Beautyrest Black vs Helix Midnight Luxe

The mattress market has exploded with options in recent years, searching for the ideal bed, a potentially overwhelming one. Luxury hybrid mattresses blend the contouring ability of foam with the bounce and airflow of coils to provide a best-of-both-world experience. Two high-end hybrids—the Beautyrest Black vs Helix Midnight Luxe—target shoppers wanting to indulge in premium materials and advanced designs.

Beautyrest Black Overview

As the top tier in Beautyrest’s expansive mattress portfolio, the Black line sits at the pinnacle of what the legacy brand offers. Beautyrest first made its name in pocketed coil technology and built on that foundation with the Black. Cashmere, silk, alpaca wool, and other opulent cover materials pair with innovative coil layouts and foam layers. Offered in multiple firmness and height configurations, the Black aims to be a do-it-all hybrid suitable for all sleeping positions.

Helix Midnight Luxe Overview

Born online, Helix Sleep takes a high-tech approach to mattress building. The company’s original Midnight model proved extremely popular, especially with side sleepers drawn to its medium firmness and pressure relief. The Midnight Luxe retains the Midnight’s basic DNA while enhancing it with zoned lumbar coils, added cushioning, and advanced cooling covers. The “Luxe” name says it all—this model represents Helix taking the Midnight to luxurious new heights.

Materials and Construction

Hybrid mattresses incorporate multiple components, each with distinct purposes and traits. Companies use different foams, coils, and covers to engineer customers’ overall feel—Beautyrest and Helix leverage premium materials to accomplish their comfort and support goals.

Beautyrest Black Materials

The Beautyrest Black lineup contains multiple models spanning three main collections: the Black Original, Black with Cooling Upgrades, and Black Hybrid. Materials and layering schemes vary based on the specific mattress.

Most Beautyrest Black mattresses use covers blending Tencel, cashmere, silk, and alpaca wool. Tencel comes from eucalyptus and wicks moisture to help regulate heat. Cashmere and alpaca wool provide exceptional softness rarely felt in mattress covers. Silk adds breathability and antimicrobial protection. Together, these fabrics create a plush and inviting sleep surface.

Beneath the cover, gel and standard memory foam appear in the comfort system. Memory foam conforms closely to cushion pressure points around the shoulders, hips, and lower back. The gel infusion pulls heat away from the body to help prevent overheating, a common complaint with solid memory foam. Transition polyfoam also prevents sleepers from sinking too deeply into the mattress.

Depending on the model, the support core contains between 1300 and 2000 pocketed innerspring coils. These coils range from micro to mega. Micro coils have thinner gauges that allow them to respond to subtle pressure changes and adapt to different body types. The taller mega coils reinforce the mattress perimeter and prevent sagging along the edges. Encased in fabric, the coils move independently to isolate motion transfer.

Mattress thickness starts at 13.5 inches for the low-profile options, specifically for adjustable bases. The tallest models measure 16.5 inches thick to incorporate more robust coil systems and foam layers. The Beautyrest Black collection offers hybrids to fit standard or adjustable bed frames.

Beautyrest Black Materials Key Points

• Cover uses a mix of Tencel, cashmere, silk, and alpaca wool for a soft, luxurious feel
• Gel memory foam and polyfoam comfort layers provide cushioning and minimize pressure points
• Up to 2000 individually pocketed coils depending on the model provide support and motion isolation
• Heights range from 13.5″ on the low end to 16.5″ for the top models

Helix Midnight Luxe Materials

Helix utilizes its proprietary foams and covers across its lineup as a direct-to-consumer online brand. The Midnight Luxe features several signature components, setting it apart from the competition.

The most noticeable element is likely the Ultra-Cool cover. This high-performance fabric actively pulls heat away from sleepers using a phase change material. This material captures excess body heat, liquefies, and then evaporates. As it becomes solid, the cover pulls thermal energy away from the skin to cool its surface dramatically.

Under the phase change cover rests a layer of Helix’s Gel Visco memory foam. Infusing viscoelastic foam with gel prevents it from trapping body heat like traditional memory foam. This material cradles joints and shoulders to alleviate aches around pressure points.

A transitional section of Helix Dynamic foam follows. This proprietary polyfoam increases responsiveness and guards against impressions over time. Sandwiched between the initial contouring layers and the coils, it prevents sleepers from bottoming out into the support core.

Over 1500 pocketed coils reinforce the Helix Midnight Luxe, concentrating extra reinforcement around the lower back. These zoned coils support the midsection while cradling the shoulders and legs with softer tension. The coil gauge and count also provide robust edge support, allowing sleepers to utilize the entire mattress surface.

Standing 14 inches tall, the Midnight Luxe fits most standard bed frames. Six-sided crimping binds the coil layers tightly together for durability. Handles along the sides facilitate easier rotation and lifting during cleaning and moving.

Helix Midnight Luxe Materials Key Points

• The cover is made from ultra-cool phase change material or GlacioTex that actively pulls heat away from the body.
• Gel memory foam contours closely to relieve pressure points
• High-density polyfoam adds responsiveness and prevents sagging
• Up to 1500 pocketed coils reinforce the edges and target the lumbar spine
• Height is 14″

Firmness and Feel

Comfort comes down primarily to firmness and how well a mattress conforms. Companies tweak foam densities, covers, and coils to engineer a range of models catering to different sleeping positions and body types. Beautyrest and Helix each deliver distinct feels.

Beautyrest Black Firmness

A perennial leader in the luxury mattress market, Beautyrest understands customers expect ample choice to dial in their preferred comfort. The Black collection obliges with options spanning plush to extra firm.

On the softer side, the Black Original models rate as medium-soft to medium on the typical firmness scale. These beds feel plush initially but resist excessive sinking for proper spinal alignment. The Black Hybrid models skew slightly firmer due to their coil-centric designs, resulting in more pushback and bounce. Multiple firmness options cater to back, side, and stomach sleeping positions.

Across the board, the Beautyrest Black mattresses feel responsive and push back more against your weight than all-foam designs. This gives them a dynamic, traditional innerspring character. However, the memory foam layers still allow for noticeable contouring around pressure points. By balancing bounce and hug, Beautyrest tries to achieve broad appeal.

Helix Midnight Luxe Firmness

Helix Sleep built its reputation on offering tailored feels for different sleeping positions. Side sleepers overwhelmingly gravitated towards the original Midnight, praising its medium 5 to 6 firmness. Listening to customer feedback, Helix kept the Midnight Luxe at a similar gentleness rating despite its upgrades.

While medium firmness provides a versatile sweet spot for many, Helix optimized the Midnight Luxe explicitly for side sleeping. Light cradling comforts joints while preventing sharp pressure buildup around protruding areas like the shoulders and hips. Midnight Luxe buyers praise its “hugging” sensation, conforming closely to their bodies.

Under 130 pounds, some may find the mattress initially feels slightly firm before the foams respond and adjust. Heavier stomach and back sleepers over 230 pounds may also experience inadequate support, resulting in sagging around the midsection. So while exceptionally comfortable for average-weight side sleepers, lighter and heavier shoppers may prefer a different Helix model more suitable for their needs.

Cooling Technologies

Temperature neutrality plays a prominent role in hybrid mattress engineering today. Foam and covers that retain body heat can ruin comfort and disrupt sleep. Beautyrest and Helix deploy special materials and designs to help manage heat.

Beautyrest Black Cooling

The Beautyrest Black collection contains natural cooling options and models with more advanced temperature regulation features. The cashmere wool and Tencel covers provide exceptional breathability to remove heat from the skin surface. Open coil designs also permit increased airflow to dissipate trapped warmth.

For those wanting more cooling capabilities, Beautyrest augments select Black mattresses with RightTemp foam and cooling coil units. RightTemp foam contains phase change molecules to pull heat across larger surface areas for better conduction. The Cooling + Comfort coils use taller profiles and open central channels to force air circulation through the center third of the mattress.

By mixing cooling technologies across its lineup, Beautyrest tries to match preferences for basic or more advanced heat management. Cooling upgrades do raise costs but likely prove worthwhile for those sleeping especially hot.

Helix Midnight Luxe Cooling

Temperature regulation sits front and center in the design of the Midnight Luxe. As a direct-to-consumer company, Helix receives constant customer feedback about what works and what doesn’t. Overheating complaints clearly drove engineering efforts towards advanced cooling.

The Ultra-Cool Cover with GlacioTex phase change material leads the cooling charge. Actively pulling heat away from sleepers, this high-tech fabric neutralizes thermal buildup before negatively impacting comfort. Without this cover, the Midnight Luxe’s memory foam layers would likely trap more heat.

Complimenting the cover, the Gel Visco memory foam infusion helps prevent the viscoelastic material from absorbing body heat. Openings through the coil unit also permit steady airflow to help regulate temperature. Between these elements, the Midnight Luxe sleeps exceptionally cool for a foam hybrid.

For buyers prioritizing temperature regulation, the Midnight Luxe holds a strong edge over the Beautyrest Black line. Its cover and foams more aggressively combat heat while Beautyrest takes a more mixed approach. Hot sleepers almost certainly will prefer Helix’s cooling uniformity.

Motion Isolation

Motion isolation becomes essential for couples and those easily disturbed by a bedmate changing positions during the night. Bouncy beds transmit movement across the surface while models dampening vibrations keep motion transfer localized. Foam and pocketed coils balance these properties.

The Beautyrest Black and Helix Midnight Luxe incorporate pocketed coil systems housing each spring separately to prevent conduction across the grid. These coils limit disturbances compared to interconnected Bonnell or offset coils. Foam comfort layers provide further insulation. As a result, hybrids tend to isolate motion decently.

However, differences between Beautyrest’s and Helix’s builds result in subtle performance discrepancies. Beautyrest Black models contain up to 2000 pocket coils depending on specifications—far greater than the 1500 used in the Midnight Luxe. More coils mean less space between each spring for motion to reverberate before being halted. So, while both beds perform well, Beautyrest may have a minor edge.

The Midnight Luxe’s thicker foam comfort system helps make up much of this difference. Memory foam’s exceptional shock absorption properties further reduce the spread of disturbances across its surface. Although the Beautyrest may slightly outpoint it in lab tests, the Midnight Luxe’s motion isolation still satisfies most couples.

Pressure Relief

Around joints and bony protrusions, pressure buildup strains muscles and reduces circulation. Contouring comfort layers shape to the body to alleviate these tension areas for less tossing and turning. Side sleepers especially benefit due to sharp pressure around the shoulders and hips.

Beautyrest Black Pressure Relief

Although responsive and lively, Beautyrest Black mattresses don’t skimp on balancing comfort with their coil support systems. Gel, memory foam, and standard polyfoam appear through the collection to cushion joints. However, density and layering schemes vary.

The softer Black Original options use thicker foam to increase contouring for close body-shaping. Firmer choices may drop to just 1 to 2 inches of comfort material, resulting in less pressure alleviation. So, pressure-sensitive shoppers should take special care in assessing specifications.

For its coil layouts, Beautyrest doesn’t especially zone any of its Black models. While adding reinforcement for the back and perimeter, the coils provide uniform, consistent support across the sleep surface. This prevents sagging but results in more generalized pressure relief capabilities.

Helix Midnight Luxe Pressure Relief

Customization sits at the forefront of Helix’s strategy, so tailoring the Midnight Luxe’s relief properties to side sleepers came naturally. Hours of customer feedback provided invaluable insight for engineers seeking to perfect its contouring properties.

They specifically designed its zoned coil unit to support the midsection while permitting deeper sinking around the shoulder and legs. Reinforcements under the lumbar region prevent strain while softer coils around protrusions cradle without sharply pushing back. This light-yet-supportive balance helps the spine stay aligned side sleeping.

The Midnight Luxe memory foam comfort layer also plays a pivotal role. NASA initially developed memory foam to cushion astronauts during extreme g-forces upon reentry. Today, its unmatched ability to distribute weight makes it exceptionally effective for pressure relief. The Midnight Luxe’s memory foam minimizes pressure points by conforming closely without resistance.

Together with the dynamic coil zones, Midnight Luxe’s construction showcases Helix’s focus on addressing customer pain points through tailored relief engineering. Side sleepers requiring serious contouring flock to this model as a result.

Pricing and Value

When assessing either mattress’s value, buyers must weigh performance against costs. Luxury brands carry higher price tags but do not always have equivalent comfort and durability. Comparison shopping helps determine acceptable price thresholds.

Beautyrest Black Pricing

A luxury leader for decades, Beautyrest commands higher average selling prices, especially for its premium Black collection. Queen sizes span $1,549 to $4,699 across the various models and specifications. Such a wide range gives shoppers options but reaches well beyond average mattress costs.

The Black Original models skew towards that lower end. Still containing silk, cashmere, and alpaca wool covers, they provide exceptional comfort without the highest-end coils and cooling features to keep prices (relatively) affordable.

Stepping up to the Black with Cooling upgrades or higher-tier Black Hybrids pushes the budget higher, potentially to $4,000 or more. However, special holiday sales through Mattress Firm and other authorized dealers can cut these posted prices significantly.

Helix Midnight Luxe Pricing

As a direct-to-consumer company, Helix sells solely from its own website without retail markups. This allows the brand to concentrate spend on high-end materials while keeping costs competitive. The Midnight Luxe Queen retails for $2,374.

While not cheap, that price often comes in hundreds below luxury showroom options with similar specifications. Few of those competitor beds offer the tailored pressure relief and ultra-cooling cover that makes the Midnight Luxe so appealing to side sleepers. So at this cost, Helix packs substantial value.

Beautyrest Black	Helix Midnight Luxe
Twin Size	$1,299 – $3,499	$1,299
Twin XL Size	$1,498 – $3,799	$1,349
Full Size	$1,799 – $4,299	$1,799
Queen Size	$1,999 – $4,699	$2,374
King Size	$2,499 – $5,499	$2,799
Cal King Size	$2,499 – $5,499	$2,799
Height	13.5″ – 16.5″	14″

Key things to notice:

• Beautyrest Black has a much wider range of prices depending on the model. The Helix Midnight Luxe has just a single configuration.
• Helix Midnight Luxe prices are generally on the lower end of the Beautyrest range.
• Both come in standard mattress sizes but at different costs.
• The Beautyrest has more height options, while the Helix is 14 inches thick.

Beautyrest Black vs Helix Midnight Luxe Value Comparison

For shoppers prioritizing luxury feel and branding, Beautyrest Black remains an icon. The indulgent fabrics and range of customization carry strong appeal. However, much of that choice and versatility comes at a price, with premiums pushing affordability.

In contrast, Helix concentrates specifically on side sleepers with the Midnight Luxe. What it may lack in breadth or runway for personalization, it doubles down on through precise pressure and temperature relief engineering. That laser focus brings tremendous bang for buck at nearly half the cost of Beautyrest’s high-end.

However, mattress selection depends so much on individual sleeping needs and budgets. But for side sleepers wanting best-in-class contouring without breaking the bank, the Midnight Luxe takes the value edge. Its memory foam and dynamic coils integrate smoothly for targeted relief, but Beautyrest struggles to match despite its steep costs. Unless someone wants the ultimate indulgent sleeping experience, the more affordable Helix likely brings equivalent or better rest.