Helix Dusk Mattress Review

The Mattress Nerd’s Take: The Helix Dusk is a hybrid mattress made with individually wrapped metal coils, memory foam and other special foam layers, which gives the mattress a great level of comfort that’s not too soft and not too firm. This mattress is best suited for most all back sleepers, as well as hot sleepers who will appreciate the air flow from the innerspring coils. Some side sleepers may find this bed to be a bit too firm for them, causing too much joint pressure at the hips and shoulders. Thus, the Helix Midnight, this bed’s “sister” mattress, might work better for side sleepers due to its added pressure-point relief. While the Dusk will work well for lightweight and average-weight stomach sleepers, it may not provide enough support for heavyweight folks who sleep strictly on their stomach.

Finally, those looking for a scaled-up version of this mattress could find their match in the Helix Dusk Luxe, a slightly pricier bed with an added pillow top and zoned coils. Read our review comparing the Helix Luxe mattresses for more information. 

Who is the Helix Dusk Mattress Best For?

1 = Very poor, 2 = Not good, 3 = Fair, 4 = Good, 5 = Excellent

Back Sleepers

The Helix Dusk is a mattress with a medium feel that is a great option for back sleepers because it supports your shoulders, hips, back and legs, keeping the spine in its proper “S” curve. Lightweight back sleepers may find the Dusk a little too firm, but average-weight and heavyweight back sleepers will likely be very comfortable on the Helix Dusk, which provides firmer spinal support than its sister mattress, the Midnight.

Stomach Sleepers

Stomach sleepers need extra support for their hips, shoulders and neck. They sleep with their heads turned to one side, and often have a tendency to feel their hips sink down into the mattress and out of spinal alignment. The Helix Dusk will help lightweight and average-weight stomach sleepers stay comfortable via its medium firmness and wrapped coil construction, but heavyweight stomach sleepers might feel their hips sink down too much for their comfort. Thankfully, Helix Sleep has a mattress designed specifically for heavyweight folks, the Helix Plus. For good options for those who slumber on their tummies, read our best mattresses for stomach sleepers.

Side Sleepers

Side sleepers need a certain level of softness to feel cradled properly in their mattress. After all, nobody likes to feel their sensitive joints dig down into a too-firm bed and then wake up with achiness. The medium firmness level of the Dusk mattress might be too firm for lightweight side sleepers who need extra softness and pressure relief for their hips and shoulders. However, the bed should offer adequate pressure relief for average-weight and heavyweight sleepers. However, we feel the softer Helix versions, the Midnight, Moonlight or Sunset, will satisfy side sleepers more than the firmer Dusk. For even more recommendations, check out our best mattresses for side sleepers.

Combination Sleepers

Because combination sleepers tend to move around and change positions throughout the night, they typically sleep best on a mattress with great responsiveness, or bounce. The Helix Dusk is highly responsive and quickly adjusts to movement without the delay commonly found in all-foam mattresses. Lightweight and average-weight sleepers should have no problem moving around on the Dusk mattress, but heavyweight sleepers may struggle a bit more to maneuver into different sleep positions. Do you tumble around all night long? Then dive into our best mattresses for combination sleepers.

How Does the Helix Dusk Mattress Feel? 

Responsiveness, Bounce and Ease of Movement 

The Helix Dusk has a firm, bouncy feel, thanks to dynamic foam in the top layer as well as the coils in the support layer. However, throughout our in-house testing process we’ve seen other hybrid beds that offer even more maneuverability and responsiveness than the Dusk. If you are a heavyweight combination sleeper, you may want to look for a mattress with even more bounce (latex is a great material for this) so that your body can move around easier on the bed.

How Firm Is This Mattress?

Because the Helix Dusk has a medium firmness, it is just firm enough to support the hips and shoulders for back sleepers, regardless of the sleeper’s body type. We give it a 6 out of 10 on our mattress firmness scale, with 10 being the firmest. Lightweight and average-weight stomach sleepers should find this firmness level comfortable. The medium firmness prevents the hips from sinking too deeply into the mattress, which is a common issue for many stomach sleepers, making the Helix brand one of the best firm mattress options.

Overall, we find the Dusk to be a bit on the firm side for side sleepers, and not firm enough for heavyweight stomach sleepers. Thankfully, Helix has a tremendous lineup of beds: The softer models (Sunset and Moonlight) may work better for lightweight folks and side sleepers. Plus-size people should explore the firmer versions (Twilight and Dawn), as well as the mattress designed specifically for the big and tall, the Helix Plus, which is one of our top picks for best mattresses for heavy people.

Does It Sleep Hot? 

The Helix Dusk mattress uses proprietary Helix Soft Touch Design technology in its cover, which is optimized for airflow and breathability, making Helix one of the best cooling mattresses. The cover is thinner than other covers we’ve seen, but when our mattress testers felt the cover material with their hands in our testing lab, they didn’t report it feeling cool to the touch. Still, the Helix Dusk is a hybrid mattress made with coils, which allow for better airflow compared to beds made with a solid block of memory foam. If overheating is a major concern, consider upgrading to a Helix Luxe model with additional cooling features.

Is the Helix Dusk Mattress Good For Couples? 

The Helix Dusk is not great for couples because it features Helix Dynamic Foam, a bouncy latex-foam alternative, as its top comfort layer. This means that movement can more easily transfer across the bed and perhaps disturb your sleep partner. In comparing all the Helix models, we found the ones with the best motion isolation have memory foam up top. These include the Helix Sunset, Midnight and Twilight models. If motion isolation is a top concern, then check out our best mattresses for couples.

How’s the Edge Support? 

Edge support is an area wherein the Helix Dusk excels. Because of the individually wrapped coil layer that makes up the majority of this bed’s construction, the edges of this mattress hold up very well. Customers can expect to sleep near the edge or sit on the edge of the Dusk while getting ready in the morning. Even heavier sleepers who sit or lie on the edge of the bed can trust that the Helix Dusk will remain supportive.

Construction: What’s Under the Surface?

The Helix Dusk mattress is made with a blend of memory foam, wrapped metal coils and other proprietary foams that are exclusive to the Helix Sleep brand. Together, this particular combination is ideal for back sleepers, regardless of weight, and it should provide a comfortable sleep experience for most stomach sleepers as well. Because of the firm coils, side sleepers, especially lightweight folks, may feel some discomfort on their shoulders and hips while sleeping on this mattress.  But otherwise, the construction of the Helix Dusk makes it ideal for most sleepers.

Layer #1: Soft Touch Design Cover: The light and stretchy Helix Soft Touch Design cover encourages airflow for better cooling. While our team doesn’t think it feels quite cool to the touch, it should still offer adequate breathability for all but the hottest sleepers.

Layer #2: Helix Dynamic Foam Comfort Layer: The comfort layer in the Helix Dusk consists of Helix Dynamic Foam, which is a proprietary latex-foam hybrid alternative that contours to the body for optimum comfort. It also helps give the mattress a bouncy, more responsive feel.

Layer #3: Memory Foam Plus Transition Layer: The transition layer in the mattress features Memory Foam Plus, which provides exceptional pressure relief and ergonomic support for sleepers. Memory Foam Plus also helps with muscle recovery, ensuring that even heavier parts of the body feel supported.

Layer #4: Wrapped Coils Body Shape Layer: The Body Shape support layer is made of hundreds of individually wrapped metal coils that cradle the body and help provide edge support, as well as added airflow to help keep you cool at night.

Layer #5: DuraDense Foam Base Layer: The base layer uses DuraDense Foam, which provides a solid base support and great durability for the whole mattress.

How Much Does the Helix Dusk Mattress Cost?

For the best deal on your Helix mattress, check out our Helix Mattress Coupons.

How Do the Policies Measure Up? 

Shipping & Unboxing

Helix ships its mattresses for free to all 50 states in the U.S. The brand also ships to Canada for a $250 charge. After placing the order, customers can expect the mattress to arrive within three to 15 business days.

Helix also offers a 100-day sleep trial so that shoppers can try out the bed for a period of time before deciding if they’d like to return it. Customers can return the mattress after the 30-day break-in period, but before the 100-day trial period is over, for a full refund.

Warranty

The Helix Dusk mattress is protected by a 10-year limited warranty. Customers can send it back for a refund if there’s a manufacturing error with the mattress, such as excessive body indentations. Helix Sleep asks that shoppers keep a copy of their receipt after purchasing their mattress in case they decide they need to make a warranty claim. 

Trial Period & Returns

The Helix mattress comes with a 100-night sleep trial period. If you are unsatisfied with your sleep experience during that time, you can return it for a full refund. Keep in mind that you must keep your mattress for at least 30 days to allow for a break-in period. Here at Mattress Nerd, we appreciate that 30-day break-in policy because it can take up to a month for the body to adjust to a new mattress. Be sure to check out the most common Helix mattress complaints and read our solutions and alternatives.

Comparing the Helix Mattresses

Helix Sleep offers a line of six “Luxe” mattresses in addition to its standard line, with each Luxe mattress serving as a slightly more elevated version of its standard counterpart. The Helix Dusk Luxe should feel similar to the Helix Dusk, but the Luxe incorporates a breathable Tencel pillow top, zoned support coils in the support layer of the mattress, and a transition layer of polyfoam for extra loft. 

Helix Dusk vs. Helix Sunset

The Helix Sunset Mattress is the softest bedding option in the Helix line, with pressure-relieving abilities and excellent side sleeper support. Compared to the Helix Dusk, the Sunset is much softer at a 3 out of 10 on the firmness scale, compared to the Dusk at a 6 out of 10, or medium firm.

The Sunset is very similar to the Dusk mattress in its cooling properties, but if you tend to toss and turn, we think the Dusk is the better option for restless or combination sleepers. That’s because the construction of these two beds is flipped: The Dusk has the bouncier Helix Dynamic Foam up top, followed by a layer of memory foam, whereas the Sunset features memory foam on top, followed by the Helix Dynamic Foam. This gives the Sunset more of a slower-moving feeling that’s commonly associated with memory foam.

See our full Helix Sunset Mattress Review to learn more.

Helix Dusk vs. Helix Twilight

The Helix Twilight Mattress is a firm bed that is designed to reduce back pain and neck pain with its pressure-relieving properties. It is best for side sleepers who want a firmer mattress, back and stomach sleepers looking for pressure relief, and average-weight and heavyweight sleepers.

The Twilight is firmer than the Dusk mattress (a 7.5 out of 10, compared to the Dusk’s medium-firm 6 out of 10). This higher firmness level makes it great for back sleepers who require more support. Meanwhile, the Dusk is better for combination sleepers and those who prefer a more responsive bed than the Twilight, with its cushiony memory foam up top. Regardless, the Twilight is still one of the firmest beds in the Helix line, and it doesn’t have much give.

Helix Dusk vs. Helix Birch

The Helix Birch Mattress is an organic mattress made from 100% organic, certified natural wool that provides temperature regulation and comfort. Plus, the mattress boasts many earth-friendly certifications, including GREENGUARD Gold Certified, OEKO-TEX Certified and eco-INSTITUT Certified.

The Helix Birch is slightly firmer than the Helix Dusk, but both mattresses are hybrids that combine individually wrapped coils with other materials. The Dusk incorporates memory foam while the Birch uses latex and wool. While both beds excel at providing support for back and stomach sleepers, the Birch can accommodate heavyweight folks and comes in a pillow-top version that’s good for side sleepers—unlike the Dusk.

Check out our full Birch Mattress Review to learn more.

Helix vs. Other Brands

Helix Dusk vs. Brooklyn Bedding Aurora

If you like the medium firmness level and the breathability of the Helix Dusk, but you’re looking for a mattress better suited for side sleepers, we recommend the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora. This mattress comes in soft, medium and firm models, and it offers incredible responsiveness and cooling. 

Both mattresses are hybrids, but the Dusk offers better spinal alignment for back and stomach sleepers who need less body contouring than side sleepers. But the Aurora scores higher marks for couples, because it does a good job minimizing motion transfer, thanks to its combination of memory foam over coils.

See our full Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Mattress Review to learn more.

Helix Dusk vs. WinkBed

The Helix Dusk provides decent responsiveness, but it’s not the ideal mattress for combination sleepers when compared to the WinkBed. Who are combination sleepers? Those who enjoy high levels of bounce from their mattress so they can change positions easily throughout the night.

The WinkBed is a firmer mattress with excellent responsiveness. It’s also made with lumbar support, which is perfect for sleepers with back pain. For heavyweight sleepers, WinkBeds offers the WinkBed Plus, designed for sleepers weighing over 300 lbs. Not to be outdone, Helix produces the Helix Plus, specifically for the big and tall.

Read our full WinkBed Mattress Review to learn more.

Helix Dusk vs. Saatva Classic

If you’d like to scale up a bit from a Helix mattress or other bed-in-a-box brands, you might want to try a luxury Saatva mattress. The Saatva Classic is a hybrid bed, just like the Dusk, but every Saatva mattress comes with free white glove delivery. Delivery personnel will come to your home and set up your mattress so that it’s ready to sleep on as soon as they leave.

The Helix Dusk may be a little more work to set up, but if you’re looking for a high-quality medium-firm mattress that’s great for back and stomach sleepers, the Dusk is a better budgetary option than the Saatva Classic. Still, the Saatva comes in three firmness options (plush soft, luxury firm and firm) and can accommodate all sleep positions.

Read our full Saatva Classic Mattress Review to learn more.

Haven’t made a decision yet? Check out these comparisons:

• Helix vs. Casper
• Helix vs. Purple
• Helix vs. Leesa

Helix Mattress FAQs

What’s the difference between the Helix Dusk mattress and the Helix Dusk Luxe mattress?

The Helix Dusk Luxe is 2″ thicker than the Helix Dusk because it comes with a lumbar support layer. It also features a quilted pillow-top cover. Because of these additional features, the Luxe models are also slightly more expensive. 

Can I buy a Helix Dusk mattress on Amazon?

Currently, the Helix Dusk mattress is not available on Amazon.

Does the Helix Dusk have a bad off-gassing smell?

According to our team of testers, the off-gassing scent of the Helix Dusk is fairly minimal. There is a slight scent for a few hours, but that smell should dissipate quickly as long as the bed is placed in a well-ventilated area.

What’s the Bottom Line?

If you are a hot sleeper who likes a medium-firm mattress that isn’t too soft or too hard, you should like the Helix Dusk. Note that every mattress in the Helix line is a hybrid bed, so memory foam purists probably won’t find what they’re looking for in the Helix Dusk, which has a more responsive feel that’s good for combination sleepers. Ultimately, this bed is best suited for lightweight to average-weight back and stomach sleepers who enjoy body contouring with a bit of bounce.