Helix Twilight vs Helix Midnight: Which mattress for side sleepers should you buy?

Helix is one of the top mattress brands in the US, with a USP of having a mattress to suit every sleeping style and body weight. The Helix Twilight and Helix Midnight are both designed specifically for side sleepers but offer a different firmness rating.

You’ll find Helix mattresses featured in our guide to the best mattress of the year for all sleepers and budgets, with the brand being synonymous with high-quality beds. Both the Twilight and Midnight are part of the brand’s entry-level ‘Core Collection’, offering plenty of support and comfort at slightly lower prices, although these mattresses are still premium beds when at full MSRP.

But which one is more suited to your sleeping style? In this Helix Twilight vs Helix Midnight comparison, we’ll explore the key differences between the two to help you decide which is a better buy for your sleep needs.

Helix Twilight vs Helix Midnight Mattress: Price & trial

  • Helix mattresses usually have between 20 and 25% off MSRP
  • There’s currently 27% off with the code TOMS27
  • Both mattresses come with a 100-night trial and lifetime warranty

Evergreen Helix mattress sales mean you’ll never pay full MSRP for either of these mattresses, with the norm being 20-25% off. However, as part of an extended Sleep Awareness Week Sale, there's 27% off when you use the code TOMS27 at checkout.

That brings a queen down to $972.36 (MSRP $1,373) for both the Twilight and the Midnight mattresses. While we have seen 27% off both mattresses before before, plus a free bedding bundle, that discount is incredibly rare.

Extras wise, the Helix mattresses come with a 100-night sleep trial and free shipping to your door. Helix has also recently extended its warranty, offering a limited lifetime warranty as opposed to the 10 years offered previously.

Helix Twilight mattress: was from $932now from $680.36 at Helix

Helix Twilight mattress: was from $932 now from $680.36 at Helix
The Helix Twilight mattress is designed for side sleepers who still want a firmer feel overall. It’s a premium mattress, even with discounts. All Helix mattresses come with a 100-night trial, limited lifetime warranty and free shipping to your door. Our 27% discount code (TOMS27) means a queen will set you back $972.36 (MSRP $1,373).

Helix Midnight mattress: was from $932 now from $680.36 at Helix

Helix Midnight mattress: was from $932 now from $680.36 at Helix
Like the best mattresses for side sleepers, The Helix Midnight provides plenty of pressure relief across the shoulders, hips and knees. As with the Twilight you’ll get a 100-night trial, limited lifetime warranty and free shipping. The Midnight also shares the same price structure, so you’ll also pay $972.36 (MSRP $1,373) for a queen with our TOMS27 discount.

Helix Twilight vs Helix Midnight Mattress: Materials & design

  • Both mattresses are hybrids standing 11.5” high
  • Each has five layers and a cover
  • Both offer the option to upgrade to a GlacioTex cooling cover

You will find plenty of similarities between the Helix Twilight and Helix Midnight when it comes to design. Like the best hybrid mattresses, both start with a soft breathable knit cover that’s designed to wick away moisture and keep sleepers cool. There’s also the option to upgrade to a GlacioTex cooling cover if you’re a hot sleeper.

Underneath the cover, the Helix Twilight has a layer of high-density copper gel-infused memory foam designed to alleviate pressure points (and copper also helps to regulate temperature).

Next up is a layer of Helix’s proprietary responsive foam to contour to the body, followed by another layer of responsive foam for more ergonomic support. A layer of individually wrapped coils that have been reinforced lengthways for edge support follows, and below that is a final DuraDense foam layer for stability across the whole bed.

Diagram showing the inside of a Helix Midnight mattress

(Image credit: Helix)

Inside the Helix Midnight mattress you’ll find an upper layer made from Helix’s proprietary ‘Memory Plus Foam’ to relieve pressure and provide deep body contouring.

This is followed by two transitional layers of high-grade responsive polyfoam. Next up is the same layer of individually wrapped pocket coils (up to 1000 in each mattress) that you’ll find in the Twilight, again with firmer coils along the lengths of the bed. At the bottom, a layer of DuraDense foam provides stability.

Helix Twilight vs Helix Midnight Mattress: Comfort & support

  • Both mattresses are designed for side sleepers
  • The Helix Twilight is a firm mattress (8 out of 10)
  • The Helix Midnight is a medium firm mattress (6.5 out of 10)

Although both mattresses are designed for side sleepers, the Helix Midnight will probably seem like the more obvious choice with its slightly softer feel, which works to absorb the pressure across the shoulders, hips and knees. Somewhat unusually, the Helix Twilight is mattress that’s been specifically designed as a firm mattress for side sleepers.

In our Helix Twilight mattress review our testers were surprised by the mattress, praising its ability to offer both firm support for average and heavyweight side sleepers, whilst still cushioning the pressure points at the shoulders and hips.

Like many of the best mattresses for back pain, the Twilight will offer good lumbar support for side sleepers, which should help to alleviate aches and pains. However, that same lumbar support doesn’t translate for back and stomach sleepers, with the softer contouring around the hip area meaning their spines are likely to sink out of alignment. Lightweight side sleepers may also find it too firm.

The Helix Midnight is a medium firm mattress, which is what we tend to recommend for side sleepers. During our Helix Midnight mattress review we rated the mattress at 6.5 or 7 out of 10 for firmness, which is slightly firmer than Helix’s rating of 5-6 out of 10.

There’s plenty of cushioning support from the top layer of memory foam, leading to pressure points being soothed around the shoulders, hips and knees. You’ll get more of a sink-in feeling with the Midnight, with plenty of contouring. Unlike the Twilight, we also felt that some lighter back sleepers would enjoy the Midnight, although it’s likely to be too soft for heavier back sleepers and those who sleep on their stomachs.

Motion isolation on both mattresses is excellent, as is edge support lengthways. But the lack of reinforced coils on the head and foot of the bed means that edge support in these areas is somewhat disappointing.

Helix Twilight vs Helix Midnight Mattress: Temperature control

  • Both mattresses offer good temperature regulation
  • The Helix Twilight scored half a star more in our tests
  • Both mattresses offer the option to upgrade to a GlacioTex cooling cover

Both the Helix Twilight and Helix Midnight did a good job of keeping sleepers cool overnight during testing, with the Twilight just out performing the Midnight thanks to its copper gel-infused foam.

In our reviews of each mattress, we gave the Midnight 4 out of 5 stars for temperature regulation, while the Twilight was awarded 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Well-spaced coils and breathable covers on both mattresses help to keep sleepers comfortable but, if you’re a very hot sleeper, we’d recommend upgrading to the GlacioTex cooling cover.

This is a fabric that’s found in many of our best cooling mattresses because of its ability to keep temperature regulated throughout the night.

A person rests her hand on the surface of the Helix Twilight Mattress to test the temperature regulation

(Image credit: Future)

Helix Twilight vs Helix Midnight Mattress: Which Should You Buy?

Buy the Helix Twilight if…

You sleep hot: Thanks to its copper gel-infused foam, the Twilight just edges things on the cooling front and, although it’s not a dedicated cooling mattress, we were impressed by its ability to keep sleepers cool.

You’re an average or heavier weight side sleeper: The firmer feel of the Twilight will give you plenty of support when you’re lying on your side, along with enough cushioning to keep pressure points comfortable.

You suffer with lower back pain and sleep on your side: Lower back pain sufferers should find that the firmer feel of the Twilight will help to support their lumbar region when lying on their sides.

Buy the Helix Midnight if…

You’re a lighter weight side sleeper: The medium firm feel of the Midnight will give lighter side sleepers enough cushioning around their pressure points at the shoulders, hips and knees.

You want a little more sinkage: The Midnight’s memory foam top layer will provide some sink-in cushioning and contouring around the body.

You’re a combination sleeper: We found the Helix Midnight well suited to those who sleep on both their sides and back sleepers, with enough cushioning and support for both positions. Though heavier back sleepers may need firmer support.

Jo Plumridge
Mattress tester and sleep writer

Jo Plumridge is an experienced mattress reviewer with several years' experience covering all things mattresses and sleep, and who tests memory foam, hybrid and organic mattresses. What Jo doesn't know about a boxed mattress isn't worth knowing, so naturally we tasked her with producing a series of features for Tom's Guide looking at all aspects of mattresses, from how to pick between latex and memory foam (it's a tricky one), to the seven mistakes people make when buying a mattress for the first time. When testing the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid for Tom's Guide, Jo said: "I loved the back support and pressure relief it offered. Plus, it looks far more expensive than it is." When she isn’t writing about sleep, Jo also writes extensively on interior design, home products and photography.

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