Helix Twilight Review

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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 Twilight	Average
Overall Score	9.04	8.55
Price (Queen)	$999	$1,539 (Hybrid only)
Cooling – Score	9.0	8.6
Sinkage – Depth	2.34″	2.20″
Sinkage – Feel	Deep	Moderate
Motion Transfer – Score	8.3	8.2
Motion Transfer – Acceleration	8.78 m/s²	8.80 m/s²
Response Time – Score	9.8	8.8
Response Time – Mostly Recovered	0.2 sec.	0.4 sec.
Response Time – Fully Recovered	0.5 sec.	1.0 sec.
Bounce – Height	8.89″	8.95″
Bounce – Feel	Moderate	Moderate
Edge Support – Score	10	8.7
Edge Support – Sitting	3.00″	3.95″
Edge Support – Lying	Outstanding	Excellent
Sex – Score	8.6	8.3
Pressure Relief – Score	9.0	8.6
Comfort Layer Thickness	4.0″	4.3″
Mattress Thickness	12″	12.2″
Off-Gassing – Score	8.3	8.1
Off-Gassing – Smell	Strong	Strong
Off-Gassing – Days	6 days	7 days
Company – Score	9.4	8.8
Trial	100 nights	169 nights
Warranty	Lifetime	40% have lifetime warranties, average of other 60% of mattresses is 13 years

How is Helix Twilight Different?

The Helix Twilight is a 12″ hybrid mattress with an overall performance level that is better than average and a price tag that is significantly lower than average—22.4% less than average for a savings of $317 for a queen mattress.

Advantages

Advantages include cooling performance and excellent edge support for both sitting and lying at or near the edge.

In addition, sex performance and pressure relief on the Twilight is slightly better than average. In our pressure relief tests, the Twilight earned a 9 out of 10 score, which is impressive given the lower price tag.

Neutral Factors

This mattress has deep sinkage and moderate bounce. The off-gassing duration is also near the average, 6 days on the Twilight vs. 7 days on average.

Disadvantages

There are no notable disadvantages to the Twilight, excluding sleepers who just don’t want the firm feel. Side sleepers in particular should avoid this mattress.

That being said, all testing categories had scores that were at or above the average level. This is actually a pretty remarkable milestone for a mattress that costs significantly less than average.

The Helix Twilight has excellent cooling. During our tests, I did not feel any significant level of heat retention.

The Twilight uses a layer of pocketed coils for support, which helps to bring airflow into the mattress and reduce the quantity of material that can absorb and retain heat.

In addition, we have high-quality memory foam and poly foam layers that breathe well. The Twilight is available with an optional cooling cover. However, the mattress we tested did not include the cooling cover.

• 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

We’ve tested other Helix core mattresses that are equipped with the cooling cover and found it makes a notable positive impact on cooling performance.

In our objective temperature tests, we measured a max surface level temperature of 89.8° F. This is 0.1° less than the average of 89.9° F, based on all of our tests to date.

After getting off the mattress, the temperature declined by 5.4 degrees from minutes 0 to 1, which is 0.6 degrees cooler than the average 0 to 1 minute decline of 4.8 degrees.

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 excellent.

Heat Dissipation Over Time

The Helix Twilight has deep sinkage. During our tests, we measured a pressure point sinkage depth of 2.34″. This is 0.14″ more sinkage than the average sinkage depth of 2.20″, based on all of our tests to date.

The level of sinkage is documented in the image below.

The mattress creates only a slight level of body contouring hug. The quilted cover and topmost comfort layers do create some immediate pressure relief and sinkage.

However, the firm feel, supportive coil unit, and core foams create robust pushback, thereby limiting the body contour and hug on the mattress.

Notably, the heavier parts of my body, namely butt and midsection, do sink down more so than the lighter parts of my body, namely arms, legs, and head. Overall, this is a fairly typical comfort dynamic for a high-quality firm mattress.

The Helix Twilight has a low level of motion transfer. During our tests, we measured a total acceleration range of 8.78 m/s². This is essentially the same as the average level of motion transfer, which is 8.80 m/s², based on all of our tests to date.

In many cases, firm mattresses can struggle with motion transfer. However, that wasn’t the case with the Twilight.

The combination of moderate to deep sinkage, lower than average bounce, and memory foam layers within the quilted cover and top layer of comfort foam are all working together to help reduce motion transfer.

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 0.18 seconds. Motion drops off notably thereafter and by 0.97 seconds, we return to near-zero levels of energy.

While the motion duration is a bit longer than the average of 0.88 seconds, the motion intensity is essentially average.

Certainly, it’s not the absolute lowest motion transfer we’ve seen and yet, for a firm mattress at this price point, it’s impressive.

Overall, I’m pleased with this level of motion and I expect most sleepers will find it to be a non-issue.

The Helix Twilight is a mixed bag for material responsiveness, with an extremely fast mostly recovered response time and a very fast fully recovered response time.

In our mostly recovered test, we measured a recovery speed of 0.2 seconds, which is 0.2 seconds faster than the average of 0.4 seconds, based on all of our tests to date.

In our fully recovered responsiveness test, we measured a recovery speed of 0.5 seconds, which is 0.59 seconds faster than the average of 0.99 seconds.

The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.

While the fully recovered response time isn’t quite instant, it’s not far from it. Certainly, the firm feel helps speed up the responsiveness.

In addition, the mattress uses more poly foam than memory foam, which further increases response time. These material recovery speeds ensure the mattress is easy to move around and there is no stuck feeling.

The Helix Twilight has a moderate level of bounce. During our tests, we measured a total bounce height of 8.89″.

This is 0.05″ less bounce than the average of 8.94″, based on all of our tests to date. The Helix Twilight has a design that both increases and decreases bounce.

The firm feel and hybrid design are both increasing bounce, and yet, 1.75” of memory foam within the mattress and quilted cover are reducing bounce.

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

As a result, we see a bounce level that is essentially average.

Bounce is something of a double-edged sword. While the lower bounce is a significant reason for the lower motion transfer, that lower bounce also suppresses the sex performance score. So there are pros and cons to consider here.

The Helix Twilight has outstanding sitting edge support and outstanding lying edge support.

In our sitting edge support test, we measured a sitting sinkage compression of 3.00″. This is 0.95″ less sitting sinkage than the average of 3.95″, based on all of our tests to date.

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

While lying directly on the edge of the mattress, I felt that the support was outstanding in all sleeping positions. The Helix Twilight’s edge support benefits from two key design attributes.

First, the mattress has a firm feel. Said firmness simply creates more robust support on the mattress in general and we see that support extends to the edges.

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

Second, the mattress is equipped with reinforced coils along the left and right sides of the mattress. These coils, in addition to the firmer feel, are working together to deliver incredible edge support for both sitting and lying.

Notably, there are no reinforced coils along the head and foot. This is likely a measure to keep the price lower, but it does mean that support isn’t as good for the head and foot.

Beyond that minor shortcoming, overall edge support is impressive, especially considering the price point.

The Helix Twilight has good sex performance. First up, let’s talk through what the Twilight does best. Noise is minimal and edge support is truly outstanding.

With just 3.0” of sitting edge sinkage the edge is incredibly robust and a usable part of the mattress for amorous activities. In addition, cooling and pressure relief are both excellent.

Sex Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Rating
Bounce	65%	8.0	High
Edge Support	20%	10	Outstanding
Noise	5%	10	Minimal
Pressure Relief	5%	9.0	Excellent
Cooling	5%	9.0	Excellent

Lastly, with a middling performance, we have bounce at 8.89″. When it comes to bounce, we almost always want to see more. Higher bounce makes sex less strenuous, less tiring, and more fun. Overall, sex performance is good and yet, far from amazing.

The Helix Twilight has an excellent level of pressure relief. During our tests, I felt no significant pressure points on my body.

The mattress is equipped with 4.0″ of comfort material, which is 0.26″ less comfort material than the average comfort layer thickness of 4.26″, based on all of our tests to date.

Despite a slightly thinner than average comfort layer, the comfort dynamic and pressure relief on the Twilight is fantastic.

All 4.0” of foam layers look and feel high quality, both on the body and in-hand. The quilted cover creates an immediate and significant pressure relief for the body.

The foam layers range from a density of 1.5 to 2.4 PCF. PCF stands for pounds per cubic feet and it’s typically how density is measured for foam layers. Higher-density foams tend to last longer, sag less, and are more comfortable.

Ideally, I want to see at least one foam layer with a PCF of 3-4. The Twilight is a bit shy of that and yet, it feels hard to complain too much given the feel, broader performance, and price point.

This layer stack works well together to create ample comfort, while still achieving a firm feel.

Pressure Map – Side Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Side Sleepers	0.12	0.81

Pressure Map – Back Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Back Sleepers	0.07	0.83

Pressure Map – Stomach Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Stomach Sleepers	0.09	0.95

In our pressure mapping tests, we measured a max PSI of 0.95. Ideally, I want to see a PSI of less than 1.0 and Twilight achieves that, though only just.

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 excellent.

The Helix Twilight had a strong smell upon the initial unboxing. The mattress smelled for 6 days. This is 0.8 days shorter than the average smell duration of 6.8 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
Returns	40%	10	$0
Trial Period	30%	8.0	100 nights
Warranty	20%	10	Lifetime
Shipping	10%	10	$0
Country of Origin	0%		USA

Comparing 100+ brands tested to date, the average trial period is 170 nights, 70 nights more than Helix offers. Helix also offers a lifetime warranty, an advantage only offered by 40% of all mattresses we test.

The Helix Twilight comes in a single firmness, 8 out of 10, which gives the mattress a firm feel.

This firmness is best for back or stomach sleepers. It’s not a great fit for most side sleepers, as it’s just too much pushback in the middle of the mattress.

This mattress has a firm feel, which makes it a good choice for many back and stomach sleepers. That said, my fear is that many side sleepers will find the level of firmness and pushback is simply too much.

The mattress does not use any zoned foam or a zoned coil unit, meaning we have the same support dynamic from top to bottom.

However, we do have reinforced coils along the right and left sides of the mattress, which extends the supportive sleepable surface area of the mattress.

In addition to creating robust support, we also have ample pressure relief, which ensures you can lie in the same position for an extended period of time without needing to move or 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	No	Yes
150-250 lbs.	Yes	No	Yes
250-300 lbs.	Yes	Maybe	Yes

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 Twilight is excellent.

Design

The Helix Twilight is a 12″ hybrid mattress that comes in a single firmness option—Firm. This mattress is a part of Helix’s standard Core Collection.

There are three main collections within the Helix lineup. There is the Core Collection, the Luxe Collection, and the Elite Collection. There is also a Helix Plus mattress for heavier-weighted sleepers (which has a Core, Luxe, and Elite version within it).

Materials

The Helix Twilight is 12″ thick and contains a combination of different foam types with a pocketed coil support base. From top to bottom, here is a full list of the materials used in this mattress:

• 1.25” quilted cover
• 1.00” memory foam
• 1.00” poly foam
• 0.75” poly foam
• 8.00” pocketed coils

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

Thickness	Layer Type	Density
0.75″	Gel Memory Foam	1.8 PCF
1.0″	Gel Memory Foam	2.4 PCF
0.75″	Poly Foam	1.8 PCF
0.75″	Poly Foam	1.5 PCF
8.0″	Pocketed Coils	N/A
0.25″	Support Foam	Unknown

The Cover

The Helix Twilight has a 1.25″ quilted cover. It is breathable and has a simple design. This mattress also has the option to upgrade to a cooling cover, coined by the name “GlacioTex Cooling Pillow Top” on Helix’s website.

This upgraded cover does increase cooling performance, as we’ve seen across our tests, but it also adds extra cost. The cooling cover has a pillow top design and adds an additional $299 to the total price.

For reference, the Helix Twilight we tested had the standard cover and earned a cooling score of 9/10. Other Helix mattresses that we’ve tested with the GlacioTex cooling cover (ie: Helix Midnight Luxe) earned a cooling score of 10/10 with the advanced cover.

The Comfort Layer

The comfort layer is 4.0″ thick and made of three layers of foam directly below the quilted cover. Below the cover is a 1.0″ memory foam, followed by a 1.0″ poly foam, and lastly a 0.75″ poly foam.

The bottom poly foam acts as a bit of a transitional layer between the comfort layers and the support layer below.

Helix also offers an optional support layer that you can add, the ErgoAlign support layer. This layer is designed to support spinal alignment, especially along the midsection.

This layer sits directly below the cover and is designed as a supportive foam that helps to reinforce support along the mid-section, thereby allowing less sinkage in the middle of the mattress.

I will say, this layer is quite firm and will not be right for all sleepers. We’ve already heard from some of our readers / viewers who purchased this optional foam upgrade that it made their mattress way too firm, creating an uncomfortable support dynamic.

However, if you really struggle with discomfort caused by too much sinkage in the middle of your mattress then adding this layer can help. This optional layer costs an additional $199 and is available in the Core and Luxe models.

The Support Layer

The support layer is 8″ thick and made entirely of individually encased pocketed coils. Each of these coils can move independently, which allows for better pressure relief overall.

If you’re looking for zoned coils and even better pressure relief, you may want to make the jump up to the Twilight Luxe. The Twilight Luxe uses zoned coils, which can provide more pushback for certain areas of the body that may need more support, namely the midsection.

Product Evolution

The Helix Twilight has undergone a series of changes over the years, but NapLab has been around for multiple iterations, continuing to test the newest version of this mattress.

Earlier versions of the Helix Twilight hybrid had a thinner cover and slightly different comfort materials but retained a consistent firmness and similar feel.

Here’s a comparison of the 2021-2024 version compared to the 2025 version.

Check the table below for a side-by-side comparison of both Helix Twilight versions we’ve tested over the years.

Specs	2021-2024 Version (Discontinued)	2025 Version (Current Version)
Overall Score	8.72	9.04
Thickness	12″	12″
Firmness	Medium-Firm (6)	Medium-Firm (6)
Cover	Thin Cover or Cooling Cover	1.25″ Quilted Cover or Cooling Cover
Comfort Layer	2.0″ Memory Foam 2.0″ Poly Foam	1.00” Memory Foam 1.00” Poly Foam 0.75” Poly Foam
Support Layer	8.0″ Pocketed Coils	8.0” Pocketed Coils

Other Mattresses to Consider

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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