Written by Sosha Lewis, Content Writer
For heavyweight sleepers, searching for a supportive, yet comfortable mattress can sometimes be a frustrating experience. However, bed-in-a-box brands Helix and Big Fig seek to prove that it doesn’t have to be that way.
The Helix Plus and Big Fig mattress are tailor-made for heavier people, and may tick off several boxes such as support, pressure relief, comfort, and cooling for plus-size sleepers.
Which brand rises to the top? In our comparison between the Helix Plus and Big Fig mattresses, we break down their similarities and differences.
Product
Type
Score
Quick Comparison: Helix Plus vs. Big Fig
Who I’d Recommend the Helix Plus For
- Heavier side sleepers – A mattress that relieves pressure well can be especially important for those who sleep on their sides. Sleeping on your side can put a great deal of pressure on your hips and shoulders which can lead to pain, but the Helix Plus’s dense, contouring memory foam helps eliminate that.
- Folks with restless sleep mates – Sleeping in the same bed with someone who flops and twirls about through the night can be maddening. Fortunately, the Helix Plus offers exceptional motion isolation so that one partner’s repositioning shouldn’t lead to the other’s sleepless night.
- People who like to utilize the entire surface of the bed – If you are someone who likes to sleep on the edge of the bed or are pushed towards this area by your bed partner, the Helix Plus’s exceptional edge support should keep you securely on the bed throughout the night.
Who I’d Recommend the Big Fig Mattress For
- Fans of durability – Supporting additional weight can cause a mattress to break down more quickly. However, the Big Fig’s durable design keeps this in mind. The combination of latex, poly foam, and innerspring coils provide premium support that will keep this bed in top notch shape for years to come.
- Folks who like to sleep cool – If you often wake up hot and sweaty, the Big Fig is here to help cool you off. This mattress has ThermoGel fabric and gel-infused latex foam to help keep you cool by promoting airflow.
- Sleepers who prefer a firm feel – The Big Fig falls at a 7.5 out of 10 on our firmness scale, which makes it a firm mattress. This is especially appealing for sleepers who like to sleep more ‘on top’ of their mattress rather than ‘in’ it.
Comparing Helix Plus vs. Big Fig: Top Similarities
- Exceptional edge support – The Helix Plus and the Big Fig both offer exceptional edge support. The reinforced edges of both of these mattresses should provide sleepers with peace of mind when sleeping on the edge or getting out of bed.
- Multiple cooling features – By providing multiple cooling features in the construction, both of these mattresses provide great airflow that should help keep you from waking up sweaty.
- Good for couples – The quality edge support and motion isolation of both of these mattresses make them a great choice for couples. Additionally, these beds should help keep couples cool and comfortable throughout the night.
Comparing Helix Plus vs. Big Fig: Key Differences
- Bounce – The Big Fig has a lot of bounce to it, making it a great choice for couples and with those who struggle with mobility. The Helix Plus performs ok in this area, but if you’re looking for bounce, we suggest going with the Big Fig.
- Weight capacity – Heavyweight sleepers under 300 pounds should find that the Helix Plus serves them well. However, for folks between 300-500 pounds, the Big Fig will likely be a better choice for you since the weight capacity is higher.
- Firmness – Considering that both of these beds are tailor-made for heavier people, their firmness levels are similar. However, there is a slight difference between the two with the Big Fig being slightly firmer than the Helix Plus.
Comparing Firmness, Support & Feel
Firmness
The firmness of a mattress simply refers to how soft or firm it feels when you’re lying on it. We measure firmness on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the most firm. Given that both the Helix Plus and the Big Fig are designed with heavier people in mind, it’s no surprise that they have a higher firmness level. Although, the Big Fig has a slightly firmer feel and ranks at a 7.5 out of 10 on our scale, while the Helix Plus falls at a 7 out of 10.
Both of these beds are classified as firm mattresses, which should help keep heavyweight sleepers supported and prevent them from sinking too far down into the upper foam layers.
Support
Heavier individuals often need a bed with additional support features, and both the Big Fig and the Helix Plus offer ample support. By using firmer, high-density foams and reinforced, individually-wrapped coils, these mattresses help promote spinal alignment. This helps stomach sleepers from sagging too far into the bed which can cause pain in their hips. Additionally, the support features of both mattresses provide long-term durability which should help prevent these beds from sagging over time.
In addition, both mattresses feature reinforced perimeters which provides solid edge support. The Helix Plus contains an extra perimeter of coils, while the Big Fig uses a layer of high-density support foam around its edges.
Feel
Both the crisscross pattern of Helix Plus cover, and the swirl design of the Big Fig’s provide an initial touch that is both soft and welcoming. The Helix Plus provides more of a memory foam “hug,” while the Big Fig feels more like a gentle cradle. The innerspring coils of both beds help provide support after sleepers have transitioned through the foam upper layers.
Comparing Sinkage and Bounce
When it comes to heavier sleepers, sinkage and bounce are key when it comes to moving around the mattress. Considering that both mattresses are hybrid designs specifically made for larger people, it can be expected that they share a decent bit of similarities in this category.
For sexually-active couples and those who like to reposition easily, the Big Fig has an advantage when it comes to bounce. This mattress is made with responsive latex, firmer poly foams and pocket coils that work together to promote an ultra-responsive, bouncy feel. You’ll sink a little less into this bed and experience a greater amount of bounce, which should make transitions effortless. However, if you like the gentle hug of foam layers contouring around your body, you would probably be better served by the Helix Plus, which provides a deeper sink and slightly less bounce.
Comparing Motion Transfer
Motion isolation is particularly important to co-sleepers and couples who rest together. If you share a bed with someone, the last thing you want is to feel every toss and turn. Fortunately, you should be able to sleep undisturbed on both the Helix Plus and the Big Fig as they each offer excellent motion isolation.
Both mattresses are hybrid designs, therefore, the foam upper foam layers limit motion transfer, while the individually-wrapped innerspring coils flex isolate motion further.
Comparing Cooling
Overheating while you’re sleeping can lead to a restless night. Unlike all-foam mattresses that are notoriously warm, the innerspring coils of these hybrid mattresses should help dissipate your body heat and keep air circulating through your mattress.
Although both the Helix Plus and the Big Fig do an excellent job when it comes to keeping your cool as you snooze, the addition of Big Fig’s ThermoGel treated cover should help lower your body temperature and keep the heat from building up around you. The Helix Plus uses a TENCEL™ cover to keep its surface breathable and cool, although extra hot sleepers may want to pay the additional 199 dollars for Helix’s GlacioTex Cooling Cover for extra temperature control.
Comparing Construction (Materials & Quality)
Helix Plus Construction
The high-profile Helix Plus stands tall at 11.5 inches. A breathable TENCEL™ cover wraps itself around the entire construction of the mattress, creating a cool, comfortable sleep surface.
- The comfort layer is made from a combination of Dynamic Foam with Ultra-Dense Memory which helps provide pressure relief and soft contouring as you sink into the mattress. Additionally, an inch of gel-infused foam helps keep you comfortable by dissipating body heat.
- The transition layer contains firm memory foam which pushes back against your movements while providing a smooth transition from the topmost layer of soft, cushy memory foam to the base of supportive coils.
- An innerspring layer of individually-wrapped, extra-tall coils lies below, and provides support and structure.
- The base layer is made up of DuraDense Foam, which provides durability and sturdiness for the entire mattress construction.
Big Fig Construction
It is understandable that heavier people would wear out a mattress faster than their lighter counterparts. However, the Big Fig mattress is manufactured with this in mind and uses reinforced, supportive materials. A ThermoGel cover starts this mattress off, and promotes temperature regulation. At 13 inches tall, the Big Fig is about 1.5 inches thicker than the Helix Plus.
- The first layer contains gel-infused perforated latex foam for maximum breathability and cooling comfort. Latex is naturally cooling, pressure-relieving, and responsive so this layer comes with plenty of benefits.
- Next, comes the comfort layer which is actually made up of three layers of dense poly foam. This comfort core layer provides a “no-sag” cushioning sensation, i.e. comfort without excess sinkage.
- The innerspring layer contains 1,600 individually-wrapped coils. This 8-inch layer performs well under pressure and provides a high level of support, stability, and bounce.
- The base layer is made with high-density Edge Foam, which provides a reinforced perimeter around the mattress.
Comparing Company Policies & Price
- Warranty – The Helix Plus has a 15-year warranty, while the Big Fig comes with a slightly longer 20-year warranty.
- Shipping – Both mattresses ship for free within the United States, although for those who live in Alaska, Hawaii, or Canada, you may need to pay an additional shipping fee.
- Trial Period – Both the Big Fig and the Helix Plus come with a 120-night trial, which lets you try out the mattress for 120 nights before deciding if it’s right for you.
- Returns – Helix requires that you give your mattress 30 days before returning it. However, after that time, you can return it for a full refund if you aren’t completely satisfied. Whereas for Big Fig, you can return your mattress at any time during the sleep trial, and you will be issued a full refund.
- Price – The Big Fig is about 300 dollars more expensive than the Helix Plus in a Queen-size. Although the price is justifiable due to the premium materials and quality construction, this may still put it out of some people’s budgets. On the other hand, the Helix Plus is a solid mattress with many similarities to the Big Fig with a slightly more affordable price point.
| Size | Helix Price (w/o discount) | Big FigPrice (w/o discount) |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | $811 | $1,399 |
| Twin XL | $936 | $1,499 |
| Full | $1,061 | $1,599 |
| Queen | $1,499 | $1,799 |
| King | $1,811 | $1,999 |
| Cali King | $1,811 | $1,999 |
| Split King | N/A | $2,799 |
| Split Cali King | N/A | N/A |
Helix Plus vs. Big Fig Side-by-Side
| Features | Helix Plus | Big Fig |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 11.5” | 13” |
| Cover | TENCEL™ cover | Blended with ThermoGel-treated fabric |
| Materials | Dynamic Foam, Ultra-Dense Memory Foam, DuraFoam, Steel Coils | Gel-Infused Perforated Foam, Latex Foam, Poly Foam, Steel Coils |
| Cooling | TENCEL™, Innerspring Coils | ThermoGel-treated fabric, Gel-Infused Perforated Foam, Coils |
| Firmness | 7/10 | 7.5/10 |
| Support | Great | Great |
| Motion Transfer | Minimal | Minimal |
| Edge Support | Exceptional | Exceptional |
| Sinkage | Cradling Sensation | Gentle Hug |
| Bounce | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 15-years | 20-years |
| Trial Period | 120 nights | 120 nights |
| Certifications | CertiPUR-US®, OEKO-TEX® | CertiPUR-US® |
| Adjustable Base Compatible | Yes | Yes |
| Shipping | Free shipping with the U.S. (some areas of Canada for extra charge); White Glove Delivery is optional | Free White Glove Delivery within contiguous U.S. |
| Made in the USA | Yes | Yes |
| Read Full Review | Helix Plus Review | Big Fig Mattress Review |
| Shop Now | Helix Plus Mattress | Big Fig Mattress |
Final Thoughts
When companies started making beds for larger people, the mattresses often missed the mark on providing many of the attributes that plus-sized sleepers need. However, we think the Helix Plus and Big Fig are examples of a plus-sized mattress done right.
Both do an excellent job in providing sturdy support along with gentle contouring. If we had to give the bout to one of the two, the Big Fig would come out on top by a slight margin due to its higher weight capacity and enhanced cooling features. We recommend the Big Fig more for heavyweight couples and hot sleepers, while the Helix Plus is more suitable for side sleepers and shoppers on a budget.
For more information on each bed, check out our individual reviews of the Big Fig and Helix Plus.
Product
Type
Score
More Helix Comparisons:
Sosha Lewis
Content Writer
About Author
Sosha Lewis is a staff writer for Sleep Advisor. Lewis is happy that she is able to combine her love of sleep with her love of writing.
Combination Sleeper