Accepted wisdom suggests that the ideal bed for side sleepers is one that offers plenty of cushioning around the pressure points, with a medium firmness mattress usually being the go-to suggestion. But here comes the Helix Twilight – a firm mattress that’s still aimed at side sleepers.
Type: Hybrid
Materials: Coils, memory foam
Brand-rated firmness (1-10): 8 out of 10
Height: 11.5"
Trial period: 100 nights
Warranty: Lifetime
Price: From $932 at DreamCloud
Helix make some of the best mattresses on the market for a wide range of sleepers, so I was keen to see how the Twilight matched up to other models we’ve tested at Tom’s Guide. As someone who’s always preferred a firmer mattress, but has recently become more of a combination sleeper, often shifting positions from my back to my side, I wondered if this could be the ideal fit for my new sleeping style.
At the time of writing, I’ve been sleeping on the Helix Twilight mattress for a week now and hopefully my early impressions will give you a sense of whether this is the right choice for you. If you do decide to buy, you've picked an excellent time — the Helix Twilight has dropped to its lowest price of the year in the Presidents’ Day sales. But is it the right bed for you? Let's take a closer look...
Helix Twilight Mattress: Price, Trial and Warranty
- Helix mattress sales typically range between 20-20% off
- The Helix Twilight is currently 27% off with the code TOMS27
- The Helix Twilight now comes with a lifetime warranty
Helix mattress sales mean you should always be able to get a discount on the Helix Twilight, with the standard discount being 20%. But we have seen this discount rise to between 25 and 30% for major sales. You’ll also get a 100-night sleep trial along with a 10-year warranty and free shipping to your door. There’s also the option to upgrade to white glove delivery and removal of your old mattress, with prices varying according to your zip code.
Here are the official prices for the Helix Twilight, along with the price after the standard 20% discount:
- Twin: MSRP $936.25 (usually sold at $749)
- Twin XL: MSRP $1061.25 (usually sold at $849)
- Full: MSRP $1,248.75 (usually sold at $999)
- Queen: MSRP $1,373.75 (usually sold at $1,099)
- King: MSRP $1,748.75 (usually sold at $1,399)
- California King: MSRP $1,748.75 (usually sold at $1,399)
- Short Queen: MSRP $1,373.75 (usually sold at $1,099)
- RV King: MSRP $1,748.75 (usually sold at $1,399)
Helix has already launched its early Presidents’ Day sale, with 27% off the mattress in all sizes along with two free pillows when you enter the code TOMS27 at checkout. That beats the general access sale of 25% off. If you opt for a Luxe or an Elite model, you'll get an entire free bedding bundle thrown in too.
Unboxing my new Helix Twilight Mattress
- Helix mattresses delivered by FedEx as standard
- Option to upgrade to white glover delivery service via LoadUp
- Helix mattresses comes vacuum compressed and packed in a box
Helix is the brand behind one of the best mattresses in a box, so you can expect your Helix Twilight to come vacuum compressed and sealed in a box. Mattress delivery comes via FedEx as standard, but Helix has teamed up with delivery partner LoadUp to offer an additional White Glove Delivery service if required.
Because I’m based in the UK, my Helix mattress was actually shipped to Tom’s Guide’s in house studio to begin with for initial testing. It was then delivered to my home by a two man team. If you’re a single person ordering any size larger than a twin, I would recommend exploring the white glove delivery upgrade option. These mattresses are heavy, even in a box, and could be a struggle for those on their own to carry upstairs. Otherwise, the mattress will be delivered by FedEX, and you’ll receive updates on the shipping once you’ve chosen a delivery date.
My first week sleeping on the Helix Twilight Mattress
Night 1: I sleep soundly and wake pain free
The Helix Twilight baffled me slightly after my first night of sleeping on it. I generally love the sturdy support of the best firm mattresses but, as I’ve got older, I seem to have shifted from a back sleeper into more of a dedicated combination sleeper. The best mattresses for side sleepers provide plenty of sink-in support to relieve pressure from the shoulders, hips and knees. So how can a mattress be both firm and suitable for side sleepers?
Height: 5ft 9in
Weight: 125lb-145lb
Sleep style: Combination
Sleep issues: Back pain, lower back pain, neck pain
Share a bed: Yes
In addition to navigating the conflicting needs of my back and side sleeping position, I also experience an easily triggered lower back pain and need very firm lumbar support to alleviate this. As you might imagine, this isn’t a combination that’s necessarily easy to cater too.
So, when I saw that the Helix Twilight claims to be a firm mattress that also caters to side sleepers, I’ll admit that I was skeptical. I couldn’t really see how the Helix was going to provide enough softness and contouring at the hips and shoulders to prevent pressure points building up, particularly as I rated it at an 8 out of 10 on the firmness scale.
Lying down on it, the mattress felt firm, but I didn’t have any trouble drifting off to sleep. And surprisingly, I woke up the first morning without any pain in my hips and shoulders at all.
Nights 2-7: Sleeping well so far
The Helix Twilight is a bit of an enigma. It’s firm but somehow manages to have just enough ‘give’ where it’s needed at the shoulders and hips to prevent any pressure points building up. In the main, I’ve been sleeping well on the mattress. It somehow manages to be firm enough to keep the body supported, while still allowing for some cushioning where it’s needed.
My one niggle though is that, despite being firm, it’s not quite as supportive for the lower back as I would like when I was sleeping on my back. I have noticed a few small niggles, although much of this is probably down to it being a new mattress. I note that the Helix Twilight Luxe, the upgraded version of this mattress, has enhanced lumbar support and I’d be tempted to go for this version if you experience lower back pain, just for that added bit of support.
Design wise, the Helix starts with a breathable knit cover (you can also upgrade this to a GlacioTex cooling cover if you’re a particularly hot sleeper). Underneath this is a layer of high-density copper gel memory foam for pressure relief, followed by the brand’s responsive foam to contour to the body. A transition layer of foam for ergonomic support sits on top of the individually wrapped coil layer, which has reinforced lengthwise sides for edge support. The mattress is finished off with a layer of DuraDense foam to provide support and durability to the whole structure.
My husband, who is a hot sleeper, hasn’t felt hot at all in the bed although it is currently winter here. But the breathable cover and well-spaced coils do a good job of temperature regulation. If you're a restless sleeper (or share a bed with one) you'll be relieved to hear that motion isolation is excellent, thanks to the firmer feel of the bed and edge support is really good lengthways. Unfortunately, there’s no reinforced edges at the head and foot of the bed and you’ll really notice the extra sinkage if you sit on the end of the bed. Stick to the sides if you want to be comfortable.
Helix Twilight Mattress: My Early Thoughts
There’s no arguing with the quality of the Helix – this is a well-made mattress that looks quietly expensive. Price wise, it’s up there with other premium mattresses such as the WinkBed and the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe, but while these mattresses offer a choice of firmness options, Helix’s USP is that each mattress they make is suited to a different type of sleeper. With this being a premium mattress, it’s definitely worth timing your purchase right. The current 27% off Helix sale is low as you'll ever get the Twilight for, making now an excellent time to buy.
Even as an experienced mattress tester, I’m not quite sure how Helix has pulled off the feat of producing a mattress that’s both firm and suitable for side sleepers, but it really does do what it says on the tin. If you’re a dedicated side sleeper who wants a firm mattress, this is going to be a winner.
My early verdict: The Helix Twilight impressed me hugely for side sleeping. The test over the next few weeks will be whether it can also support me when I’m sleeping on my back and also keep supporting me well as a side sleeper.
