MA: Why were you guys in the market for a new mattress?

C&H: We had our old mattress, a Serta, for about 8 years. It was sinking in and wasn’t comfortable anymore, so we decided it was time for a new one.

MA: What factors did you consider when buying a mattress?

C&H: We knew we wanted to purchase online because we liked the idea of trying a mattress in our own home and returning it for our money back if we didn’t like it. When we bought our first mattress back in college, it was more like a car buying experience. We went to a store and had a creepy guy following us around while we tried out different mattresses. Buying a mattress is personal, so we wanted the experience to be personal too.

MA: Did you compare any other brands? If so, what were they?

C&H: We did a lot of online research to see what options we had and also polled our friends on social media. We considered the Purple, Casper, Cocoon, and Helix. We didn’t like the Purple because we felt like it was going to be the most different from our old mattress (a Serta) with its gel technology and were fearful that it could take a while to get used to. Casper was in West Elm stores at the time, so we actually had a chance to try it out while we were at the mall. It was more of a pure memory foam and we were looking for a hybrid option, so we decided not to go with that. It was also on the pricier side for a “one size fits all” mattress. We decided against the Cocoon because of the price point as well.

MA: What ultimately led you to purchase the Helix mattress?

C&H: We loved the fact that we could customize the Helix and really make it our own. They were essentially going to build a mattress to fit us. We wanted something that was a hybrid and more on the medium to medium-firm side. We decided on a hybrid because we both sleep hot and felt the coil technology would help keep it cooler than just memory foam alone. We felt like we could get all of that with the Helix. It was also an added bonus when we learned that Helix would send us a complimentary soft or firm topper if we weren’t happy with the level of firmness.

MA: Did you buy anything else from Helix?

C&H: Just the mattress.

MA: What was your mattress buying experience like?

C&H: Our first real interaction with Helix was taking their online quiz to determine what type of mattress would be best for us. It was super simple, took no time at all, and we were able to tailor the bed to each of our sleeping preferences, which we really liked. We felt like we were both getting what we needed without having to compromise.

After we took the initial quiz, we were actually still researching other brands, but Helix did a good job of following up via email. After two emails, they sent us a coupon and we decided to make the purchase.

Helix does take a little longer than some other mattress brands because they’re basically building a mattress for you. It takes around 6-10 days, but we knew this upfront and were fine with it. We did have one issue where we noticed our shipping zip code was incorrect. We emailed customer service, and they had everything fixed within an hour. They followed up after the fact to make sure we were all set and then even followed up after we got our mattress, so we were pretty impressed with that level of customer service.

Mattress was delivered on 8/23/2017; First interview was conducted on 8/24/2017

MA: Overall, how would you describe your first night on the Helix mattress?

C: The first night definitely felt like we were sleeping on something brand new. We never had a foam mattress top before, so it did take some getting used to. I did notice that I didn’t feel as much movement from Haley or the dog.

MA: Did you notice any difference in how you felt when you woke up?

C: I was less sore in my shoulders and neck. I also noticed that I slept a bit cooler. On my old mattress, I’d find myself waking up with the sheet off, or my leg hanging off to get cooler but I didn’t find that I was doing this on the Helix.

MA: How does the Helix compare to other mattresses you’ve had in the past?

C&H: We definitely sleep cooler, have less aches and pains, and feel more refreshed. I (Cameron) will say that I’m an edge sleeper so I had to get used to not having a true edge on the new bed. There isn’t any piping or indentation that signals you’re off the bed.

MA: How would you rank the Helix mattress on the following factors?

On a scale from 1-5, with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best.

MA: How firm would you say the Helix is?

C&H: We ended up with a medium to medium-firm mattress. We’re very happy with the firmness. We wanted a mattress that was slightly firmer and this is exactly what we were expecting.

MA: Do you have any complaints about your Helix? Or anything you would change if you could?

C&H: No, not really. The one thing I’ll say is that you should just expect that when you’re buying a mattress in a box, you’ll need to invest the time to lug up the 85 lb. box and set up it. It’s not like you’re going to get white-glove service. It’s not hard but you just need to anticipate that, especially if you live in a walk-up where it might be more difficult.

MA: Do you feel like the Helix mattress was worth the price you paid?

C&H: Yes. The Helix is cheaper than a lot of alternatives and we trusted the quality based on the research we did. We even compared our test results with a friend who also took the test and they were truly different, so we knew we were getting something that was actually customized for us.

MA: Do you think you’ll keep your Helix?

C&H: Yes.

Mattress was delivered on 8/23/2017; Second interview was conducted on 8/31/2017

MA: Overall, how would you describe your first week on the Helix mattress?

C&H: After the 2nd or 3rd night, our experience was much more positive. We were getting used to the foam on top and felt more rested. The discomfort we had with our old mattress started to go away. After about three nights, I (Cameron) didn’t even notice the edge support difference anymore.

We both can tell that we’re sleeping longer and we’re not noticing back or shoulder pain that we had with our previous mattress. We have noticed that it doesn’t sleep as cool as our previous mattress, however it hasn’t been a deal breaker. We ended up just changing our duvet cover to be thinner and it’s been fine since we did that.

MA: How are you feeling when you wake up?

C&H: We definitely feel like we’re sleeping through the night and not waking each other up. Overall, we wake up feeling well rested.

MA: How would you rank the Helix mattress on the following factors?

On a scale from 1-5, with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best.

MA: Are you still happy with the level of firmness?

C&H: Yes.

MA: Do you have any new complaints about the Helix? Or anything you would change if you could?

C&H: Nope.

MA: Do you still feel like the Helix mattress was worth the price you paid?

C&H: Yes.

MA: Do you think you’ll keep your Helix?

C&H: Yes, we do.

Mattress was delivered on 8/23/2017; Third interview was conducted on 9/21/2017

MA: Overall, how would you describe your first month on the Helix mattress?

C&H: We would still say that it was an excellent buy. It’s super comfortable, we feel more rested, and whatever issues we had with pain or soreness has gone away. We definitely feel like it’s living up to our expectations.

MA: How are you feeling when you wake up?

C&H: We definitely wake up feeling more rested. I (Cameron) also feel like I’m waking up in the same position I fell asleep in, which is on my side.

MA: How would you rank the Helix mattress on the following factors?

On a scale from 1-5, with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best.

MA: Are you still happy with the level of firmness?

C&H: Yes.

MA: Do you have any new complaints about the Helix? Or anything you would change if you could?

C&H: No complaints, but the only thing I’ll reiterate is that if you’re an edge sleeper like me, you’ll have to get used to the fact that there’s nothing that tells you you’re at the edge of the bed. This definitely wasn’t a deal breaker and I’ll say that I don’t even notice it anymore, but that was the biggest adjustment.

MA: Do you still feel like the Helix mattress was worth the price you paid?

C&H: Yes.

MA: Do you think you’ll keep your Helix?

C&H: Yes.