Helix Midnight Luxe vs Saatva Classic: Which is best for side sleepers with back pain?

Helix and Saatva need little introduction, with both brands producing luxury mattresses to suit a range of sleepers. In this Helix vs Saatva comparison, we’re looking at the brand’s best choice for side sleepers and asking whether these mattresses will help ease back pain. 

With both brands sitting firmly in the luxury bracket, taking advantage of any discounts is crucial. Right now, both Helix and Saatva are offering early Labor Day deals, with a queen Helix Midnight Luxe down to $1,899 (MSRP $2,373.80) and $400 off the Saatva Classic with our exclusive Saatva discount code — a queen is now just $1,695, down from $2,095. But are these the best prices you can get, and which mattress is best suited to your sleeping style? We’ll look at all this and more in our Helix vs Saatva comparison. 

Helix Midnight Luxe vs Saatva Classic: Overview

Both the Helix Midnight Luxe and Saatva Classic feature in our best mattress round up, as well as our best mattresses for side sleepers picks. In fact, while the Saatva Classic is our favorite mattress overall, the Midnight Luxe takes the top spot for side sleepers. So whichever you choose, we think you're getting a good bed.

The big selling point of the Saatva Classic is that it comes in three different firmness ratings, so you can pick a feel that's just right for you. In our Saatva Classic mattress review, we tested the Luxury Firm (5-7/10) and found it suitable for all sleep positions. But Saatva also offer the Classic in Plush Soft and Firm, with the Plush Soft (3/10) being the obvious choice for side sleepers. The Saatva Classic offers a fairly traditional innerspring feel, with sleepers lying on top of the mattress rather than sinking in, although a thick Euro top aids pressure relief.

In comparison, the Helix Midnight Luxe is a medium firm (6/10) mattress that’s specifically designed for side sleepers. In our Helix Midnight Luxe mattress review, our main tester felt comfortable on the mattress from day one. There’s a slightly softer, plusher feel to the mattress than you’ll get with the Saatva, but still plenty of support from the zoned coil layer underneath. 

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Helix Midnight Luxe vs Saatva Classic: Price & Trials

• Our exclusive discount takes $400 off all sizes of the Saatva Classic
• The Helix Midnight Luxe is currently discounted by 20%, plus two free pillows
• Neither mattress is ever sold at full MSRP

The Helix Midnight Luxe and Saatva Classic are premium mattresses, even when they're on sale. The quality and comfort of both means we think they're worth the investment, but picking the right time to buy means you can maximize your saving. And with the Labor Day mattress sales heating up, now is a great time to shop.

There’s always between 10 and 15% off the Saatva Classic, but our exclusive discount code can save you $400 on all sizes. This is among the best Saatva mattress sales, taking a queen size mattress down from $2,095 to $1,695. Due to fluctuating MSRPs, this isn't quite the best price we've seen on the Classic so far this year, but it's still a generous saving.

Helix also has an evergreen sale on its mattresses. A 20% discount (plus two free pillows) is the norm, so the current sale is nothing exceptional. A queen size Helix Midnight Luxe mattress is now $1,899 (MSRP $2,373) with code LDW20. But we advise waiting until nearer Labor Day to see if the price drops any further. We have spotted discounts of 30% off in previous sales, taking a queen down to $1,661.66. 

Extras wise, the Saatva knocks the Helix out of the water with a 365-night trial to Helix’s 100 nights. The Saatva also comes with a lifetime warranty — you’ll only get 15 years with the Helix. And finally, the Saatva comes with free white glove delivery, whereas the Helix is just dropped off at your door.

Helix Midnight Luxe vs Saatva Classic: Design & Materials

• Both mattresses are hybrids, but the Saatva is a hybrid innerspring
• The Saatva uses very little foam and comes in two heights (11.5” and 14.5”)
• The Helix is 13.5” in height and uses multiple layers of foam

The Saatva Classic is a hybrid innerspring mattress, made from a combination of foams and coils. Up top is a 3” thick Euro pillow top made with organic cotton, which features zoned quilting for extra lumbar support. Underneath this, in the center third of the mattress, you’ll find a CertiPUR-US certified memory foam layer that’s specifically geared towards healthy spinal alignment. 

Then we get into the spring layers. There's two of them: a layer of individually wrapped 14.5-gauge recycled steel coils with zoned support, and a base layer of 13-gauge steel coils to add stability. The double coil layer gives the Saatva Classic a more traditional feel, with the springs contouring to the body for supportive pressure relief. Finally, a foam railing adds strength to the perimeter.

Like the Saatva, the Helix Midnight Luxe is a hybrid mattress, although this one has more foam and fewer springs. Beneath the cover is a premium quilted pillow top, sewn into the mattress for a plush and soft feel. Underneath this is a layer of responsive polyfoam, followed by a layer of copper gel memory foam, both designed to contour to your body and provide support. These multiple comfort layers give the Midnight Luxe it's cushioned relief.

Next up is a transition layer of memory foam, which sits on a layer of individually wrapped coils. These are firmer around the lumbar area, as well as the perimeter of the mattress, for better edge support. Finally, a dense foam base layer enhances stability. This is all wrapped in a breathable, hypoallergenic Tencel cover, with the option to upgrade to a GlacioTex cover for extra cooling. 

Helix Midnight Luxe vs Saatva Classic: Support & Comfort

• Helix Midnight Luxe is rated 6/10, great for side sleepers
• Saatva Classic comes in three feels (3, 5-7, 8), to suit all sleep styles
• Both mattresses offer excellent lumbar support

We tested the Luxury Firm Saatva Classic, which the brand rates at 5-7/10 on the firmness scale (one being very soft, 10 being rock hard). Our testers felt it was nearer to 7-7.5/10 but, despite this firmer feel, found it a comfortable option most sleep style. Based on this, we expect the Plush Soft to sleep slightly firmer than its 3/10 rating but would still suggest it for dedicated side sleepers. 

The thing about the Saatva Classic is that you won’t sink that far in, even with the Plush Soft version. Rather, you lie on top of the mattress, with the pillow top and extra lumbar support providing the cushioning comfort side sleepers need to stop pressure building up at the touch points (that's the shoulder, hips, and knees).

Overall, the Saatva Classic offers excellent pressure relief and keeps the spine aligned in all sleeping positions. Although it's another mattress from the brand — the Saatva RX — that tops our best mattress for back pain guide, we still rate the Saatva Classic for alleviating back and joint pain.

The Helix Midnight Luxe has been specifically designed for side sleepers, but we found the medium firm mattress was also supportive enough for back sleepers. The plush pillow top delivers outstanding pressure relief for side sleepers, cushioning the shoulders and hips to provide plenty of contouring comfort. 

However, this isn’t a soft mattress, with the coils and copper-infused memory foam both working in tandem to keep the spine aligned, and to provide enhanced lumbar support. We found that for side sleepers, this support can soothe back pain, without compromising pressure relief. Despite these sturdy coils, heavier bodies and stomach sleepers are unlikely to find the Midnight Luxe mattress supportive enough — luckily, Helix makes an entire range of mattresses designed to fit different sleeping styles (including the Dusk Luxe, our best mattress for stomach sleepers). 

Helix Midnight Luxe vs Saatva Classic: Temperature control

• Saatva Classic has a double layer of coils aiding air circulation
• Helix Midnight Luxe has well-spaced coils and copper-infused cooling foam
• You can upgrade to a GlacioTex cooling cover with the Helix

During testing none of our testers ever felt hot or uncomfortable on the Saatva Classic. The temperature remained neutral throughout the night. This is mainly down to the small amount of foam used in the Saatva (foams can be notorious for trapping body heat). Well-spaced coils also help to promote airflow, whilst the cover is made from breathable cotton.

The Helix Midnight Luxe also has a breathable Tencel cover, along with coils to promote airflow and a layer of copper-infused foam (copper helps to draw heat away from the body). However, if you are a particularly hot sleeper, we’d recommend upgrading to the GlacioTex cover, which will wick away any heat or moisture while you sleep, helping you to stay cool overnight. Although there is one downside to the GlacioTex upgrade: it's a little slippery.

Helix Midnight Luxe vs Saatva Classic: Motion isolation

• The Saatva Classic has more motion transfer due to its innerspring design
• The Helix Midnight Luxe absorbs movement incredibly well
• Both should suit the vast majority of bed sharers

Due to the coil-based innerspring design, the Saatva Classic has a slightly bouncier feel that an all-foam mattress or even a hybrid with more foam layers. However, our testers found the motion transfer is still pretty minimal, and we expect it to be even better if you opt for the Plush feel. It’s unlikely side sleepers will be disturbed, unless you're sharing a bed with a very restless partner that tosses and turns all night.

If you are sharing with a wriggler, the Helix Midnight Luxe is a better choice. This mattress does a superb job of isolating motion. Our lead side sleeping tester wasn’t disturbed at all by their partner moving during the night, with motion being absorbed by the cushioned foam layers of the mattress. 

Helix Midnight Luxe vs Saatva Classic: User Reviews

• Midnight Luxe has 4.4 out of 5 stars from over 6,000 verified customer reviews
• Saatva Classic has 4.8 out of 5 stars from nearly 6,000 verified customer reviews
• Both mattresses are praised for excellent lumbar support

Reviews for both mattresses are overwhelmingly positive. Customers praise the Helix for its plush but supportive sleep surface, with many talking about the excellent pressure relief when sleeping on their sides. There’s also a lot of praise for the mattress’ ability to help ease back and neck pain. Both back and side sleepers report sleeping comfortably. Of the complaints, the main issue is people finding the mattress too firm or too soft (showing how mattress firmness is subjective).

Likewise, the Saatva is praised for helping to alleviate or even get rid of back and joint pain. And there are lots of reviews from long term users about the durability of the mattress and how well it holds up over time. Again, the niggles revolve around the mattress being either too firm or too soft, but Saatva’s customer service is consistently praised for ironing out any issues. 

Helix Midnight Luxe vs Saatva Classic: Which should you buy?

You’d be hard pressed to go wrong with either of these mattresses if you’re a side sleeper. Both offer luxurious and comfortable sleep, but the design and feel of them is slightly different. Here are our final thoughts on which to buy.

Buy the Helix Midnight Luxe mattress if…

✅ You share your bed with a restless partner: Motion isolation on the Helix is fantastic, with even the lightest of sleepers unlikely to be disturbed by any movement through the night. 

✅ You want more cushioning: You won’t sink into the Helix as you would with an all-foam mattress, but there’s more cushioning and foam layers than you’ll find on the Saatva.

✅ You’re a side sleeper who sometimes sleeps on their back: Although the Helix is specifically designed for side sleepers, it’s a medium firm mattress. This slightly firmer feel means it can support combination sleepers who move from back to side.

Buy the Saatva Classic mattress if...

✅ You want to customize your mattress: Obviously we’re focusing on side sleepers here, but the Saatva gives customers the option to pick from three different firmness ratings to find the best fit for their sleeping style and body weight. Good news for side sleepers of any build.

✅ You sleep hot: The Saatva uses very little foam, meaning that the mattress sleeps cool and keeps even hot sleepers comfortable. If you want the same effect from the Helix, you’ll need to pay more and upgrade to the GlacioTex cover.

✅ You want a more traditional feel: The Saatva feels more like a traditional innerspring mattress – you’ll sleep on top of it, rather than sinking in. But thanks to that quilted pillow top, it still provides hotel levels of comfort.