We tested a $349 cooling mattress and compared it to our $1,200 top-rated bed for hot sleepers — here's which one to buy in 4th of July sales

The Bear Elite Hybrid is the highest-scoring cooling mattress we've tested, scoring a perfect 5/5 for temperature regulation in our lab tests. That cooling tech comes at a price of around $1,370 for a queen Bear Elite Hybrid at Bear, so I was keen to test the cheaper SweetNight CoolNest Mattress, from $329.99 at SweetNight, to see how they compare.

The Bear Elite Hybrid is made with state-of-the-art cooling tech, but the CoolNest also sports some top-tier temperature-controlling materials. But how much cooling do you get for each price tag? And does $1,000 really make a huge difference?

In this SweetNight CoolNest vs Bear Elite comparison, I'm exploring the key differences in price and temperature regulation (learn about how we test mattresses). Here's a breakdown of what each has to offer hot sleepers browsing the 4th of July mattress sales or a new bed.

SweetNight CoolNest vs Bear Elite Hybrid: 4th of July deals compared

• Both beds are 40% off for the 4th of July – use the code TOMS40 at Bear
• A queen CoolNest in on sale for $399; a queen Elite is on sale for $1,370
• Bear offers a longer sleep trial and much longer warranty, plus free returns

Save 42%

SweetNight CoolNest Memory Foam Mattress (queen): was $599.99 now $349.99 at Sweetnight (US)

SweetNight is now hosting a 40% off sitewide sale, which means a queen is under $400 and a full size is under $349.99. (We've seen a full for $359.99 in the past.) No matter when you buy you'll get three benefits: a 100-night sleep trial, a 10-year warranty, and a free shipping.

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Save 40%

Bear Elite Hybrid Mattress (queen): was $1,998 now $1,198 at Bear Mattress

Th general public sale is 35% off site wide, but use our TOMS40 code at checkout and you'll get a queen size for $1,370.40 (was $2,284). That's not the cheapest price we've seen it sell for this year, but it is still competitive for the best cooling mattress for most body types and all sleeping positions. Benefits include 120-night trial, a lifetime warranty, and free shipping.

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If a smaller price tag is your priority when buying a cooling mattress, then the SweetNight CoolNest is your main option. It costs $399.99 for a queen (was $699.99) thanks to the current 40% saving. We haven't seen a cheaper deal on the CoolNest this year, so now is a good time to buy.

The Bear Elite Hybrid, while over three times the price of the Sweetnight, is excellent value for money when you consider the build quality, the level of cooling technology baked in, and how durable this bed is. With the code TOMS40 you can save 40% on this luxury hotel mattress for hot sleepers, adding up to a massive saving on the queen and larger sizes.

The Bear Elite Hybrid also has better benefits. For example, Bear offers a lifetime warranty and a 120-night sleep trial. SweetNight offers a 10-year warranty and a 100-night sleep trial.

Shipping is free for both, but while Bear offers free returns within the sleep trial, SweetNight only offers a full refund "under specific circumstances". So the Bear is much easier to exchange or return.

SweetNight CoolNest vs Bear Elite Hybrid: Temperature regulation

• The Bear Elite Hybrid uses a Celliant Infrared Cover to regulate temperature
• The CoolNest uses Phase Change Material (PCM) to dissipate heat
• The Bear absorbed less heat and shed it faster than the Sweetnight

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The Plank Luxe mattress features springs and foams...

The Firm is all-foam, with little padding between you and the support core

The Bear Elite Hybrid is one of the best hybrid mattresses we've tested. It has a design that's intrinsically more cooling than memory foam beds thanks to its addition of airflow-boosting coils. The Elite Hybrid also utilizes a Celliant cover for cooling, with this 'next-gen' textile converting body heat into infrared energy.

The Sweetnight CoolNest is a memory foam mattress that uses Phase Change Material (PCM) to dissipate heat. It's also found in rival affordable cooling mattress the Cocoon by Sealy Chill.

Both mattresses regulate temperature while you sleep, but there's a big difference in how they work, how they feel, and what the lab data tells us.

When testing the Sweetnight CoolNest, I was struck by how cool-to-the-touch the cover was. My fellow tester, Ruth Jones, felt the same: "I was taken aback by just how silky and cool the SweetNight CoolNest mattress felt," she said.

"I've slept on cheap foam mattresses before and been disappointed in the temperature regulation, but the SweetNight was a different experience. Even after lying on it for several minutes, I was surprised at how cool it remained."

However, Ruth was also involved in lab testing the Bear Elite Hybrid, and she said that she could definitely feel a difference in how cool the Bear felt versus the Sweetnight.

"The Bear felt airier (probably due to the coils), which allowed it to maintain a cooler feel for longer."

Ruth's hands-on observation of the Bear and SweetNight's cooling properties is also reflected in our objective data.

In our temperature regulation tests (which we use a thermal camera to carry out), the Bear Elite absorbed much less heat and shed it much faster than the SweetNight.

The SweetNight had a maximum temperature increase (MTI) of 15.2°F, compared to the Bear's MTI of 10.5°F.

Which cooling mattress should you buy in 4th of July sales?

Pros and cons of the SweetNight CoolNest...

✅ Has a smaller price tag: The SweetNight is the most obvious choice if you're working with a smaller budget.

✅ Has a classic memory foam hug: The SweetNight is a classic body-cradling mattress, so it's a top choice for a side and back sleepers.

✅ Has a sturdier edges: Edges are supportive, which makes it easier to get in and out of bed.

❌ Comes 2nd in cooling: While we were thoroughly impressed by how the cool-to-the-touch CoolNest dissipated heat, it didn't provide the rapid cooling rate of the Bear Elite.

❌ Too soft for stomach sleepers: The CoolNest supported side and back sleepers thanks to it medium to medium-firm support, but stomach sleepers will need something firmer.

Pros and cons of the Bear Elite Hybrid...

✅ Offers maximum cooling: The Bear Elite had the faster cooling rate and absorbed less body heat.

✅ Comes with better benefits: The Bear Elite offers a lifetime warranty, free shipping and returns, and a 120-night sleep trial.

✅ Three firmness options: The Bear Elite comes in a Soft, Medium, and Firm.

❌ Not the most budget-friendly: At over $1,300 for a queen, the Bear Elite is a luxury spend

❌ You have mobility issues: Edge support is a weak spot in the Bear Elite Hybrid, so you may want to reconsider if you need a boost when getting in and out of bed.

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