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Nolah Natural Mattress Review: Findings From Our Test Lab
Ranked #6 on our Best Latex Mattress list
The Nolah Natural is a latex hybrid that feels exceptionally sturdy and responsive to movement. Breathable materials help ensure airflow and cooling, while zoned coils push back against extra weight in your torso and hips.
- Constructed of natural materials, including organic latex, cotton, and wool
- Excellent temperature control and bounce
- Zoned coils provide targeted midsection support
- Feels too soft to most sleepers over 230 pounds
- $99 fee deducted from returns
Launched in 2015, Nolah is an online mattress company offering a diverse product lineup of competitively priced mattresses. The Nolah Natural is a hybrid mattress that features organic materials, including cotton, wool, and latex.
The mattress has a compact design with a height of 11 inches, which is why it is also called the Nolah Natural 11. Its firmness level is medium firm (6), giving it an intermediate feel that works for a wide range of sleepers.
Its comfort system includes two layers of latex, which is known for its responsiveness, but the Nolah Natural has more sink and cushioning than many other latex hybrids.
We decided to test out the Nolah Natural, evaluating all aspects of its performance. We go over the findings from our Test Lab and describe the biggest strengths and weaknesses of this mattress.
SMART MATCHING
Is the Nolah Natural Right for You?
Use the filters below to see how well the Nolah Natural 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 Natural Scored
Motion Isolation6.5/10
Our motion transfer tests found that vibrations definitely carry across the Nolah Natural mattress. This is normal for a latex hybrid since the primary materials have a springiness that contributes to motion transfer.
Despite the mid-range rating in this category, many couples can still share the Nolah Natural without a problem. However, people who are quick to be stirred awake at night may prefer a mattress with better motion isolation.
Jeremy Klein, Product Testing Manager: The latex and coils are both bouncy, which translates to considerable motion transfer on the Nolah Natural. The vibrations didn’t bother me that much, but they could bug people who are easily woken up from sleep.
Pressure Relief7.5/10
We found that the Nolah Natural was slightly above average at relieving pressure around the heavier parts of the body.
The organic latex in the comfort system compresses to minimize harsh impact on the joints. In our testing, most sleepers under 230 pounds felt that the cushioning was nicely balanced, helping to promote spinal alignment.
The level of pressure relief was lower among people over 230 pounds because they experienced more sinkage and less reliable support.
Brad Nehring, Product Testing Manager: The latex has enough give that it can reduce painful impact around your main pressure zones. However, latex doesn’t closely conform to your body, so it doesn’t have the pinpoint pressure relief offered by a material like memory foam.
Temperature Control8.5/10
Temperature control is a standout category for the Nolah Natural. We found that it stayed extremely cool, making it well-suited to anyone who tends to sleep hot.
Every component of the mattress plays a role in its ability to regulate temperature. Cotton and wool are breathable and moisture-wicking. Latex is naturally resistant to heat buildup, and the coils permit airflow that can draw hot air out of the mattress.
Mary Fenton, Head of Product Content: Everyone on the team was impressed with how cool the Nolah Natural was. This isn’t a mattress that is going to cause you to be overheating or sweating profusely in the middle of the night.
Edge Support7.0/10
In our tests, the Nolah Natural’s edge support was rated as roughly average. The sinkage of the latex was most significant around the edge, so you’ll notice some compression when you sit or lie down close to the perimeter. However, our testing team didn’t feel unstable or like they were going to accidentally roll off of the mattress.
Jeremy Klein, Product Testing Manager: I was kind of disappointed by the edge support of the Nolah Natural compared to what you usually find in a latex hybrid. It wasn’t unstable, but there was a lot more compression than I’m used to on this type of mattress.
Ease of Movement8.0/10
One of the main properties of latex is its responsiveness, which means it quickly springs back when weight is removed from it. This characteristic makes the Nolah Natural feel bouncy.
Even if you start to sink into the latex, you don’t feel stuck when you want to move. Instead, the responsiveness of the latex and the pocketed coils facilitates movement and makes it easy to modify your body’s position on the mattress.
Mary Fenton, Head of Product Content: The Nolah Natural is a good fit for combination sleepers like me. It bounces back extremely quickly, so you can adjust your positioning without feeling trapped in the mattress.
Durability8.5/10
As latex is one of the most durable mattress materials available, the Nolah Natural Mattress should hold up considerably longer than the average bed. The coils in the support core of hybrid mattresses are generally resistant to wear and tear. While Nolah uses Talalay latex, which is not quite as durable as Dunlop latex, it should still provide solid support for at least nine to 10 years.
HANDS-ON TESTING
Testing Team Takeaways
To test the Nolah Natural 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 a latex hybrid, the mattress has more sink than you’d expect, which actually helped to cushion my hips and shoulders when sleeping on my side. The mattress may feel too soft for people over 230 pounds, though.
Brad Nehring
Product Testing Manager · Side sleeper · 215 lbs.
Side sleeper · 215 lbs.
What I liked most about the Nolah Natural was how cool it stayed through the night. I felt virtually no heat buildup, allowing me to sleep more comfortably.
Mary Fenton
Head of Product Content · Hybrid sleeper · 150 lbs.
Hybrid sleeper · 150 lbs.
While the Nolah Natural felt a bit softer than I’d like for stomach sleeping, it offered great support when I was on my side or back. Overall, that makes it an above-average option for combination sleepers like me.
Who it Fits
Fit by Sleep Position and Body Weight
Sizes, dimensions and weights
Side Sleepers
Based on our testing team’s reviews, the Nolah Natural is best for side sleepers who weigh up to 230 pounds. The mattress was able to relieve pressure around the shoulders and hips with extra support from the zoned coils.
For side sleepers over 230 pounds, the latex layers have too much give. This can cause the hips and shoulders to push down into the mattress, disrupting overall spinal alignment.
Back Sleepers
In our testing, the Nolah Natural provided above-average support to back sleepers weighing up to 230 pounds. The latex doesn’t closely contour to the lower back, but it has enough cushioning to reduce lumbar strain. At the same time, the thick layer of coils creates a dependable sleep surface without excessive sinkage for people under 230 pounds.
Unfortunately, sleepers with a higher body weight didn’t get the same degree of support. They were more likely to feel that their posture was negatively affected by the latex giving out beneath their midsection.
Stomach Sleepers
During our testing, stomach sleepers under 130 pounds were well-supported by the Nolah Natural, but those weighing 130 pounds or more found the mattress to be too soft.
People who sleep on their stomach need an even sleep surface that is relatively firm. This keeps their abdomen from sagging down and drawing the spine into a U-shape.
Since the Nolah Natural has deeper sinkage than most latex hybrids, it’s not as well-suited to stomach sleeping. We found it worked best for those who have a lighter body weight because they do not push as far into the latex layers.
Construction
Inside the Nolah Natural
Cover
Organic cotton and organic wool
2″ Comfort Layer
Talalay latex
1″ Transition Layer
Talalay latex
8″ Support Core
pocketed coils (zoned)
Other Nolah Beds You Might Like
Nolah Original
8.0/108.0/10 · $649 – $1,559
Foam · Medium (5)
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)
Warranty, Shipping, and Delivery
365 Night
Sleep Trial
Lifetime
Warranty
Free
Ground Shipping (all 50 states)
$199+
White Glove Delivery
Availability
The Nolah Natural Mattress can only be purchased by customers in the contiguous United States. It is sold online through the Nolah website. It is also available in Nolah partner showrooms in several states.
Shipping
The Nolah Natural ships for free to customers in all of the 48 contiguous U.S. states. The company does not ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or Canada.
The mattress is compressed, wrapped in plastic, and shipped inside a box that gets delivered to your door. In most cases, the mattress will be delivered about a week after you place an order.
The mattress doesn’t require any assembly. You set it up by removing the packaging so that it can decompress and return to its original size. Because of the weight of the materials, it may take two or more people to lift the box and position the mattress.
Additional Services
For an additional charge, Nolah offers White Glove delivery through a third-party provider. The service provider will set up the Nolah Natural and haul away your old mattress.
Another additional service offered by Nolah is insurance against accidental mattress damage. This add-on can be purchased during the online checkout process.
Sleep Trial
There is a 120-night sleep trial that lets you test the Nolah Natural. You must keep the mattress for 30 nights before you can request a return.
If you choose to return the mattress, there is a $99 return shipping fee that will be deducted from your refund.
When purchasing the mattress, you also have the option to forego the sleep trial and receive a discount on the purchase price.
Warranty
The Nolah Natural has a lifetime limited warranty. If your mattress has a defect, Nolah will repair or replace the mattress.
The warranty is prorated. After the first two years, you may be required to pay a percentage of the original purchase price and/or the cost of shipping associated with the warranty service.
FAQs
Are Nolah mattresses worth it?
Nolah mattresses are worth it for people who want a medium-firm (6) mattress with natural and organic materials. The Nolah Natural Mattress is an especially good pick for side and back sleepers and people who weigh under 230 pounds. It’s also a worthy choice for hot sleepers; our team gave the Nolah high scores for cooling.
Stomach sleepers over 130 pounds may prefer a bed that’s a bit firmer and those looking for strong motion isolation might find it too bouncy.
How does Nolah compare to Tempurpedic?
Nolah and Tempurpedic are both high-quality mattress manufacturers with good reputations for customer service. On average, Nolah mattresses are more affordable than Tempur-Pedic mattresses, and they’re comparable in terms of durability.
Nolah makes all-foam, hybrid, and latex mattresses, while Tempur-Pedic focuses mainly on foam and hybrid beds. Though there are some showrooms where you can try a Nolah mattress in person, the brand sells most of its beds online. Tempur-Pedic beds are widely available online and in brick-and-mortar retailers.
What is the lifespan of a Nolah mattress?
Our testing team gave the Nolah Natural Mattress a score of 8.5 out of 10 for durability, so it should last longer than many other mattresses. The average latex hybrid lasts between 7.5 and 8.5 years, we think that the Nolah Natural should stay in good condition for 8 years or more in most circumstances.
Is Nolah mattress better than Bear mattress?
The Nolah Natural Mattress and the Bear Natural Mattress both have medium-firm (6) firmness levels and a similar latex hybrid construction. Our testers weighing more than 230 pounds gave the Bear Mattress higher scores for comfort and support, but both performed exceptionally well for people under 230 pounds.
The Nolah sleeps cooler than the Bear, and it’s a bit less bouncy. The Bear is better at relieving pressure point discomfort and alleviating joint pain. The Nolah Natural edges out the Bear Natural in terms of durability, so you might get an extra year or two sleeping on the Nolah.
Jeremy is a sleep product tester with a passion for methodology and data collection. He’s spent the last six years at Sleep Foundation testing nearly every mattress, pillow, and sheet on the market, and has gained a holistic understanding of how to get the most accurate and universal results possible. When he’s not working, Jeremy likes to make music, play tennis, and watch old movies.