Helix Dusk Luxe mattress review: a heavenly sleep experience for back and stomach sleepers
Helix Dusk Luxe mattress: two-minute review
I’ve tested over 15 mattresses and I can say without a doubt that the Helix Dusk Luxe is one of the very best mattresses I've slept on. When a mattress, such as this one, is designed for back and stomach sleepers, it tends to be on the firmer side, but that’s not the case with the Helix Dusk Luxe. The hybrid design offers plenty of support, but the overall feel isn't firm or stiff. Rather, my body lies softly on the top, nearly snuggling into the cloud-like foam.
In terms of sleep feel, it's a medium – around a 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale. As intended, I found sleeping on my back and stomach far more comfortable than sleeping on my side, with the Helix Dusk Luxe providing considerable joint and pressure point relief throughout the night.
However, do approach with caution if you weigh above 230lbs – normally, it's recommended that back / stomach sleepers opt for something with a firmness of at least 7, to ensure proper support under the hips. Some of the side sleepers on our panel also got on well with this mattress, so don't discount it immediately if that is your preferred position, either.
I tested the mattress for three weeks in the summer when the temperature was in the 80s at night. It did an average job in terms of temperature regulation, so hot sleepers should upgrade to a GlacioTex cooling cover. Most couples will like this mattress since it isolates the movement of a partner getting in and out of bed. If they move in the middle of the night, there is a slight chance you'll feel them.
This isn't a particularly cheap mattress – it sits in the premium price bracket. However, I think it's well worth the investment. This is one of the most comfortable mattresses I've ever slept on, and it also holds spots in TechRadar's best luxury mattress guide and best pillow-top mattress guide – perfect if you're looking to add a hotel mattress feel at home. Read on for my full Helix Dusk Luxe mattress review.
Helix Dusk Luxe mattress review: materials and design
13.5" tall, hybrid mattress with foam and springs, and a pillow-top
Includes sink-in memory foam as well as bouncy foam
Option to add a specialist cooling cover
The 13.5-inch tall Helix Dusk Luxe mattress is a hybrid mattress made of six layers. At the top, you'll find a TENCEL cover that is so soft, it feels like a crime to cover it with a fitted sheet. Hot sleepers may wish to upgrade this to a cooling 'GlacioTex' cover.
The next three foam layers – a responsive foam, a latex foam hybrid alternative, and a memory foam – all contribute to the amazing cradling, bouncy feel of this mattress. Note that the 'latex foam hybrid alternative' isn’t natural latex – it's just Helix's way of describing a bouncy foam. It can be a bit confusing on the website.
One thousand individually wrapped coils on a dense foam base layer provide the support needed for back and stomach sleepers. All the foams are CertiPUR-US and GREENGUARD Gold certified, which means there is no fiberglass in this mattress.
Upgrade to the Elite version of this mattress, and you’ll enjoy 16 inches full of five foam layers, two microcoil layers to reduce back pressure, and a the GlacioTex cover included as standard. Alternatively, the standard Helix Dusk is shorter again, and has a much thinner base foam layer and no pillow-top.
Note that Helix's USP is that is makes 'a mattress for every body'. That means if the Dusk Luxe doesn't sound exactly right for you, there will be a model that will suit. There are two soft mattress lines, two medium mattress lines and two firm. One of each pair is aimed at side sleepers, and the other at back/stomach sleepers. The difference is simply that the side-sleeper models use sink-in memory foam, while the back-stomach sleeper models use that bouncy latex-alternative foam.
Design score: 4.5 out of 5
Helix Dusk Luxe mattress review: price & value for money
Sits in the premium price bracket
Expect 20% off, or 35% over big sales events
Queen size usually costs $1,780
The Helix Dusk Luxe is never sold at full ticket price. Like many brands, Helix runs mattress deals year-round. Expect 20% off, or perhaps more. Even with that 20% discount, it still sits in the premium bracket of the wider market. Among the Helix mattresses, the Dusk Luxe is not the most affordable, nor is it the most expensive. There's a range of standard mattresses, then the 'Luxe' branded mattresses are in the mid-range, with the 'Elite' mattress line priced the most expensively.
Here's a look at the MSRP for each size of the Helix Dusk Luxe mattress:
Twin size: MSRP $1,373.80 (normally sells for $1,030.30)
Twin XL size: MSRP $1,623.80 (normally sells for $1,217.80)
Full size: MSRP $1,998.80 (normally sells for $1,499.10)
Queen size: MSRP $2,373.80 (normally sells for $1,780.30)
King size: MSRP $2,873.80 (normally sells for $2,155.30)
CA King size: MSRP $2,873.80 (normally sells for $2,155.30)
The price of a Helix Dusk Luxe includes free shipping and usually comes with free pillows. For an (oddly specific) extra $265.30, buyers can add the GlacioTex Cooling Cover.
If you want the biggest discounts, the Black Friday mattress deals traditionally deliver the lowest prices of the year. Outside of that, Helix tends to bump up its discounts to 25% off over the mattress sales events that accompany national holidays – so it's worth keeping an eye on the Labor Day mattress sales in September, the Presidents' Day mattress sales, the Memorial Day mattress sales and the 4th of July mattress sales.
Value score: 4 out of 5
Helix Dusk Luxe mattress review: Comfort & support
Medium sleep surface with a cloud-like feel
Most comfortable in a back or stomach sleeper position
Supportive without feeling firm
Let me start out by saying that the Helix Dusk Luxe has easily made it into my top three most comfortable mattresses. It’s designed for back and stomach sleepers and I can attest that it offered incredible support along my back and hips so that everything remained aligned. For reference, I weigh about 170 lbs. and am 5'5".
Despite the supportiveness of the mattress, I found it to also be soft with a firmness rating of a 6 on a 10-point scale. When I placed a 20lb weight in the center of the mattress, it sunk about half an inch.
Sure, I lie nearly on top of the mattress and there isn’t a lot of contouring, but there’s a cloud-like quality to the mattress that brings the word ‘cozy' to mind. I didn’t wake up with any aches and pains. Most nights, I curled up on the Helix Dusk Luxe and fell asleep within minutes, not awaking until the morning.
Although I tried to sleep on my side, I found there wasn’t enough give around my hips to make that a comfortable sleep position. When I had someone else sleep on the mattress, they said that sleeping on their back felt most comfortable, followed by their side and stomach.
Our experiences with the Helix Dusk Luxe are a little out of line with the normal rules of thumb for mattress softness. Typically, it's recommended that back and stomach sleepers opt for medium-firm to firm mattresses (so a 7 out of 10 or more on the firmness scale), to ensure proper support under the hips. I think that this model would offer incredible support to most sleepers, but it's worth approaching with caution if you're on the heavier side (above 230lb) or suffer from back pain – if that's you, it might be worth considering something firmer.
Comfort score: 4.5 out of 5
Helix Dusk Luxe mattress review: performance
Average temperature regulation overall
Average score in our motion transfer tests
Mixed experiences with edge support
I slept on the Helix Dusk Luxe for three weeks, rating it in terms of design, comfort and value for money, but also taking into account how it performed in key areas: how well it regulates temperature, how effective it is at absorbing motion, and how good its edge support is. Here's what I found.
Temperature regulation
I tested the Helix Dusk Luxe in August in Texas, when nightly temperatures were 80 plus degrees. This gave me a great idea on the temperature regulation, and overall, I’d say that this mattress does an average job.
I don’t generally sleep warm but even I found myself only using a sheet some nights. I’ve slept on mattresses that retained a lot of heat and I wouldn’t say this mattress does that, but neither is it particularly impressive in terms of breathability. (It’s probably a great mattress in the wintertime.)
I did not upgrade to the GlacioTex Cooling Cover but had the super soft, and warm to the touch, TENCEL Cover. If you sleep hot, go for the GlacioTex Cooling Cover as it’s surely going to offer some reprieve – although do be aware it'll make your mattress a little slippery.
Temperature regulation score: 3.5 out of 5
Motion isolation
To test the motion isolation capabilities of the Helix Dusk Luxe, I put an empty wine glass in the center of the mattress and dropped a 20-lb. weight at 4, 10, and 25 inches away. The wine glass didn’t move when I dropped the dumbbell at 25 inches away, however, it swayed at 10 inches. Sometimes the wine glass toppled over and sometimes it didn’t when I dropped the 20-lb. dumbbell 4 inches away.
During the testing period, I also had someone sleep on the mattress with me. The Helix Dusk Luxe did an amazing job of isolating the motion of the person when they got in and out of bed. A person likely wouldn’t wake up in the middle of the night if their partner went to the bathroom. However, I did feel when the other person changed their sleep position. It wasn’t incredibly disruptive but noticeable.
Overall, I’d say the motion isolation capabilities of the mattress is average.
Motion isolation score: 4 out of 5
Edge support
Mixed experiences with edge support
I found good support along the sides, but poor at the corners and foot end
May vary based on size too
I had mixed experiences when it came to edge support on the Helix Dusk Luxe. On my queen-sized review model, I felt very supported sitting along the sides of the Helix Dusk Luxe. Getting in and out of the bed was easy and I never felt like I would slip or roll off if I slept near the edge. This was reflected in my testing – when I placed a 20lb weight on the side edge, and it only sunk half an inch (the same as the sinkage in the centre, which is an indicator of good edge support).
However, I found the edge support along the corners and the foot of the bed was lacking. When I sat down in these areas, I nearly slipped off, leading me to say that they’re not as reinforced as the sides. That's surprising, as based on Helix's design diagrams, this mattress should have reinforced coils around the full perimeter. For most people, a weaker footer edge won't be as much of an issue as soft side edges – most people don’t sleep near or sit on the edge or at the corners of a mattress.
Note: TechRadar's sleep editor also had a chance to run tests on the twin version on this model in the Helix showroom. She found the edge support on all four edges to be fairly poor, which suggests the smallest sizes of this mattress might not have those reinforced coils around the edges at all.
Edge support score: 3.5 out of 5
Helix Dusk Luxe mattress review: Customer experience
Mattress delivered vacuum-packed, rolled and boxed
Free shipping, though no White Glove delivery service
Slight smell upon opening the mattress but disappears immediately
The Helix Dusk Luxe was shipped for free by FedEx, vacuum-packed and rolled into a box. I was able to track it easily through the FedEx site and it arrived in a timely manner. There is no option to upgrade to a white glove delivery service. The box wasn’t that heavy, and I was able to move it by myself to my room.
In the past, I’ve had to take super sharp knives to mattress boxes to get to the mattress, so I really appreciated that once I cut the tape along the sides of the Helix box, it popped open. There was no excessive glue or staples that made it difficult to open.
When I removed the plastic wrapping from the mattress, there did seem to be a slight smell or off-gassing, but it went away almost immediately.
The mattress doesn’t have handles to adjust it on the bed, but at least it wasn’t too heavy. It seemed to inflate to its full height within 15 minutes. Helix recommends waiting two hours before sleeping on its mattresses.
I got on well with the Helix Dusk Luxe, but choosing the right mattress can be a subjective matter and you may find that it's not for you, regardless of its quality. Fortunately Helix gives you a 100-night trial to properly evaluate it; it also comes with a 15-year warranty.
Customer experience score: 4 out of 5
Helix Dusk Luxe mattress specs
Helix Dusk Luxe mattress review: other reviews
The customer reviews of the Helix Dusk Luxe can be searched through by star rating and keyword. Overall, there have been over 1,200 reviews (February 2024) that have resulted in a 4.5-star rating. The reviews are not mixed in with reviews from other sites or with other types of mattresses.
When looking through the one- and two-star reviews, we found that there were two main complaints – unexpected sagging and a firmness level that was too soft for the individual. Only 13 reviews mentioned sagging so this is likely not a major issue that most people will deal with. As for the ‘too soft’ complaint, it’s likely that people have different ideas of what constitutes ‘soft.’ I’ve tested soft mattresses and this one is anything but soft, however, I can see that some people may need a firmer mattress. The one thing that surprised me the most was that there were negative reviews by those who sleep in the side position. This mattress is clearly marked as being designed for back and stomach sleepers.
As for the positive feedback, many reviewers noted the comfort level of the mattress. Some pointed out that it took them a few days to adjust but quickly found that they didn’t wake up sore any longer and that the mattress relieved their back pain.
Should you buy the Helix Dusk Luxe mattress?
Buy it if...
✅ You're a back or stomach sleeper: The Helix Dusk Luxe is made for back and stomach sleepers, and while it has a medium feel it features zoned support that keeps your body aligned and your pressure points relieved.
✅ You prioritize comfort: Thanks to its quilted pillow top and premium foams, the Helix Dusk Luxe provides an incredibly comfortable sleep experience. There's not much contouring but it has a cloud-like quality to it; rather than sinking in you'll lie softly on the top.
✅ You want a fiberglass-free bed: Many mattresses use fiberglass as an inexpensive flame barrier, but if you'd rather have the best mattress without fiberglass, the Dusk Luxe is one to consider as Helix states it contains zero fiberglass.
Don't buy it if...
❌ You're a side sleeper The Helix Dusk Luxe shouldn't prove too uncomfortable for most side sleepers, but it's not the ideal option either. If you mostly sleep on your side, the Helix Midnight provides all the cushioning your hips and shoulders need, and it comes in a Luxe upgrade too.
❌ You want the best edge support: The edge support on the Helix Dusk Luxe isn't terrible, but if you enjoy properly sturdy edges you're going to find it a bit of a let-down. Try instead DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid; its edges are a lot less likely to squash down when you sit on them.
❌ You overheat in the night: While the Helix Dusk Luxe doesn't particularly trap heat, it's not particularly breathable and you may well find it a bit too cozy for comfort. The luxurious Saatva Classic would be a better pick; it regulates temperature well and comes in options for all sleepers.
Helix Dusk Luxe mattress review: also consider
How I tested the Helix Dusk Luxe mattress
I tested the Helix Dusk Luxe for three weeks in August when it was over 100 degrees during the day and in the 80s at night. The queen mattress was outfitted with microfiber bedsheets and a lightweight comforter. I also had my mom sleep on the mattress to get a second opinion. Between my personal experience and hers, combined with standardized tests I did to assess the comfort, edge support, and motion isolation, I was able to see how well this mattress performs overall.
