Written by Olivera Jancikin, Content Writer
Our Nectar vs. Helix Mattress comparison looks at two brands with competing philosophies on marketing their products. Helix Sleep uses a quiz to help their customers find their ideal bed among an assortment of great hybrid options. Nectar’s memory foam construction has become one of the most recognizable names in the bed-in-a-box industry, but does the hype surrounding this bed compete with the customization that the other brand offers?
In this review, we’ll discuss the features and specifications of Nectar’s flagship model, the Nectar Memory Foam, against Helix’s Dusk model to help you pick one that suits you better.
Product
Firmness
Trial Period
Who I’d Recommend the Nectar For
- Memory foam fans – Customers of this brand can enjoy sleeping in the hugging sensation of memory foam.
- People who want great motion isolation – The memory materials used in this design keep motion at bay, so sleepers can sleep blissfully unaware as their partner gets up to use the restroom.
- Value seekers – This product has a competitive price that other brands are hard-pressed to beat. They also go above and beyond by offering their 365-day trial period and a forever warranty.
Who I’d Recommend Helix For
- Shoppers seeking a more tailored fit – Helix’s sleep quiz helps customers find the mattress that is right for them. If for whatever reason the product you choose does not work, their trial period allows sleepers to swap it out for a different option.
- People who want to spread out – Sleeping along the side of the bed is no fun if those edges are weak. Helix’s reinforced perimeter makes the sides of their beds as supportive as the middle.
- Extra-hot sleepers – The coil layers allow air to circulate through the bed’s inside, while the foams are designed to regulate temperatures.
Nectar Mattress
Nectar offers the deeper hug of a traditional memory foam bed but with updated cooling and a Forever warranty.
40% off everything
Material
Foam
Trial Period
365 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Joint Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from joint pain.
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Nectar Mattress
Nectar offers the deeper hug of a traditional memory foam bed but with updated cooling and a Forever warranty.
Material
Foam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
365 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Joint Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from joint pain.
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Nectar Mattress
Nectar offers the deeper hug of a traditional memory foam bed but with updated cooling and a Forever warranty.
Material
Foam
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Trial Period
365 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Joint Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from joint pain.
Hip Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from hip pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Helix Midnight Mattress
Part of Helix’s core line of mattresses, the Midnight has a hybrid construction that’s particularly suited to back and side sleepers.
Material
Hybrid
Trial Period
100 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Warranty
10-year warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Helix Midnight Mattress
Part of Helix’s core line of mattresses, the Midnight has a hybrid construction that’s particularly suited to back and side sleepers.
Material
Hybrid
Warranty
10-year warranty
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
100 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Helix Midnight Mattress
Part of Helix’s core line of mattresses, the Midnight has a hybrid construction that’s particularly suited to back and side sleepers.
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Soft: 6/10
Trial Period
100 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Comparing Nectar vs. Helix: Top Similarities
- Memory foam – Both the Nectar and Helix Dusk contain memory foam in their layers. This allows each mattress to provide pressure relief and contouring for the hips, knees, and shoulders.
- The height – The Helix Dusk is 11.5 inches tall, while the Nectar is 12 inches tall. Although there’s a slight difference, it’s unnoticeable when you first look at both mattresses.
- Firmness level – The Helix Dusk and Nectar have a mid-range firmness, which makes them versatile and suitable for many sleepers and sleep positions.
Comparing Nectar vs. Helix: Key Differences
The construction – The Nectar is an all-foam mattress that combines memory foam and conventional foam, whereas the Helix Dusk is a hybrid mattress with foam and coils.
The price – The Helix Dusk is slightly more expensive than the Nectar Memory Foam mattress, so the Nectar is a better option for budget shoppers.
The bounce – This Nectar mattress has little to no bounce as it’s made entirely out of foam. The Helix, on the other hand, is more buoyant.
Comparing Firmness, Support & Feel
Firmness
Nectar scores 6.5 on our firmness scale, which looks at beds on a scale of 1 to 10, with a 10 being the firmest. On the other side of this comparison, the Helix Dusk scores at a 6.
With both of these mattresses falling in the medium-firm range, they’re accommodating for the largest range of sleepers. When mattress shopping, you’ll find that the majority of beds tend to fall within this range.
Support
Support is crucial for all sleepers. Nectar and Helix provide support in different ways; the Nectar utilizes dense poly foam, whereas the Dusk relies on coils to keep the sleeper lifted. The Helix Dusk may be slightly better for some sleepers because it has coils, which are known to provide enhanced support.
However, the Nectar ranks well for support, so even though it doesn’t contain coils, you shouldn’t discount it in this category.
Feel
The Helix has a plush cover that’s gentle on your skin and breathable. If you choose the GlacioTex cover, you’ll notice the mattress is cool to the touch throughout the night. The first foam layer feels like latex, allowing quick response as you move on the bed.
Nectar has a cover quilted to a layer of gel memory foam which prevents the bed’s surface from overheating. Although it doesn’t feel cool to the touch, it shouldn’t allow any heat to build up either.
Comparing Sinkage and Bounce
The Nectar flagship model has a slow response, as do many memory foam mattresses. On the other hand, the Helix Dusk has more bounce, which means it has a quicker response to the sleeper’s movements.
This Nectar has contouring memory materials that slowly ease you into a deep hug, relieving pressure points in the process. As this is an all-foam bed, it has little to no bounce but stays firm enough that repositioning sleepers can easily move around. The Helix cradles your curves just as well but bounces back quicker.
Comparing Motion Transfer
You know all about motion isolation – or the lack of it – if you’ve ever slept in a cheap hotel where you can feel your partner’s every movement as they toss and turn next to you. On the upside, most bedding manufacturers have found a solution to this annoying problem.
Nectar is an excellent choice for reducing motion transfer, as the memory foam is built to absorb motion, preventing it from ever crossing the surface. While Helix has coils, these are not like the coils of olden times. These coils are individually pocketed and separated from the others to anchor motion to the spot.
Comparing Cooling
The Helix Dusk may be a better option for hot sleepers due to its hybrid construction. Hybrids are often cooler than all-foam beds because the coils offer extra airflow in the bed’s center. In addition, the Dusk comes with a breathable cover, and there’s an option to get a GlacioTex cooling cover for enhanced cooling.
On the other hand, the Nectar has gel memory foam that helps dissipate your body heat evenly so that the foam construction doesn’t heat up. This bed also has a breathable cover to further enhance cooling.
Comparing Construction (Materials & Quality)
Nectar Construction
The Nectar’s construction starts with a breathable cover that features a poly-blend fabric sewn into gel memory foam. This allows currents of air to freely flow through the fabric, wicking heat and moisture away from you as your rest, so you can sleep cool. This cover helps guard 12 inches of foam materials beneath.
- The top foam is 2 inches of memory foam. As your body’s heat transfers to the bed, the gel in this material spreads surface temperature away from your figure. This material comfortably contours your shape, diminishing nagging pressure and strain.
- The middle foam is a soft, premium foam. At 3 inches thick, this layer fosters facilitated transitioning as your figure gently eases into the thicker foundation of the bed.
- The bottom layer is 7 inches tall and is made with a standard conventional foam to provide a durable base.
Helix Construction
The Helix Dusk is a hybrid mattress, using a latex alternative and coil support system. The company ships it to customers’ homes compressed inside of a box.
This bed boasts a Soft Touch cover that should provide a smooth surface on top. This bed is 12 inches tall with 4 layers beneath the cover.
- The comfort layer is furnished with a 2-inch Helix Dynamic Foam. This material responds like latex for facilitated movement but has been mixed with conforming polyfoam to relieve pressure.
- The transition layer uses a high-grade poly foam that is 1 inch thick. This material is designed to adapt to the sleeper’s anatomy for added pressure relief.
- The coil unit has 8 inches of individually-wrapped coils. This design helps to minimize motion transfer while supporting the sleeper.
The base layer uses a 1-inch DuraDense Foam. This helps protect the mattress and supports the coils above it.
Comparing Company Policies & Price
- Warranty – Nectar offers a forever warranty while Helix’s warranty is 10 years long.
- Shipping – Nectar ships this memory foam mattress within the USA. They also offer optional White Glove delivery. Helix ships their hybrid within the USA and Canada.
- Trial Period – Helix gives you 100 nights to test this hybrid, while Nectar offers a 365-night trial for customers to decide if it’s the right choice for them.
- Returns – Both Nectar and Helix accept returns, offering a full refund if you return the mattresses within the trial period. However, both brands require you to keep the beds for at least 30 days.
- Price – Helix is more expensive than Nectar, regardless of the size you choose.
Nectar vs Helix Side-by-Side
Final Thoughts
Helix and Nectar, the hybrid design versus classic memory foam. Both beds offer great features, but the decision is up to you. Which will it be?
Nectar has the classic memory foam feel with a slow response and fantastic motion isolation. The foams cradle your body, which helps relieve pressure, especially for those who like sleeping on their side. On the other hand, Helix’s Dusk mattress has more bounce and pushback support for people who carry more weight and those who like sleeping on their back.
We think that each bed has helpful qualities, so ultimately, it will come down to the features that are most important for your needs.
Product
Firmness
Trial Period
More Nectar Comparisons:
More Helix Comparisons:
Olivera Janciikin
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