I Tested the Helix Midnight Luxe, and It’s a Side Sleeper’s Dream

I’ve struggled with sleeping for most of my adult life, but this past year, I’ve really tried to be proactive about my sleeping habits. I’ve 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 review the Helix Midnight Luxe mattress, a highly-rated mattress for side sleepers, I jumped at the opportunity to try it. 

Your sleeping position should be one of the first things you consider when purchasing 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 give can be optimal to alleviate pressure through the hip and shoulder,” Naimish Baxi, MD, physiatrist at Hospital for Special Surgery, previously told SELF. Not having the right amount of firmness and cushion to accommodate the added weight of your shoulders, hips, and knees can ultimately lead to back and shoulder pain, which I’ve experienced a lot throughout my life. I was excited to try this Helix mattress because the company claims that its memory foam is optimal for side-sleeper pressure point relief. 

Below is my full Helix Midnight Luxe mattress review. If you’re interested in Helix’s other mattresses, check out our reviews of the Helix Plus mattress and the Birch Luxe Natural mattress (which is part of the Helix brand). 

How I Tested

I slept on the Midnight Luxe mattress for over six months, and it has been one of the best mattresses I’ve slept on (hence, why I kept sleeping on it after the initial three-week testing time). I used SELF’s mattress buying guide to evaluate the Helix mattress. This guide uses sleep experts’ criteria for support, comfort, temperature, motion transfer, and more to help you choose the right mattress. 

Initial Set-Up

As Helix is a mattress-in-a-box brand, the bed was delivered to my doorstep in an attractive rectangular box. However, there were many rips and tears on the box (most likely from transport), and it was a very heavy lift. I live with my boyfriend, and we were able to lug it up three flights of stairs, but it was a difficult endeavor. You will need an extra pair of hands if you live alone or don’t have an elevator. Once opened, it was also a bit of a struggle to get it on the bed frame because 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, shift to my stomach. Usually I wake a lot during the night and have trouble staying asleep (probably because I’m tossing and turning to find the right position). With the Midnight Luxe, I noticed that I fell asleep more easily, and any time I did wake up, I’d quickly fall back asleep. When using 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 Helix’s Luxe mattress series, you can choose between six different types of mattresses. The 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 opted 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 that extra level of firmness in a mattress. If you’re unsure of which option to go with, you can take the Helix sleep quiz to match you with the right mattress.

Comfort

As mentioned, the Midnight Luxe is an excellent mattress for side sleepers, and I slept very comfortably on it night after night. The one area that could use improvement is that I experienced some sinkage. If you sleep with someone, there tends to be 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, this isn’t an issue, but if you do sleep with a partner, I would recommend going with the firmer feel. Previously, I had been sleeping on the Tempur-Pedic Breeze mattress, which was very firm, so I had that to compare it with, and in terms of firmness the Tempur-Pedic comes out on top. However, the Midnight Luxe has a very luxurious-feeling top cushion that wins me over.

Temperature

I started testing this mattress at the end of June, and throughout the summer it kept me cool during summer nights. Every time I jumped into bed, it was nice to feel cool sheets underneath me and never wake up sweaty. Now that it’s winter, it’s actually a little too cool for me because I like to be very cozy and warm at night.