Helix vs. Leesa Comparison for 2024

Written by Jill Zwarensteyn, Editor

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In This Article

Trying to decide between Leesa and Helix? Delve into our detailed comparison, where we highlight the strengths, weaknesses, and other aspects of each mattress to assist you in finding the one that suits you best.

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We’ve decided to pin two popular mattresses this year against each other in an attempt to understand which one performs better. It goes without saying that these beds provide a lot of conveniences to the sleeper and it’s going to be a tough call.

While the mattress brought by Leesa manages to fit the need of a majority of sleepers, thanks to its rather universal comfort, Helix takes a notably different approach. The latter allows the customer to select an individualized feel based on their personal preferences as well as their sleeping patterns based on a questionnaire that they fill in advance.

Will this unique approach manage to knock the veteran Leesa off its podium? Or is the old-school proven formula going to prevail once again? Let’s find out in the battle of Helix vs. Leesa!

If you want to know more you can check out our individual reviews:

• In-Depth Leesa Review
• In-Depth Helix Review

Quick Comparison: Helix vs. Leesa

Materials/Layers/Construction

Leesa Construction

The mattress comes in at 10 inches high, and it is a blend of three layers of foam which are rather distinct. The unique thing about this particular bed is the top layer; this is what sets it apart from the crowd.

• The 1st layer is 2 inches thick, and it’s made out of a foam with pinholes. The material is particularly interesting. It acts as a foam, but it does bring a greater bounce, responsiveness, and cooling effect.
• The 2nd layer is 2 inches thick, and it’s made of conventional memory foam. This layer is intended to relieve pressure and to increase the overall support. The manufacturer has done a fascinating integration which is supposed to meet the needs of a variety of different sleepers.
• The 3rd layer is the one which acts as a foundation. It is 6 inches thick, and it is designed to be the base of the mattress. It allows for the deep compression support. Furthermore, this layer keeps the bed in proper shape and it allows the air to flow through.

The next thing that you’d like to take a look at is the cover. Leesa takes advantage of a cover made of polyester and Lycra. This is a convenient combination which gives the cover proper stretchiness and enhanced durability without sacrificing or dampening the cooling effect of the top foam layer. The cover is also very nice looking regarding aesthetics.

Helix Construction

As mentioned, the Helix is customizable by the client, and the company will select a feel from their line of 9 constructions that best fits the individual’s needs. What is more, you can order one side as firm and the other to be soft if you want to.

Regardless, though, every bed is built from four layers of micro coils, memory materials, and poly foam that comes to 12 inches total thickness. (Models built for extra pressure relief contain the company’s proprietary mix of memory foams, and the model designed for heavier sleepers is 13 inches tall.) To customize the feel, comfort, firmness, and other characteristics, you have to take a comprehensive quiz. Nevertheless, let’s have a look at the construction of the most versatile medium choice, the Helix Dusk.

• The 1st layer is designed to bring in comfort as well as cooling. It is 2 inches thick, and it’s made out of Dynamic foam that’s proprietary to Helix. It is a responsive material that’s also quite comfortable. It resembles latex and is similarly temperature neutral, quick to respond and has a bit of bounce.
• The 2nd layer is intended to transition to the support system with a firmer layer of high-grade poly foam.
• The 3rd layer is made from individually pocketed micro coils that cradle the body and support the spine. These are reinforced around the edges for additional edge support.
• The 4th layer is the foundation, made with DuraDense foam that is supportive and lends the bed its durability

The cover is aesthetically pleasing and differs in color depending on what model is selected for you. It is lightweight and exceptionally breathable. You may also select a specialized cover that incorporates phase change technology that can further help regulate the temperature of your bed.

Firmness/Comfort/Support

Now, it’s obviously important to measure some paramount metrics concerning the firmness, the comfort and the support of both mattresses.

Leesa Firmness

Leesa scores 6 of a total of 10 on the unified firmness scale. This is why the bed manages to hit the so-called sweet spot, and it delivers a universal firmness, support, and comfort that at least 80% of sleepers prefer.

When you lie down on the mattress initially, it should feel very cool. This is all thanks to the very effective top layer of foam. As you start easing into the bed, the memory foam begins doing its job, allowing for an excellent compression, support, and acute pressure relief. These materials look together synergistically to ensure that you receive an exclusive sensation.

This bed is among a balanced sleeping sensation on the market. The multi-layer design, support, firmness, and nature of the materials, as well as the foam’s thickness are intended to work in sync to deliver comfort for people with different weights, sleeping preferences, and shapes.

For those of you who are looking for a well-rounded mattress and a medium firmness, the Leesa could be for you, striking balance across the board.

It is also worth mentioning that the mattress also has a reasonably fast response time. This is an added bonus for those of you who are active and move a lot in their sleep. In other words, it shouldn’t make you feel trapped, which is very important to some.

Helix Firmness

Now, this is where things become particularly interesting. As we mentioned above, Helix isn’t your regular mattress brand. Instead of offering a few different options like the majority of its competitors, Helix takes a different approach.

You will be allowed to fill out a comprehensive questionnaire about point elasticity, the temperature regulation, feel, and support of your mattress on your own. As soon as you place your order, the company will select from one of nine different feels that they manufacture based on the answers to this questionnaire. You can be the proud owner of a unique bed, specially selected for you.

What is more, Helix has accounted for couples as well. You are now able to configure both sides of the mattress differently. Therefore, if you prefer a firmer feel while your mate loves softer beds, you can configure one of the sides as per your preferences and the other as per your partner’s. This is quite enticing and very convenient for a lot of people.

Overall, the mattresses are quite responsive and offer a nice bounce thanks to the micro-coils layer. They are well aerated. Hence, the cooling effect is substantial—you shouldn’t wake up too hot in the middle of the night. The contouring is well-thought out and expressed enough without making you feel trapped.

Side by Side Comparison

	Helix	Leesa
Materials	Poly Foam, Support Foam and Micro Coils	Memory foam and polyfoams
Height	12”	11”
Firmness	3-9/10	6/10
Motion Transfer	Minimal	Minimal
Support	Very Good	Very Good
Warranty	10 Years	10 Years
Trial Period	100 Nights	100 Nights