Helix Midnight Hybrid mattress review: a mattress made for marriage

There is something magical about having a queen size mattress appear on your doorstep neatly packaged into a box that could easily fit into the back of a midsize car. We wanted to see how the Helix Midnight stacked up against others in its class, so my partner and I tried one out over the course of several weeks. I also put it through a series of tests to see how well it tolerates weight, movement, and more.

My partner and I have extremely different sleep preferences. He prefers a softer mattress that helps alleviate his back pain, where I prefer a firmer feel that doesn’t make me feel like I am sinking. I appreciate that the Helix website has a helpful guide to the different types of mattresses they make that clearly lays out the benefits of each. The Helix Midnight looked like a great choice for my household since it has a medium feel that I expected both my partner and I to like, along with pressure point relief that I hoped would help alleviate my partner’s back pain.  

I’m happy to say that the Helix Midnight has a “just right” feel that works well for both of us, which makes the Helix Midnight a good choice for couples with very different sleep preferences. My partner says that his back pain hasn’t been as bad since we switched to the Helix Midnight, which is a relief for both of us.

Jamie Davis Smith

 Jamie Davis Smith is a product reviewer who’s been testing all types of bedding and sleep products for more than ten years. As a working mother of four, Jamie values a good night’s sleep above all else.

Her review of the Helix Midnight Mattress is based on her first-hand experience with the product. She and her partner slept on the mattress for just under a month before writing this review. They were sometimes joined by their young son. 

Helix Midnight Specifications

Unboxing the Helix Midnight

Ordering through the Helix website is easy. All Helix mattresses are made to order so it can be hard to tell how long it will take a mattress to arrive. After placing an order, Helix provides a link to check the status of the mattress. Helix then sends an email once the mattress is ready to ship along with tracking information so it’s easy to see from that point when the mattress will arrive. Although I wasn’t sure what to expect, I received my mattress 10 days after ordering which I thought was pretty fast.

My Helix was delivered by FedEx ground shipping. The mattress wasn’t carried all the way up to my front door, but my teenage daughter and I were easily able to get the box inside. The box was in good shape with minimal wear and tear. The only concern I had was that the box was marked as a twin and I had ordered a queen. Because the mattress is tightly compressed it was hard to tell what size it was when I first took it out of the box. I was a little nervous that I had received the wrong size, but as soon as the mattress started to decompress, I could tell right away it was a queen and was relieved.

Helix recommends removing the mattress from the box to the room where it will be used, but I found it easier to remove the mattress from the box and carry it to the bedroom where it was I planned on doing my testing.

The mattress and complimentary pillows were compressed using several layers of thick plastic. Cutting through the layers took a long time, in part because I was worried about slicing the mattress in the process and cut through each layer very slowly. However, once I got through the layers of thick plastic and the mattress began to decompress, I realized that it was also wrapped in a thinner protective layer of plastic, so I probably didn’t need to be quite as cautious in my cutting as I had been.

Once I cut off the layers of plastic, the mattress seemed to achieve its full shape and 11.5” of height almost immediately. However, since the instructions said that it could take one to two hours for the Helix to fully decompress, I resisted the urge to jump on and test it out right away. I was relieved there were no unpleasant off-gassing odors. I slept on the mattress that night.

What's it like to sleep on the Helix Midnight mattress?

When I first lay down on the Helix Midnight I felt like I was sinking into the top, but I still felt supported. The mattress is advertised as being good for side sleepers. I think this is accurate. I tend to flip from my side to my stomach throughout the night. While on my side I didn’t have any pain in my hips, which is something I tend to experience with firmer mattresses. Yet, the mattress still felt firm enough that I was not uncomfortable when on my stomach. My partner felt that the mattress provided plushness and that it helped his back pain. This is probably due in part to the mattress's integrated pressure point relief. Overall, I rate the Helix a 6.5 or 7 for firmness.

Perhaps the biggest indication of this mattress was my sleep score. I’m devoted to wearing my sleep tracker, and while I try to practice good sleep hygiene my “sleep score” is usually in the 70s. There are a lot of factors that go into a good night’s sleep, but I was thrilled when I woke up on the third night of sleeping on the Helix and discovered that my sleep score was 98 – the highest it’s ever been. I strongly suspect that the Helix Midnight played a role in my getting a higher sleep score than ever before. On subsequent nights my sleep score was lower, but still higher than average, so I think the Helix Midnight is helping me get a better night’s sleep.

Weight test

To test the firmness of the Helix Midnight, I put a 25-pound weight on the mattress. The knit cover noticeably pulled under the strain and the weight clearly sank into the top layer, although not much. This test confirmed my initial impressions that the top is plush but the memory foam underneath provides support.

Breathability

I tend to sleep hot, so I am wary of memory foam mattresses that have a reputation for being hot. To take care of this problem, the Helix Midnight comes with a Breathable Soft Touch knitted cover that provides extra airflow. I wasn’t too hot sleeping with the included cover. However, Helix does sell an upgraded cooling cover that I was open to buying if necessary to make the mattress more comfortable. 

Motion isolation

 Motion isolation is not the best feature of the Helix Midnight. I put a glass of water on the mattress and walked around. The water moved in the glass no matter how close or far away I was from the glass. When I put a weight next to the glass, the glass noticeably tipped to the side. 

When I was awake on the mattress, I could feel when my partner shifted position. However, when I was asleep I never woke up due to his movements. Because of this, even though motion isolation could be better, it’s not poor enough to affect sleep for most people.  

Edge support

 To provide extra support along the long edges of the matter, the Helix Midnight includes reinforced coils along the sides. Because I have a young child who often winds up in bed with me at night, I frequently find myself pushed to the side of my mattress, so this is a very appealing feature for me.

However, the Helix Midnight didn’t perform well on my edge support test. I put a glass of water on the edge and walked around the mattress. The water sloshed around quite a bit in the glass. When I put a 25-pound weight close to the glass, the glass tipped over far enough that water spilled out even though the glass was not filled to the top.

Freebies

I received two complimentary Dream Pillows with my Helix mattress. Although I was looking forward to trying what I had assumed would be high-quality pillows to match the quality of the mattress, I was disappointed. The pillows are thin and were not comfortable for me or my partner. Because the pillows were compressed during shipping, I put them aside for a few days to see if they would fluff up. They didn’t. I probably won’t keep them long-term. Whether or not the pillows add value depends on whether you like softer pillows or not. 

Construction and materials

The Helix Midnight has five layers, including memory foam and coils. The bottom layer is made of dense foam that provides a sturdy base for the rest of the mattress. On top of the base layer are hundreds of coils that Helix says help limit motion transfer and cradle the body. Next, there are two layers of high-grade polyform that provide ergonomic support. On top of the polyform is a layer of memory foam that cushions the body and provides pressure relief. The fifth and final layer is a cooling cover. The knit cover is not removable, so the mattress needs to be spot cleaned if it gets dirty.

At 11.5” this mattress is not as high as many hybrid mattresses. However, the mattress still has a plush feel. I was pleased that the sheets I own for an older innerspring mattress fit the Helix Midnight well as a result.      

Returns and warranty

Because it can take 30 days to break in a new mattress and get used to a new feel, Helix does not allow returns within the first 30 days. However, after the 30-day break-in period, Helix allows returns anytime during the next 100 days. That adds up to more than three months, which should be enough time for anyone to decide whether they like a new mattress or not. If a mattress is returned, Helix tries to donate it to someone in need but that isn’t always possible depending on local laws and the condition of the mattress. 

The Helix midnight comes with a 10-year limited warranty that covers defects in workmanship. The warranty is only valid if the original owner has the mattress. Some premium Helix mattresses come with a 15-year warranty.  

How does the Helix Midnight rate online?

Overall, online reviewers rate the Helix Midnight very highly. Many comment that it helped their various aches and pains. Of those who rate the mattress poorly, some comment that it is too soft while others comment that it is too firm. That is probably the result of the “medium” firmness of the Helix not being a great fit for everyone. 

Final thoughts

The Helix Midnight is a good value for a hybrid mattress. The medium firmness makes it a great choice for couples who have different firmness preferences or for a guest room where people with varying preferences will sleep. 

The pressure point relief makes the Helix Midnight a great deal for anyone seeking relief from pain. Those who prefer a softer or firmer feel can check out the other mattresses Helix makes.