Written by Olivera Jancikin, Content Writer
Our Layla and Helix Midnight bed comparison looks at the differences between the dual-sided memory foam bed that offers maximum versatility and the hybrid that combines sturdy coil support with pressure-relieving foams.
If you’re scratching your head over how an all-foam differs from a hybrid, we’ll go into the benefits in this comparison, so you can figure out which one best suits your needs.
Could you be swayed by the Layla’s removable cover, flippable firmness, and affordable price point, or will the Helix’s edge support, cooling features, and bounce win you over? Read on to find out.
Quick Comparison: Layla vs. Helix Midnight
Product
Type
Score
Who I’d Recommend the Layla For
- Shoppers seeking exceptional value – “One of the best features of this mattress is it’s essentially two-in-one,” reported our mattress tester Stuart. “The Layla is a flippable mattress; one side is Soft and the other side is Firm. You can totally customize your sleep depending on how you’re feeling.” Also, it’s cheaper than the Helix Midnight, making it a great choice for customers who want maximum value.
- Fans of all-foam mattresses – If you can’t get enough of that classic memory foam feel, then the Layla could be right up your alley. Whether you choose the deep hug of the Soft side or the more gentle cradle of the Firm side, you’ll be experiencing delicious pressure relief, which should help soothe achy joints.
- Shoppers who prefer a removable cover – Another great feature of the Layla is its removable, washable cover. While it can be machine-washed on a cold, delicate cycle, the brand recommends dry cleaning. Be aware that the warranty doesn’t cover any damage incurred from machine washing.
Who I’d Recommend the Helix Midnight For
- People with back pain – “This bed performs great for back sleepers; the mix of comfort and support is just right,” reported tester Emma. The sturdy coils should help keep the lumbar area lifted, helping to avoid aches and pains in that area.
- Combination sleepers – The Helix has a pretty versatile firmness rating and a responsive surface, making changing positions a breeze. This could make it a better choice for combination sleepers.
- Couples – “The high-performing edge support combined with limited motion transfer makes the Helix Midnight a great option for people who share their bed,” Emma noted. Plus, it sleeps cool, which is a plus for couples who tend to overheat when sharing their sleep space.
Comparing Layla vs. Helix Midnight: Top Similarities
- Good for side sleepers – We found both beds offered a great feel for side sleepers but in different weight categories. Light to average-weight side sleepers may prefer the softer Layla, while average-to-heavyweight side sleepers may feel more comfortable on the firmer Helix Midnight.
- Trial period – You’ll get a similar industry-standard length trial period, whichever bed you choose. The Layla offers 120 nights, while the Helix has a slightly shorter trial of 100 nights.
- Motion isolation – Surprisingly, despite the Helix being a fairly bouncy hybrid, we found it had minimal motion transfer. Being an all-foam, the Layla was slightly better at isolating motion, but we don’t think the difference should be a dealbreaker for most people.
Comparing Layla vs. Helix Midnight: Key Differences
- Edge support – The all-foam Layla boasts decent edge support, but the Helix hybrid definitely wins in this category. “The Helix mattress has reinforced steel coils around the lengthwise perimeter and it shows,” reported Emma. “We don’t feel like we’re going to fall out of the bed, even right up to the edge of the mattress.”
- Bounce – The Layla features slow-moving memory foam, while the Helix Midnight’s coil unit provides some pushback through its foam comfort layer, giving it a good amount of bounce. This may be preferred by combo sleepers, those with mobility issues, and couples who want a responsive mattress for sex.
- Cooling – Our testers found the Layla slept impressively cool for an all-foam bed, thanks to its cooling cover and ventilated foams. However, the Helix Midnight edged ahead as expected, due to its coil unit, which allows for much more airflow. This may appeal more to hot sleepers and those living in warm climates.
Comparing Firmness, Support & Feel
Firmness
Our firmness scale ranges from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest. The Layla is flippable – we ranked the Soft side as 4 to 5 out of 10, which is medium-soft, and the Firm side as 5 to 6 out of 10, which is medium. The Helix Midnight came in at 6 to 7 out of 10, making it medium to slightly firm, which could be a better match for those who prefer a firmer mattress.
Support
We think most light to average-weight sleepers should find a side they feel well-supported on with the Layla thanks to its ergonomically zoned foam. However, average-weight stomach sleepers may prefer a firmer option to keep their hips lifted at a comfy level. The Helix is firmer, offering great support from its high-density foams and coil unit, and we found it best suited to average to heavyweight side and back sleepers, and lightweight stomach sleepers.
Feel
Stuart noted that he felt more ‘on’ the bed on the Layla’s Firm side and more ‘in’ the bed on the Soft side. “The Firm side feels more supportive and has less sink. The Soft side has a more swaddling feel and is definitely more plush.”
The Helix Midnight features comfy foams to offset its supportive coil unit. “I like how the foams feel soft, but not too soft like I’m sinking in and getting stuck,” reported Emma.
Comparing Sinkage and Bounce
Memory foam is known for its deep hug and lack of bounce, which the Layla delivers on. While this is a preference for some, those who move around a lot at night may feel a little restricted. “Particularly on the Soft side, it took a little more effort to move around and change positions as I slept,” reported Stuart.
The Helix, on the other hand, offers a gentle cradle and responsive feel. “It definitely has good bounce,” noted Emma. “I can move and adjust positions with no problem.” This may make the Helix more suitable for combination sleepers and those who prefer a bouncier mattress for sex.
Comparing Motion Transfer
All-foam beds tend to excel at isolating motion, and the Layla is no different. “It has excellent motion isolation,” said Stuart. “Jump up and down, dance a little, wiggle a little and you’re never going to bother your partner while they sleep.”
We were expecting the Helix Midnight to have high motion transfer, but our tests proved us wrong. “This bed is a hybrid with decent bounce so we were actually really surprised at how it isolated motion,” reported Emma. “We weren’t too disrupted by movement across the surface.” That said, lighter sleepers with restless partners may prefer the Layla, which slightly edges ahead of the Helix in this department.
Comparing Cooling
Our team was pleasantly surprised at how cool the Layla slept, as all-foam mattresses can often trap heat. While the cooling cover didn’t feel cool to the touch, the heat-conductive cooling foam did a great job, according to Stuart. “Its copper infusion keeps heat away from the body, keeping you cool and comfortable all night long.”
However, those who sleep particularly hot may prefer the slightly cooler Helix Midnight. “We think this bed sleeps super cool thanks to the breathable coils, and the option to choose a cooling cover gives the Helix Midnight some definite bonus points,” noted Emma.
Comparing Construction (Materials & Quality)
Layla Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Layla Construction
This dual-sided 10-inch bed provides both Soft and Firm comfort levels, depending on which side is on top. The removable cover is made from a blend of polyester, rayon, viscose, and lycra, and is coated with a cooling agent called Thermo Gel, which draws heat from the body.
- The comfort layer has a 3-inch thick piece of plush, copper-infused memory foam, offering pressure relief and extra support at the hips. Copper boasts antimicrobial and cooling properties.
- The second layer has 2 inches of Max Airflow Support Foam that’s convoluted, allowing for breathability. Three zones offer pressure relief and support where most needed.
- The third layer features 4 inches of support foam that minimizes motion transfer.
- The base layer has 1 inch of the aforementioned copper-infused memory foam but with a firmer feel. This layer makes up the top comfort layer of the Firm side when the mattress is reversed.
Helix Midnight Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Helix Midnight Construction
This 11.5-inch hybrid mattress starts with a breathable polyester and lycra knit cover, which can be upgraded to a GlacioTex™ cooling cover and pillow top for an extra 299 dollars.
- The comfort layer is constructed with Helix’s high-density Memory Plus Foam, which provides body contouring and pressure relief and is designed to be more durable than regular memory foam.
- The next layer features Helix Responsive Foam with a medium feel. This high-grade poly foam is designed to offer pressure relief and ergonomic support.
- The transition layer is a slightly firmer piece of Helix Responsive Foam, easing the sleeper into the coil unit below.
- The support unit is made of up to 1,000 individually wrapped steel coils to help cradle the body and minimize motion transfer. Reinforced coils along the lengthwise perimeter offer edge support.
- A base layer of DuraDense Foam gives the coils something to bounce off, providing stability for the rest of the bed.
Comparing Company Policies & Price
- Warranty – A lifetime warranty is provided with the Layla, while a shorter 10-year limited warranty is offered with the Helix Midnight.
- Shipping – Free bed-in-a-box shipping is offered across the U.S. and parts of Canada with the Helix Midnight, while the Layla ships free to the continental U.S. Additional fees apply for Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada.
- Trial Period – The Helix Midnight has a 100-night trial period, while the Layla comes with a slightly longer trial of 120 nights.
- Returns – Not a fan of your new purchase? You’ll receive a full refund (minus any shipping fees) with both brands if the beds are returned within the trial period. However, Helix requires you to have tried the bed for at least 30 nights. Free pick-up is offered with both beds, though Layla may ask you to donate your unwanted mattress locally.
Price – The Helix Midnight is a little more expensive than the Layla, but we think both brands offer fantastic value, considering the high quality of each product.
| Size | Layla Price (w/o discount) | Helix Midnight Price (w/o discount) |
| Twin | $749 | $936 |
| Twin XL | $849 | $1,061 |
| Full | $999 | $1,249 |
| Queen | $1,099 | $1,374 |
| King | $1,249 | $1,749 |
| Cali King | $1,249 | $1,749 |
Layla vs. Helix Midnight Compared Side-by-Side
| Features | Layla | Helix Midnight |
| Height | 10” | 11.5” |
| Cover | Polyester, rayon, viscose and lycra blend | Polyester and lycra |
| Materials | Copper-infused memory foam, high-density poly foam, convoluted support foam | High-density memory foam, responsive poly foam, steel coils |
| Cooling | Cooling cover, heat-wicking copper in the memory foam, breathable convoluted foam | Breathable cover, coil unit, optional GlacioTex™ cooling cover upgrade |
| Firmness | 4-5/10 (Soft side) and 5-6/10 (Firm side) | 6-7/10 |
| Support | Great | Great |
| Motion Transfer | Minimal | Minimal |
| Edge Support | Good | Great |
| Sinkage | Deep Hug (Soft side) and Gentle Cradle (Firm side) | Gentle Cradle |
| Bounce | Minimal | Moderate |
| Warranty | Lifetime | 10-year limited |
| Trial Period | 120 nights | 100 nights |
| Certifications | CertiPUR-US® | CertiPUR-US® |
| Adjustable Base Compatible | Yes | Yes |
| Shipping | Free across continental U.S. Fees apply for Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada. | Ships free across U.S. and parts of Canada |
| Made in the USA | Yes | Yes |
| Read Full Review | Layla Mattress Review | Helix Midnight Mattress Review |
| Shop Now | Layla Mattress | Helix Midnight Mattress |
Final Thoughts
Shoppers, you are looking at two pretty different beds. On one hand, you have a bouncy and buoyant hybrid that offers enhanced cooling and on the other, you have the pressure-relieving memory foams offered by the dual-sided, all-foam Layla. Don’t forget that we think light to average-weight sleepers are best suited to the Layla, while average to heavyweight sleepers should feel comfortable on the Helix.
Will Layla’s lifetime warranty, versatility, and affordability win you over? Or does Helix’s sturdy edge support and ability to marry good bounce with great motion isolation take the cake? Don’t forget to check out our full-length reviews if you still can’t decide.
Quick Comparison: Layla vs. Helix Midnight
Product
Type
Score
Olivera Jancikin
Content Writer
About Author
Olivera is a content writer for Sleep Advisor and is enthusiastic about sleep. She firmly believes in the benefits of daytime naps on top of getting a full 8-hour sleep at night.
Combination Sleeper
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