Shopping for a mattress can be a tedious task, especially when there are so many options to choose from. Nonetheless, picking the right mattress is essential since it greatly affects the quality of your life. Memory foam, innerspring units, latex rubber, etc. are some of the materials from which a mattress’ layers may be made up of.
Today, we compare two top-notch mattresses, Bear and Helix, both of which have a unique construction and characterize a blend of materials.
The Bear vs. Helix comparison aims to bring clarity to the choices you have, helping you pick out the product that suits you best.
Helix Breakdown
Starting off with the Helix mattress would be a better idea since the specifications aren’t self-explanatory for it. In a nutshell, the Helix is a personalized memory foam mattress that gives you the power to customize it. In the manufacturer’s dictionary, the mattress is said to be made from “dynamic foam” sitting along the edges of the memory foam classification. Each layer has different thickness depending on the preference you provide, and at the end you get a hybrid mattress that suits your need best.
Let’s take a deeper look into the construction of the mattress.
Construction
The Helix mattress is made up of several layers, some of which are interchangeable. The company offers you a “Sleep Quiz” which you can answer based on your preferences and then get the product that’s most suitable for you.
Cover
The mattress sports a removable cover made up of 100% polyester, giving the mattress initial softness and a nice thermal profile. Being easily removable, it can be cleaned up conveniently. Under this, Helix has installed another cover called the “Two Touch Design Cover”, working in conjunction with the polyester to create a more breathable sleeping experience.
If you’re a hot sleeper then you may want something extra to help keep you cool. If this is the case, you can have an additional cover designed with phase change materials. Known as the “Ultra Cool Cover”, the thermic phase change materials absorb energy from your body when you’re hot, while releasing it if the temperature falls down.
First Layer
Depending on the firmness you choose with the quiz, you get a layer of Dynamic Foam and/or a unique blend of memory foam. The former is a trade secret and can be thought of as a foam-latex hybrid, having a plush yet conforming response. The memory foam blend is also a combination of several foams, giving it a unique signature. The blend of dynamic foam and memory foam is based on the level of thermoregulation you wish to have. Since memory foam tends to suffer from the problem of heat trapping, it would be a better idea to opt for more dynamic foam to help you stay cool during the night.
However, it must be noted that it is the memory foam that’s responsible for generating the enveloping response and thus the most pressure relief.
Second Layer
The center of the mattress features hundreds of pocketed coils aimed at providing pressure relief to the sleeper. For traditional mattress users this owes a familiar feeling, providing bounce that is found quite comforting for someone. The coils are individually wrapped, meaning motion at one part of the bed doesn’t affect adjacent areas. The layer is six inches thick and has a reinforced perimeter to aid with edge support, more on which follows later.
Additional Layer
For a slightly higher cost, you can have an additional layer of 2 inches, featuring high density material that helps neutralize sagging. This is specifically helpful for heavy individuals who tend to get trapped within the mattress.
Third Layer
This is the base layer. Made of high-grade polyfoam, the density of this layer can be modified depending on the answers you give to the quiz. The layer is responsible for providing solid support and improving the durability of the mattress. For this reason, it is made of high-density foam, making the mattress a solid investment for years to come.
Firmness and Feel
Comfort and Support
Personalization is a key pillar of the Helix mattress. After you’ve answered a set number of questions regarding the way you sleep, and your preferences, you are given a final suggestion. If you decide to go ahead, the mattress is made for you in the company’s factory in New York. But if you want, you can also choose from 9 fixed presets, which have varying levels of comfort. These include:
- Sunset – plush response, suited for side sleepers.
- Moonlight – plush response, studded with extra support for contouring; suited for all sleep positions.
- Midnight – medium firm mattress that offers balanced support for side sleepers.
- Dusk – medium firmness, for all sleep positions.
- Twilight – firm with pressure-relief for side sleepers.
- Dawn – firm with support for all sleep positions.
- Nightfall – medium firmness; support for heavy individuals.
Edge Support
Foam mattresses often suffer from the curse of poor edge support. This means sitting on the side of your mattress can turn into a sliding and unbalanced experience. Helix mattress features an additional reinforcement within the innerspring layer that minimizes the chances of falling off the edge.
Cooling
Helix’s efforts when it comes to thermal regulation are commendable. It all starts from the polyester cover that is inherently breathable. However, understanding requirements from hot sleepers, the manufacturer gives you the option to incorporate a layer of thermic phase change materials. The layer has a dynamic response to the temperature of the body, absorbing excess heat and releasing it if the temperature goes down to uncomfortable levels.
Further breathability is promoted by the presence of innerspring unit as well as the dynamic foam that incorporates thermic phase change materials as well.
Motion Transfer
Right between the pocketed coils and layers of foams, you are comforted by a surface that neutralize unnecessary movements by you or your partner, as you change positions. The innerspring unit plays a significant part in this since it ensures that motion is transferred horizontally. This essentially means that as you get up during the night to have a glass of water, your partner will feel minimal disturbance.
Unique Features
Customization
This may be the Helix’s most unique feature, out of which other characteristics originate. By giving you the power to essentially build your own mattress by answering a simple questionnaire, the manufacturer fulfills the needs of almost all types of customers. Even if you’re too lazy to answer the questions, you can choose from a predefined set of mattresses.
Cooling
The presence of a polyester cover, Ultra Cool Cover, dynamic foam and innerspring unit, all ensure that thermal regulation is always ensured. The manufacturer allows changing the density of a particular layer, thus, catering for demands of hot sleepers as well, something that’s usually difficult for mattress companies to accomplish.
Bounce of Innerspring Unit
In addition to having a dynamic foam that gives it a latex-like response, the mattress features the typical resistive response of an innerspring unit. Since the coils are wrapped individually, motion isolation is always ensured, while the sleeper experiences both plushness and conformity.
Durability
The mattress’ final layer is made up of high-density foam that ensures coherence between all the different layers. The presence of this layer means that the inflection of load upon the mattress is properly absorbed and transmitted to the ground. It also improves the longevity of the mattress, and keeps it going for years to come.
Bear Breakdown
The company came into existence 25 years ago and since then has kept itself close to the memory foam genre. Bear mattresses have won critical acclaim from average sleepers as well as athletes for their unique features that promote a healthy night’s sleep.
Construction
Cover
The Bear’s cover features Celliant technology. This allows the body’s heat to be converted to infrared energy, after which it is dispersed into the surroundings. The technology is the result of decades of research and aims to tackle the problems that originate from inefficient thermal regulations. It has been found that exposure to infrared energy can also help alleviate a number of health problems, more on which has been detailed later.
First Layer
A 1-inch layer of Cool Graphite-Gel Memory foam makes up the first layer. This is a special type of memory foam that is infused with Graphite-Gel, giving the mattress more conformity and a slower “bounce-back”. This means you can enjoy the classic plushness associated with memory foams without enveloping too much within the mattress. The presence of gel also solves the problem of poor thermal regulation, usually associated with memory foams.
Second Layer
Slightly thicker that the first one, the layer consists of Quick Response Foam that highlights the conformity generated by the Graphite-Gel memory foam, providing pressure relief through conformity as you rest on the mattress.
Third Layer
An extension of the previous layer, with an ILD of 18 pounds; this gives the mattress the ability to generate sufficient resistivity to impacts and filter out unnecessary disturbances.
Fourth Layer
This layer has a thickness of 6.5 inches, and an increased ILD of 30, acting as a stopping point for further sinkage. The increased ILD allows the layer to absorb sinkage that is usually generated by heavier individuals. However, it must be noted that loads greater than 500 pounds would produce sinkage that can’t be stopped by this layer.
Firmness and Feel
Comfort and Support
Unlike Helix, Bear offers a compromise between plushness and conformity. The medium firmness level offered by the mattress is suitable for most of the sleepers, however, once again this may come across as a compromise to some.
The first two layers generate the enveloping feeling associated with memory foam mattresses, while injecting a certain degree of conformity. This relieves pressure off the hips, shoulders and sides. To keep the body as aligned as possible, the high-density foam base comes into effect holding off the upper layers from sinking any further.
Edge Support
Memory foams aren’t the most reliable when it comes to edge support. This is a statement heard by many and isn’t quite far from the truth. However, the Bear isn’t a typical memory foam mattress. While the mattress isn’t as impressive as the Helix when it comes to providing edge support, it fares well compared to other memory foam mattresses.
Cooling
Celliant technology is the cornerstone of Bear’s thermal regulation. The technology converts body’s heat into infrared energy, thus, bringing down the temperature of the body. The resultant heat isn’t transferred to the lower layers, instead, it is radiated outwards. Even if some heat does get trapped in the progressive layers, the Graphite Gel memory foam works well to keep it away from your body.
Motion Transfer
To test the motion transfer capabilities of the mattress, a 20-pound medicine ball was dropped on one side of the mattress, while an identical one was placed at the other side. When dropped, minimal disturbances were detected in the stationary ball. Therefore, the mattress can be a viable option for people planning on sharing their bed with another person.
Unique Features
Price
Put head-to-head, the Bear is cheaper than Helix, offering a plush-conforming sleep solution at an affordable price. By using the coupon code, the price can be brought down by $60.
Celliant Cover
The presence of thermo-activated minerals within the cover means the body’s heat is radiated outwards. On absorption of these radiations, the body’s temperature isn’t affected. Instead, a number of beneficial effects are experienced by the body, especially for physically active individuals. It has been found that infrared rays can help tackle High Blood Sugar, Muscle Tears, and so on, promoting oxygen levels within the body.
Versatility
The design of the Bear Mattress allows it to be laid on a number of surfaces such as floors, Bunkie boards, box springs, foundations and so on, without worrying about the ensuing wear and tear.
Customer Support
Bear is a family business, and this characteristic is highlighted by the fact that they are very accommodating to their customers. All questions and queries regarding the mattress are answered comprehensively and quickly, via phone and email.
Which One to Get?
Helix
Here are some reasons to consider the Helix:
You want a customized mattress: If you’re someone who has been disappointed by the availability of generically designed mattresses, then going for a customized Helix mattress may resolve your concerns and worries.
You worry about thermal regulation: Helix has incorporated some type of thermal regulation properties in almost all of its layers, ensuring that the chances of heat getting trapped in the mattress is always minimal.
You want a hybrid experience: You can’t pin the Helix’s response on a single type of material, e.g. latex or memory foam. The layers have a unique response striking a favorable balance between plushness and conformity.
You wish for greater durability: All materials used in the manufacturing of the mattress are high-grade, highlighted by the high-density base layer. This keeps all other layers in check and prevents any permanent deformations from taking place in the mattress.
You’re a heavy sleeper: Helix caters for the demand of heavy individuals quite well through the extra layer it offers. This is something that’s missing with Bear, as a load over 500 pounds would result in unwanted sag and probably permanent deformation with the passage of time.
Bear
However, you might want to choose Bear if:
You want a Celliant Cover: The benefits provided by the Celliant technology go far beyond regulating the temperature of the mattress. For athletes in particular, health benefits such as relief from aches, boosted oxygen levels, etc. can go a long way.
You want a Cheaper Mattress: Bear mattresses are hands-down cheaper than the most basic model offered by Helix.
You don’t have any special needs: Bear is quite good at accommodating people who sleep in awkward positions and require relief for their sides, back or stomach. However, for people who are too tall or carry a lot of weight, the mattress isn’t the most viable choice. Therefore, if you’re more of an average sleeper who likes to change position during sleep, Bear is a good choice at an affordable price.
You value customer support: Being a family business, Bear treats their customers with utmost respect and devotion. The manufacturer has a quick turn-around time when it comes to queries and helping individuals with problems with respect to the mattress.
That’s it from my end. Hope you found the post informative and helpful. If so, don’t forget to share it with other facing similar problems. As always, please leave your feedback in the section below.
Bear vs. Helix Comparison
| Bear | Helix | |
|---|---|---|
| Layers Used |
|
|
| Height | 10 inches | 12 inches with the additional layer |
| Firmness | Medium-Hard | Varies |
| Motion Transfer | Minimal | Minimal |
| Breathability | Above average | Above average |
| Trial Period | 100-day | 100-day |
| Warranty | 10-year | 10-year |
| Pricing (Queen) | $850 | $995 – $1190 |
| Shipping | Free | Free |