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Overall Rating
7.2
35% off + 2 free pillows at Bear. Code: SF35
Price Range:
$549 – $799
Mattress Type: Foam
Firmness Options: Firm (7)
Pros & Cons:
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Ideal for RV owners who need a specially sized mattress
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Strong pressure relief with unique cooling features
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Memory foam promotes motion isolation
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Sleepers who weigh more than 230 pounds may need more support than the Trek offers
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Memory foam only offers light contouring
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Although functional for most RVs, Bear does not offer custom sizes
The Bear Mattress company, founded in 2015, initially built its reputation by making mattresses designed for people with active lifestyles. Bear is known for their mattress covers, which feature a textile called Celliant, a cooling technology that is engineered to facilitate recovery after exercising.
The Bear Trek is very similar in design to the Bear Original Mattress. However, the Trek is designed for RVs and is only 8 inches tall, while the Original measures 10 inches tall. Additionally, the dimensions of the Trek mattresses are slightly smaller to allow it to fit into tighter spaces.
RV enthusiasts looking for a competitively priced mattress should find the Trek meets their needs. The Trek Mattress can be especially appealing for RV travelers who seek out physically active adventures on the road.
We’ll discuss how the Trek performed during our performance tests and highlight which sleeper types benefit most from using this mattress. We’ll also outline this mattress’ construction and summarize Bear’s shipping and return policies.
Sleeping Style and Body Weight
Side Sleepers
With a firm (7) feel, the Bear Trek works best for side sleepers who weigh between 130 and 230 pounds. Testers in this weight category found the mattress provided the right balance of support and cushioning to relieve pressure at the hips and shoulders. Our testers under 130 pounds found the mattress was too firm to accommodate pressure points, and our side sleepers over 230 pounds found the comfort system to be a bit too thin to offer optimal support.
That said, compared to many of the lower-quality mattresses that are standard in RVs, the Bear Trek can still be a good option for average-weight side sleepers.
Back Sleepers
Back sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds found the Bear Trek comfortable and supportive. Back sleepers tend to need a firm mattress that conforms to the natural curvature of the lower back. The Trek’s firm (7) feel keeps the spine in alignment, and its memory foam layers provide enough sturdy support to cushion the hips and midsection without sagging.
Back-sleeping testers under 130 pounds gave generally positive ratings for the Trek, although some found it was a little too firm to provide sufficient lumbar support. Back sleepers over 230 pounds gave the Trek fair ratings as the comfort system was too thin to prevent pressure points from forming.
Stomach Sleepers
Stomach-sleeping testers weighing between 130 and 230 pounds gave the Bear Trek excellent ratings. For most stomach sleepers, a firm mattress that doesn’t sag is critical to a good night’s rest. Average-weight stomach sleepers found the Trek provided excellent support and kept their spine in alignment. They also noted how the memory foam lightly conformed to their pressure points and prevented them from sinking too deeply into the mattress.
Stomach-sleeping testers weighing less than 130 pounds also found the Trek to be firm enough to prevent sagging. Testers in this weight category who prefer light contouring found it comfortable, but those who enjoy deeper contouring may opt for a mattress with a softer feel. Sleepers over 230 pounds noted that the Trek wasn’t supportive enough to maintain spinal alignment.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Our testers found that the Bear Trek offered slightly above average motion isolation. Motion isolation refers to how well a mattress confines vibrations from a sleeper’s movements to their area of the bed. Sleepers who are easily disturbed by their partner’s movements should choose a mattress with excellent motion isolation to prevent nighttime disturbances.
In the Bear Trek, the top two layers both consist of memory foam, which helps prevent movement from transferring across the surface. However, these two layers add up to only 2 inches, so they do not offer quite as much motion isolation as some thicker mattresses.
With 2 inches of memory foam atop a 6-inch high-density polyfoam support core, our testers found the Bear Trek provided good pressure relief. Our testers appreciated the conforming memory foam, which cushioned pressure points and supported spinal alignment, particularly for our testers who weigh between 130 and 230 pounds.
Our side sleepers under 130 pounds found the mattress was too firm to fully prevent pressure points from forming in the hips and shoulders. However, back and stomach sleepers under 130 pounds reported a balance of support and moderate contouring. Sleepers over 230 pounds found the mattress didn’t provide adequate pressure relief.
During testing, the Bear Trek demonstrated good temperature neutrality. While memory foam has a reputation for trapping heat, our testers found that the Bear Trek slept cooler than traditional memory foam.
The top layer of the mattress is made from memory foam infused with a graphite cooling gel that is designed to draw excess heat away from the body. In addition, the quilted cover is made with Celliant fibers, which are designed to trap and disperse body heat.
Our testers found the Bear Trek provided average edge support. The high-density foam in the support core holds up well along the edges, and the overall firmness resists excess compression around the perimeter. However, sleepers over 230 pounds experienced some sagging when sitting or sleeping near the edge of the bed.
The Bear Trek received an average rating in ease of movement. Testers found they didn’t have much difficulty sitting up or changing positions on this mattress. While memory foam can sometimes limit range of movement, testing indicated the Bear Trek’s memory foam layers were thin and firm enough to offset this tendency.
Testers did note the lack of bounce often found in latex or hybrid mattresses. However, the Trek’s firmness level helps prevent sleepers from sinking too deeply, making it easier for sleepers to switch positions.
Testing indicated that the Bear Trek Mattress releases some off-gassing odors. Foam materials tend to release odors when they are first taken out of their packaging. Bear’s mattresses, however, are CertiPUR-US certified. This means the foam has been tested to make sure it is free of certain toxic chemicals.
Sleepers should only notice a light smell when they first unbox the mattress. The odors are not considered harmful and should dissipate within a few days.
Sleep Foundation Special Offer
35% off + 2 free pillows at Bear. Code: SF35
The Bear Trek Mattress is specially designed for RVs. The mattress’ construction reflects Bear’s goal of making a reasonably priced and comfortable mattress that fits in most recreational vehicles.
The cover material consists of a quilted polyester fiber blended with Celliant fabric technology. Celliant, which is featured in all Bear mattresses, is designed to be cooling as well as restorative after exercise and other physical activities.
The comfort system consists of two separate 1-inch layers of memory foam. The top layer is a gel-infused memory foam intended to boost thermal regulation. The Trek’s support core is a 6-inch layer of high-density polyfoam.
At 8 inches in height, the Trek should fit into most RVs. Anything taller may not be viable in RVs with tight quarters. Since the mattress has thinner comfort layers, it may not be sufficiently supportive for some sleepers over 230 pounds. Despite this, the Bear Trek should be an upgrade for most sleepers when compared to standard mattresses that come with many RVs.
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Firmness
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Firm – 7
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Mattress Type
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Foam
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Construction
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Cover Material:
Quilted Polyester with Celliant Fibers
Comfort Layer:
1” Gel-Infused Memory Foam
1” Memory Foam
Support Core:
6” Polyfoam
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Mattress Prices and Sizing
The Bear Trek is a quality RV mattress that is available at a reasonable and competitive price-point. For people who regularly use their RV, upgrading to the Bear Trek Mattress can provide added comfort and support to enhance sleep quality on the road.
The Bear Trek comes in only three sizes: RV Bunk, RV Queen, and RV King. These sizes are not the same dimensions as standard mattresses. At 60 inches wide by 74 inches long, the RV Queen is 6 inches shorter than a typical queen size mattress.
Before buying any new mattress for your RV, it’s important to measure your RV’s bed dimensions to ensure you purchase a mattress size that will fit. Additionally, be sure to buy the right size bedding and accessories for your RV mattress.
Sleep Foundation Special Offer
35% off + 2 free pillows at Bear. Code: SF35
Trial, Warranty, and Shipping Policies
Availability Bear offers shipping to addresses in all 50 U.S. states. The Bear Trek can be purchased from Bear’s online store. A limited number of other third-party online retailers also sell the Bear Trek.
Bear features their mattresses in a number of mattress showrooms across the country. You can find a list of these showrooms on the company website. Since the Bear Trek is not sold in standard sizes, shoppers can call a store before visiting to confirm that they carry this specific mattress.
Shipping Bear ships to any U.S. address via FedEx. Shipping is free in the contiguous 48 states and arrives within two to seven business days of the order being placed. Shipping to Alaska or Hawaii is available for an additional fee.
The Bear Trek will be delivered rolled up and vacuum sealed in a box. Bear advises that you unpack your mattress inside the RV where you plan to use it. The mattress will quickly reach its full size within 24 hours, but you can start using it immediately.
Additional Services For an additional cost, Bear offers White Glove delivery and old mattress removal via a partner company called LoadUp. Shoppers who choose this option can expect to pay a $100 to $200 fee.
Sleep Trial Bear offers a 120-night sleep trial for the Trek mattress, during which you can return the mattress if you aren’t happy with it. Before requesting a return, Bear asks that you try out the mattress for at least 30 nights so that your body has a chance to adjust to it. If you opt for a return, Bear will provide a full refund or a mattress exchange.
Warranty All Bear mattresses come with a non-transferable limited lifetime warranty. This warranty protects against defects, including excessive sag in the mattress and any flaws resulting from the manufacturing process. If your mattress has a defect, you’ll be provided with a new mattress of the same model.
Still have questions?
Our product experts have extensive experience testing just about every sleep product on the market. Send an email to [email protected] or call us at (877) 672-8966 with your questions and we’ll help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
Written By
Lauren Fountain,
Senior Product Editor
Lauren is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with extensive experience researching and testing a wide variety of sleep products.
Learn more about our Editorial Team
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