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Nolah Mattress Review: Findings From Our Test Lab
Ranked #3 on our Best Mattresses under $1000 list
The Nolah Original is a plush all-foam mattress ideal for side sleepers and people with frequent pain or pressure points. Breathable, open-cell foams help reduce heat buildup on the surface and isolate motion for couples.
- Standout motion isolation appeals to couples who want to minimize sleep disruptions
- Solid pressure relief for side sleepers
- Competitive price point
- Can feel too soft for many back and stomach sleepers and people over 230 pounds
- $99 fee for returns
Nolah is an online mattress company that first launched in 2015 with the Nolah Original, which was previously known as the Nolah Original 10.
The Nolah Original is an all-foam mattress that is 10 inches tall and made with the company’s proprietary AirFoam, an adaptive material designed to achieve similar levels of contouring and pressure relief as traditional memory foam. With a medium (5) firmness level, the Nolah Original appeals to a broad range of sleepers.
We evaluated the Nolah Original in our Test Lab, rating its performance in the most important categories that affect sleeper satisfaction. In this review, we go over those results and cover the construction, pricing, and sizing of the Nolah Original Mattress.
SMART MATCHING
Is the Nolah Original Right for You?
Use the filters below to see how well the Nolah Original lines up with your unique needs. We'll also give you a couple other recommendations based on your answers.
TEST LAB RATINGS
How the Nolah Original Scored
Motion Isolation8.5/10
The Nolah Original excels at reducing motion transfer across the mattress surface, making it an excellent choice for couples and light sleepers. The foam layers absorb movement effectively, preventing disturbances when one partner shifts position or gets in and out of bed.
With this mattress, most nighttime motion is well-contained within each person’s sleeping area, allowing partners to move freely without worrying about disturbing each other.
Jeremy Klein, Product Testing Manager: This mattress does a great job at preventing vibrations from rippling across its surface. It almost seems like a bed partner is sleeping in a separate bed.
Pressure Relief7.5/10
The Nolah Original provides balanced pressure relief, particularly for side sleepers. Its top foam layers are designed to yield more around key pressure points like the shoulders and hips so that the spine can remain aligned during sleep.
That said, sleepers over 230 pounds – especially back and stomach sleepers – find that the mattress feels too plush for optimal pressure relief.
Brad Nehring, Product Testing Manager: I liked how well the Nolah Mattress softened the impact points around my hips and shoulders, but I sometimes wished it was just a bit firmer to limit sinkage.
Temperature Control6.0/10
Like many all-foam mattresses, the Nolah Original has slightly below-average ratings for temperature regulation.
While its foam construction includes cooling features, some sleepers may find it holds in too much heat, especially relative to a hybrid or latex mattress. The mattress maintains a cool enough temperature for most users but may not be the best choice for those who prioritize active cooling.
Mary Fenton, Head of Product Content: I was worried about sleeping hot on this all-foam mattress, but I didn’t overheat. It wasn’t cool so to speak, but I think that its level of heat retention would mostly be an issue for naturally hot sleepers.
Edge Support6.5/10
The edge support of the Nolah Original is adequate but not exceptional, which is typical of all-foam mattress designs.
There’s notable compression of the foam around the perimeter, but most of our testers said the edges were stable enough for sleeping or sitting along the edge. However, people with a higher body weight and those who value a robust perimeter may prefer a firmer mattress with a reinforced edge.
Mary Fenton, Head of Product Content: There’s some pronounced sinkage around the edge of the Nolah Original. It didn’t bother me too much, but it might be a bigger problem for people over 230 pounds.
Ease of Movement6.0/10
The Nolah Original offers reasonable ease of movement, though some sleepers may find it takes more effort to change positions compared to springier mattress types.
The foam layers respond relatively quickly to movement, but there’s still some of the “hugging” sensation that can make it more difficult to turn over or adjust between sleep positions. Active sleepers and those who change positions frequently should be aware that this could be a downside of the Nolah Original.
Jeremy Klein, Product Testing Manager: Because of the foam’s contouring, it takes a little bit of effort to roll over. You kind of have to work against the foam, but in the end, it wasn’t a major problem for me.
Durability6.5/10
Because of its all-foam construction and medium feel, the Nolah Mattress loses some points in its durability score, as coil support and firmer options perform better over time. Even still, sleepers can expect the typical six or seven years of mattress life because of its multiple foam layers, including strong polyfoam in the base, which is a bit denser than memory foam.
Video
Nolah Video Review
Watch the video below to see how the Nolah Mattress performed when put to the test in our lab.
HANDS-ON TESTING
Testing Team Takeaways
To test the Nolah Mattress, we had three people on our testing team each take the bed home with them for one week. Here are their initial observations.
Jeremy Klein
Product Testing Manager · Side sleeper · 160 lbs.
Side sleeper · 160 lbs.
For me, this mattress had a nice balance of firmness and pressure relief. It might be a bit plush for some sleepers, but I liked how it contoured to my hips and shoulders.
Brad Nehring
Product Testing Manager · Back sleeper · 215 lbs.
Back sleeper · 215 lbs.
The Nolah Original is comfortable, especially for side sleeping, but I did feel like I sank in a bit more than I’d prefer. That’s something that might be a bigger concern for stomach sleepers and people with a higher body weight.
Mary Fenton
Head of Product Content · Combo sleeper · 150 lbs.
Combo sleeper · 150 lbs.
One of the best features of the Nolah Original for me was how well it absorbed vibrations. I barely felt anything when there was movement on another part of the mattress.
Who it Fits
Fit by Sleep Position and Body Weight
Sizes, dimensions and weights
Side Sleepers
Our testing found that the Nolah Original offered excellent support to most side sleepers, especially those who weigh up to 230 pounds.
Side sleepers under 130 pounds experienced excellent pressure relief around their hips and shoulders thanks to cushioning from the two AirFoam layers. Sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds had a similar experience, although some felt that the mattress was a bit too plush.
Side sleepers over 230 pounds generally reported that support from the Nolah Mattress was adequate, but most preferred a firmer mattress with thicker comfort layers.
Back Sleepers
We found that back sleepers received good – but not exceptional – support from the Nolah Original.
Those under 130 pounds received solid lumbar support with comfortable contouring around the lower back. Sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds were generally able to maintain proper spinal alignment, but many commented that they preferred a firmer sleep surface.
Back sleepers over 230 pounds felt that they were sinking too deeply into the foam layers, especially around the midsection, which compromised their ability to maintain a neutral spine.
Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleepers generally need more support than the Nolah Original provides.
In our testing, those under 130 pounds said support was adequate but far from ideal. Stomach sleepers weighing 130 pounds or more found their abdomen dipping too deeply into the mattress, which put unwanted strain on the lower back. For these sleepers, a firmer mattress is typically more supportive.
Construction
Inside the Nolah Original
Cover
Tencel lyocell
2″ Comfort Layer
1" Polyfoam (zoned AirFoam), 1″ Polyfoam (AirFoam)
8″ Support Core
polyfoam
Other Nolah Beds You Might Like
Nolah Signature
8.1/108.1/10 · $844 – $1,819
Foam · Medium (5)
Nolah Evolution
8.7/108.7/10 · $1,047 – $2,440
Hybrid · Medium (5), Medium Firm (6), Firm (8)
Nolah Evolution Comfort+
9.0/109.0/10 · $974 – $2,079
Hybrid · Firm (7)
Nolah Natural
8.9/108.9/10 · $1,049 – $2,398
Latex Hybrid · Medium Firm (6)
Buying it
Trial, Warranty, and Delivery
365 Night
Sleep trial (30-night requirement)
Lifetime
Warranty
Free
Ground shipping (contiguous U.S.)
Availability
The Nolah Original is sold directly by Nolah on the company’s website. It is also available from some select brick-and-mortar mattress stores in states across the country. Nolah only ships within the contiguous United States.
Shipping
Nolah ships this mattress for free to addresses in the contiguous U.S. Shipping is not available to Alaska, Hawaii, or Canada.
The mattress is compressed, wrapped in plastic, and vacuum-sealed for delivery. The mattress usually ships within 3 to 10 days and will arrive at your doorstep a few business days after that.
After the Nolah Mattress arrives, carry the box to the room where you plan to use the mattress. Remove the mattress from the box and use a knife or scissors to carefully remove the plastic wrapping. The bed will quickly start to expand and will be ready to sleep on within a few hours.
Additional Services
Nolah works with a third-party partner to offer White Glove installation and old mattress removal. You can add these services to your order during the online checkout process. With this service, the mattress is still delivered to your home in a box, and after that, a service provider comes to your home to set it up and take away your old mattress.
Sleep Trial
Nolah offers a 120-night sleep trial for the Nolah Original. This trial requires a break-in period of 30 nights, so you won’t be able to return the mattress until 30 nights have elapsed.
If you decide to return the mattress during the trial, Nolah will arrange for the mattress to be picked up from your home. You will be issued a refund minus a $99 fee for return processing.
Warranty
The Nolah Original comes with a partially prorated lifetime warranty. Nolah will cover all costs for repairing a defect or replacing a defective mattress – including shipping and transportation charges – during the first 10 years of ownership. After 10 years, if your mattress is defective, you will pay a prorated portion of your original purchase price for a replacement mattress.
FAQs
Are Nolah mattresses any good?
Determining if a Nolah mattress is good depends on your sleep preferences and if you enjoy the feel of an all-foam bed. Based on testing done in our sleep lab, Nolah mattresses are a good choice for side sleepers, those looking for pressure relief, and couples who want to minimize feeling disrupted by partner movement. Nolah is also a budget-friendly choice.
How does Nolah compare to Tempur-Pedic?
Nolah mattresses are all-foam, while Tempur-Pedic has both memory foam and hybrid models. One thing that sets Nolah apart is its use of proprietary AirFoam, which is designed to reduce heat retention and allows for a cooler sleep. The Tempur-Pedic comes has a higher price point but is more durable. Based on our lab testing, both the Nolah and the Tempur-Pedic earned a score of 8 out of 10.
What’s the lifespan of a Nolah mattress?
Nolah mattresses should last around the same number of years as a standard mattress (around 6 or 7 years), but it’s unlikely to go much beyond that. As an all-foam bed, it’s more prone to sinkage and isn’t as durable as other types of mattresses that have pocketed coils that add more support.
How does Nolah compare to Saatva?
Nolah and Saatva are two popular, well-rated mattress brands, but there are some clear differences beginning with their construction. Nolah is an all-foam mattress while Saatva is a hybrid mattress that combines foam and pocketed microcoils. As such, Nolah is strong on pressure relief and more conforming, while Saatva offers a more responsive sleep surface.
Based on our lab testing, Saatva is one of the highest scoring mattresses we’ve reviewed, with a 9.5 overall rating, compared to Nolah’s solid 8.0 score. However, Nolah mattresses are less expensive than Saatva models.