Helix vs. Saatva

We compare 12 mattresses from Helix vs. Saatva. Our objective tests, real-world demonstrations, and expert analysis can help you decide which is best for you.

In This Comparison
Performance Tests | Firmness | Support & Sleeping Positions | Design | Materials

At NapLab, we put each mattress to the test.

We score 10 different factors that impact the comfort, feel, and value of the mattress. Testing categories include:

Factor	Helix Midnight	Helix Midnight Luxe	Helix Plus	Loom & Leaf	Saatva Classic	Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid
Cooling	9.5	9.5	9.5	9.5	10	10
Motion Transfer	9.4	10	9.7	10	9.8	8.7
Response	9.5	10	10	9.9	10	10
Edge Support	9.0	9.5	10	8.4	10	9.8
Sex	9.7	9.4	9.6	8.9	9.9	9.8
Pressure Relief	9.5	10	9.5	10	10	9.5
Off-Gassing	9.8	9.8	9.8	10	10	10
Company	9.8	9.8	9.8	9.8	9.8	9.8

Testing also includes Sinkage and Bounce levels, although these tests do not impact the score, since they are more preferential.

The table below shows the data we generated to determine the performance scores.

Factor	Helix Midnight	Helix Midnight Luxe	Helix Plus	Loom & Leaf	Saatva Classic	Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid
Overall	9.46	9.76	9.72	9.56	9.95	9.71
Max Temp.	90.7° F	91.0° F	91.8° F	87.6° F	94.0° F	89.4° F
Max Sinkage	1.98″	2.15″	1.50″	3.09″	2.40″	1.88″
Total Motion Transfer	7.25 m/s²	4.03 m/s²	6.31 m/s²	5.02 m/s²	5.86 m/s²	10.11 m/s²
Response Time	1.0 sec.	0.3 sec.	0.2 sec.	0.6 sec.	0.4 sec.	0.3 sec.
Total Bounce	10.19″	7.47″	9.38″	4.72″	14.67″	14.06″
Edge Support – Sitting Sinkage	5.00″	4.00″	3.00″	6.25″	3.00″	3.50″
Edge Support – Lying Support	Very Good	Excellent	Exceptional	Excellent	Exceptional	Exceptional
Sex Overall	9.7	9.4	9.6	8.9	9.9	9.8
Comfort Material	3.00″	5.00″	5.00″	4.50″	4.50″	2.50″
Off-Gassing – Smell	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	None	None	None
Off-Gassing – Days	2 days	3 days	2 days	0 days	0 days	0 days
Trial	101 days	101 days	100 days	365 days	365 days	365 days
Warranty	25 years	25 years	10 years	25 years	15 years	Lifetime

Helix vs. Saatva: Who Is the Winner?

The table below shows which of these mattresses is the winner in each scoring category we test for.

Factor	Winner	Value
Best Overall	Saatva Classic	9.95
Best Cooling	Saatva Classic, Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid	10
Most Sinkage	Loom & Leaf	3.09″
Least Sinkage	Helix Plus	1.5″
Lowest Motion Transfer	Helix Midnight Luxe	4.03 m/s²
Fastest Response Time	Helix Plus	0.2 sec
Slowest Response Time	Helix Midnight	1.0 sec
Most Bounce	Saatva Classic	14.67″
Least Bounce	Loom & Leaf	4.72″
Best Edge Support	Helix Plus, Saatva Classic	3″ max sinkage
Best for Sex	Saatva Classic	9.9
Best Pressure Relief	Helix Midnight Luxe, Loom & Leaf, Saatva Classic	10
Least Off-Gassing	Loom & Leaf, Saatva Classic, Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid	None, 0 days

Among these six models, here are the categories where each mattress excelled.

The Helix Midnight Luxe had the lowest motion transfer and tied for the best pressure relief.

The Helix Plus had the least sinkage, fastest response time, and tied for best edge support. It’s also the best for sleepers over 300 pounds.

The Loom & Leaf mattress had the least amount of bounce, most sinkage, and tied for the least off-gassing.

The Saatva Classic scored the best overall, as well as had the best cooling, most bounce, tied for best edge support, tied for best pressure relief, tied for the least amount of off-gassing, and Saatva also had the best company score.

The Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid scored the best for cooling as well as being tied for the least amount of off-gassing, and Saatva also had the best company score.

Helix Plus Cooling Test

Loom & Leaf Cooling Test

Saatva Classic Cooling Test

Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid

The sinkage levels vary pretty widely between Helix and Saatva. Helix ranges between very minimal to moderate. Saatva ranges from moderate to extremely deep.

Sinkage Test	Sinkage Depth	Max Sinkage
Helix Midnight	Minimal	1.98″
Helix Midnight Luxe	Moderate	2.15″
Helix Plus	Very Minimal	1.50″
Loom & Leaf	Extremely Deep	3.09″
Saatva Classic	Deep	2.40″
Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid	Minimal	1.88″

The average level of sinkage across all mattresses tested to date is 2.2″.

Based on these numbers, all of the mattresses tested here are less than average except for the Saatva Classic and Loom & Leaf.

Images below show the level of sinkage for each mattress.

Motion transfer was best on the Helix Midnight Luxe and Loom & Leaf, but still good on all of these models.

Motion Transfer Test	Score	Acc. Range
Helix Midnight	9.4	7.25 m/s²
Helix Midnight Luxe	10	4.03 m/s²
Helix Plus	9.7	6.31 m/s²
Loom & Leaf	10	5.02 m/s²
Saatva Classic	9.8	5.86 m/s²
Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid	8.7	10.11 m/s²

The average amount of motion transfer is 5.83 m/s² (based on all of our tests to date).

As you can see, the Saatva Classic falls about at the average and the Helix Plus is just slightly beyond the average.

The Helix Midnight had quite a bit more motion transfer than average and the Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid has the most motion transfer of all.

The level of motion transfer is documented in the video below. The graphs that follow each video show a quantifiable version of motion transfer based on accelerometer data.

Helix Midnight Motion Transfer Test

The Helix Midnight had the highest level of motion transfer, as you can see in the graphic above. Motion translated across the mattress well past 1 full second.

Helix Midnight Luxe Motion Transfer Test

The Helix Midnight Luxe had great motion transfer, about 1/2 the amount of motion from the initial drop compared to the Helix Midnight, and that energy dissipated quicker as well.

Helix Plus Motion Transfer Test

The Helix Plus mattress had slightly more motion transfer than average with a relatively fast energy absorption rate.

Loom & Leaf Motion Transfer Test

The Loom & Leaf is the only mattress in this comparison that is coil-free. The energy from the initial ball drop is absorbed very quickly into the mattress. As you can see, basically all of the energy is gone before even a full second has elapsed.

Saatva Classic Motion Transfer Test

The Saatva Classic is the only mattress in this comparison with a coil-on-coil system. This obviously generates a lot more bounce initially, but I will say that the bounce dissipates fairly quickly and the overall motion transfer level was about average (compared to all other mattresses we’ve tested to date).

Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid Motion Transfer Test

The Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid Foam mattress has the most motion transfer of all the mattresses in this comparison. You can see the high energy levels from the initial ball drop and then the mattress struggles to control this motion for well over 1 full second.

The response time is excellent for most of these mattresses, excluding the Helix Midnight, which both have top layers of memory foam and are a bit slower because of it.

Response Test	Score	Mostly Recovered	Completely Recovered
Helix Midnight	9.5	1.0 seconds	1.2 seconds
Helix Midnight Luxe	10	0.3 seconds	0.4 seconds
Helix Plus	10	0.2 seconds	0.3 seconds
Loom & Leaf	9.9	0.6 seconds	1.6 seconds
Saatva Classic	10	0.4 seconds	0.8 seconds
Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid	10	0.3 seconds	1.0 seconds

The average response time across all mattresses that we’ve tested to date is 0.56 seconds to be mostly recovered and 0.94 seconds to be fully recovered.

The Helix Midnight Luxe, Helix Plus, Saatva Classic, and Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid all have faster response times than average.

You can see these material responses in real-time in the video below.

Helix Midnight Response Test

Helix Midnight Luxe Response Test

Helix Plus Response Test

The Helix Midnight and Loom & Leaf both have thicker memory foam layers towards the top of the mattress. This definitely slows response time and provides a deeper hug and contour when lying on the mattress.

Loom & Leaf Response Test

Saatva Classic Response Test

Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid Response Test

The level of bounce varies greatly between these six mattresses, as you can see in the table below.

Bounce Test	Bounce Height	Bounce Range
Helix Midnight	High	10.19″
Helix Midnight Luxe	Low	7.47″
Helix Plus	Moderate	9.38″
Loom & Leaf	Very Low	4.72″
Saatva Classic	Extremely High	14.67″
Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid	Extremely High	14.06″

The mattresses with memory foam have the lowest levels of bounce—Loom & Leaf and Helix Midnight Luxe. The Loom & Leaf has the lowest at 4.72″ and the Helix Midnight Luxe has the second-lowest, at 7.47″.

For comparison, the average amount of bounce across all mattresses tested to date is 9.35″.

The Helix Plus has slightly more bounce than average, 9.38″.

The Helix Midnight, Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid, and Saatva Classic all have progressively more bounce than the preceding mattress. Ranging from 9.38 to 14.67″.

Bounce levels can also be viewed in real-time via the short video clips below.

Helix Midnight Bounce Test

Helix Midnight Luxe Bounce Test

Helix Plus Bounce Test

Loom & Leaf Bounce Test

Saatva Classic Bounce Test

Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid Bounce Test

Concerning edge support, there are definitely some of these mattresses that stand out from the others.

Edge Support Test	Score	Max Sinkage	Lying Support
Helix Midnight	9.0	5.00″	Very Good
Helix Midnight Luxe	9.5	4.00″	Excellent
Helix Plus	10	3.00″	Exceptional
Loom & Leaf	8.4	6.25″	Excellent
Saatva Classic	10	3.00″	Exceptional
Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid	9.8	3.50″	Exceptional

The average level of sinkage (when sitting right at the edge of the mattress) is 4.67″ (based on all of our mattress tests to date).

The Helix Midnight Luxe, Helix Plus, Saatva Classic, and Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid all have less edge sinkage than average.

Our sex rating formula looks at 5 different factors weighted based on their importance.

All factors are not equal in terms of significance, but each plays an important role.

Through our tests, we subjectively assigned the following percentages to each category within the overall sex score:

• Bounce: 60%
• Edge Support: 20%
• Noise: 10%
• Pressure Relief: 5%
• Cooling: 5%

Using this method, we generated the following scores below:

Sex Test	Sex Score	Bounce	Edge Support	Noise	Pressure Relief	Cooling
Helix Midnight	9.7	10	9.0	9.0	9.5	9.5
Helix Midnight Luxe	9.4	9.4	9.5	9.0	10	9.5
Helix Plus	9.6	9.8	10	8.0	9.5	9.5
Loom & Leaf	8.9	8.7	8.4	10	10	9.5
Saatva Classic	9.9	10	10	9.0	10	10
Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid	9.8	10	9.8	9.0	9.5	10

The sex performance of all of these mattresses is fantastic for all models excluding the Helix Midnight Luxe (9.4) and the Loom & Leaf (8.9).

Being that these two mattresses include a rather thick top layer of memory foam, the poorer sex performance makes sense, as memory foams have less bounce than a poly foam and certainly less than coils.

The top-scoring mattress for sex performance is the Saatva Classic (9.9), closely followed by the Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid (9.8). Both of these mattresses have excellent bounce paired with fantastic edge support.

The Helix Plus (9.6) and Helix Midnight (9.7) scored well in this category as well and are good options for well-balanced, high-performing mattresses for sex.

Pressure relief on all of these mattresses was quite good. Good pressure relief on a mattress oftentimes comes from a thicker comfort layer and sufficiently thick support layer.

Pressure Relief Test	Score	Comfort Layer	Support Layer
Helix Midnight	9.5	3.0″	9.0″
Helix Midnight Luxe	10	5.0″	9.0″
Helix Plus	9.5	5.0″	8.0″
Loom & Leaf	10	4.5″	7.5″
Saatva Classic	10	4.5″	7.0″
Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid	9.5	2.5″	9.0″

Looking at the six mattresses in this comparison, we see the best scores from the Helix Midnight Luxe, Loom & Leaf, and the Saatva Classic. All of these mattresses have between a 4.5-5″ thick comfort layer with a plush cover.

The Helix Midnight, Helix Plus, and Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid are just slightly behind the others with a score of 9.5 out of 10.

The Helix Midnight has a comfort layer of only 3.0″ and a thinner cover, compared to the others.

Moving right along, let’s talk about off-gassing. The performance here was very good and a little faster than average.

On average, most mattresses take around 2.8 days to off-gas. Every mattress that we tested here was faster than that with one exception being the Helix Midnight Luxe, which took about 3 full days to fully off-gas.

Off-Gassing Test	Score	Initial Smell	Off-Gassing Period
Helix Midnight	9.8	Moderate	2 days
Helix Midnight Luxe	9.8	Moderate	3 days
Helix Plus	9.8	Moderate	2 days
Loom & Leaf	10	None	0 days
Saatva Classic	10	None	0 days
Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid	10	None	0 days

The company analysis of Helix vs. Saatva shows that Saatva has a bit better company policies. It offers a longer trial period as well as a longer warranty.

Company	Helix	Saatva
Trial Period	101 nights	365 nights
Warranty	25 years	Lifetime
Shipping	Free	Free
Returns	Free	Less than $100
Country of Origin	USA	USA

Saatva offers a trial of up to 365 nights and a lifetime warranty.

Shipping is free from both brands, but Saatva does have a small fee if you decide to return the mattress.

Between Helix and Saatva, there is a very wide firmness range.

Firmness	Rating	Label	Read Review
Helix Midnight	6.0	Medium-Firm	Read Review
Helix Midnight Luxe	6.0	Medium-Firm	Read Review
Helix Plus	7.0	Slightly Firm	Read Review
Loom & Leaf	5.5	Medium	Read Review
Saatva Classic	6.0	Medium-Firm	Read Review
Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid	6.0	Medium-Firm	Read Review

3.5 out of 10

The Helix Moonlight is the softest Helix mattress we’ve tested and can be a good option for lightweight side sleepers.

The Saatva Classic (plush soft version) comes in three firmnesses, one being a “plush soft” firmness, which is also a 3.5 out of 10.

4 out of 10

The Helix Sunset is just a touch firmer than the Helix Moonlight and soft Saatva Classic, coming in at a 4 out of 10.

5.5 out of 10

If you’re looking for a touch softer, check out the Loom & Leaf or the Saatva Classic. These two mattresses are a 5.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale and have a plush feel to them, perfect for side sleepers or lighter sleepers especially.

6 out of 10

If you’re looking for a mattress that is likely to be enjoyed by the widest range of sleepers, you may want to consider something in the 6 out of 10 firmness range.

This would include Helix Dusk, Helix Midnight, Helix Midnight Luxe, Saatva Classic, or the Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid.

7 out of 10

If you’re looking for something that is a little firmer consider the Helix Plus. This mattress is specifically designed for heavier sleepers as well as back or stomach sleepers.

The Helix Kids is a flippable mattress with one side being 7 out of 10 and the other side slightly firmer at 8 out of 10. But one note, this mattress is designed for kids 12 and under.

8 out of 10

The Helix Dawn, Helix Twilight, firm version of the Saatva Classic, or firm version of the Loom & Leaf are all firmer options that are an 8 out of 10.

An 8 out of 10 would be more ideal for back or stomach sleepers, as well as heavier sleepers.

If you’re not sure which firmness is best for you, check the table below. This table provides an ideal firmness range based on sleeping position and sleeper body weight.

As you can see, not all firmnesses are suitable for all sleepers. It’s important to know your ideal firmness prior to purchasing a new mattress.

Design

The design of each of these mattresses is very different and we use the table below to outline the details of each mattress.

Design	Type
Helix Midnight	Hybrid
Helix Midnight Luxe	Hybrid
Helix Plus	Hybrid
Loom & Leaf	Memory Foam
Saatva Classic	Coil
Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid	Hybrid

The Loom & Leaf is the only 100% foam mattress and doesn’t contain any coils.

The Helix collection is all hybrids, meaning that they are a combination of comfort foams and support coils. The Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid is also a hybrid, like Helix.

The Saatva Classic is primarily a coil mattress. It has a double layer of coils with a plush Euro-style cover. This mattress is the only one in this comparison that comes in two different firmness options—11.5″ or 14.5″.

If you’re specifically looking for a high-profile mattress, the Helix Midnight Luxe or the thicker version of the Saatva Classic are both 14″ or more.

Material

Images below show exactly what is on the inside of each of these mattresses. Let’s take a look.

As we mentioned above, the comfort layers on the Midnight Luxe and Helix Plus are much thicker than the comfort layer on the Helix Midnight.

The Loom & Leaf has a 2-layer foam support system, while the Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid has a 4-layer foam support system.

The Saatva Classic is a coil-on-coil system with a plush pillow top.

Which Mattress Should You Buy?

In the Helix vs. Saatva mattress battle there are numerous good options. Ultimately, your individual sleeper preferences and needs will determine which is the better option for you.

Should You Buy the Helix Midnight?

I would recommend the Helix Midnight if you’re looking for:

• Lower price point. The Helix Midnight is a more budget-friendly version of the Helix Midnight Luxe and is a great value.
• Balanced feel. This mattress has a balanced feel with a respectable score (9.43 overall).

Click here to learn more or to check the price of the Helix Midnight mattress.

Should You Buy the Helix Midnight Luxe?

I would recommend the Helix Midnight Luxe if you’re looking for:

• Low motion transfer. The Midnight Luxe has the lowest motion transfer among all mattresses tested in this comparison. If you are easily disturbed by your partner (or yourself), low motion transfer can be an important issue.
• Fantastic pressure relief. This mattress has a thick pillow top cover, thick layer of comfort foams, and a supportive coil base. These separate factors combined provide excellent pressure relief for all sleeping positions, but would be especially beneficial for side sleepers.

Click here to learn more or to check the price of the Helix Midnight Luxe mattress.

Should You Buy the Helix Plus?

I would recommend the Helix Plus if you’re looking for:

• Support for heavier sleepers. The Helix Plus has a 13″ thick profile, thicker comfort layers, and tied for the best edge support. These factors combined with the firmer feel make this mattress a good option for heavier sleepers (especially 300+ pounds).
• Fast response. This mattress also has the least amount of sinkage and the fastest response time among all mattresses tested in this review.

Click here to learn more or to check the price of the Helix Plus mattress.

Should You Buy the Loom & Leaf?

I would recommend the Loom & Leaf if you’re looking for:

• Classic memory foam feel. The Loom and Leaf has a fast (but still relatively slower) response time, fantastic hug, excellent body contouring, and among the very best pressure relief out of all mattresses I’ve tested to date. If you like the feel of memory foam then you’ll love Loom and Leaf.
• Great pressure relief. If you’re looking for good hug and contour, the sleeping surface of the Loom & Leaf is one of the best I’ve tested to date.

Click here to learn more or to check the price of the Loom & Leaf mattress.

Should You Buy the Saatva Classic?

I would recommend the Saatva Classic if you’re looking for:

• Best overall. The Saatva Classic had the best cooling, best edge support, best pressure relief, least amount of off-gassing, and best company score. These factors gave the mattress an overall score of 9.95, making it one of the best mattresses we’ve ever tested.
• More bounce. If you like the bounce and feel that a coil-on-coil mattress provides, you’ll likely enjoy the Saatva. More bounce is also be great for sex performance.

Click here to learn more or to check the price of the Saatva Classic mattress.

Should You Buy the Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid?

I would recommend the Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid if you’re looking for:

• Great cooling. The Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid outperformed all other hybrids in this comparison, despite the memory foam top layer.
• Hybrid with longer trial & warranty. If you like the terms and conditions of Saatva, as a company, and are specifically looking for a hybrid, the Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid has some advantages over the Helix hybrids in this area.

Click here to learn more or to check the price of the Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid mattress.

FAQ