I’ve struggled with sleep for most of my adult life, but this past year I’ve really tried to be proactive about my sleep habits. I tracked my sleep with the Oura Ring, tested several pillows for side sleepers, and incorporated techniques to help me fall asleep faster. So when I had the chance to test the Helix Midnight Luxe mattress, a highly rated mattress for side sleepers, I jumped at the chance to try it out.
Your sleeping position should be one of the first things to consider when shopping for the best mattress for you. If you’re a side sleeper like me, you know how hard it is to find the right amount of firmness and support for your body. “For side sleepers, mattresses with some amount of stretch may be optimal for relieving pressure through the hip and shoulder,” Naimish Baxi, MD, physiatrist at the Special Surgery Hospital, SELF previously said. Not having the right amount of firmness and cushion to support the extra weight of your shoulders, hips and knees can ultimately lead to back and shoulder pain, which I have experienced a lot throughout my life. I was excited to try this Helix mattress because the company claims its memory foam is optimal for side sleeper pressure point relief.
Below is my full review of the Helix Midnight Luxe mattress. If you’re interested in other Helix mattresses, check out our reviews of the Helix Plus mattress and the Birch Luxe Natural mattress (part of the Helix brand).
How I tested
I’ve slept on the Midnight Luxe mattress for over six months, and it’s one of the best mattresses I’ve slept on (hence why I continued to sleep on it after the first three weeks of testing). I used SELF’s mattress buying guide to review the Helix mattress. This guide uses sleep experts’ criteria for support, comfort, temperature, motion transfer, and more to help you choose the right mattress.
The initial setup
Since Helix is a mattress-in-a-box brand, the bed was delivered to my door in a nice rectangular box. However, there were numerous rips and tears on the box (probably due to shipping), and it was a very heavy lifting. I live with my boyfriend and we were able to lug him up three floors, but it was a tough undertaking. You’ll need an extra pair of hands if you live alone or don’t have an elevator. Once opened it was also a bit difficult to put it on the bed frame as there are no handles on the side of the mattress to help you move it around.
Sleep quality
I’m mostly a side and stomach sleeper; I start on my side, and after falling asleep, I move onto my belly. Usually I wake up a lot during the night and have trouble staying asleep (probably because I toss and turn to find the right position). With the Midnight Luxe, I noticed that I fell asleep more easily, and every time I woke up, I fell back asleep quickly. When I use this mattress, I feel well rested when I get up in the morning and I’m happy to report that I haven’t experienced any shoulder or back pain.
Support
With the Luxe mattress series from Helix, you can choose between six different mattress types. Choices are broken down by feel (soft, medium, or firm), and within each of these levels you can choose between side sleeper or back and stomach sleeper options. I went for the medium feel for side sleepers (Midnight Luxe), but I think I should have chosen the firm feel for side sleepers (Twilight Luxe), because I sleep with a partner and need to that extra level of firmness in a mattress. If you are not sure which option to choose, you can take the Helix sleep quiz to match you with the right mattress.
Comfort
As mentioned, the Midnight Luxe is a great mattress for side sleepers, and I slept very comfortably on it night after night. The only area that could be improved is that I experienced some sinking. If you’re sleeping with someone, there’s usually a slight dip in the mattress when you’re right next to the person. Luckily my partner and I have enough space on our queen size mattress that the dip isn’t too deep, but it is noticeable. If I’m sleeping alone that’s not a problem, but if you’re sleeping with a partner I’d recommend going for a firmer feel. Previously, I slept on the Tempur-Pedic Breeze mattress, which was very firm, so I had that to compare it to, and in terms of firmness, the Tempur-Pedic comes out on top. However, the Midnight Luxe has a very luxurious top cushion which appeals to me.
Temperature
I started testing this mattress at the end of June, and throughout the summer it kept me cool on summer nights. Every time I jumped into bed, it was nice to feel cool sheets under me and never wake up sweating. Now that it’s winter, it’s actually a little too cool for me because i like to be very comfortable and warm at night.
