These days, bed pillows come in all shapes and sizes, and are made from a variety of materials. But if you’re a traditionalist, then down & feather pillows are for you, which is exactly what the Helix Down & Feather pillow is. It’s in the name after all!
In my unbiased Helix Down & Feather pillow review, I’m going to cover this pillow’s construction, my testing experience, price, performance, and more.
Keep reading to find out!
Helix's down and feather pillow combines the plush comfort of white down with supportive feathers at the center of the pillow. Its reinforced stitching around the perimeter of the pillow helps it retain its shape. It's a great down pillow for those that love supportive pillows!
Helix Down & Feather Pillow Overview
Here at Mattress Clarity, we love a Helix mattress. In fact, the Helix Midnight (and its Luxe upgraded version) have made many of our best mattresses lists. But Helix makes a good number of sleep products to accommodate its high-quality beds.
Overall Rating
Though Helix has a few other pillows to offer, this review will focus on the Helix Down & Feather pillow. Here’s a quick overview on who should enjoy this light as a feather pillow, and who might need to consider something more grounded:
Who Might Like Helix Helix Down & Feather Pillow?
- Fans of down pillows
- All sleeping positions
- Fans of super soft pillows
Who Might Not Like Helix Down & Feather Pillow?
- Fans of slow-moving memory foam pillows
- Anyone who needs a firm pillow
- People who prefer to use down alternative pillows
Helix Down & Feather Pillow Firmness and Feel
How firm a pillow is and how it feels are two very important factors when purchasing a new pillow. Let’s talk about these for the Helix pillow.
How Firm is Helix Down & Feather Pillow?
Most down or feather pillows feel very soft. This is because there’s a lot of air in between everything, and while it may look stuffed full, it’s just very fluffed up. This holds true for the Helix Down & Feather pillow.
It is incredibly soft and fluffy, and when you rest your head on it, you’ll deflate the pillow a good amount, though the feathers are there to keep you from bottoming out. Overall, if you love that cushioning feel to down pillows, this is the pillow for you.
RELATED: Best Down Pillows
Sleeping on Helix Feather & Down Pillow
As someone who prefers a more medium-firm to firm pillow, using the Helix pillow was different than what I’m used to. Though it wasn’t super supportive, the Helix pillow does a good job of keeping its shape for back sleepers. I felt the most comfortable in this position with this pillow.
As a side sleeper naturally, when I moved over to this position, I felt my head compress the pillow a good bit. The feathers do keep you from sinking straight to the bed underneath, however. I can see this pillow working for side sleepers who are lighter than I am.
Moving over to my stomach, I found this pillow to be a great option for stomach sleeping! Because down pillows have a tendency to deflate, I was able to compress this pillow enough to get it low and flat, the ideal height for stomach sleeping
30-60 Min Nap
So with the general testing out of the way, it was time to take a nap with the Helix pillow. As a side sleeper, I was worried about developing some neck pain, even for a quick nap. This pillow does have some reinforced edges to help keep its shape, but I did feel my neck craning just a bit downward.
I do occasionally sleep on my stomach, so I took a nap on my stomach. I felt very comfortable sleeping on my stomach with this pillow. The cotton shell felt very soft. And though down fill pillows can trap heat, I didn’t really feel like I was going to overheat on this pillow.
What does the Helix Down & Feather Pillow Feel Like?
The Helix Down & Feather pillow feels very soft, plush, and moldable. This is a common trait for down pillows. You can fluff it up and make it nice and high for when you’re not using it, or you can mold it to the shape you prefer. But regardless, when it comes time to use it, you’re going to compress the pillow a good bit and get some nice cushioning around you.
Average Weight Sleepers – 130lb – 230lb
Average weight back and stomach sleepers should be able to enjoy this pillow. Back and side combination sleepers should find a good amount of comfort and support. But strict side sleepers could go either way. The pillow has supportive feathers in the middle, and a double stitched edge to keep some loft.
But if you’re especially worried about the softness of this pillow, opt for one of our best pillows for side sleepers.
Heavyweight Sleepers – Over 230lb
For my fellow heavyweight sleepers out there, I’d really only recommend this pillow for stomach sleepers. You’ll be able to compress this pillow the most and get it low and flat enough, which is perfect for stomach sleeping.
Some back sleepers may be able to get the support from that inner core of supportive feathers. But I would worry about heavyweight side sleepers sinking too far into this pillow and developing neck pain. It’s just too soft for us to give proper neck support.
If you prefer a firm pillow, or need a firm pillow for side sleeping, I’ve also compiled a list of the best firm pillows!
Lightweight Sleepers – Under 130lb
Lightweight sleepers who love a fluffy, soft down pillow will get what they need from this pillow, no matter what sleeping position they sleep in.
Back sleepers will get a good amount of comfort and support thanks to that inner feather layer. And the pillow should stay relatively tall enough for lightweight side sleepers who love cushiony down.
Stomach sleepers should be able to compress this pillow low and flat enough as well, since down pillows do deflate fairly easily.
Helix Down & Feather Pillow Construction
Let’s take a look at the materials that make up the Helix Down & Feather pillow.
Cover
Helix uses an ultra-soft cotton cover on the outside of this pillow. Cotton is very breathable, so this pillow shouldn’t trap too much heat. The cotton used is called cotton cambric, which is what gives this pillow’s cover its uber-soft feel. Cotton cambric is a French style of cotton fabric that is lightweight and tightly woven.
Core
The Helix Down & Feather pillow has, as the name suggests, a down and feather blend that makes up its fill.
It uses a three-chamber design, with the innermost chamber being made of feathers and down. The feathers help give this pillow its support. The outer two layers are full of soft, plush down clusters.
The down blend has been Responsible Down Standard certified. This means that the down has been sourced in an ethical and responsible way.
Height/Loft
Right out of the packaging and without being compressed, the Helix pillow comes in at around 5” tall.
Helix Down & Feather Pillow Size Options and Price
Take a look at our chart below for up-to-date pricing information on the Helix Down & Feather pillow!
| Size | Price |
| Standard | $95 |
| King | $110 |
Helix's down and feather pillow combines the plush comfort of white down with supportive feathers at the center of the pillow. Its reinforced stitching around the perimeter of the pillow helps it retain its shape. It's a great down pillow for those that love supportive pillows!
Helix Down & Feather Pillow Performance
So, how did the Helix pillow perform in a few other key categories? Let’s go over them.
Sleeping Hot or Cold
The Helix Down & Feather pillow isn’t designed to be a cooling pillow. Down can trap heat, but with a breathable cotton outer cover for airflow, hot sleepers shouldn’t worry about overheating with this pillow. But if you’re someone who needs a cool pillow, or gets hot quickly, down isn’t the best option for you.
Off-Gassing
The Helix pillow came to me in a plastic bag once I opened up the box. There’s no off-gassing, and you shouldn’t experience any strong odors, chemical or otherwise, from this pillow.
Care Instructions
Helix doesn’t offer any cleaning or care instructions. And while down pillows can be machine-washed, my recommendation is to spot clean the pillow when necessary. Of course, keeping it in a pillowcase is the natural thing to do, which can help prevent the pillow from getting too dirty.
Allergies
Helix does not list the down & feather pillow as a hypoallergenic pillow. And, historically, down traps allergens more in comparison to down alternative pillows. If you have sensitive allergies, I’d look at getting something that is specifically hypoallergenic.
Company Policies
Here’s what you can expect when you make a purchase with Helix for the Down & Feather pillow.
Warranty Info
Helix offers a 1-year warranty on the Down & Feather pillow.
Sleep Trial
You have 100 nights to test out your pillow, essentially acting like a sleep trial.
Return Policy
If, during that 100-night sleep trial, you decide the Down & Feather pillow isn’t for you, you have the option to return or exchange it. Helix offers free shipping and returns as well.
Common Helix Down & Feather Pillow Complaints
After looking through Helix’s website and reading customer reviews, there have been many satisfied customers. However, some products just don’t work the same for some people.
There was really only one common thread that popped up when looking through complaints: the feathers. Be it from the molding of the pillow, or just general shifting of feathers, many customers complained that feathers either escaped from the pillow or began to poke them through the cover.
This is a fairly common complaint for down pillows that include feathers, so if you’d rather avoid that, go with one of our best down alternative pillows.
How Does Helix Down & Feather Pillow Compare To Other Pillows?
Down is a pretty traditional fill option for pillows, but how does it compare to some more modern innovations? Let’s compare the Helix Down & Feather pillow to some different kinds of pillows on the market.
Helix vs Brooklyn Bedding
If down isn’t your jam, and you need something hypoallergenic, that won’t trap heat, and that works for just about anyone, look at the Brooklyn Bedding Talalay latex pillow.
The Brooklyn Bedding pillow is made of a single piece of Talalay latex foam, which is super bouncy and responsive. Brooklyn Bedding also sells this in two different loft options, making it a great choice for all body types and all sleeping positions. If you’re a back, side, or combination sleeper, get the taller loft. If you’re a stomach sleeper, get the low loft. The Helix pillow can work for all three positions, but works best for stomach and back sleepers, and lightweight side sleepers.
Latex is a great material for hot sleepers because it’s breathable and doesn’t trap heat like down or traditional memory foam. Brooklyn Bedding also perforates this pillow with holes to amplify that breathability.
Who Should Get the Helix Feather & Down Pillow?
- Fans of soft down pillows
- Stomach sleepers
Who Should Get Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow?
- Back and side sleepers
- Fans of bouncy latex pillows
Read our full Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex pillow review.
Helix vs Purple
If you’d prefer a down alternative option, Purple sells the Purple Cloud, which is full of silicone enforced microfibers that make it supportive, but still give good cloud-like comfort.
The Purple Cloud is a rather tall pillow, and has no way to adjust the height. And because of the microfiber being reinforced with silicone, it’s very supportive and won’t go flat. This makes it a great choice for side sleepers of all body types. Helix works well for all sleeping positions, but really shines for back and stomach sleepers.
Both the Helix and Purple pillows should last you a good amount of time, but for a bad accident or pesky stains, the Purple Cloud is fully machine-washable for easy care. And out of the two, the Purple Cloud is a bit more affordable.
Who Should Get Helix Feather & Down Pillow?
- Fans of down pillows
- Back and stomach sleepers
Who Should Get the Purple Cloud Pillow?
- People who prefer down alternative pillows
- Anyone looking for a fully machine-washable pillow
Read our full Purple Cloud pillow review.
FAQs – H2
Let’s go over some of the most frequently asked questions about Helix or the Helix Down & Feather pillow.
What’s the difference between down and feather pillows?
In terms of performance, there’s only a few things that change when comparing down and feathers. Both types feel very soft, lightweight, and cushioning. Feathers are more structurally supportive than down, though you do run the risk of them poking through the cover because of the quills.
Down are fiber-like feathers that are found close to a bird’s skin or chest. These won’t provide as much support as feathers, but they provide a tremendous amount of plush softness. The most common types are goose and duck down.
Can Helix pillows be washed?
Helix offers two other pillows in addition to the down & feather: the Helix wedge pillow and the Helix Dream pillow. The wedge and the down & feather pillows are not machine-washable, and are recommended spot clean only. The Dream pillow set is fully machine-washable, however.
How long will the Helix Down & Feather Pillow last?
Down is a fairly durable material, and Helix offers a 1-year warranty. It should last at least that long, if not more with good care. But down pillows are known to last multiple years with good care.