Layla vs. Helix Bed Comparison for 2024

Written by Olivera Jancikin, Content Writer

Our Testing Process

Here at Sleep Advisor, our Sleep Certified experts use a refined mattress and product testing process to give you unbiased product suggestions… Read our full product review process.

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

Soft on one side, firm on the other: this memory bed gives you a choice of feels.

Score 4.0/5

Read Layla Mattress Review

CHECK PRICE

Material

Foam

Trial Period

120 nights

Shipping Method

Free shipping