Helix Dusk Elite Review

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6/16/2025 Update – Helix has redesigned their entire mattress line, including the Dusk Elite. The new line launched on 4/1 and our tests and photos below are based on the newest Helix Dusk Elite version.

In This Review
Performance Tests | Firmness | Support & Sleeping Positions | Design | Materials | Comparisons | FAQs

At NapLab, we put each mattress to the test.

We test 10 different factors that impact the performance, comfort, and feel of the mattress. We then take the results of those tests and compare them to every mattress we’ve tested to date.

Check out the full performance table below to see how this mattress ranks:

Factor	Helix Dusk Elite	Average
Overall Score	9.21	8.55
Price (Queen)	$2,999	$1,504 (Hybrid only)
Cooling – Score	10	8.6
Sinkage – Depth	2.73″	2.18″
Sinkage – Feel	Very Deep	Moderate
Motion Transfer – Score	9.1	8.2
Motion Transfer – Acceleration	6.98 m/s²	8.67 m/s²
Response Time – Score	7.7	8.8
Response Time – Mostly Recovered	0.5 sec.	0.4 sec.
Response Time – Fully Recovered	1.4 sec.	1.0 sec.
Bounce – Height	7.92″	9.14″
Bounce – Feel	Low	Moderate
Edge Support – Score	9.1	8.6
Edge Support – Sitting	4.50″	4.01″
Edge Support – Lying	Outstanding	Good
Sex – Score	7.9	8.3
Pressure Relief – Score	10	8.7
Comfort Layer Thickness	6.0″	4.1″
Mattress Thickness	15.5″	12.2″
Off-Gassing – Score	8.1	8.2
Off-Gassing – Smell	Strong	Strong
Off-Gassing – Days	7 days	7 days
Company – Score	9.7	8.6
Trial	100 nights	170 nights
Warranty	Lifetime	41% have lifetime warranties, average of other 59% of mattresses is 13 years

How is Helix Dusk Elite Different?

The Helix Dusk Elite is a 15.5″ hybrid mattress with an overall performance level that is better than the average hybrid, but also a higher price tag to boot. This mattress will cost sleepers nearly 2X the cost of an average hybrid.

Advantages

Advantages include exceptional cooling performance, lower levels of motion transfer, and great edge support when sitting or lying at or near the edge of the mattress. Pressure relief is also outstanding—10/10 with 6.0″ of comfort material.

Neutral Factors

This mattress has very deep sinkage and low levels of bounce. Both bounce and sinkage are considered preferential factors, as each sleeper may have a different opinions on what’s good vs. bad.

Off-gassing is also average and would be considered a neutral factor. This mattress takes 7 days to fully off-gas and has a strong smell upon initial unboxing.

Disadvantages

One of the most glaring disadvantages to the Dusk Elite has got to be the high price tag. Priced right under $3K, this would be a sizable investment for many sleepers, especially when we consider the average hybrid costing only $1,504.

In addition to price, the Dusk Elite also has a slower material response time and lower sex score, largely due to the lower level of bounce.

The Helix Dusk Elite has outstanding cooling. During our tests, I did not feel any significant level of heat retention around my body.

Throughout our tests, the mattress remained cool and comfortable. The Dusk Elite comes equipped with a cooling cover, which Helix calls Glaciotex.

This cover has a notably cool-to-the-touch feel when you initially lie on it and maintains that cooler feel for the duration of our tests.

• Baseline Temperature – the temperature of the mattress before anyone lies on it
• Maximum Temperature (0 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after lying on it for 15 minutes
• Ending Temperature (5 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after being lied upon and having no one on it for 5 minutes

Beyond the cooling cover, we have a hybrid design, which brings extra airflow into the mattress. The mattress also utilizes high-performance foams that all seem to both breathe well and avoid excess heat buildup.

In our objective temperature tests, we measured a max surface level temperature of 89.5° F. This is 0.3° less than the average of 89.8° F, based on all of our tests to date.

Heat Dissipation Over Time

When we consider the combination of objective data, my subjective experiences, and an analysis of the materials, I’m confident in my view that cooling is outstanding.

The Helix Dusk Elite has very deep sinkage. During our tests, we measured a pressure point sinkage depth of 2.73″.

This is 0.55″ more sinkage than the average sinkage depth of 2.18″, based on all of our tests to date.

The level of sinkage is documented in the image below.

The mattress creates a balanced body contouring hug, despite the deeper sinkage. The combination of deeper sinkage and thicker-than-average comfort foams (that are all high quality and high density) creates a measured and comfortable hug around the body.

The Dusk Elite uses some of the highest-performance, highest-density foams I’ve ever seen. Those foams create an incredible level of pressure relief and a comfort dynamic that most sleepers will love.

The Helix Dusk Elite has a very low level of motion transfer. During our tests, we measured a total acceleration range of 6.98 m/s². This is 19% less motion transfer than the average of 8.65 m/s².

The mattress uses an incredibly thick 6.0” comfort layer. All of those extra foam layers help to absorb and disperse energy.

In addition, the Dusk Elite is also equipped with a 0.5” memory foam layer in the core that has a density of 7.0 PCF.

Higher density foams are best-in-class when it comes to reducing motion transfer, and there is no question that 7.0 PCF memory foam is absorbing ample energy.

The level of motion transfer is also documented in the video below.

In our motion transfer chart, which visualizes our accelerometer data, we can see the highest motion peaks from 0 to 0.22 seconds.

Thereafter, we see motion decline substantially and by 0.94 seconds, we return to near-zero levels. Certainly, I’m more than pleased with the below-average motion intensity.

Higher motion intensity is the primary factor that will cause sleepers to be disturbed by movements during the night. The 0.94-second motion duration is worse than average and not ideal.

Nevertheless, I’m not overly concerned by it, given the significantly below-average motion intensity. I expect most sleepers will find this level of motion transfer to be more than acceptable.

The Helix Dusk Elite is a mixed bag for material responsiveness, with a fast mostly recovered response time and a slow fully recovered response time.

In our mostly recovered test, we measured a recovery speed of 0.5 seconds, which is 0.08 seconds slower than the average of 0.42 seconds, based on all of our tests to date.

In our fully recovered responsiveness test, we measured a recovery speed of 1.4 seconds, which is 0.42 seconds slower than the average of 0.98 seconds. The Dusk Elite uses a thicker-than-average comfort layer, a quilted cover, and an incredibly dense memory foam layer.

Each of these material and design choices is slightly slowing down the material responsiveness. When combined together, we end up with response times that are notably slower than average.

The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.

The slower responsiveness makes it more difficult to move around on the mattress, especially when combined with the deeper sinkage.

To be fair, these response speeds are far from the worst we’ve seen, with some mattresses taking between 3 and 5 seconds to fully recover. Nevertheless, the ease of movement impact is something to consider.

The Helix Dusk Elite has a low level of bounce. During our tests, we measured a total bounce height of 7.92″. This is 1.22″ less bounce than the average of 9.14″, based on all of our tests to date.

The Dusk Elite has multiple design factors and material choices that are reducing bounce, including the thicker-than-average comfort layer, extra-dense memory foam layer, quilted cover, and microcoil layer.

All of these have a suppressive impact on bounce, and when combined together, you end up with a below-average bounce level.

The level of bounce is also documented in the video below.

The below-average level of bounce makes it slightly more difficult to move around on the mattress. In addition, it negatively impacts sex performance.

But there are pros and cons. While sex and ease of movement aren’t ideal, the low bounce also means that motion transfer is lower.

Depending on your priorities, the level of bounce could be a benefit or a detriment.

The Helix Dusk Elite has good sitting edge support and outstanding lying edge support.

In our sitting edge support test, we measured a sitting sinkage compression of 4.50″. This is 0.50″ more sitting sinkage than the average of 4.00″, based on all of our tests to date.

The level of edge support while seated is documented in the images below.

While sitting edge support left something to be desired, lying edge support was notably better. While lying directly on the edge of the mattress, I felt that the support was outstanding in all sleeping positions.

The level of edge support while lying is documented in the images below.

The Dusk Elite uses two rows of reinforced coils that run along the entire perimeter of the mattress.

These extra firm coils, combined with the thicker-than-average total profile height of the mattress and high quality materials from top to bottom, create the right material conditions to deliver outstanding edge support while lying.

The Helix Dusk Elite has fair sex performance. First up, let’s talk through what the mattress does well. We have minimal noise with outstanding pressure relief and outstanding cooling.

This creates a comfortable surface and one that isn’t annoyingly loud. Moving on with a middling performance, we have edge support.

At 4.50” of sitting edge support, it’s not as good as we’d like it to be, but it should still be robust enough for most couples and help to extend the usable surface area of the mattress.

Where the mattress is weakest for sex is bounce. We have just 7.92” of total bounce. This is well below the average.

Sex Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Rating
Bounce	65%	7.4	Moderate
Edge Support	20%	8.1	Good
Noise	5%	10	Minimal
Pressure Relief	5%	10	Outstanding
Cooling	5%	10	Outstanding

When it comes to sex, more bounce is almost always better than less. The lower level of bounce, combined with deeper sinkage, makes this mattress more strenuous and tiring to have sex on as it simply requires more effort for amorous activities.

The Helix Dusk Elite has an outstanding level of pressure relief. During our tests, I felt no significant pressure points on my body. Quite to the contrary, the Dusk Elite is among the most comfortable mattresses I’ve tested to date.

The mattress is equipped with 6.0″ of comfort material, which is 1.83″ more comfort material than the average comfort layer thickness of 4.17″, based on all of our tests to date.

Having more comfort material is ideal, as it simply means there is more material to comfort the body. Beyond quantity, the quality of these foams is impressive. Each foam looks high quality and is comfortable on the body and in hand.

The mattress uses an ultra-high-density 7.0 PCF memory foam within the core. PCF stands for pounds per cubic foot and is a measure of density.

Higher-density foams last longer, sag less, and typically provide greater comfort for sleepers. A 7.0 PCF is the highest density foam I’ve ever tested. In addition, the Dusk Elite also uses a 3.5 PCF poly foam at 1.5” thick just under the quilted cover.

I consider a PCF of 3-4 to be excellent, high quality, and more than sufficient for a comfort foam. Beyond these two substantially dense layers, we have other poly and memory foams that range from a 1.5 to a 1.8 PCF, in addition to the microcoil layer.

All that explanation to say, I am extremely impressed by the material quality of this mattress. The thick layer stack, quality foam formulation, and higher density foams give me tremendous confidence for its pressure relief, longevity, and overall performance.

In our pressure mapping tests, we measured a max PSI of 0.60. A PSI of 2.0 is a high-pressure point and ideally, I want to see PSI below 1.0. Suffice to say, the PSI measurements were all well within the ideal range.

Pressure Map – Side Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Side Sleepers	0.12	0.60

Pressure Map – Back Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Back Sleepers	0.08	0.56

Pressure Map – Stomach Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Stomach Sleepers	0.07	0.37

When I consider our objective pressure mapping tests, material thickness, material quality, and my subjective experience on the mattress, I’m confident most sleepers will find the pressure relief to be outstanding.

The Helix Dusk Elite had a strong smell upon the initial unboxing. The mattress smelled for 7 days. This is 0.4 days longer than the average smell duration of 6.6 days.

Helix mattresses come with a 100-night trial period and a lifetime warranty. Shipping and returns are both free.

Company Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Data
Trial Period	15%	8.0	100 nights
Warranty	10%	10	Lifetime
Shipping	5%	10	$0
Returns	20%	10	$0
Trust	50%	10	Outstanding
Country of Origin	0%		USA

Comparing 101+ brands tested to date, the average trial period is 170 nights, 70 nights more than Helix offers. Helix mattresses are also backed by a lifetime warranty, an advantage only offered by 41% of all other mattresses tested to date.

Helix has been around since 2015 and based on my experiences with them and feedback from my readers over the years, they are a brand that I have a high degree of trust with.

All Helix mattresses are made in the US.

The Helix Dusk Elite is available in a single firmness, 5.5 out of 10, giving the mattress a medium feel.

The medium to medium-firm feel makes it a great choice for most sleepers, sleeping positions, and body types.

Support on the Helix Dusk Elite is outstanding. During our tests, I felt well supported in all sleeping positions. The mattress is equipped with a 9.5″ support layer. This is 1.57″ thicker than the average support layer thickness of 7.93″, based on all of our tests to date.

The coil unit is thicker than average and looks and feels high quality. In addition, it’s also a zoned unit with more support in the lumbar region (middle of this mattress).

This helps to keep the spine in a neutral alignment, resist sagging, and better support the body.

The incredible pressure relief performance aids in the support dynamic as it means you can lie in the same position for an extended period of time without needing to change positions.

Check out the table below to see the sleeper weights and sleeping positions that would be best suited for this mattress.

Sleeper Weight	Stomach Sleeper	Side Sleeper	Back Sleeper
Under 150 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes
150-250 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes
250-300 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes

Not having to move around as much and change positions while you sleep creates more restorative sleep.

Moving on, the mattress has a medium to medium-firm feel. This firmness is ideal for most sleepers, sleeping positions, and body types up to 300 pounds.

Lastly, the mattress is equipped with reinforced coils along the edge, which increases the usable supportive surface area of the mattress.

Overall, I am as impressed with support as I am with pressure relief.

The material construction, layers, quality, and design of this mattress is truly impressive and I have little doubt it will create more than sufficient support for most sleepers.

Based on all of my tests to date, an analysis of the materials, and my subjective experiences, I’m confident that most sleepers will find support on the Helix Dusk Elite is outstanding.

Design

The Helix Dusk Elite is a 15.5″ hybrid mattress that comes in a single firmness option—Medium.

Materials

The Helix Dusk Elite is 15.5″ thick and contains a combination of foam types, microcoils, and pocketed coils. From top to bottom, here is a full list of the materials used in this mattress:

• 2.25” quilted cover
• 1.5” poly foam
• 1.0” poly foam
• 0.75” micro coils
• 0.5” memory foam
• 0.75” poly foam
• 8.0” pocketed coils
• 0.75” support foam

The table below shows a more detailed look at the exact specifications of the materials used in the Dusk Elite, according to the manufacturer.

Thickness	Layer Type	Density
1.0″	Pillow Top	1.5 PCF
0.75″	Gel Memory Foam	1.8 PCF
1.5″	Poly Foam	3.5 PCF
1.0″	Poly Foam	2.5 PCF
0.75″	Microcoils	N/A
0.5″	Memory Foam	7.0 PCF
8.0″	Pocketed Coils (Zoned)	N/A
0.75″	Support Foam	1.8 PCF

The Cover

The cover of the Helix Dusk Elite is made of GlacioTex Elite cooling fabric and has a cool-to-the-touch feel. This fabric comes standard on the Elite, but is a $199 upgrade for the Helix Dusk or Helix Dusk Luxe collection.

There is also a layer of gel memory foam quilted into the cover. Helix says this layer is 0.75″ thick, for a total cover thickness of 1.75″, but we measured the quilted cover to be closer to 2.25″ thick.

The cover has a zipper on half of the mattress to allow you to insert or remove the top grouping of comfort materials.

Helix recommends spot-cleaning the cover as needed. The cover is not machine washable, nor can you remove it entirely from the top of the mattress.

Although the mattress we tested did not have them, the Helix Elite series does have the option to include graphite cooling ribbons (aka: CoolForce), designed to pull heat away from the body, at an additional cost of $199.

We did test an Elite model with the CoolForce cooling ribbons on the Helix Plus Elite review. In those tests, the cooling ribbons did not seem to make a notable impact on cooling performance.

For reference, the Dusk Elite mattress we tested comes standard with the GlacioTex cooling cover, but did not have the graphite cooling ribbons, yet it still earned a 10/10 for cooling performance.

The Comfort Layer

Unlike other Helix collections, the Elite collection is the only one which has a removable top comfort layer. The comfort insert is shipped separately from the rest of the mattress and needs to be added prior to sleeping on the mattress.

Simply unzip a portion of the cover, slide the comfort insert in, and zip it back up.

Directly beneath the cover, there are two layers of poly foam, a 1.5″ thick layer and a 1.0″ layer. After the poly foams, there is a 0.75” microcoil layer.

The Support Layer

The support layer is 9.5″ thick in total. Beneath the coils from the comfort layer is a 0.5” memory foam, which helps to provide deeper contour and pressure relief, as sleepers transition into the support layer.

The rest of the support layer is made up of 8.0″ pocketed coils and a 0.75″ high-density support foam base.

The coils feature a zoned unit + edge support coils. Varying coil gauges help to provide optimal support and comfort, no matter where you are sitting or lying on the mattress.

Product Evolution

The Helix Dusk Elite launched in spring 2023 as a third luxury tier for the Helix lineup. The Elite was developed as a thicker and plusher alternative to the Helix Luxe, the brand’s previously most luxurious model.

The Elite lineup has a 16″ mattress height compared to the 14″ height of the Luxe collection and a 12″ height on the standard Helix mattresses.

We tested the Dusk Elite for the first time in 2025, but we have tested other models from the Elite collection as early as 2023 (ie: Helix Midnight Elite).

In 2025 Helix redesigned their entire lineup. Here are the major changes from the redesign:

• Aesthetic changes on the covers
• Improved cooling cover (optional on Core and Luxe models, comes standard with all Elite models)
• Slightly different layer stack for foams
• Different / new / updated foams, most notably a new 3.5-4.0 PCF foam that’s included on all Luxe and Elite models and a new 7.0 PCF memory foam that’s included on all Elite models

Other Mattresses to Consider

Not sure if the Helix Dusk Elite is the right pick for you? Check out these three other top-rated hybrid mattresses for high-performing alternatives you may want to consider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Check out some of the top FAQs on the Helix Dusk Elite mattress below and get the answers you’re looking for.