Latest news with #Helix
National Geographic
4 days ago
- Science
- National Geographic
The Genographic Project® Geno 2.0 Next Generation Helix Product Privacy Policy
This policy has been updated to reflect new contact information. Please note that National Geographic stopped selling Geno kits on May 31, 2019 and is no longer processing results. Please see the FAQ page for more information. Effective November 21st, 2016 The Genographic Project began in 2005 and is a research project carried out by the National Geographic Society's scientific team to reveal patterns of human migration. The project is carried out in partnership with National Geographic Partners, LLC, whose activities include managing the sale of the Geno 2.0 Next Gen Helix Product and operation of the website. National Geographic Partners, LLC is a joint venture of the National Geographic Society and 21st Century Fox. Throughout this document, the terms 'National Geographic,' 'we' or 'our' or 'us' refer to National Geographic Society and National Geographic Partners, LLC collectively. This Privacy Policy describes how we use, share and protect the information we receive from and about you when you use the Geno 2.0 Next Gen Helix Product and what choices you have about how that information is used. As discussed below in the section entitled Treatment of Non-Genetic Personal Information, information that is not what we define as Genographic Genetic Information or Self-Reported Information, including information we collect from and about you when you visit our other websites or purchase the Geno 2.0 Next Gen Helix Product, is governed by the privacy policy posted on the website or app on which that information is collected. Information We Collect From and About You When you purchase the Geno 2.0 Next Gen Helix Product, you will receive a saliva collection kit from our partner Helix, who handles sample collection, DNA sequencing and secure data storage for the Geno 2.0 Next Gen Helix Product. When you return your saliva sample to Helix, Helix will sequence your DNA as described in the Helix Platform Consent and Helix Terms of Service. That sequence is your 'Genetic Information.' Helix will share with National Geographic the portion of your Genetic Information needed by National Geographic to provide you with your deep ancestry insights (we're calling this your 'Genographic Genetic Information'). You must be 18 or older to use the Geno 2.0 Next Gen Helix Product. Getting Your Results To use the Geno 2.0 Next Gen Helix Product, you must give consent to Helix for Helix to share the portion of your Genetic Information needed by National Geographic to provide you with your Geno 2.0 Next Gen Helix Product deep ancestry insights results. By agreeing to the Helix Platform Consent, you will authorize Helix to share this information. You must also register on the Genographic website at When your results are available, you will be notified via the email address you provided when you registered on the Helix website or, if you have already registered with you will be notified via the email address you have on record with At that point, you may view your results through your account at This process may take approximately six to twelve weeks from the time you mail your saliva sample to the Helix lab. (Please note that in some cases, inconclusive data may occasionally require additional testing and might delay posting of results by two to three additional weeks.) How National Geographic Uses Your Information Providing You With Deep Ancestry Insights National Geographic's analysis of your Genographic Genetic Information will produce your deep ancestry insights. Deep ancestry is your ancestry from hundreds or even thousands of years ago. It's based on the paths your ancient ancestors took to migrate around the world. As noted above, we're calling these results your Genographic Genetic Information. Treatment of Non-Genetic Personal Information Information we collect from and about you when you visit National Geographic's other websites or purchase the Geno 2.0 Next Gen Helix Product or other products, such as your full name, email address, mailing address, or consumer product preferences, is 'Non-Genetic Personal Information.' Non-Genetic Personal Information does not include Genographic Genetic Information. National Geographic's treatment of Non-Genetic Personal Information is governed by the privacy policy posted on the National Geographic website or app on which the information is collected, and not this privacy policy, which applies only to the Genographic Genetic Information as that term is used herein and any email address you provided to participate in the Genographic program. Improving the Geno 2.0 Next Gen Helix Product National Geographic is dedicated to providing current, reliable, and high-quality experiences. We will use the information you give us for quality control and to improve the Geno 2.0 Next Gen Helix Product and Genographic website. Some of these improvements may focus on how we analyze your Genographic Genetic Information. Some may focus on how we store and send your Genographic Genetic Information. Some of these improvements may focus on how easy it is to use the Genographic website. All information used for quality control will be used only within National Geographic. Storing and Sharing Your Information Genographic Genetic Information National Geographic Society will store your Genographic Genetic Information and any email address you provided to participate in the Genographic program in our DNA Analysis Repository. The DNA Analysis Repository is a central database that manages DNA data from around the world for the Genographic Project. National Geographic Society may provide access to the Genographic Genetic Information to third parties that provide services necessary for the functionality of the Geno 2.0 Next Gen Helix Product. This may include services to improve the interpretation of the Genographic Genetic Information to provide ancestry-related results. National Geographic Society will not use the Genographic Genetic Information for scientific research or share it or your email address with third parties for scientific research without your separate, express consent. National Geographic Society will keep your Genographic Genetic Information until you ask us to destroy it. You can ask us to do so by sending an email to genographic@ If you still want access to your results, you must print or copy them. Once we destroy your information, you will not be able to access your results from National Geographic again. Please note that requesting National Geographic Society to destroy your Genographic Genetic Information affects only the information we hold. If you would like Helix to destroy any information they hold or to close your Helix account, you must make a separate request to Helix. National Geographic Society may disclose your Genographic Genetic Information and any email address you provided to participate in the Genographic program in response to legal process and when we believe that doing so is required by law, may be necessary to protect any person's property, rights, or safety, or to investigate a potential violation of law. Choosing to take part in research When you log onto the Genographic website to access your results, you may be given the opportunity to consent to participate in a major global research effort by National Geographic Society to collect population genetic data from hundreds of thousands of individuals from around the world. If you agree to contribute your results to this effort, your Genographic Genetic Information will be made available to National Geographic Society-affiliated and third party researchers for research purposes. If you agree to contribute your results to this scientific research effort, National Geographic may ask you to provide Self-Reported Information in the My Profile section of the Genographic website. Self-Reported Information is other details about you that you choose to supply to National Geographic. This may include details about your family tree. Participation in the research and whether you provide any Self-Reported Information to National Geographic is your choice and is not necessary in order to access your individual test results. Security We take a number of commercially reasonable administrative, technical, personnel and physical steps to safeguard information in our possession from loss, theft and unauthorized use, disclosure or modification. However, no method of transmitting or storing electronic data is ever completely secure, and therefore we cannot warrant or guarantee that such information will never be accessed, used or released in a manner that is inconsistent with this privacy policy. Questions If you have any questions concerning the Geno 2.0 Next Gen Helix Product, your rights or the procedures involved, please visit You may contact a customer service representative at: Email: nationalgeographic@
Tom's Guide
4 days ago
- Health
- Tom's Guide
Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper review: natural, responsive support for all sleep positions
Launched back in 2019, Birch is a sub-brand of the luxury mattress company Helix. The Helix team, responsible for some of this year's best mattresses on the market, created Birch to build natural and sustainable sleep products, that use organic materials. The all-natural brand's signature bed topper, the Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper, has been on my radar since I joined the review team back in 2023, and I recently got the chance to test it out. This year's best mattress toppers guide is full of memory foam options, so I was eager to see if Birch's bed topper would be the first latex topper to make the cut. To find out, I put a full-sized Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper on a memory foam mattress and slept on it for two weeks. Here's my experience. The Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper is made from a 2" thick layer of natural latex and an organic cotton cover. According to the brand, the Plush Organic Topper is "crafted from breathable, natural and organic materials". Type: Talalay latexDepth: 2" Cover: Organic cottonCorner straps: NoTrial period: 100 nightsWarranty: 10-year warranty Starting MSRP: from $372 at Birch So, who is this mattress topper for? Well, let's get the obvious out of the way: eco-conscious (and health-conscious) shoppers who want a sustainable sleep product made from clean, non-toxic materials. But what's it like to sleep on? Well, as a side and back sleeper, I need something soft enough to soothe my shoulders when side sleeping but firm enough to support my lumbar region when sleeping on my back. Thanks to the spongy-yet-firm latex, I slept comfortable in both sleep positions. However, don't expect the mattress topper to live up to its "Plush" title. I must admit, I was not surprised to find it was not as soft as the name suggested, as latex is known to be on the firmer side. That isn't to say it's uncomfortable, though. In fact, it made my quicksand-y memory foam bed more responsive and less stifling, so it's a perfect choice for restless sleepers who need ease of movement when switching sleep positions. The latex topper is also a good choice for anyone who feels trapped by the sink-in softness of their memory foam bed. The 2" height is thick enough to transform any bed, but thin enough not to add too much height to any mattresses over 14". That said, the design does have a few shortcomings. Firstly, there are no anchor straps to keep the Plush Organic Mattress Topper in place on your bed. Secondly, the soft-touch organic cotton cover is non-removable and spot clean only. While the bed topper would have benefitted from these features, it kept clean and never shifted the whole time I was testing it thanks to a fitted mattress protector and sheet. As for price and deals, a queen-size Plush Organic Mattress Topper is $532 at MSRP, but it's usually $399 thanks to a regular 25% discount. Yes, it's a premium price, but it's made from premium materials and comes with two pretty generous benefits: a 100-night sleep trial and 10-year warranty. The Birch Plush Organic Matress Topper uses premium organic materials, so it's only natural (no pun intended) that it would have a luxury price tag. However, if you consider that the average queen latex bed topper is $575, a queen Birch's usual $399 price (thanks to a regular mattress sale) is relatively affordable. You can also find a 20-25% discount on the topper in the Helix mattress sale. Here are both the MSRPs and sale prices for the The Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper in all available sizes: Plus, it's a cost-effective alternative to the best organic mattresses (which typically has an average price of $1,665 for a queen) or Naturepedic's latex topper (whose $749 queen price was listed as a drawback in the Naturepedic Adagio Organic Latex Mattress Topper review.) Despite the cheaper price, the Birch matches Naturepedic's benefits: free shipping, a 10-year warranty, and 100-night sleep trial. Considering that the average topper trial is 30 nights and the average warranty is around three to five years, the Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper boasts the generous extras you would typically find for full-fledged mattresses. Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper: twin was $279 now $372 at BirchThe Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper is available in six sizes at both Birch and Helix: twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, and Cal king. Both Helix and Birch shoppers can regularly enjoy a 20% or 25% discount, which reduces a queen to $399, plus free shipping, a 100-night sleep trial, and a 10-year warranty. A major draw of the Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper is that it's free from polyurethane-based foams and uses responsibly-sourced materials with Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) and GREENGUARD Gold certifications. However, I feel it would be very remiss of me not to point out some discrepancies between the website and the leaflet in the box. In the leaflet, the mattress topper is billed as being Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified with no mention of the GOLS certification. It also describes the latex as the Talalay variety and mentions Fair Trade cotton, organic wool, and certifications from the eco-INSTITUT and Forest Stewardship Council. The website's description, meanwhile, boasts about the GOLS and GREENGUARD Gold Certified only, so it's safe to assume the mattress topper has now switched to Dunlop latex as Talalay's production process means it's disqualified from a GOLS certification. (For more information on the differences between the two, take a look at my Dunlop vs Talalay latex breakdown.) Eco-credentials and mattress certifications aside, this is still a sustainable, responsibly-sourced latex bed topper with premium, high-quality materials. While the the non-removable cover has no anchor straps and can only be spot-cleaned, this wasn't a deal breaker for me as it stayed clean and steady with a fitted sheet and a good mattress protector. I slept on a full-size Plush Organic Mattress Topper for two weeks, testing it with a focus on three key areas in line with our mattress methodology: support and comfort, temperature regulation and ease of set-up. Like the best mattresses in a box, the Birch Plush Organic arrives at your doorstep compressed, rolled-up, and wrapped in plastic. This makes shipping easier, but it does mean you'll need to unbox it and wait for it to expand — which is why it's strange that the leaflet in the box included no set-up instructions or expansion wait time. As I've unboxed plenty of mattresses and mattress toppers in my time as a tester, I found the set-up to be pretty easy. (Although, the topper was plastic-wrapped extremely tight.) However, If you're unfamiliar with the unboxing process, you may find it a little confusing without instructions via leaflet or website, so I suggest you checkout our guide on how to set up a mattress in a box. It would have been nice to have an indication of how long it takes to expand as all bed toppers differ, but it reached its full height 10 minutes after unboxing. Even though you could probably sleep on the Birch topper straight away, I left it on the floor overnight before I slept on it, just in case. Thanks to the natural materials, there's no nasty off-gassing you usually detect when unboxing memory foam toppers. Instead, you get the sweet, earthy smell of latex that's often compared to cupcakes or pastry dough. Score: 4.5 out of 5 I put the Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper on a the memory foam bed I tested for the EGOHOME Black 12" Memory Foam Mattress review. I genuinely liked the bed and even added it to the best cheap mattress guide, but a major complaint was that the slow-moving foam surface was difficult to change sleep position on. Thankfully, the Birch Organic Plush Mattress Topper solved that problem with its quick-response spongy latex foam. It's responsive foam was flexible enough to give against my pressure points when side sleeping, but firm and durable enough to keep my back and hips upright and spine properly aligned when back sleeping. Despite its name, however, this is not a plush mattress topper. Talalay latex is the plushest form of natural latex, but I doubt the Birch topper uses this anymore due to the GOLS certification (see the above Design & Materials section for more information on this) so can only assume it uses the firmer Dunlop. Score: 4 out of 5 Latex is often boasted to be breathable and cooling, and while the former is true, the latter is more complicated. While latex can boost airflow to help regulate temperature, it isn't cooling per se. This distinction was shown when I slept cool and comfortable during milder weather, but slept hot and humid during a heatwave when my bedroom was close to 85°F in the night. Once testing was over, I switched my breathable non-cooling mattress protector with a cooling one (the one I reviewed for the Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling Mattress Protector review 2025 in case you're wondering) and slept much cooler throughout the warm weather. Score: 4 out of 5 The 1,500+ reviews on the Birch website for the Plush Organic Mattress Topper are mostly glowing, with an overall rating of 4.6 stars. Positive reviews praise the great quality, support (some even claiming it alleviated their back pain) and balanced comfort that allows them to sleep on top of the mattress rather than sinking into it. Only a small percentage of customers wrote a negative review, with the less favorable reviews mentioning that they thought it would be thicker and plusher. While I have to point out that the 2" thickness is made clear throughout the website's description, I can see why customer's may be disappointed with the firmness considering "Plush" is in in the topper's title. If you're looking for a high-quality mattress topper that uses certified-organic and natural materials, then the Birch Plush Organic mattress topper is a supportive, comfortable and relatively affordable option. It supported me while both side and back sleeping, and gave me that bouncy easy of movement that you often can't get from even the best memory foam mattresses and toppers. A queen may have a $399 tag, but it's still cheaper than some organic latex mattress toppers and beds on the market. Plus, the 100-night sleep trial and 10-year warranty is outstanding for a mattress topper. That said, it's not as plush as the title suggests, so anyone looking to add super soft cushioning to a hard bed should look elsewhere. Also, despite its promise of a a cool night's sleep, the latex won't be cooling enough for those sleep chronically hot or experience night sweats. ✅ You're eco-conscious: GOLS and GREENGAURD Gold certifications show that this mattress topper is sustainable and responsibly sourced. ✅ You hate that memory foam feel: While sink-in soft memory foam can give you that "quicksand" feeling, the latex foam is quick to bounce back after pressure is applied. ✅ You're a back, side, or restless sleeper: The spongy but firm latex supplies enough support for most sleep positions, especially back and side sleepers, and easy of movement for those who toss and turn. ❌You're expecting it to be plush: Yes, despite its name, this is not a plush mattress topper. It's comfortable and supportive, but not super soft at all. ❌ You experience night sweats or always sleep hot: While latex is temperature-regulating, it's not cooling and no match against heatwaves. ❌You're on a budget: Despite it being relatively cheap compared to other latex toppers on the market, it's still premium priced and not for tight budgets. The Naturepedic 2" Adagio Mattress Topper is another latex topper that we tried. It's a lot more expensive than the Birch (and less frequently discounted, too) meaning a twin Adagio is more expensive than a Birch queen. Despite the higher price tag, this is still a good option if you want an organic latex topper that's actually plush and, as our tester put it, "marshmallowy" soft. Learn more in our Naturepedic Adagio Organic Latex Mattress Topper review. Like the Birch, the Saatva High-Density Foam Mattress Topper features a moisture-wicking organic cotton cover, but it also has anchor straps and an antimicrobial treatment. It's not as sustainable and natural as the Birch as it included memory foam, but at $245 for a queen, it offers cheaper luxury. Learn more in our Saatva Foam Mattress Topper review. The Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Mattress Topper may not feature natural latex or organic cotton, but it does harness the breathable, antibacterial power of a hypoallergenic bamboo cover. It doesn't come in a twin XL though (bad news for most college students), but it offers plenty of body-molding comfort for side sleepers. Learn more in our Panda Bamboo Memory Foam Mattress Topper review.
Tom's Guide
4 days ago
- Health
- Tom's Guide
Man-made GlacioTex vs natural latex: which is the more effective cooling mattress material?
GlacioTex and latex are both used in cooling beds to assist temperature regulation. If you're deep into researching which of this year's best cooling mattresses to buy, you've likely come across various celestial-sounding materials including these two. Luckily, we're here to help you understand what these materials are and what they bring to your sleep health. It is literally my and my team of mattress testers' job to shift through mattress jargon and marketing waffle to help you find the best mattress for you and your sleep needs, and snap up the best deal in monthly mattress sales. Here we're zooming in on latex and GlacioTex, pitting them against one another in terms of price, design, feel and temperature control to help you decide which luxury mattress material is worth the splurge. GlacioTex is a man-made fabric composed of fibers with high thermal conductivity. Usually sewn into mattress covers, these fibers are able to pull heat away from the mattress surface and, therefore, your body while you sleep. It is also hypoallergenic and waterproof, providing a defense against spills, dust mites and bacteria building up in your bed. While nobody has patented latex, brands under the 3Z umbrella (we're talking Helix, Brooklyn Bedding and Nolah) commonly use GlacioTex in their mattress covers. While there are two types of latex foams (natural and synthetic), it is the natural form we are focusing on here. Natural latex is a foam derived from sap from rubber trees and manufactured into an open-cell foam. The sap is extracted from the tree, mixed with non-toxic materials, whipped until frothed, and then set into a foam. The next step determines whether the natural latex will be Dunlop or Talalay latex. With Dunlop latex, the froth is poured into a mold all the way to the top, then baked, removed from the mold, washed and then baked again. With Talalay, it only partially fills the mold, which is then vacuum-sealed so the liquid expands. Then it's frozen, baked, washed and dried. The result? Talalay has a softer, spongier feel offering the sleeper more cushioning. On the other hand, Dunlop is denser and firmer, providing a more responsive, robust surface. Latex can be found in most of the best organic mattresses and in luxury mattresses like the Birch Luxe Natural mattress and Saatva Latex Hybrid mattress. From the manufacturing process to how they feel when you sleep on them, these materials have several differences, which we will explore here… Firstly, it is important to note that GlacioTex is actively cooling — it pulls heat away from the body to cool you down. Meanwhile, latex is breathable and temperature regulating, meaning it keeps the bed temperature-neutral. While memory foams are notorious for trapping heat, latex is porous and the tiny air pockets allow air to circulate freely. This means heat and moisture are able to escape rather than getting sucked into the foam and trapped against your body. On the other hand, GlacioTex employs high thermal conductivity fibers which transfer heat away from the air and your body. This means GlacioTex fabric remains cool to touch. GlacioTex fabric is typically a 50/50 blend of polyester and polyethylene with high thermal conductivity fibers sewn into it to form a cool mattress or mattress topper cover. These thermal conductivity fibers are able to dissipate heat through the mattress surface. On the other hand, latex foams are used in support and cushioning layers of mattresses. With slight discrepancies between Dunlop and Talalay mentioned above, latex is typically a firm, sturdy foam. Used in top comfort layers and support cores of a mattress, latex has a much larger effect on the overall comfort of a mattress compared with GlacioTex, which is usually only in the thin mattress cover. As a spongy material, latex is known to be durable and bouncy. This property makes it ideal for combination sleepers who like to switch between positions during the night. Firmer than memory foam, it contours to your body while providing spinal support. Meanwhile, our mattress testers have found GlacioTex covers to be slippery in come cases, making it difficult for a fitted sheet to stay put. Besides this minor inconvenience, the GlacioTex doesn't alter the feel of the mattress too much. It simply adds a cool-to-touch surface. As premium mattress materials, neither GlacioTex or latex come particularly cheap. As a natural material used in many of the best organic mattresses you can buy, latex is pricey due to its natural production process. GlacioTex is often available in cooling cover upgrades (Helix GlacioTex cover starts from $187 in a queen size at Helix), incurring extra cost. But it is generally cheaper than latex. While both GlacioTex and latex can contribute to a cooler sleep experience, as we've explored here, latex is generally considered more effective for temperature regulation. This is mainly due to the fact that latex's open cell structure allows air to flow throughout the mattress, improving breathability even in deeper layers. Whereas, limited to the mattress cover, GlacioTex primarily focuses on surface-level cooling. While it can initially feel cool, GlacioTex may not be as effective at dissipating heat trapped within the mattress. In essence, if you're looking for a material that actively regulates temperature and keeps you cool throughout the night, latex is a better choice. If you're primarily concerned with surface-level cooling and a cool-to-the-touch feel, GlacioTex could be a suitable option, but it's less effective at long-term temperature regulation.
CNET
7 days ago
- Business
- CNET
This Helix Topper Cured My Mattress Shopping Confusion. The Price Just Dropped to a New Low of $175 Off
CNET's key takeaways The ErgoAlign Mattress Topper from Helix normally costs $499 for a queen but it's currently at $324 during Amazon's Prime Day sale I've been tracking this price for a few months. The original retail price was $499 at Helix. It's a comfortable, Band-Aid solution until my next big mattress purchase. But it's pricier than other mattress toppers. The Nest Bedding Cooling Topper I'm reaching the eight-year mark with my current mattress -- it's time to shop for a new one. But when I look around at the available mattress options, I get overwhelmed by the number of choices. I felt rushed into my last mattress purchase because I was moving and needed to make a quick decision on a budget. This time, I want to do it right and make the best mattress choice for my body and my money. As a sleep-deprived working mom of two young children, I appreciate the relief a comfortable bed can bring to my aches and pains. Yes, I'm one of the 46% of adult Americans (CNET survey) willing to invest in better mattresses. And I'm ready to pay a pretty penny for my next mattress upgrade. But I need more time. I tested this ErgoAlign Mattress Topper by Helix for 60 days. It's not a long-term solution to my problems, but it gives me the comfort and time I need to make a bigger and more expensive decision. It's on the pricier side, though: Up to $500 at regular price. CNET's best mattress topper, the Nest Bedding Cooling Topper, costs $100 to $150 less. These large stretchy straps help secure this topper in place -- no sliding. Katie Collins My experience with the Helix ErgoAlign mattress topper. My first impression was one of surprise. The last time I slept on a mattress topper, it was one of those cheaper $50 foam toppers. I didn't expect the topper to be as comfortable as it was. It arrived in a vacuum wrapping. Once opened, it expanded immediately -- no waiting. I was struck by how the material did not have a chemical smell to it that we sometimes get from mattress toppers or beds in a box. I ordered the king size, so it was a bit heavy to lift onto the bed with effort but doable for one person. I laid it right on top of my current mattress and used the attached straps to secure it in place so it didn't slide around. I slept on this for 60 days, and I find that I relax and fall asleep faster, I wake up less frequently for no reason (it's a mom thing), and my hips and shoulders aren't achy at wake up as they were before. The specs GlacioTex cooling cover Three Support zones for the spine, midsection and shoulders for the spine, midsection and shoulders Sturdy corner straps to keep topper in place Free shipping in the US Thickness: 3 inches 3 inches Retail price: $498.66 $498.66 Sale Price: $324 at Amazon Available sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king 100-night sleep trial One-year limited warranty Materials: Top cover, 50/50 blend of polyester and polyethylene. Interior, Top cover, 50/50 blend of polyester and polyethylene. Interior, Copper gel memory foam and high-density foam. Made in the US These large stretchy straps help secure this topper in place even for deep and tall mattress types. The material is waterproof. Katie Collins CNET's buying advice Overall, my experience with this mattress topper is ultra positive. It's one of the more expensive mattress toppers available, but at $374, it buys me another year or two of time before I make my next big mattress decision. For $400, you could skip the topper and buy a brand new mattress. The Ashley Home Signature Design and the Rolanstar are both less than $350 right now. But for a long-term, king-size mattress with the level of support I'm looking for, I'm probably going to spend between $1,000 and $2,000 from a premium brand. For now, I find this mattress topper so comfortable, I may just take my sweet time deciding. If you're like me and seeking a band-aid solution to your current mattress situation and you want hip and shoulder support, you will be happy with the Helix ErgoAlign. If price is your sticking point, CNET's sleep experts tested dozens of other mattress toppers that we love and are much cheaper. The most comparable mattress topper we tested is the Layla Memory Foam Topper, our best foam mattress topper for side sleepers. The Layla uses a similar copper gel-infused foam, adding buoyancy and contouring support as the Helix ErgoAlign but for $250 -- $100 to $150 less. A good budget pick for a new mattress topper is the Linenspa Memory Foam Topper for $60. And if you are ready for your next mattress decision, see CNET's picks for all types of mattresses by sleep type.
WIRED
15-07-2025
- General
- WIRED
Does Your Bed-in-a-Box Need a Box Spring?
If you haven't seen a box spring in a while, it's not your imagination—a mattress expert breaks down when you might need this dinosaur of the sleep world. All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. You're probably familiar with a box spring, the simple wood frame with springs that acts as a support base under older mattresses. It's not a highly technical piece of equipment like a smart bed (or a trampoline, wouldn't that be fun)—this kind of mattress foundation has persisted through the ages solely due to its simple and durable design. But have you noticed you may not be seeing them as often nowadays? In my opinion as a career mattress tester, contemporary mattresses are on their way to making this furniture addition obsolete. However, that doesn't mean it automatically gets booted from your mattress setup scenario. Let's unpack what a box spring actually is, why you may or may not need one, and where it could set you and your mattress up for success. For this article, I'm relying on my own expertise as a Spencer Institute–certified sleep science coach and mattress tester of five years, as well as that of John Merwin, CEO of 3Z Brands (maker of Helix, Nolah, Bear, and Leesa) and founder of Brooklyn Bedding. The Box Spring's Backstory Mattresses back in the day weren't what they are now, and that time frame extends from the earliest iterations of mattresses to 50 years ago to today. Support was, let's just say, pretty abysmal. Think of a bed completely filled with hay, and more often than not that's what you had to work with. The box spring was meant to alleviate that lack of support with its introduction during the late 18th century. Engraving depicting a coiled spring mattress, demonstrating its lightness compared with a feather or a feather and spring mattress of a similar size. Its manufactures also recommended it as "it does not harbour vermin or dirt". (Photo by: Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images) UniversalA box spring involves a wooden frame or base that contains innerspring coils or has coils set atop the base. A fabric casing is often involved to keep everything contained. This is a deliberate design choice, because the coils in the box spring are springing up to meet the mattress atop it. The wooden frame has slats to ensure that no sagging is happening around the center of the bed, while providing some foundational backup to the coils. If we think back to the ye olde mattress days, or the time before mattresses in a box were a thing (which was 2004, to be exact), the box spring was the predominant piece of furniture that accompanied your mattress. As time went on, box springs evolved to support a specific type of mattress—traditional innerspring coils. 'Traditional coils are often referred to as Bonnell coils, which have been used in mattresses for generations,' says 3Z CEO John Merwin. 'They're designed in an hourglass shape where they're wider at the top and bottom with a thinner middle to offer a combination of support and flexibility." But why does this coil type need a box spring in the first place? Ultimately, it came down to making sure sleepers were truly getting support across the board, er, box spring. Traditional coils 'are designed to offer a combination of support and flexibility, but because these coils are connected by a network of wires, they tend to move as a unit rather than individually," Merwin says. 'This makes them more dependent on a box spring or foundation to provide proper support and absorb shock.' Beds with Bonnell coils are still out there, but usually not as the standout mattress material within a bed. Some hybrids may use it at the base of the mattress for durability, with pocketed coils and memory foam layered atop it. Still, in these cases, box springs aren't necessary, since the coils are doing the heavy lifting. An example of this would be the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid, which utilizes modern pocketed coils for durability and support. Box Springs and Your Mattress (in a Box) Owners of modern-day mattresses, either from a box shipped to your house or a brick-and-mortar mattress store, need to be extra careful when pairing a box spring with their bed, if it all. Merwin says the box spring helps extend the life of the mattress by reducing wear and tear, especially since Bonnell coils don't offer the same level of motion isolation or adaptive support as more modern pocketed coil designs. 'While still found in some entry-level models,' Merwin says, "Bonnell coils have largely been phased out in favor of more advanced coil systems that better align with today's comfort and durability standards." So, the reality is (A) you probably don't need a box spring, and (B) a box spring could actually be damaging to your bed. Not to mention, it could potentially void your warranty coverage. For memory foam mattresses or hybrids, the coil components within a box spring could actually wear down each respective material and counteract long-term durability and support. The usage of coils in a hybrid mattress actually mimics the performance of a box spring, so you don't actually need to use one. Pair a box spring with a hybrid and you've potentially got a 'too much of a good thing' situation on your hands. But let's say that you choose to continue down the path of the box spring—some brands may offer a version compatible with your mattress of choice. You can also cross-verify with customer service to see if a box spring would make an ideal pairing with your mattress. If your bed frame lacks slats or any sort of centralized support, that's a situation in favor of box springs. In that case, you can expect to shell out anywhere from under $100 to $300 for a box spring, depending on the size of mattress you have. But as a professional mattress tester, always keep the focus on the best mattress for you first, and then the subsequent accessories after. Your search shouldn't be, 'Can I find a bed to work with my box spring?' Support System FTW What should you be using for your mattress, then, if not a box spring? Plopping it on a bed frame with central support beams, a mattress foundation, or a smart bed base are all viable options. This is another warranty caveat—make sure that with whatever you choose, your base has the support required by your mattress's warranty coverage. This could mean the wooden slats are a certain number of inches apart, or confirmation that there's a support beam running vertically through the base to keep the center from sagging. Some models, like the Wolf Memory Foam Hybrid, actually supply a base with your purchase, so you're covered from the jump. Even better news: We're on top of testing bed frames, too.
