NCOA’s Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers of 2026: Bear Hybrid Elite

National Council on Aging recognizes the Bear Elite Hybrid for responsive support across side, back, and stomach sleeping positions.

Bear Mattress is proud to share that the Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress has been named Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) in its Best Mattresses of 2026 guide.

Published in August of 2026, NCOA’s expert-reviewed guide evaluates mattresses based on factors including pressure relief, motion isolation, cooling, edge support, pain relief, and accessibility. For this specific roundup, NCOA says its team personally tested 30 mattresses identified through its research for their pain-relief features and potential to help people get more restful sleep.

More broadly, NCOA reports spending more than 2,500 hours researching and testing mattresses, putting more than 130 models through 19 different tests at its in-house lab, mystery-shopping more than 40 brands, surveying more than 2,000 older adults, working with older adult testers, consulting sleep specialists, interviewing experts, and reviewing verified customer feedback.

Against that backdrop, NCOA selected the Bear Elite Hybrid (in Firm) as its Best Mattress for Combination Sleepers, citing its responsiveness and support across different sleeping positions.

“The Elite’s ability to respond to movement and offer support where needed helps keep the spine properly positioned throughout the night. Testers also rated this mattress 4/5 for its ability to stay cool, which helps keep you comfortable."

Why NCOA Chose the Bear Elite Hybrid for Combination Sleepers

Combination sleepers regularly change positions during the night, which means their mattress needs to accommodate more than one way of sleeping.

NCOA chose the Bear Elite Hybrid because of its ability to support sleepers who move among their back, side, and stomach. The organization specifically highlighted the mattress’s responsiveness, noting that its bounce can assist with the movement required to change positions.

Council testers rated the Bear Elite Hybrid’s bounce 4 out of 5. According to the review, that responsiveness helps the mattress adapt as a sleeper moves instead of making position changes more difficult.

"This mattress provides even support, no matter what position you end up in. Our testers gave this mattress equally high marks for pressure relief when they were lying on their sides, backs, or stomachs."

NCOA also reported that testers gave the mattress equally high marks for pressure relief while lying on their sides, backs, and stomachs. The review notes that the Elite Hybrid offers even support regardless of sleeping position and that its responsiveness helps provide support where needed as sleepers move throughout the night.

Cooling Performance Also Stands Out in NCOA Testing

Cooling was another strong point for the Bear Elite Hybrid.

NCOA gave the mattress a 4 out of 5 cooling score and described it as promoting airflow for a cool feel. The review also notes the mattress’s copper-infused materials and heat-wicking construction.

In NCOA’s Bear Elite Hybrid testing, the team measured the mattress’s resting temperature, heated its surface, allowed it to cool, and measured the temperature again. NCOA reported an increase of only 3.5 degrees, from 64.9°F to 68.4°F, which it described as one of the smallest increases among the mattresses tested. NCOA ultimately identified the Elite Hybrid as one of the better beds its team tried for preventing heat buildup.

Bear Elite Hybrid's NCOA Scores, Pros, and Cons 

The following information comes directly from the NCOA's The Best Mattresses of 2026: Advice and Reviews from Experts article. 

Elite Hybrid Performance Scores

• Overall: 7.9/10 
• Pressure Relief: 3/5
• Accessibility: 3.54/5
• Cooling 4/5
• Motion Isolation: 2/5
  

Read NCOA’s full Best Mattresses of 2026 review for its complete testing results, methodology, rankings, and mattress recommendations.