Helix Dawn vs Plank Firm: which firm mattress should you buy?

Type: HybridFirmness: FirmHeight: 11.5"Sizes: 8Sleep trial: 100 nightsWarranty: LifetimeSale price: from $1,099 at Helix
Type: Memory foamFirmness: Firm, Extra FirmHeight: 10"Sizes: 14Sleep trial: 120 nightsWarranty: LifetimeSale price: from $561.75 at Plank
It's the battle of the firm mattresses, as we pit the Helix Dawn and Plank Firm against each other. If you need the enhanced support of a firm bed, this guide explores if the Helix Dawn or Plank Firm mattress is right for you.
Our sleep experts have spent combined months sleeping on the Helix Dawn and Plank Firm and we rate them among the best mattresses we've tested. As well as a firm feel, the two share a mid-range price point and a supportive build that suits back and stomach sleepers.
Here we're comparing the support, comfort and price of the Helix Dawn and Plank Firm mattresses to help you decide which of our favorite firm mattresses suits your sleep needs.
It's a close head to head between the Helix Dawn and Plank, with both ranking among the best mattresses in a box we've tested. Below, we'll give a full rundown of how these mattresses stack up but here's a quick overview.
The Dawn is a hybrid design and like the best hybrid mattresses we've tested it delivers support via its spring base.
In our Helix Dawn Mattress review we praised its gentle contouring and responsive feel: our tester could move around without losing support (not that they needed to toss and turn to get comfortable.)
The Plank Firm is an all-foam mattress and without any springs, it uses a dense foam core for firm support all-round. It's just as firm as you expect from a bed named the 'plank'. Particularly on the Extra Firm side because did we mention? It's a double sided mattress.
Firm on one side, Extra Firm on the other, we liked both in our Plank Firm Mattress review but while the Firm side is the crowd pleaser, the niche appeal of the Extra Firm impressed our testers.
The Helix Dawn and Plank Firm Mattress are mid-range mattresses and cost around $1,000 for a queen. The Helix Dawn is slightly pricier with a queen $1,099 in the standard Helix Mattress sale but as a queen Plank Firm typically sells for $999, there's not much in it.
Both brands offer deals throughout the year — look out for 20% off at Helix and 25% off at Plank — but good timing can help you save more. Around peak sales days, such as Black Friday and Memorial Day, Helix has a tendency to boost the sale to 25%, while Plank offers 30% off on special occasions.
The DreamCloud Premier mattress and the CopperFlex Hybrid Pro mattress also fit in this price range. We think the Dawn and Plank offer competitive value.
You get a limited lifetime warranty with both the Helix Dawn and Plank but the Plank does have a slightly better trial period: 120 nights, compared to 100. However, it's worth remembering the Plank is a double-sided mattress, so you almost have two beds to test out during that sleep trial.
Helix Dawn Mattress: twin was $998.66 now $729.03 at Helix SleepYou can always save 20% at Helix but right now is the time to buy as you can score 27% off with our code TOMS27. This reduces a queen from $1,332 to $972 which is the best mattress sale we think you're going to get.
Plank Firm Mattress: twin was $749 now $561.75 at PlankAs a double-sided and extra firm mattress, the Plank Firm is a niche entry to the sleep market and we think the mid-range price is a good deal. In the standard sale a queen is $999 (was $1,332). We have seen 30% off in recent weeks reducing a queen to $932 but we think it might be a while before that deal reappears.
The Helix Dawn and Plank Firm mattresses share a firm feel and we'll explore what that's like to sleep on below. For now, we're focusing on how they achieve this firmness. When it comes to design, these mattresses couldn't be more different.
To be fair, the Plank Firm is different to most mattresses. While we rank it among the best memory foam mattresses we've tested, it doesn't have the traditional build we'd expect from an all-foam bed.
First, it's double-sided. Flipped one way, the Plank is Firm. Flipped the other, it's Extra Firm.
To create this, the Plank Firm features a dense six-inch support core that sits in the middle of the mattress. This is largely responsible for the feel of the mattress and on the Extra firm side, it's topped only by .75" of foam.
On the Firm side there's a bit more padding: two more inches of foam, plus the .75" of the quilted cover.
The Helix Dawn is a hybrid mattress and unlike the Plank, it sticks to tradition. Four foam layers, including a layer of latex-alternative dynamic foam and two layers of firm response foam, sit on top of a spring base with a final layer of base foam for durability.
We've tested both the Helix Dawn and Plank Firm mattresses and we consider them among the best mattresses for stomach sleepers you can buy online.
Mattresses for stomach sleepers are typically firm with plenty of support. Stomach sleeping places the back at an awkward angle but a firm mattress keeps the spine straight to limit twisting and prevent pain.
The Helix Dawn is a classic stomach sleeper mattress: firm with ample support from a spring base. Our testers agreed it was an 8 out of 10 on the mattress firmness scale, 10 indicating rock hard.
We found the upper foam layers contoured gently around the body to prevent pressure build up, impressing our back sleeping testers.
Side sleeping was also comfortable on the Dawn, mostly in short bursts. Dedicated side sleepers should consider a softer mattress, such as the Helix Midnight Mattress, which has more cushioning at the shoulders.
Our lead tester spent multiple weeks sleeping on both sides of the Plank Firm to build up a full picture of the comfort. Across our testing panel, one thing immediately stood out when lying on the Extra Firm side: it's really firm.
While it shouldn't be a surprise, we were taken aback by the hard feel, rating it 9 out of 10. But it took only a few minutes for the back and stomach sleepers to appreciate how supportive it is.
Side sleepers, however, should avoid the Extra Firm side. There's not enough cushioning at the pressure points, resulting in aching arms and hips.
The Firm side does have more cushioning, partly due to the added foam but also because the looser quilting gives more bounce to sink into. This side is better for side sleepers although as with the Dawn, mostly in short bursts.
Like the Dawn, we rated the Firm side 8 out of 10 for firmness. Our lead tester is a stomach sleeper and while she loved the Extra Firm side sometimes it pressed too hard against the stomach. For example, after a late dinner.
The Extra Firm side divided our testers with some (primarily the side sleepers) unable to find comfort. The Firm is more of a crowd pleaser.
Overheating can disrupt sleep but for the most part, both the Dawn and the Plank remain a neutral temperature overnight. Our testers did feel the beds could, on warm nights, trap some heat, with the problem more pronounced in the Plank Firm.
We think this will only impact hot sleepers and both Helix and Plank offer a GlacioTex cover upgrade. GlacioTex is used in many top cooling mattresses so we recommend the add-on if you experience night sweats or hot flashes.
Hybrid mattresses tend to have better edge support than their all-foam equivalents and with reinforced springs on the lengthwise sides, the Helix Dawn is sturdy at the edges (if a little weak at the corners.)
The Plank, however, surprised us with its firm feel from corner to corner: we awarded edge support full marks.
Both mattresses also have good motion isolation, although the Plank just takes the win (those thick foams deaden movement.) But if you share a bed, both mattresses should minimize disruption from a restless partner.
✅ You prefer a traditional feel: With tall springs and a bouncy response foam, the Helix Dawn moves when you move for consistent support and comfort. A more traditional innerspring feel than the all-foam Plank.
✅ You want to customize the bed: The Helix Dawn comes with optional cooling and support add ons, plus Helix Luxe and Elite upgrades. The Plank Firm does have some optional upgrades but not as many as the Dawn. (You can see how the Dawn performs against an upgraded model in our Helix Dawn vs Dusk Luxe mattress head to head.)
✅ You're a combination sleeper: We found the Dawn comfortable in most sleep positions, even if dedicated side sleepers might want a few more layers of cushioning, making it a good choice for those who move around in the night.
✅ You can never find a firm mattress that's firm enough: If you like the feel of Japanese floor mattresses and find standard beds never provide the support you need, the Plank Firm delivers reliable, consistent firmness.
✅ Your comfort needs change: Double sided mattresses, like the Plank, are best for those who need different support levels on different nights. For example, those with reoccurring injuries or occasional bed sharers.
✅ You like the added support of strong edges: The Dawn has good edge support but the Plank Firm is exceptional. You can sit and press against the side of the mattress without it sinking beneath you, making it easier to get in and out of bed.

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Meet the 80-year-old man who held a plank for 50 minutes — and learn how he stays fit

Fitness experts say people should be able to hold a plank for anywhere from 20 seconds up to two minutes, depending on their age. An 80-year-old Florida man has blown that goal out of the water, recently holding a plank for a whopping 50 minutes — 100 times longer than the average recommendation for his age. Bob Schwartz held the plank — which is believed to be a record for his age — at the Ocean Reef Fitness Club in Key Largo. Luis Bracamonte, director of fitness and wellness at the club, said he witnessed Schwartz's feat, which earned him the nickname of "The Plankster." "To our knowledge, after extensive searching, it is the longest plank ever held by an 80-year-old," Bracamonte told Fox News Digital. "Mr. Schwartz is an extraordinary individual and a perfect example of a 'super-ager.'" A plank is an isometric move where the person holds a push-up position for a set period of time. It is often touted as an abdominal exercise, serving as an alternative to traditional sit-ups and crunches. In addition to strengthening stomach muscles, planks also work the arms, legs, chest and back, according to experts. Schwartz's planking journey began when Bracamonte set up a contest in 2016, where any member who could do a four-minute plank would get a free smoothie. Schwartz not only got his smoothie, but he won the contest, planking for just over 10 minutes. "Prior to that, one minute was probably my max, although by this time, my core was in pretty decent shape," he told Fox News Digital. As Schwartz continued to extend his planking times, he started researching online and discovered that his times were already longer than the records for his age bracket. "The over-80 record has been 15:03 since 2019, and the over-70 record was 38 minutes," he said. Schwartz applied to Guinness World Records, but was told that they don't recognize records by age group. "So in this internet age, you just post a video of your accomplishment and claim the title until somebody beats you," he said. "So during this year's fitness challenge, we decided to video my plank and post it." "The hardest part is just making the commitment to exercise, and staying with it long enough for it to become a habit." The passion for planking has become a family affair, as Schwartz's youngest grandson, who is 7 years old, has started joining him in plank challenges. Schwartz embraces planking as a convenient way to work virtually every major muscle in the body. "A plank can be done at home, without equipment, and in a short period of time," he noted. Schwartz has not been a lifelong fitness enthusiast — he didn't set foot in a gym until 2006, when he was 62 years old. After years of suffering from chronic back pain, he finally discovered the therapeutic effects of exercise. "Since I've been doing core exercises, I have never had a back issue," he told Fox News Digital. Schwartz started with a core and cycle class, eventually adding strength training sessions to his regimen. He also walks three miles each morning. "When I strength-train, I push myself as hard as I can," he said. "Many exercise sets end in muscle fail. I've been able to improve my stats every year, but it's getting much harder now." Schwartz said he also adheres to a "healthy-ish" diet, aiming for a minimum of one serving of fruit, two servings of vegetables, fish for at least one meal, and usually chicken (or occasionally pork or beef) for dinner. He also tries to minimize sugar and rarely drinks alcohol. "My blood pressure is the same as it's always been, and I'm not on any medications," he said. "I do take several supplements. My weight has not changed more than 10 pounds since I was 18." "The hardest part is just making the commitment to exercise, and staying with it long enough for it to become a habit and part of your lifestyle," he said. For those just getting started with planking and fitness in general, Schwartz recommends seeing a trainer to learn the proper form and minimize the chances of injury. For more Health articles, visit He also emphasized the importance of maintaining balance, especially in older age. "Pick up a foot as you stand in a line; move it around as you wait," he recommended. "A fall and a trip to the hospital at an advanced age can be devastating." Looking ahead, Schwartz said he hopes to continue exercising and maintaining his current fitness level. "I'm going to try and at least maintain it as best as I can until the end," he said. "I enjoy a lot of different activities, but they all require a modicum of strength and agility. So until they come up with that magic exercise pill, I guess I'll keep going to the gym."

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I ditched my memory foam mattress for latex and I've never slept better — here's why

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Yahoo

06-06-2025

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People Are Sharing The Cooking "Myths" We've All Believed For Wayyyy Too Long, And My Mind Is Blown

Kitchen 'facts' have a way of sticking around — one viral TikTok or a chatty aunt at Thanksgiving, and suddenly everyone's sure that olive oil can't handle heat or that washing mushrooms turns them to mush. So when redditor Henroriro_XIV asked r/Cooking, 'What misinformation about cooking, that a lot of people seem to believe, bothers you the most?' the cooks didn't hold back. I sifted through the flood of replies and pulled the myths that kept popping up, along with the clear, no-nonsense fixes redditors offered to set things straight. 1."People think raw chicken must be washed. NO! It is quite risky. It can spread bacteria all over your countertop and stove, making contamination much more likely. Ew." —stevenbellomy "Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that this only exacerbates the risk of infections like Salmonella due to the splashing of the organisms onto and around your kitchen area. 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At worst, it can make the surface of the chicken mushy." —lordrothermere 3."It's not a common myth, but I've heard it at least twice, and it flabbergasts and irritates me in equal measure: Fruits and vegetables from a home garden are gross and dirty because of how they were grown, compared to those found in grocery stores. While farms use enough pesticides and herbicides to keep the produce looking darn near perfect, unless it's some high-tech hydroponic stuff, it's grown in dirt and needs to be washed, too." —Cinsay01 4."Not washing your cast iron pans with soap irritates me so much. Wash your pans and don't be gross. I wash mine with soap, water, and chainmail, then I throw it on the stove top with a dab of oil and heat it up until it smokes. Never had a problem with rust or my seasoning failing." —Thel_Odan "It's because you're legitimately not supposed to use 'strong soap' meaning lye, but dish soap (that is, weak soap) makers never bothered to distinguish what 'strong soap' actually means in their marketing, so people think Dawn is 'strong soap' when it's not even close (even if it is a strong dish soap compared to other brands). Don't use lye on cast iron, but any weak soap (meaning dish soap) is fine." —Johnny_B_GOODBOI 5."Fresh fish over frozen is so wrong because most frozen fish is flash frozen on the boat and is closer to fresh than a cold storage one that's been on the road for the same time. Same argument, different reason for canned tomatoes over fresh tomatoes; canned are picked fresh while fresh are under-ripened, picked for transportation, and gassed for color." —InquisitiveNerd 6."That it takes like 15 minutes to caramelize onions when it takes AT LEAST an hour, closer to two." —Ok_Explanation4813 7."'Only cook with a wine you'd drink.' This works as a rule if you drink bargain wine, but it's ridiculous if applied to people who drink and enjoy mid or high-priced wines. I would never drink a glass of Charles Shaw/Two-Buck-Chuck (from Trader Joe's), but that's the wine I cook with. It's cheap and tastes great when cooked in food. Yes, in a pinch, I've used pricey wine to cook with and didn't notice a difference." —mintbrownie 8."That cooking at home costs more. No. If you went to the store and bought every ingredient new, of course, that would cost a lot. People don't cook like that every meal. You need to use the leftover ingredients you bought for the cost-saving to kick in." —MyNameIsSkittles 9."'Olive oil shouldn't be used for high-heat cooking.' In reality, good-quality extra virgin olive oil has a higher smoke point than many think (around 400°F), and it's completely fine for sautéing or roasting. The myth comes from confusion between refined and unrefined oils and a bit of marketing." —jds_94 10."'Be suuuuuuper careful not to get any egg yolk in your egg whites, otherwise they can't be whipped! And wipe down your bowl/beater with vinegar to make sure there's no fat there, too!' You can whip an entire egg to medium peaks. Before chemical leavening agents (like baking soda), that was how you made cakes nice and light. You don't want any fat in your egg whites because if you're whipping egg whites, you're usually making something meringue-based, and you want meringues to be nice and dry. Fat is a moisturizer/tenderizer, so it's not welcome at the party. Still, a tiny bit won't kill a dish. Wiping down your bowl/beater with vinegar is a good idea because acid stabilizes egg whites and helps them whip up faster. If fat stopped you from being able to beat air into eggs, then mayonnaise would be impossible." —Ok_Surprise_4090 11."'Test if spaghetti is done by throwing it at a wall to see if it sticks.' Or you could like…taste it or something." —perthuz 12."While I agree that recipes often underestimate the time required, I dislike the idea that 'cooking a meal' requires a huge amount of time and effort. Even worse if the person saying it makes it into some 'I'm just sooooo busy' competition. Yes, some meals would require a lot of time and effort, but you can still make serviceable meals with a small amount of time and effort. Over time, you'll get better at cooking, and those meals will get better too." —MAMark1 13."Fancy, single-purpose gadgets will save time. The part of cooking I've learned that takes the most time is cleaning up after. More often than not, I see the fancy cutters and stirrers as an extra complicated thing to wash, dry, and store compared to the knife or spoon I would otherwise use. With a little practice, you can get the onion minced small, nearly as quickly as the swing top veggie chopper, with a lot fewer pieces with nooks and crannies to clean afterwards. I'm all for simplifying and speeding up the process, and if you have a lot of cheese to grate or veggies to chop or slice, then a gadget can be beneficial. Otherwise, for most home chefs, busy parents, or novice cooks, I say save yourself a few hundred dollars and forget about the gadgets. Any amount of time they save in prep, they'll cost double in clean up." —whydid7eat9 14."That cooking is an art that can't be taught. It's not an art. It can be explained. Good Eats taught me how to cook. Thank you, Alton Brown. My wife thanks you too." —Dragonswim "There are very few things in the world that are impossible to learn. There are tons of free resources to learn from. Look up a recipe, give it a shot, Google things you don't understand." —VividBeautiful3782 15."That the spiciest part of peppers is the seeds. This leads to people leaving the bitter seeds. The real spicy part is the pith (white part inside that holds the seeds)." —Dakkadence 16."Cook tops and burners have settings other than 'surface of the sun.' Medium is the new high, people. AND you can change the setting WHILE COOKING! Gasp." —Sixtyhurts 17."'You should only flip a steak or hamburger once.' I found this to be false. I have more control over a hamburger when I flip it multiple times. It's more important to pay close attention and check the temperature. Also, a technique for cooking steak called butter basting requires multiple flips." —rudiseeker That's the shortlist of kitchen myths Reddit is tired of hearing. If there's another one that drives you up the wall, let me know in the comments or fill out the anonymous form below! If you want to put some of your newfound cooking knowledge to work, download the Tasty app to browse and save over 7,500 recipes — no subscription required.