Helix Moonlight Mattress Review – For Back Sleepers Who Want A Soft Mattress

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Helix Moonlight Mattress Review - Cover Image

Helix Moonlight Mattress Review – You’ve heard that many mattresses in boxes have a “one size fits all” medium-firm feel, and that’s just not you. You’ve heard that back and stomach sleepers should use a firmer mattress, but that’s not you either. You want something soft that will still support your spine as a back or stomach sleeper. That’s where the Helix Moonlight mattress comes in.

The Helix Moonlight is the only mattress I’m aware of that’s specifically designed to be both soft AND great for back or stomach sleepers.

Find out all about the construction of the mattress (and whether it’s good quality), and whether this mattress is a good match for what you’re looking for.

Helix Moonlight Mattress Features

How Does The Regular Moonlight Mattress Compare To The Luxe Model?

How Is The Moonlight Different To The Other Soft Mattress, The Sunset?

What Does A Helix Moonlight Mattress Feel Like To Lie On?

Is This The Right Mattress For You?

Are There Any Problems With Helix Moonlight Mattresses?

What Are People Saying Who Love Theirs? (Reviews From Real People)

Final Opinion

Helix Moonlight Mattress Features

Helix Moonlight Mattress Review - Internal Construction

The Moonlight mattress as a soft mattress which has been designed with back and stomach sleepers in mind. This is a bit revolutionary, as back and stomach sleepers are usually recommended to go for a firmer mattress. If you just like a soft mattress though, this is the one for you! The Helix Moonlight mattress comes with:

  • 100 Night Risk Free Sleep Trial (Helix pays for the return if you’re not happy with your mattress)
  • 10 Year Warranty
  • Free delivery
  • Price from $938.80 (follow any of my links to get a discount deal like free pillows and/or a discount)

Inside The Mattress:

The Helix Moonlight Mattress has four internal layers and a total height of 12 inches.

  • Cover:  this is made of a soft and stretchy polyester knit, designed to have a “soft touch”.
  • Comfort Layer: 2 inches of Helix Dynamic Foam (this is a foam designed by Helix to have properties similar to latex. This means it is responsive to body weight – it bounces back quickly – while providing support and comfort
  • Transition Layer: 1 inch of Helix Dynamic Foam (but in a different density to the one in the comfort layer)
  • Pocket Coils: a strong support system for the foams above, with reinforced edges
  • Base: 1 inch of high density polyfoam, which acts as a support mat for the pocket coils, which are the main support component of any hybrid mattress.

A comment on the density of the Helix Dynamic Foams used here:  Helix reports their Dynamic foams range from 2.5-3.5 PCF. Anything under 4 should be considered to be a low density foam. Low density foams are not as durable as high density foams, so this mattress will probably have a shorter lifespan than others that have higher density foams.

Keep in mind that getting the balance between a comfortable feel and a durable foam density is a very fine juggling act, and it is hard to find soft foams that are also high density. This is still a quality mattress. You’ll find it hard to find another mattress starting at this price point that is better.

One good thing to note for your peace of mind if you do buy this mattress: the Helix warranty covers indentations of 1 inch or greater. Many of their competitors won’t honor their warranty until the mattress has sagged by 1.5-2 inches so this generous allowance in the warranty coupled with the soft feel of the foam helps to offset any durability issue.

How Does The Regular Moonlight Mattress Compare To The Luxe Model?

Each standard Helix mattress comes in an upgraded Luxe model. The Luxe is designed to have the same firmness rating and support but has the following upgrades:

  • Tencel cover (a breathable plant based fiber that is woven to feel softer than silk)
  • Quilted pillow top for an extra plush feel
  • Six layers in total inside the mattress instead of 4
  • 14 Inch height instead of 12
  • 15 Year warranty instead of 10

Did You Know Helix Also Has An Elite Version Now? Here’s An Overview Of The Differences:

You can choose your Moonlight mattress with varying upgrades. Go for the standard core option, the more advanced Luxe option, or the most premium Elite option. Here’s a breakdown of how the three mattress options differ. This will help you understand the upgrades and layers that change with each model.

Helix Core
Helix Luxe
Helix Elite

No Pillow Top

Premium Pillow Top

Premium Pillow Top

4 Layers, 11.5″ Tall

6 Layers, 13.5″ Tall

9 Layers, 16″ Tall

Good Lumbar Support

Better Lumbar Support

Best Lumbar Support

No Enhanced Zoning

Enhanced Zoning

Most Enhanced Zoning

Good Airflow

Better Airflow

Best Airflow

Core-Collection

Helix Core Collection

Queen Price:

$1373

Before Discount

Helix Luxe Collection

Queen Price:

$2373

Before Discount

Helix Elite Collection

Queen Price:

$3436

Before Discount

How Is The Moonlight Different To The Other Soft Mattress The Sunset?

At first glance, these two mattresses sound very similar in their construction, but they actually have quite different feels.

Underneath the cover (which has turquoise trim on the Sunset and a pale blue trim on the Midnight), this is what you’ll find:

Similarities:

  • Same firmness rating. Helix rates these mattresses as a 2-3, which by regular standards would be incredibly soft. Reports from customers and other reviewers show that these mattress actually sits at around a 5 out of 10, so a medium soft feel.
  • They have the same cover (apart from the color difference)
  • The same transition foam between the comfort layer and the pocket coils
  • The same pocket coils

The Key Difference:

The foam that is used in the comfort layer is the big thing that separates these two here. Helix has used totally different foams to give the mattresses a totally different feel, with the same firmness rating.

In the sunset, the foam is a proprietary helix foam called “memory plus foam”, which they designed with pressure relief in mind. Helix says this is great for side sleepers and those who toss and turn in the night.

In the Moonlight, which is the mattress we are focusing on here, the comfort layer is made from “helix dynamic foam”, which has been engineered as a latex-foam hybrid. This makes it more responsive to body weight and has a bit more bounce, but is also contouring. Helix says this is great for back and stomach sleepers, or couples of different sleeping positions.

Helix Moonlight Mattress Review - Feel and Support Description

What Does A Helix Moonlight Mattress Feel Like To Lie On?

As the foam in the comfort layer of the Moonlight has been designed to have properties similar to latex, this mattress should feel a little bouncy but responsive.

Due to the softness and low density of the foam, you’ll probably be able to press it down quite far when you exert any pressure on it, but it will bounce back to give good support.

You won’t feel the deeper contouring you might expect from a memory foam, you’d want to look at the Sunset for that.

The mattress should feel soft, but not too soft. Most people rate this as a 5 out of 10 on the commonly used mattress firmness scale (where 10 is a rock and 1 is a feather). A rating of 5 means you could call this mattress “medium soft” compared to many other mattresses in boxes, which come in at around a 7 (which is medium firm). Helix actually use their own rating scale for their mattresses and rate the Moonlight as 2-3. Please note these two different rating scores, and keep in mind that this mattress is on the softer side of medium rather than being the absolute softest mattress you could imagine.

Is This The Right Mattress For You?

Yes If:

  • You have a light body weight of around 130 lb or less. Lighter body weight people are well suited to lower density foam mattresses: you get longer out of the life of the mattress and it’s soft enough to feel comfortable without sacrificing support.
  • The responsive foams in the Moonlight mattress make it a particularly good choice for light people who sleep on their back or stomach.
  • You are any weight, and you want a soft mattress from a great company.

No If:

  • You weigh more than 200 lb. I just don’t think this mattress has enough density in the foam to give you the support you deserve. Hybrid models are great for you, but you need something firmer, like these mattresses which have been designed with you in mind.
  • Stomach sleepers who are above 130 lb. This mattress is only really good for stomach sleeping if you’re quite light. Anyone over that weight limit risks not getting enough support through the hips, a crucial point for stomach sleepers. I’ve got some great options for you to read about here.
  • You’re a light person but you are a side sleeper who needs lots of pressure relief through your shoulder. The Sunset model mattress from Helix will work better for you.

Helix has a very detailed sleep quiz you can take. This will give you a recommendation for which mattress Helix thinks is your best match based on your age, weight, height, and sleeping positions. It’s a really great tool that can really clear up any confusion you may have.

Are There Any Problems Helix Moonlight Mattresses?

As I pointed out above, I think this mattress could have a shorter lifespan than others. It might be comfortable for around 6 years instead of the 8 you might expect from this mattress type. The current Helix mattress range has only been on the market since 2018, so their true performance is yet to be revealed.

Reading through comments from people who returned their mattress or were not happy with it for any reason, the theme was (as usual with online mattresses) that the Moonlight Mattress was just not suitable for that particular person. Some felt it was too soft while others felt it was too firm. I have outlined above exactly who I think the mattress will be suited to, and explained in better detail than Helix does what the true firmness of this mattress is, so I hope you don’t encounter these issues.

It was good to note that I could not find any complaints relating to the overall quality of the mattress or the customer service provided by Helix. These are two critical factors when investing your hard earned money in a mattress you have not seen in a store.

What Are People Saying Who Love Theirs? Reviews From Real People

The Moonlight is a very popular mattress. It has a star rating of 4.5 out of 5, from nearly 800 reviews. Here are some comments from satisfied customers:

Helix Moonlight Mattress Review - Read More Reviews Button

Helix Moonlight Mattress Review – Final Opinion

I think the Helix Moonlight Mattress is good value for money. It has quality construction and a good warranty. While the foam in the comfort layer is lower density, it is a trade-off for the softness this mattress is designed to give.

For lighter people or those looking for a nicely made soft mattress, I think the Helix Moonlight Mattress is an excellent option that will give you years of great sleep.

Helix Moonlight Mattress

From $936.30
4.35

Quality Of Materials

3.8/5

Value For Money

4.3/5

Customer Service

5.0/5

Pros

  • Great option for lighter people who sleep on their back or stomach
  • Good sleep trial and warranty
  • Made in the USA

Cons

  • Low density foam will feel soft but may decrease durability
  • Not recommended for heavy people or average weight stomach sleepers

AUTHOR

Emily Johnstone

Emily is the creator and owner of bestmattressforyou.com. Emily's scientific background gives her an analytical, critical, and discerning eye to bring unbiased, thorough, and helpful content to the site. Your good sleep is her top priority. Find out more about Emily and bestmattressforyou.com here.