Give your bedroom—and your back—a luxurious upgrade with the Helix Midnight Elite mattress.
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We Found the Secret to Deep, Restful Sleep with the Helix Midnight Elite Mattress
Updated on Apr. 26, 2024
It’s been five years since I graduated from college. In that time, I’ve made countless adjustments to my living space, like updating furniture, tackling minor apartment projects and investing in a fancy Dyson vacuum cleaner. But the one thing that hasn’t received an upgrade? My old mattress.
“Prioritizing a quality mattress can have significant positive effects on your back and neck health, as well as your overall sleep quality,” says Chelsey Borson, a certified sleep consultant and founder of Luna Leaps. “I recently worked with a client who was experiencing chronic back pain and poor sleep,” Borson adds. “Within a few weeks of switching to the new mattress, the client reported significant improvement in their back pain and better sleep quality.”
After months of increasingly restless sleep myself—and even some minor neck pain—I knew it was time for a change. I traded in my old hunk of foam for a top-of-the-line Helix Midnight Elite mattress. After nine months of restful testing, here’s how it has performed.
On This Page
What is the Helix Midnight Elite mattress?
The Helix Midnight is designed for side sleepers who prefer a medium firmness, and the Elite line is the brand’s top-tier offering. It measures 16 inches tall with five layers of high-density foam. It claims to cushion, cool and cradle while you sleep, resulting in a “restorative sleep experience.”
As a brand, Helix offers made-to-order mattresses that ship directly to their customer’s doors. They use premium materials and merge the quality of a mattress store with the ease of bed-in-a-box delivery. Bonus: Pair it with the Eight Sleep Pod Pro Cover to instantly turn your new mattress into a smart bed.
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We Tried It
Helix Midnight Elite Mattress
As Helix's top-tier offering, the Midnight Elite measures 16 inches tall with five layers of high-density foam to cushion, cool and cradle you while you sleep.
Helix Midnight Elite Mattress Features
- Features five foam layers
- Measures five to six on the mattress firmness scale
- Includes hundreds of individually wrapped steel coils for maximum support
- Splits the weight and design into two separate layers: the base and the comfort insert
- Uses GlacioTex technology for a cool night’s sleep
- Weighs 172 pounds
- Includes two free Dream pillows
- Made in the U.S.
- 100-night sleep trial
- 15-year warranty
- Free shipping (mattress comes in two boxes)
How We Tested It
I’ve been sleeping on the queen-size Helix Midnight Elite mattress since April 2023. This is my honest experience.
Choosing the Mattress
Let’s face it: Shopping for a mattress is overwhelming. Even more so online when you can’t physically feel your options. But Helix solves this problem with a smart Sleep Quiz. It helped me find my perfect mattress fit before adding it to my cart.
The quiz includes questions about whether you’re shopping solo or with a partner, body metrics like age, height and weight, sleeping positions and preferred mattress feel. The whole process took less than a minute, and I was able to shop with greater confidence.
Helix also has a handy Mattress Comparison Tool if you’re deciding between a variety of models. The Sleep Quiz matched me with the Helix Midnight, but I wanted to investigate the Midnight Luxe and Midnight Elite, too. I was able to see all three models’ features side-by-side. Multiple tabs aren’t needed!
Editor’s note: I did learn after the fact that Helix has partner showrooms if you’d like to test mattress options in person.
Ordering Process
To further calm any nerves, I could order easily, knowing Helix offers a 100-night sleep trial. Per the brand’s website, if you’re unhappy with your mattress for any reason, you can return it for a full refund.
After researching all my options, I landed on the Helix Midnight Elite. I was eager to test the luxurious comfort layers and top-tier lumbar support, among other features.
Delivery Experience
The Helix mattress arrived on my porch in two—admittedly very beat up—boxes. I loved that they split the weight between two packages. While still a two-person job, it made trekking each piece up the stairs a little bit easier. And, while each box was damaged, the mattress itself was securely wrapped with nary a scratch to the plastic encasement.
Unboxing
I began my Helix mattress set up on a Saturday morning. After removing my old mattress, I wrangled the boxes into my bedroom. I dug out the instructions and began to unroll the mattress. This step was a workout!
When I reached the final layer of plastic, I hoisted the mattress onto my bed frame and cut off the final piece. At this point, the mattress began to expand. It took just a few minutes for it to reach its full size, but I still let it air out for a few hours.
Right away, I could sense a major pro: There wasn’t much of a “new mattress smell.” One of my greatest irks with box mattresses is that chemical-y odor that supposedly dissipates after a few days. The Helix mattress had none of that. There was a faint plastic packaging smell, but nothing overwhelming. And it went away almost immediately after opening the box and placing the mattress onto the bed frame.
After lunch, it was time to move on to the insert. Part of what makes the Helix Elite mattress so special is that it’s broken down into two pieces: the base and the comfort insert. Not only does this make shipping and setup easier, but it really elevates the mattress into a luxury experience.
The base was already twice the depth of my old mattress, and the topper took my bed to new heights—literally. Plus, if you aren’t happy with the firmness level of your mattress, you can test out a different insert rather than replace the entire thing.
Setting Up the Mattress
To set it up, I wrangled the topper out of the box and, again, began to unwrap all the plastic. I ensured the base pocket was open and then hoisted the topper into place. Next, I began to zipper the pocket shut, encasing the topper inside. This was yet another workout! The first side is easy to zipper, but as the encasement tightens with each zip, it becomes more difficult to wrangle. After several minutes of repositioning and tugging, the topper was secure and my Helix Midnight Elite mattress setup was complete.
While I’m living proof that it’s possible to set up this mattress by yourself, I’d highly recommend having a helper.
The Sleep Test
By Saturday night, I was ready to put this mattress to the test. I wrestled on a new mattress protector and grabbed a set of clean sheets. Since the mattress is so deep, the brand recommends using deep-pocket sheets.
My old mattress measured a whopping 8 inches, so I didn’t have a set on hand. I said a quick prayer that I wouldn’t need to make a 9 p.m. Target run and got to work. Thankfully, they just fit. At some point, I will make the switch—I’m already eyeing the options from Boll & Branch—but it was nice to know I didn’t need to update my entire linen closet at once.
I finished making the bed, and my fiancé and I crawled, err, jumped in. I can’t get over how deep this mattress is! Since the mattress is 16 inches tall, it was a big adjustment for my 5-foot-4-inch self. Based on size alone, the Helix Midnight Elite looks like it came from a luxury mattress store, not a box.
Now, for full transparency, my first night was a little rough. The mattress felt very firm—and I was wondering if I had made a mistake. After a few nights, I adjusted to the feeling. And after a month, the mattress feels broken in and aligned with its advertised medium firmness.
Even more impressive, though, is how the quality of my sleep has drastically improved in just a few short weeks. The neck pain I used to wake up with? Gone. And for the first time, I feel supported in my sleep. Plus, each night provides deeper, more restful sleep. I’m typically a very light sleeper who wakes from pretty much anything: a siren, a dog barking, a clap of thunder, sunlight pouring in, too much heat, too much humidity—you get the picture.
Before the Helix Midnight Elite, it was common for me to wake up at least once during the night. This mattress has given me several nights of completely uninterrupted sleep. On the nights when I do still wake up, I feel rested when my alarm rings. There’s no doubt in my mind that I’m achieving higher quality sleep, even when the quantity lacks.
Plus, the Helix Midnight Elite does a great job of minimizing movement. On our old mattress, any time my partner or I would shift, the other would feel it. The Helix’s five foam layers and hundreds of individually wrapped steel coils do a great job absorbing shock. This mattress is silent, too, with no creaks or squeaks.
Helix mattresses also include two free Dream Pillows with your mattress order. With a down-alternative filling, these pillows are oh-so-soft. As side sleepers, my partner and I find them to be a little too plush to provide enough neck support. But they add a beautiful, crisp finish to our bed, and I love that you can toss them in the washing machine to clean.
Nine-Month Update
I’ve been consistently sleeping on my Helix Midnight Elite mattress for over nine months—and it still feels brand new.
In that time, my (now) husband and I moved out of our apartment, in with my parents for a few weeks and then finally into our new home. That means we moved the mattress not once, but twice. While heavy, we were able to lug it in and out of a U-Haul without too much trouble. (I highly recommend a mattress protection bag).
The only downside? The comfort insert would bunch up if we moved the mattress on its side. That meant taking off the mattress protector, unzipping the cover and repositioning the insert every time we moved it. A bit of a hassle, yes, but the good night’s sleep after a long day of work was worth the effort.
I’ve also yet to find a mattress that lives up to the Helix Midnight Elite’s comfort level. When traveling, I find myself counting down the days until I can sleep in my own bed again. It’s that satisfying.
Pros
- Incredibly comfortable medium-support mattress
- In my experience, provides deep, restful sleep
- Luxurious felling akin to a hotel bed
- Includes two Dream Pillows
- No box spring required
- Ships in two boxes for easy setup
- 100-night sleep trial
- 15-year warranty
- Each mattress is made-to-order in the USA
- Made with OEKO-TEX- and CertiPUR-US-certified fabrics and foam (aka the mattress contains no heavy metals or harmful chemicals)
Cons
- On the pricey side for bed-in-a-box style mattresses
- Only works with platform-style bed frames
Why You Should Trust Us
I have experience as a product tester, shopping editor, and writer for Family Handyman, Taste of Home and Better Homes & Gardens. I have tested countless products for each of the brands during my tenure.
Alexandra Mantella, Content Updates Editor at Family Handyman, updated and contributed research to this piece. She has over five years of experience in product testing, research and commerce writing. Previously, she served as a commerce content update editor at Bob Vila.
FAQ
How long do Helix mattresses last?
Helix mattresses come with a 10- or 15-year limited warranty. The Elite style I tested is covered for 15 years.
Is Helix made in USA?
Yes! Each Helix mattress is handmade in the U.S. Once ordered, your specific mattress is custom-built and ships in six to 10 days.
Do you flip or rotate a Helix mattress?
A Helix mattress cannot be flipped. The layers are specifically ordered to maximize performance, and with an Elite mattress, you would lose access to the comfort insert. While you can rotate your Helix mattress, it’s not necessary.
Product Comparison
There are six main Helix mattresses: Sunset, Moonlight, Midnight, Dusk, Twilight and Dawn. Each is available in the basic Core collection, the mid-tier Luxe collection and the top-of-the-line Elite collection. The Sunset and Moonlight provide a soft, plush feel. The Midnight and Dusk provide a medium, balanced feel. And the Twilight and Dawn provide a firm, supportive feel. Moreover, the Sunset, Midnight and Twilight mattresses are designed for side sleepers while the Moonlight, Dusk and Dawn mattresses are designed for back and stomach sleepers. Phew!
While it’s a lot to take in, the bottom line is there’s a Helix mattress for everyone. No matter your sleep style, budget or desired firmness. The brand even offers options for kids and plus-size sleepers.
Final Verdict
I am 100% satisfied with my Helix Midnight Elite mattress. There’s no denying it’s an investment, but considering you spend one-third of your life on a mattress, it’s worth finding the perfect fit. If you, like me, are a restless side sleeper with occasional neck pain, the Midnight Elite mattress provides almost immediate relief.
It wasn’t until a recent trip to see family that I realized just how deeply I had fallen in love with this mattress. After 10 days of sleeping on a futon, I was desperate to return home to my luxurious, hotel-style bed. I rest easy knowing my mattress is built to last. My only regret is that I didn’t upgrade sooner.
While I was initially skeptical of the price point, I can confirm after nine months of testing that the Helix is completely worth it. My nighttime neck pain is gone, and I genuinely have never slept better. See ya later, chiropractor!
Where to Buy the Helix Midnight Elite Mattress
VIA MERCHANT
We Tried It
Helix Midnight Elite Mattress
Designed for side sleepers who prefer medium firmness, the Helix Midnight Elite promises a “restorative sleep experience.”
You can order your own Helix mattress on the brand’s website. The mattress I tested, a queen-size Helix Midnight Elite, retails for just over $3,600. Other sizes and styles range from $936 to $4,124. Keep an eye out for frequent sales to save a little cash. Sweet dreams await!
P.S. For another one of our top picks, check out our Cocoon mattress review, too.
Source:
- Chelsey Borson, a certified sleep consultant and founder of Luna Leaps
