They will allow for the body to sink only to acceptable levels before stopping and prevent the sleeper from getting sucked into the mattress itself.
Final Layer – Base Foam
The final layer that exists within the Bear is also known as the recovery layer in mattress terminology. This layer is six and a half inches of dense base foam that supports the entire mattress and the additional weight of the sleeper.
The makers of mattresses refer to the final layer of a memory foam bed as a recovery layer because the denser foam not only acts as a foundation for each layer of the mattress but also the bed itself.
Using a dense base foam, such as the Bear Mattress does, helps maintain the original quality of the mattress and helps it return to its original shape each time it is no longer in use.
The Firmness of a Bear Mattress
The Bear Mattress is available online to customers in both a medium-firm version and a film version. Whichever firmness level is more suitable for your needs can be purchased with no change in the quoted price.
Medium-firm beds are sold more frequently, either online or in-store, as they support all sleep positions and can be beneficial to those who switch their sleep position throughout slumber. This medium-firm bed will also play a major role in the reduction of the amount of motion transfer felt throughout the night.
Firm mattresses are more suitable for back and front sleepers due to the higher firmness rating, so side sleepers may find there is too much tension throughout the mattress for a solid night of rest.
Feel of a Bear Mattress
The Bear has a smooth and silky feel when laying on the mattress for the first time. This silky smooth feeling comes entirely from the securely fitted mattress cover made from the Celliant material.
The Celliant material is quilted in such a way to feature a crisscrossed boxy pattern that adds a level of visual appeal not normally found in a bed cover and can also provide a textured comfort to the mattress.
Unique Features – Bear Mattress
Celliant Mattress Cover
The Bear is one of the first memory foam, or perhaps the first mattress to feature a bed cover made from a material other than the typical cotton or polyester. The Celliant material used is not only silky smooth to the touch but it will also prevent heat from becoming trapped within the confines of the bed.
The makers of Celliant claim that their revolutionary material is can improve your physical health by transforming built-up body heat into an infrared lighting system while the material in use. This infrared light will then search for and focus on areas that suffer from low blood flow. It will use this infrared light to encourage and maintain blood flow levels to these areas while at the same time increasing circulation level. Well-balanced blood circulation allows for the muscles to receive oxygen and repair minor rips or tears.
Breakdown of the Nest Mattress
Construction of the Nest Mattress
The Nest brand has a line of beds that range in function, firmness, and prices but for this dissection piece, we will focus on the Alexander Signature Nest Mattress. The Alexander Signature bed is entirely composed of pure memory foam that features four different layers to total a height of 11 and a half inches in height.
Mattress Cover – Stretch Cover
The Alexander Signature bed features a one-inch thick cotton and polyester blend cover. This cover reduces the signs of use that can occur over time on your mattress by preventing rips or stains. This mattress cover acts as a barrier for germs and household allergens, removing from the bed by the use of multiple air flow channels.
Cotton is a naturally breathable and moisture-wicking material, so once trapped body heat does find its way to the sleep surface of the mattress. Polyester is a cooling and stretchy material that will offset the crisp smoothness of the cotton with its flexibility in extending over the entire mattress.
Top Layer – Gel Memory Foam
The Alexander Signature model has an inch layer of gel infused memory foam directly below the cover. This gel-infused memory foam contours to the body as a normal memory foam layer would, providing a cradle of supportive comfort.
The gel portion of this layer acts as a cooling agent for the bed and further regulates the temperature during the night. This is extremely beneficial as memory foam, by nature, is a heat retaining material.
Second Layer – Visco Foam
The second layer of the Alexander Signature model is a one and a half inch layer of Visco memory foam. This is where the mattress reduces motion to transfer to a minimum and allows the sleeper to rest peacefully throughout the night without interruptions.
It also distributes the body weight of the sleeper throughout the entire bed, relieving pressure from the body and allowing for joints to relax.
Third Layer – Air Flow Foam
The third layer that exists within the Alexander Signature model is a two-inch layer of aerated memory foam. This layer is also called the air flow foam, as there are multiple microscopic air flow channels located throughout this layer.
Trapped body heat from the sleeper and partner (if applicable) will be diverted from the sleeping surface of the mattress to this layer, where the heat is then dispersed into the atmosphere of the bedroom, leaving the mattress cool and dry.
This layer also cleans the mattress, as dust mites and germs flow through the bed to be sent into the atmosphere and not into the mucous membranes of the sleeper.
Fourth (Final) Layer – Support Base Foam
The final and fourth layer of the Nest Mattress Alexander Signature called the support base layer or recovery layer. This layer a seven-inch layer of dense memory foam that provides a foundation for the entire bed.
This dense layer allows the bed to return to its original shape as soon as the body weight of the sleeper is removed from the bed.
The Firmness of a Nest Mattress
The Nest brand offers the Alexander Signature model in two different firmness levels. Using a scale of one through 10, the lower numbers equal a softer mattress as the higher numbers fall more on the firm side of the spectrum.
One model of the Alexander Signature model is classified as luxury-firm, which holds a rating of 7.5 on the rating scale while the other model classified as medium-firm and holds a rating of 5.5.
The luxury firm model will suit more to those customers who sleep on their backs or fronts as their primary sleep position and tend to maintain this position throughout the night.
The medium firm model is more suitable to those of multiple sleep positions and will reduce the amount of motion transfer felt during the change of sleep positions throughout the night.
Feel of a Nest Mattress
The use of a thick polyester and cotton blend material for the bed cover leaves the Alexander Signature model with a plush and soft feel. The gel memory foam that rests directly below the cover adds to the plushness of the bed and it is easy to feel it contour to the sleepers’ hand when they add weight to any part of the mattress.
Unique Features – Nest Mattress
Two Firmness Levels
The Nest model offers their customers two different firmness levels when it comes to the Alexander Signature one, similar to that of the Bear Mattress. This bed is available in both luxury-firm and medium-firm to add a wider range of choices when it comes to purchasing a mattress.
The luxury firm model currently holds a rating of 7.5 on the firmness scale and it gains this rating from the order of which the layers of memory foam are arranged throughout the bed. To increase the firmness level felt throughout this mattress, there are an inch and a half thick layer of firmer memory foam sewed into the cotton and polyester blend mattress cover. This will be more suitable for those who tend to sleep on their backs and/or fronts and do not usually switch to an alternate position.
The medium firm model currently holds a rating of 5.5 on the firmness scale, gaining this rating by incorporating a layer of Visco memory foam directly below the gel memory foam layer. This is the universal firmness level for sleepers, as it provides supportive comfort to any sleep position.
Which One to Get?
Bear Mattress
Designed in Canada, the Bear Mattress comes delivered directly to your doorstep as a convenient bed-in-a-box. Constructed using only organic materials and using natural breathability agents, you can be sure that there are no harsh chemicals or additives found in this bed.
With a 100 night trial period offered to all customers, regardless of the size of the bed ordered, the customer has sufficient time to not only break in the mattress but determine if aches and muscle cramps are really diminishing in both frequency and severity. Having 100 nights to test the Bear Mattress ensures that you will experience some form of climate change to truly test the cooling ability of the mattress.
If you chose to keep your Bear Mattress and allow the trial period to pass by without a return or refund, a 10 year “limited” warranty on your purchase ensures you will always have a mattress in the best of condition!
Nest Mattress
From the makers of the Nest Mattress comes the Alexander Signature Mattress, a memory foam mattress that is conveniently shipped as a bed-in-a-box but big on comfort. This mattress is made using only natural and organic materials to provide top levels of support, comfort and contouring relief for your tired body.
The Nest brand offers customers a risk-free trial period of 100 nights, with no obligation to keep the mattress if they determine that it isn’t the best fit for them during this time period. If you feel the Alexander Signature Mattress is not helping your body or it is too firm for your liking, contact the customer service department to arrange for a refund and return pick-up date.
If the Alexander Signature Mattress is exactly what you have been looking for, just simply keep the mattress past 100 nights to activate the lifetime warranty. The mattress is covered for the length of time you own it for replacement, repair, and even shipping for repair costs!
Bear vs Nest Comparison
| Bear | Nest – Alexander Signature | |
|---|---|---|
| Layers Used | 4 layers – cover
|
4 layers – cover
|
| Height | 10 inches | 11.5 inches |
| Firmness | Medium Firm | Luxury Firm to Medium* |
| Motion Transfer | Minimal | Minimal |
| Breathability | Good | Good |
| Trial Period | 100 nights | 100 nights |
| Warranty | 10 year limited | Lifetime |
| Pricing(Queen) | $925.00 US | $1199.00 US with financing and monthly payments available |
| Shipping | Free within Canada; fees and duties for other countries |
Free within the US; fees and duties for other countries |
Conclusion
If your body is telling you that the sleep it is getting is not restful enough or your body is telling you that it is spending its nights cramped on an unsuitable mattress, it is time to make a change. Look into different styles of mattresses and consult online retailers, as they can sometimes offer a better price for a select type of mattress than if you walked into a chain department store close by.
Never purchase a mattress while blind and uninformed or you could end up with something that aggravates the body further and causes serious spinal or joint issues. Research your favorite type of mattress and consult with the customer service departments of your favorite brands to learn about delivery, warranty, financing and other information that might be of use. Sleep well, eat well, drink well, and live well my friends.