Several factors contribute to a good night’s rest, and the comfort of your mattress can make a major difference in your sleep quality. Sleeping on the wrong mattress can lead to hip and back pain, which can cause restless nights and sleep deficiency. Mattress firmness, how well a mattress relieves pressure, and responsiveness (or bounce) are all details to consider when shopping.
Our team researches all these components when evaluating mattresses and ranks them to help you make the most informed choice. This review focuses on the Helix Midnight, a hybrid mattress that combines memory foam and innersprings. The Handbook Team thinks the Midnight strikes a good balance between support, contouring, and pressure relief to serve a variety of sleepers.
Read on to see how our testers ranked the Helix Midnight in the most important performance categories and whether it’s the right mattress for you.
Our verdict on the Helix Midnight
We think the Helix Midnight is a great choice for people looking for both soft contouring and firm support because of its hybrid construction of memory foam and an innerspring core. In our roundup of the best mattresses, the Helix Midnight is our best overall pick.
The Midnight’s initial three layers of memory foam offer some sinkage While some softer mattresses offer good contouring sinkage, sinkage is also a result of wear and tear. Foam materials especially sink over time, resulting in a sagging feeling, which provides less support. , which helps relieve pressure points The parts of a sleeper’s body that have the hardest contact with the bed surface, such as the shoulder, hips, ribcage, and tailbone. for people who sleep on their back or side. The core layer of individually encased coils provides the support needed for sleepers of all weights and helps keep the spine in a neutral position A position that allows for the spine to maintain its natural curves at the neck (cervical), middle (thoracic), and lower (lumbar) regions. .
Combination sleepers People who sleep in multiple positions throughout the night. For example, a person might be a back-and-side sleeper or a stomach-and-back sleeper. may appreciate how responsive Good responsiveness means the mattress has a bouncier surface that responds to pressure or the sleeper’s movements, making it easier to move around and switch positions. the mattress is to their movement, but couples may find the bouncier surface doesn’t work for them since it transfers motion from one side of the bed to the other too easily. A mattress with good motion isolation The containment of movement on one area of a mattress so it doesn’t impact other areas. is important for people who share a bed and are easily awakened.
HelpGuide Handbook’s testing methodology and score breakdown
Our testing methodology includes a five-factor score breakdown, which our hands-on product testing team uses to rate these products. Here’s how the Helix Midnight mattress fared:
Pressure relief: 4.2/5
The Helix Midnight’s first couple of layers are made with memory foam, so sleepers should experience good contouring and pressure relief while on this mattress. So far, our testers have felt a nice level of sinkage in the hip area when on their backs and sides, but they have noticed some pressure buildup in the shoulder area.
Overall, we think the Helix Midnight is good for relieving pressure for back sleepers, but side sleepers may want to explore softer options that offer more pressure relief across the length of the body.
Firmness: 7/10
It’s important to know that a mattress may feel different based on your weight and sleeping position. For that reason, we work with testers with different body types to develop our final score. On a scale of one to 10, with one being the softest and 10 being the firmest, we rate the Helix Midnight a seven, placing it in the firm category.
The layers of memory foam give the immediate impression of sinkage, but the supportive steel coils provide a level of support that makes this mattress feel firm overall.
If you’re looking for a softer or firmer mattress, Helix sells other models that may suit your preferences. For a softer feel, you may want to consider the Helix Sunset, designed specifically for side sleepers, or the Helix Moonlight, designed for back and stomach sleepers. People who want a firmer mattress may want to look at the Helix Dusk, the Helix Twilight, or the Helix Dawn, which are designed to support several different sleeping styles.
Helix also offers a collection of Luxe mattresses with a premium pillow top cover over layers of contouring foam and memory foam, along with other luxury add-ons. The brand’s Elite collection includes a quilted pillow top with embedded cooling and layers of dual micro-coils between layers of foam for added contouring and support.
Motion isolation: 3.5/5
Motion isolation refers to how well a mattress isolates motion transfer across its surface. When a mattress has poor motion isolation, sleepers may be awakened when their bed partner moves around. Little to no motion is detected when a mattress has good motion isolation. Couples who share a bed for sleeping often prioritize motion isolation for better rest, but the same holds true for people who let their pets or kids sleep in bed with them.
We use various tests to evaluate motion transfer The degree of movement felt on one side of the mattress when a sleeping partner moves on the other side of the bed. , including dropping a weighted ball on the bed and measuring the disturbance with a seismometer While seismometers are instruments used to test the motion of the ground during an earthquake, we use a similar tool to measure movement across mattresses. . We also have one tester lie on the bed while another jumps on the opposite side.
During our tests, we found the Helix Midnight did an okay job of isolating motion, but we noticed some disturbances that prevented us from scoring it higher than 3.5. The coils in the mattress give it some bounce, which can easily translate into motion transfer. If you’re looking for reliable motion isolation, you may want to explore memory foam mattresses.
Cooling: 2.5/5
Hybrid and innerspring mattresses typically sleep cooler than memory foam mattresses because air can circulate more easily through the coils. The Helix Midnight is a hybrid made with both memory foam and innerspring coils. Although the Midnight comes with a cover designed to be breathable, our testers felt that some of the heat generated while resting on the mattress didn’t properly dissipate.
Because of this, we gave the Helix Midnight a 2.5 out of 5 for cooling. If you’re interested in the Midnight but want more cooling features, you can upgrade any Helix mattress to the GlacioTex Cooling cover, designed to dissipate heat more efficiently.
Edge support: 4.2/5
Edge support refers to how well the mattress edge holds up when pressure is placed on it. This is an important factor for couples since they use more of the bed’s surface area and for people with mobility issues who need to use the edge of the bed for support.
To test edge support, we sit on the edge of the bed and lean down to apply pressure and see if it dips toward the floor. We also lie close to the edge of the bed, parallel to the perimeter. If we don’t notice dipping or sagging in these tests, we conclude that the mattress has strong edge support.
The Helix Midnight scored above average in this category. Our testers feel well-supported and stable when lying close to the edge. They don’t feel it collapsing under their weight, which means it’s a good option for couples and people who need to use the edge for mobility reasons.
Bounce: 3/5
A mattress’s bounce contributes to how well it isolates motion and how well sleepers are able to reposition themselves—for example, changing from their left side to their right side. Because bounce is associated with innerspring mattresses, many may prefer a mattress with bounce.
We test mattress bounce by dropping a dumbbell on its surface and noting how many times it bounces (or doesn’t bounce). We gave the Helix Midnight a 3 out of 5 in this category. The Midnight has innersprings that give the mattress a natural bounce, but some of that bounce is tempered by the primary layers of dense memory foam.
If you’re looking for more bounce, you might consider a hybrid mattress that uses latex (which is naturally more bouncy than memory foam). If you want even less bounce, consider 100 percent memory foam.
Family: 3.7/5
This score refers to how comfortable the mattress is for a family to sleep together on a mattress. We measure a combination of overall support, edge support, cooling, and motion transfer to arrive at our score.
Since multiple people are on the bed in this case, we want to see how well the mattress performs under the additional weight. To do this, multiple testers lie on the bed simultaneously to simulate a family. Our testers say they feel well supported, but they do notice the mattress warming up a bit over time. We also found that the edge support with multiple people is average, but the weight distribution feels even overall.
Our testing experience
Purchase mattress as mystery shoppers.
Set up mattress in testing lab.
Lie on mattress and rank firmness.
Lie on back, side, and stomach to find the best sleeping position.
Place 10-pound ball in mattress center and measure sinkage.
Find biggest pressure points using pressure map reading.
Evaluate cooling capabilities by recording temperature differences.
Drop 10-pound ball onto mattress to measure bounce score.
Test motion isolation.
Test edge support.
Calculate composite scores.
The Handbook Team hand-tests every mattress we review. We evaluate brands and models by recording our findings on a 42-question standardized testing form to identify standout features and services, document issues with each product, and describe our personal experience lying on each mattress. For example, we record:
- Firmness score and whether the mattress is best for back, side, or stomach sleepers.
- Starting temperature of the mattress and how much it heats up after two testers lie on the mattress for five minutes.
- How many times a 10-pound ball bounces on the mattress after dropping from a height of two feet in order to arrive at a mattress bounce score.
We pay close attention to specific considerations that sleepers of all ages seek, as identified by respondents in our survey of 600 mattress owners. This includes price, features, and the set-up process. We also interview real people to better understand the motivations behind shopping for a new mattress, as well as the benefits of purchasing one.
According to our survey
According to our survey, about 80 percent of all respondents say their new mattress helps them sleep better, and 65 percent report improved mental health.
As our testers evaluate each brand and its features, we consider why many people choose a new mattress in the first place. We consult sleep experts, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and pain specialists to understand what mattresses offer that make an overwhelmingly positive impact.
Of our respondents, 42 percent decided to purchase a new mattress for “improved comfort and support for better sleep,” while only seven percent did so for “pain relief and targeted support.” The most common pain reported was lower back pain, which is why we reviewed the best mattresses for back pain.
Despite only 42 percent of respondents prioritizing comfort and support for better sleep when shopping for a new mattress, 68 percent report sleeping longer on their new mattress, and 49 percent and 45 percent, respectively, say their stress and anxiety has improved after switching to their new mattress. Almost all mattress owners we surveyed (95 percent) are at least somewhat satisfied with their new mattress.
In order to focus on the mattresses themselves, we structure our test designs to objectively rank each one based on a range of criteria. For example, we test things like bounce, edge support (the sturdiness of your mattress edge), and cooling capabilities the same way on each mattress and then compare the results. That way we can accurately compare each mattress’s score in an unbiased way, while also sharing our subjective point of view as mattress testers and experts.
Lastly, we compare warranty lengths, trial periods, and white glove delivery (in-home delivery and setup) options. While most brands offer warranties, not all are comprehensive. And many brands on the market don’t have white glove delivery—free or otherwise. This could be a deal-breaker if you’re nervous about investing in a new mattress because you’re worried the bed won’t provide the support and comfort you need, or are unable to find assistance in setting the bed up yourself.
For more information, see how we test and review sleep products.
From our tester
“During our research, we realized that the brand’s firmness scale and perceived firmness aren’t always the same. We decided to report how firm we thought the mattress felt so that you can gain a different perspective, but more importantly, feel confident about what you’re purchasing.”
A note on our testing
We acknowledge that every body is different, and what feels comfortable to one person may not feel comfortable to another. Throughout our reviews, we refer to weight categories as lighter-weight (130 pounds or less), average-weight (130–250 pounds), and higher-weight (250 pounds or more) to distinguish between body weights.
Typically, lighter-weight sleepers perceive mattresses to feel firmer than they are, and higher-weight sleepers perceive mattresses to feel softer than they are. Keep in mind that most mattresses are designed for the average-weight person.
Helix Midnight mattress firmness and feel
The Helix Midnight has a classic firm feel, which is why we scored it a 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale. Because it has layers of memory foam, sleepers should experience some sinkage and contouring, adding some softness to its overall sturdy support.
From our tester
“The mattress offers gentle support for back sleepers.”
Helix Midnight mattress performance
Now that you know how well the Helix Midnight scored in the most important categories, let’s see which sleepers will fare best on this mattress based on that data.
Sleeping position and body weight
When evaluating the best sleeping position, our testers have felt the most comfortable lying on their backs and stomachs. On their backs, the mattress contours their lower back area, which is good news for back sleepers who need pressure relief in this area. They also feel their weight is evenly distributed in this position and their spine is in neutral alignment. This makes it a good mattress for higher-weight people (250+ pounds).
Stomach sleepers may appreciate how firm the Helix Midnight is and should also experience contouring in the hip area without too much dipping. Side sleepers will likely experience some contouring in the hip area but may feel some pressure buildup in the shoulder. Generally, side sleepers may want to explore softer options that offer more contouring and pressure relief.
Combination sleepers should be able to comfortably move around on the Helix Dawn due to the bounce provided by the innersprings.
Compare the Helix Midnight mattress for different sleeper types
| Lighter weight (less than 130 pounds) | Average weight (130–250 pounds) | Higher weight (more than 250 pounds) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back sleepers | Good (if you want a firm mattress) | Ideal | Good |
| Side sleepers | Poor | Good | Ideal |
| Stomach sleepers | Ideal | Good | Good |
| Combination sleepers | Ideal | Ideal | Good |
From our tester
“The foam layers are very responsive as far as foam goes, making this a good mattress for combo sleepers. Some contour in side sleeping makes it good, but not good enough to be ideal for these sleepers.”
Helix mattress pain relief performance
People who experience pain may appreciate the Helix Midnight’s use of memory foam in its first couple of layers. Since memory foam adapts to the body’s curves, it naturally relieves pressure buildup, which can help reduce pain and lead to more restorative sleep.
To evaluate pressure relief, we use a pressure map showing where pressure is building up in different body areas while resting on the mattress. Areas with high-pressure buildup are yellow, orange, or red, and areas with little pressure show as green and blue. Overall, we noticed mostly blue with a little green on the pressure map, which leads us to believe it would be a good fit for people dealing with pain.
Our overall thoughts about the Helix Midnight mattress
Our favorite things about the Helix Midnight
We love the Helix Midnight’s pressure-relieving capabilities due to the first two layers of memory foam, which offer contouring. It’s a great option for back and stomach sleepers who need pressure relief in the hip area but still want support to keep their spine in a neutral position. The hybrid construction also helps circulate air throughout the mattress, and the breathable cover helps keep things fresh.
The Helix Midnight may also appeal to people who need edge support for mobility or want to use the bed’s full surface area. Despite the use of memory foam, this mattress is responsive, which means combination sleepers can change positions comfortably throughout the night. Overall, we think the Helix Midnight is a good choice for back and stomach sleepers looking for pressure relief and support.
Our Helix Midnight mattress complaints
One area we feel the Helix Midnight lacks is motion transfer. It has a considerable bounce, meaning motion will transfer easily. People who co-sleep may want to explore mattresses made with 100 percent memory foam for reduced motion transfer.
Due to its firmer construction, side sleepers may also feel pressure buildup on this mattress. While it may work for some higher-weight (more than 250 pounds) side sleepers, lighter-weight (less than 130 pounds) side sleepers will likely feel it’s too firm to be comfortable on.
Frequently asked questions
Helix Mattresses come in a variety of firmness levels, including soft, medium, and firm. So, sleepers should be able to find a Helix mattress that suits their preferred firmness level.
Based on customer reviews, Helix mattresses are highly rated. Because they offer a wide range of mattresses in different firmness levels and prices, we think each type of sleeper will be able to find a Helix mattress that suits their needs. Other popular mattresses, like the Nectar mattress, may be more affordably priced, but we feel the quality of Helix mattresses justifies their price.
The least expensive Helix mattress costs $936.80, and the most expensive option costs $4,498.80.
Hybrid mattresses can last seven to 10 years.
Helix Mattresses come with a 10- or 15-year warranty depending on the model.