Birch Luxe by Helix Detailed Mattress Review

Formed in 2015, Helix – maker of the Birch Luxe – is all about personal preference and individuality. Each mattress is designed for your unique body type, sleeping position, and feel preference using Helix’s proprietary sleep technology.  That mantra, combined with advanced R&D and a focus on technology to drive sleep, allowed it to win countless independently reviewed awards.

Headquartered in New York City, Helix offers free shipping directly to your doorstep in the US and Canada with a 100-night no questions asked trial.

In 2019, Helix introduced its first all natural and sustainable brand Birch. The brand carries 100% organic certified products.  Here are a few of their certifications:

1. GOTS
2. Greenguard Gold
3. Forest Stewardship Council
4. eco-INSTITUT
5. Fair Trade Certified
6. Wool Integrity NZ
7. Rainforest Alliance Certified

Let’s dig into what makes the Birch Luxe one of the most awarded Natural mattresses:

The Cover

Birch Luxe starts with a 100% certified ultra soft cotton cover.  Cotton is one of the softest, most breathable and most comfortable fabrics available. It’s cool, wicks moisture and, better still, is more sustainable.  The cover features a matelassé woven finish and is followed by a layer of Birch’s organic wool and naturally made rayon fibers for a completely chemical-free retardant layer.  Additionally, wool is naturally antimicrobial and wicks away moisture providing freshness and natural cooling properties.

Comfort Layers (they’ve got 3!)

The Birch Luxe begins with 100% organic cashmere as an upgrade to provide luxuriousness, breathability, and plushness.  Cashmere has natural thermoregulatory properties This luxury material comes from the downy undercoat of cashmere goats and has natural thermoregulatory properties.  These ultra-fine hairs allow for exceptional temperature regulation. This keeps the goats warm in the winter, but also cools them down in the summer. Birch’s exceptional organic virgin cashmere is certified at the highest order by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and comes from herded free range goats. 

The Luxe’s second comfort layer comes from 100% certified New Zealand Wool.  Wool fiber is naturally hygroscopic and wicks moisture remarkably well, encouraging increased airflow and breathability. In fact, Birch’s organic wool can be traced back to the individual sheep farm it came from in New Zealand to ensure quality, sustainability, and environmentally safe processes. All the farms Birch partners with are compliant with Wool Integrity NZ™, which guarantees ethical farming practices with free range, pasture fed sheep.   

Finally. Birch  lays down 3” of 100% plush natural Talalay latex made from sap sustainably tapped from the tropical rubber tree Hevea Brasiliensis.  Birch took the additional refining step in the latex process to create the more plush Talalay.  In the commercial production space, Dunlop latex is most commonly used. While many companies can and do use natural Dunlop latex, it is less refined and doesn’t have the same plush feel as Talalay latex – the gold standard in latex production. Birch’s Talalay natural latex provides unmatched pressure relief, regardless of sleeping position. 

Birch sources rubber exclusively from closely monitored plantations and the resulting latex foam is produced in the US. The latex foam is both GREENGUARD Gold and eco-INSTITUT certified to ensure high quality and safety standards. Additionally, the forests and plantations we source our latex from are also certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and Rainforest Alliance.

Support System – 5 Zoned Support

Birch Luxe’s support system employs Leggett and Platt’s Quantum® Edge Elite Combi-Zone®. The system contains Quantum coils along the edge and through the center third zone. The center zone provides superior hip and lumbar support, while the reinforced perimeter delivers a consistent sleep surface, reducing that roll-off feeling. The mattress center contains triple tempered steel individually pocketed coils directly underneath the comfort layer. This high grade steel provides superior support throughout the life of the mattress

Why zones?  Greater comfort and support is the reason.  The more zones, generally the greater the support.  They work to cradle your body better and support those of us greater than 200 pounds (doesn’t mean that those of us under 200 don’t also love it).  However, the greater zones provide additional support where it counts (the middle third of our body) to provide a relaxing comfortable sleep all night long.

For even more support where it counts, Birch Luxe reinforces the lower back lumbar region.   

Finally, a second fire retardant base layer made of organic wool and rayon keeps you safe while providing stability and durability to the entire mattress.

Tufting

Tufting is the process where the individual parts of the mattress are either sewn or glued together to prevent slippage.  In Birch’s case, they chose top tufting, where the cover is sewn into the latex layer.  Tufting helps keep everything nice and together.  This is just another example of the little details Birch takes care of so you can rest easy.

Does Birch Luxe Sleep Cool?

Yes!  Birch Luxe has several mechanisms to give you a cool, dry and comfortable night sleep (even for furnace sleepers).  Feeling cool at night is all about feeling dry.  Birch Luxe starts with the ultra wicking cotton cover and moisture absorbing cashmere.  This is followed by the wool which not only wicks moisture, but they improve airflow.  Latex is naturally cool and Birch perforates it to increase airflow.  And finally, the hybrid has springs which further promote air flow.  The result, a cool dry sleep all night long.

How about Edge Support?

Superior

Birch reinforces the outer edge of the spring support system with thicker coils on every mattress.  This results in a stronger edge support allowing you to sleep all the way to the edge with no worry of sliding off.  The plush talalay latex and wool Eurotop can sag slightly when sitting directly on the edge.  This can give the appearance that edge support may lack, however, you will be able to sleep all the way to the edge safely and fully supported.

The Birch Luxe is a multi-sleeper, designed to support side, stomach, back positions and any combination therein.  Immediately you feel the responsiveness of the latex as well as the support from the robust springs.  But after a moment, you feel the ultra-comfortable wool layers begin to conform and cradle to your body.  Back pain sufferers will feel relief as the latex and spring system begin to properly align your spine.  You can feel greater support under your lumbar region.  Side sleepers will feel the plush relief on their shoulders and hips.  Stomach sleepers will also find that the latex is supportive as it comfortably cradles them.  This being said, side sleepers on the lighter side may not get the pressure relief you need on your shoulders and hips.  You will sleep more “on top” of the mattress rather than in the mattress.  There is minimal sink.  Luxe will will be comfortable for sleepers up to 250 lbs.  That said, extremely light side sleepers (under 115 lbs) may not get the proper amount of pressure relief and should seek a softer mattress.  For everyone else, this all natural comfortable and very supportive mattress is worth the investment.    

• On Sandman’s Firmness Scale, we rate the Birch Luxe a 7 out of 10.
• The Luxe is a multisleeper designed to support any sleeping position 
• The wool and latex comfort layer provides a little bit of sink, but even so, the superior airflow design and advanced cooling technology will keep you cool and dry all night long. The latex also provides a bit of bounce as it gently cradles your body.
• Edge support is very good 

Very Good

The combination of cashmere and wool dampens a significant amount of motion transfer, but still keeps a bit of bounce.  From a hybrid perspective, motion isolation is very good in the Birch Luxe.  Simply put, you will barely feel your partner move at night, if any at all.  Whether they are a toss and turner, an early riser or using the facilities, it’s not the bed that will wake you.

Off Gassing

Due to the high natural materials, the Birch Luxe mattress has no off gassing.  

Birch Luxe comes in a box for easy shipping and moving to the bedroom. It’s crazy to think that a king size model with powerful springs and dense foams can be compressed, but it can.  And, with no sacrifice to quality and durability.  Some people ask if compressing the springs hurts their integrity.  Nothing could be farther from the  truth.  Springs are actually shipped compressed all over the world (to save space).  The springs integrity is damaged when they are pulled excessively or bent out of position.  But, the way Birch compresses its mattresses, they keep their shape and strength. 

The box arrives via Fedex.  Simply unbox the mattress.  Rest it on the bed frame and remove the plastic wrapping and the bed will decompress before your eyes.  You can begin sleeping on the bed and enjoying a restful night sleep that same day.  Moving most sizes will be a 2 man job, especially if going up stairs.  Check out the Dimensions below for more details.

Birch offers a 100 night trial period, giving you over 3 months to test out your new investment.   You can either return it for a 100% refund, or you can Exchange it for either a firmer or softer version during the trial period.  It truly is hassle free as Helix does all the heavy lifting.  Here’s how both systems work:

1. The trial begins when you RECEIVE the mattress (the fedex delivery day).
2. You can sleep on it for 100 nights.  As there can be a slight break-in period, Helix asks that you not initiate a return during the first 30 days.  
3. If it’s not the mattress of your dreams, reach out to Helix via phone, email or chat (on their website), provide your name and order number and let them know if you wish to start a RETURN.  There are no questions asked!
4. Birch coordinates a donation or recycling pickup on a day of your choosing.  They handle everything and there’s nothing you have to do besides letting them know the best pickup date.
5. Full 100% refunds (no fees!!) are issued within 5 days of the pick-up. 

Yes, Birch offers pay-over-time financing through Klarna.

Birch Luxe is sold exclusively online. However, if you are in the Chicago or Columbus, OH area, please visit our Sandman Sleep Chicago Showroom or our Sandman Sleep Columbus Showroom to try out the Birch Luxe before you buy (we’ll even help get it ordered for you!)