Eight Sleep Pod 6 vs Orion vs Bear Elite Hybrid: Which cooling mattress is really worth your money this Black Friday? We've lab tested them all and here's our recommendation for every type of sleeper

When it comes to cooling mattresses, the Bear Elite Hybrid stands out as the top performer in our tests. However, we've also had the chance to test the Eight Sleep Pod 6 and Orion Sleep System, two other smart mattresses that utilize active cooling technology. These high-tech systems have impressive cooling capabilities, but they come with a higher price tag. During Black Friday mattress and sleep sales, it's essential to consider price, deals, and features when choosing the best cooling mattress for your needs.

Eight Sleep, Orion, and Bear Elite Hybrid differ in terms of pricing, subscription options, and trial periods. The Eight Sleep Pod 6 is the most expensive of the three, with a queen-size cover priced at $2,899 MSRP. The Orion Sleep System is more affordable, with an MSRP of $2,395 for queen-size. The Bear Elite Hybrid, on the other hand, is an upper-mid-range hybrid mattress with an MSRP of $2,284 for a queen-size. However, regular Bear mattress sales can bring the price down to as low as $1,370.40.

Eight Sleep requires a mandatory subscription starting at $17/month, which includes sleep tracking and is essential for operating the Pod. Orion offers an optional sleep tracking subscription for $250/year, while Bear mattress sales are subscription-free. Bear also boasts a 365-night sleep trial and a limited lifetime warranty, making it the most generous in terms of trial period and warranty coverage.

Orion and Eight Sleep both offer a 30-night trial and a 2-year warranty, which is less favorable when compared to Bear's offerings.