Type: Hybrid
Firmness option: Soft, medium, firm
Height: 14”
Sizes: 7
Sleep trial: 120 nights
Warranty: Lifetime
Price (MSRP): from $1,893 at Bear
Type: Hybrid
Firmness option: Medium firm
Height: 13.5”
Sizes: 8
Sleep trial: 100 nights
Warranty: 15 years
Price (MSRP): from $1,373.75 at Helix
The Bear Elite Hybrid and Helix Midnight Luxe are two mattresses that stand out in a sea of boxed beds. But underneath the covers these are two very different mattresses, so we’ve put together this guide to help you pick the right choice for your sleeping style.
You can find both mattresses in our best mattresses of 2024 guide for all sleepers, where we rate both mattresses for their comfort and support levels. Both mattresses are among the best hybrid mattresses you can buy, made from a combination of foams and coils, but the Bear is customizable while the Helix comes in one medium firm option. Does this make a difference, and which mattress is right for your sleep? This guide will help you decide.
Neither mattress is ever sold at full MSRP and there’s always some sort of discount available, although the larger discounts will be seen around major sales events. Right now, both mattresses are discounted – the Bear by 30% and the Helix by 20%, so you can grab a luxury mattress for a much lower price.
Bear Elite Hybrid vs Helix Midnight Luxe mattress: Price & Trial
- The Bear Elite Hybrid is usually discounted by between 30 and 35%
- The Helix discounts usually range between 20% - 27%
- The Helix comes with a 100-night trial, while Bear’s is 120 nights
Regular Bear mattress sales mean that you can pretty much ignore full price on the Bear Elite Hybrid as well. You’ll generally find discounts of 30% or 35% - currently there’s 30% off along with two free pillows. This means that a queen mattress is reduced to $1,614 from its MSRP of $2,305. Bear also offer free shipping and returns, along with a lifetime warranty, but the trial period is a slightly disappointing 120 nights. You can also upgrade to white glove delivery from $100.
Likewise, the Helix Midnight Luxe is never sold at full MSRP. You’ll generally find between 20-27% off in the Helix mattress sales – right now there’s 20% off along with two free pillows, taking a queen size down to $1,899 (MSRP $2,373.75). Extras wise you’ll get a 100-night sleep trial, 15-year warranty and free shipping to your door. For a premium mattress, these are a little disappointing.
Bear Elite Hybrid vs Helix Midnight Luxe mattress: Materials & Design
- The Bear Elite Hybrid has six layers and is 14” high
- The Helix Midnight Luxe has six layers and is 13.5” high
- Both mattresses have a hybrid design
The Bear Elite starts with a hand quilted cover containing phase-change material (PCM), effectively absorbing body heat and regulating temperatures (which is why it's our best cooling mattress of the year.) There’s also the option to upgrade to a cover infused with Celliant fibers, with minerals crushed into it to make it infrared responsive. The idea is that the Celliant will boost circulation and improve cellular oxygenation, leading to faster physical recovery – this is why Bear particularly recommend their mattresses to athletes.
The Celliant does mean that the cover isn’t particularly soft, although as this is going to be under a sheet and hopefully a mattress protector (which we’d strongly recommend using), it’s not a huge thing to worry about. Up next is a layer of memory foam infused with copper to help further with cooling, followed by a transition layer of more memory foam sitting on top of individually pocket coils.
The coils along the perimeter are reinforced for edge support, while the center has higher-gauge coils for additional lumbar support. All the foams are also CertiPUR-US certified. The mattress is finished with a base of high-density foam.
The Helix Midnight Luxe comes with a breathable, hypoallergenic Tencel cover, with the option to upgrade to a GlacioTex cover for extra cooling, which is a popular fabric among specialist cooling beds.
Beneath the Tencel cover is a premium quilted pillow top that’s been sewn into the top of the mattress for a plush and soft feel. Underneath this is a layer of responsive polyfoam, followed by a layer of copper gel memory foam, both designed to contour to your body and provide support. Next up is a transition layer of memory foam, which sits on a layer of individually wrapped coils. These are firmer around the lumbar and edges of the mattress. Finally, there’s a dense foam base layer for support.
Bear Elite Hybrid vs Helix Midnight Luxe mattress: Comfort & Support
- The Helix Midnight Luxe is a medium firm mattress, rated at 6/10
- The Bear Elite Hybrid is customizable, with soft (5/10), medium (6/10) and firm (7/10) options
- Both mattresses offer excellent lumbar support
In our Bear Elite Hybrid mattress review, we tested the medium firmness of the bed and found that it was particularly suited to back sleepers. The mattress has a soft and plush top layer, but you won’t sink into it – rather it just gently contours around the body. Lumbar support is also excellent, with the firmer coils in the center of the mattress ensuring that the spine remains aligned and supported at all times, with plenty of pressure relief at the hips.
Customer reviews suggest that there’s not a huge amount of difference between the three firmness options so, while side sleepers could try the soft option, we feel the majority will be more comfortable on the Helix. Edge support is a little inconsistent on the Bear, with excellent support along the sides, but a fairly major dip at the foot of the bed. It's unlikely, however, that this will be a major issue for most people.
In our Helix Midnight Luxe mattress review, we rated the bed as the best mattress for side sleepers that you can currently buy, with the plush pillow top delivering outstanding pressure relief when you’re sleeping on your side. This also prevents any pressure points forming at the shoulders and hips. Underneath the pillow top, the mattress is fairly firm, with the reinforced coils and copper-infused memory foam working in tandem to keep the lumbar region supported and the spine aligned.
This firmer support also means that the Helix is one of the best mattresses for back pain. Our back sleepers also enjoyed sleeping on the Helix Midnight Luxe, with the firmer lumbar support doing a great job of keeping them supported. However, we wouldn’t recommend the Helix to stomach sleepers and those of a heavier build.
Bear Elite Hybrid vs Helix Midnight Luxe mattress: Temperature Control
- The Bear Elite Hybrid has phase change materials (PCM) infused into the cover to absorb body heat, along with copper-infused foam for cooling
- The Helix Midnight Luxe has a breathable cover and well-spaced coils, along with copper-infused foam like the Bear
- There’s the option to upgrade to a GlacioTex cooling cover with the Helix
Our lead reviewer slept on the Bear Elite Hybrid in a Texas summer, with air conditioning set at 77 degrees F. Despite the warm weather, the Bear did an excellent job of regulating body temperature, keeping our sleepers cool and comfortable. The quilted cover is infused with PCM to help absorb and dissipate body heat. Our test model also had the upgraded Celliant-infused cover, as well as copper-infused foam and well-spaced coils to help with airflow.
The Helix Midnight Luxe has a breathable Tencel cover, along with coils to promote airflow and a layer of copper-infused foam (copper helps to draw heat away from the body). However, if you are a particularly hot sleeper, we’d recommend upgrading to the GlacioTex cover, which will wick away any heat or moisture while you sleep, helping you to stay cool overnight. The standard version did keep our testers cool and comfortable overnight.
Bear Elite Hybrid vs Helix Midnight Luxe mattress: Which should you buy?
Buy the Bear Elite Hybrid if…
✅ You have an active lifestyle: Bear mattresses are specifically designed for athletes and those who want to use their sleep for as much recovery as possible. The Celliant fibers in the cover boost circulation and help cells recover faster as you sleep.
✅ You’re a back sleeper who wants a slightly softer feel: The Bear Elite Hybrid is particularly suited to back sleepers who want a slightly softer feel to the top of their mattress but still need firmer support underneath.
✅ You’re a back sleeper with lower back pain: The additional lumbar support of the higher-gauge coils in the center of the mattress means the Bear does a great job of easing lower back pain.
Buy the Helix Midnight Luxe if...
✅ You’re a side sleeper: Although the Helix Midnight Luxe is specifically designed for side sleepers, it’s a medium firm mattress. This means it will be firmer than a lot of mattresses designed for side sleepers. However, this is ideal for back pain sufferers as it will help to keep the spine aligned.
✅ You’re a side sleeper or back sleeper with back pain: The enhanced lumbar support will keep these sleepers pain free, but there’s still plenty of cushioning at the top to prevent any pressure points building up.
✅ You want good all-round edge support: The Helix has good edge support right around the mattress, enabling sleepers to lie comfortably as well as sit on the edge safely.
