The best mattress for heavier people comes down to the details in craftsmanship, construction and design. When it comes to the Big Fig Mattress vs. a Helix Nightfall mattress, we’ll let you decide who comes out on top.
We proudly engineer, manufacture and ship a mattress designed specifically to meet the unique needs of plus size and big & tall sleepers. We believe in inclusivity and that taking care of this underserved community is our company’s sole mission and the singular reason for the creation of the Big Fig Mattress. The Big Fig mattress reviews speak for themselves. Over the years, we’ve accumulated thousands of 5-star reviews from highly satisfied customers experiencing life-changing sleep. Whether they prefer snoozing on their backs, sides or stomachs, the Big Fig is there to provide the perfect design for best in class comfort and support.
While Helix claims their Helix Nightfall mattress is ideal for bigger figures, we know it falls short in meeting the needs of heavier sleepers. Read on to see how Helix stacks up against the Big Fig.
Whether it’s the Helix Nightfall, Avocado Green mattress, Winkbed Plus, Cocoon by Seely, or the Saatva mattresses, see how we stack up against ALL our competition with our full competitor comparison.
Design
The biggest difference between Big Fig vs Helix Nightfall is our commitment to, and focus on, the plus size sleeper. While Helix and other competitors take traditional mattresses and simply add to them with minor tweaks and slight product changes that are mostly “marketing”, Big Fig’s Mattress was designed with thoughtful consideration for the plus size sleeper in every detail.
How? We did our homework and identified the top issues heavier sleepers face with standard mattresses, and then designed and engineered our product with features specifically meant to address these issues - i.e. poor edge support, shifting materials, sagging and others.
We make mattresses for a singular type of customer and we excel at it. We’re experts in helping the plus sized community get better sleep, and we plan to stay that way!
Helix offers seven different mattress variations, each with its own tweaks to a standard design, and then offers extra options to each ‘tweak’ depending on softness and materials. With over a dozen different design adjustments, it may seem like Helix is offering a wide range of options, but we aren’t falling for this marketing ploy. Even with the Helix adjustable base, we were simply not impressed with the lackluster nature of the designs. We know we’ve designed a mattress from the ground up specifically for a consistently underserved demographic that deserves more than just a slightly modified standard mattress.
Design
Big Fig Mattress: WINNER
Helix Nightfall: LOSER
Weight Stress Test
At Big Fig Mattress, we’ve developed several special techniques to internally test and validate our mattresses’ performance. We tested these techniques in the Research & Development phase of construction before sending mattresses out to the general public. To test weight stress, we took regular 45 lb. weights and stacked them on top of each other to show what The Big Fig looks like when 270 lbs. is placed on the mattress surface.
Why 270 lbs.? This weight is approximately the same “pounds per square inch” of a person weighing 550 lbs., the Big Fig’s maximum weight capacity per sleeper. This 270 lbs. represents approximately the same “pounds per square inch” of a 550 lb. person sitting on the edge of the mattress. Note: the Helix Nightfall mattress weight limit is listed as 500 lbs. per person, (1,000 lbs. total) while Big Fig’s is 550 lbs. per person (1,100 lbs. total).
We tested the Helix Nightfall against the Big Fig Mattress. The difference in quality between each mattress can be seen in our head to head comparison below.
After placing the weights, the Big Fig showed some compression, but not a significant amount. The Helix Nightfall is compressed significantly, nearly down to the foundation. The foam is extremely flattened when compared to the Big Fig. For a mattress that claims to comfortably support a 500 lb. person, it’s clear that even an extra 50 pounds can cause such a serious cave in. With Big Fig, you don’t have to worry about that; we’re the perfect mattress edge support fix.
Weight Stress Test
Big Fig Mattress: WINNER
Helix Nightfall: LOSER
Foundation
As shown below, the Big Fig Foundation is without a doubt one of the strongest foundations available on the market with 18 2.5” slats and double center beams and the added support of 2”x 4” blocking in the areas where it’s needed most. The Foundation is hand-built by Amish craftsmen working near our factory just south of Cleveland, Ohio. It is made of only the highest quality materials and stacks up at 7 inches—an excellent height for sleepers of all sizes.
The Helix foundation contains only 12 slats and is a standard accessory sold by Helix that is not designed with heavier sleepers in mind. It has only been tested to support up to 600lbs. For a mattress that claims to support 1,000 lbs., it’s concerning that the prescribed foundation can only officially support around half of that weight.
With Big Fig, you will never have to worry about a mattress that will sag.
Foundation
Big Fig Mattress: WINNER
Helix Nightfall: LOSER
Coil Count & Quality
The modern mattress market is filled with premium innerspring mattresses that use individually wrapped coils to prevent motion transfer. Helix is one such mattress that uses individually pocketed coils, but only provides up to 968 16-gauge coils in their Queen size. This is good, but not great.
The Big Fig Mattress, however, is constructed with a high coil count consisting of 1,200 individually wrapped 15-gauge coils within a Queen mattress and 1,600 in the King and California King sizes. A high coil count with a lower coil gauge contributes to mattress longevity, but it also allows for better motion isolation.
With a Big Fig, you’ll sleep soundly when your partner gets in and out of bed.
Coil Count & Quality
Big Fig Mattress: WINNER
Helix Nightfall: LOSER
Manufacturing
Big Fig Mattress is proudly a family-owned company. Every mattress is made with consistency in the same factory in Cleveland, Ohio where we’ve been making mattresses for four generations. The Big Fig Mattress is made in America, and all of our high-quality materials are sourced in the USA.
Helix Nightfall manufactures their mattresses in different factories across the country. Each factory is owned by a different person or entity with each subcontractor able to maximize their profits in their own interests. Their profit motivations can affect the quality of the mattresses they build.
See how the Big Fig is made at our factory in Cleveland, Ohio step by step .
Manufacturing
Big Fig Mattress: WINNER
Helix Nightfall: LOSER
Warranty
Big Fig has a comprehensive 20-year, non-prorated warranty that includes both mattress and foundation and covers any and all defects in materials or workmanship, visible body impressions greater than one inch, and charges no transportation costs for repair or replacement.
The bottom line? The Big Fig Mattress is guaranteed for 20 years with an unmatched, full repair and replacement warranty at no additional charge. The Helix Nightfall warranty has a duration of only 15 years and includes the mattress only.
Warranty
Big Fig Mattress: WINNER
Helix Nightfall: LOSER
Published Test Results
Helix claims to have long-lasting support but does not publish any test results to the public to support their claim. The Big Fig Mattress, meanwhile, was subjected to rigorous testing at a third party facility with a focus on durability and longevity under heavy weight conditions and has published test results.
For example, the Big Fig Mattress underwent a Rollator test that cycled a 350 lb. weight back and forth across the mattress for 200,000 cycles. Test results showed , which is just 0.01%!
You can watch our Rollator in action here and .
Published Test Results
Big Fig Mattress: WINNER
Helix Plus: LOSER
Return Policy
The Big Fig Mattress is designed specifically with plus sized needs in mind and has changed the lives of many serious sleepers in our community. But even with this accomplishment, we know enough as an established mattress company to face the facts: we would be foolish to assume everyone needs the same mattress just because they have a similar body type. That’s why we guarantee that if you don’t love your new Big Fig Mattress within 120 nights of sleep, we’ll give you a full refund and come pick it up at no charge - easy as that!
Sometimes your body may need an adjustment period before you get accustomed to sleeping on a new mattress as supportive as The Big Fig, so we do ask that you try the mattress for at least two weeks before initiating your return. But that two weeks is not mandatory, and we do not charge any restocking fees, return fees or other charges when you decide to send back your mattress.
If you don’t like your HelixPlus, there is a mandatory 30-day requirement before you can initiate a return. The sentiment behind this is the same as our two-week ask: Sometimes a mattress takes some adjusting to. But if you’re sure we aren’t for you, the Big Fig team doesn’t force you to keep a large mattress in your home for a full month like Helix does! The Helix Plus mattress return policy doesn’t sit right with us. Keeping your money tied up and forcing you to sleep on a mattress that doesn’t work for you - we think that’s just wrong.
Return Policy
Big Fig Mattress: WINNER
Helix Plus: LOSER
Big Fig Classic Mattress
- Medium-Firm Support
- Best for Multi-Position Sleepers
- THERMOGEL COOLING® Technology
Big Fig Heavy Duty Foundation
- 5x stronger than a standard foundation
- Supports up to 2,000 lbs
- 20-year warranty
- 100% European SPF
Big Fig Bed Frame
- Made from recycled railroad steel
- Smart leg design that stabilizes on uneven surfaces
- Supports up to 2,000 lbs
- Gets stronger as weight is applied
The mattress reviews are in
So many bigger figured sleepers come to us with stories of having tried name brand mattresses that claim to be made for heavier sleepers, but quickly fall short. The voices of the plus sized community have spoken, and that’s why you don’t have to just take our word on the magic of a Big Fig! Read .
★★★★★
Literally a Lifesaver.
“I'm a big person, 6'3", 300+lbs. For over fifteen years I've dealt with bad sleep. We've bought several brand-name mattresses, but even the expensive ones began to sag and canoe after a few months. With our Big Fig mattress I have enjoyed many full nights' sleep, as many as 8 or 9 hours. It has held up great, with no sign of sagging, and always comfortable. For those like me, whose lack of sleep affects quality of life, the Big Fig is literally a lifesaver.”
- Kathy W.
★★★★★
Best Mattress Ever!
“First off, I have tried every name brand mattress out there and they are all the same. Maybe good for a year if you are lucky but they slowly deteriorate quickly under a heavy framed person. Now, flash-forward... the Big Fig mattress is the BEST mattress I have EVER owned! I now know what it's like to fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow and what it's like to sleep 'soundly' the whole night. The mattress gives the firm support that was missing with previous mattresses! Thanks Big Fig for not making me regret this mattress purchase like all of the others before this one!”
- Gary E.
So many mattresses claim to be made specifically for the plus sized community without actually having a design that solves problems exclusive to bigger figured sleepers. The Helix Plus mattress falls into this trap of marketing to the plus sized demographic without having the design, quality and performance record to back it up.
