Written by Julia Forbes, Lead Product Tester
Side sleepers often struggle with finding the right balance of comfort and support in a mattress. Snoozing on your side places extra pressure on your hips and shoulders since your weight bears down on a narrow surface area.
Bed-in-a-box brand Nolah aims to address this exact issue with their pressure-relieving, all-foam mattresses. Their flagship model, the Nolah Original, uses the brand’s proprietary AirFoam™ to provide contouring without the traditional sink associated with memory foam.
In our Nolah Original mattress review, we’ll cover our experience with this mattress and discuss whether it actually provides pressure relief. By testing its performance across a variety of categories, we also have a good idea which sleepers this mattress may work for.
Stuart from our mattress testing team tried out the Nolah, focusing on its construction, feel, and performance. We’ll cover Stuart’s findings in this Nolah mattress review.
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Nolah delivers ultimate pressure-relieving features in this all-foam mattress specifically designed for side sleepers.
Up to 35% off select sleep luxuries
Material
Foam
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Soft: 5/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Nolah delivers ultimate pressure-relieving features in this all-foam mattress specifically designed for side sleepers.
Material
Foam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Soft: 5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Nolah delivers ultimate pressure-relieving features in this all-foam mattress specifically designed for side sleepers.
Material
Foam
Firmness
Soft: 5/10
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Original Mattress Performance Ratings
Watch Our Nolah Mattress Video Review
Who We Recommend the Nolah Original For:
- Side sleepers – We found that this bed excels in providing the deep pressure relief side sleepers crave. Nolah claims its Original mattress produces significantly less peak pressure than similar memory foam mattresses – four times less, to be exact.
- Those who love a memory foam feel – If you love nothing more than to sink into your mattress, we think you should enjoy the way the Nolah Original feels. Although it won’t hug your curves quite as much as other memory foam beds, Stuart says, “This bed is stellar for most sleepers.”
- Lightweight sleepers – People who weigh 130 pounds or less are often more sensitive to firmer beds, given that they lack the amount of weight necessary to activate the deeper layers. We think Nolah’s plush design should be an excellent fit for lightweight individuals seeking a softer model.
Who We Don’t Recommend the Nolah Original For:
- Heavyweight sleepers – Heavyweight back and stomach sleepers may need to consider a firmer mattress that keeps them from sinking too low in the bed so that their body alignment isn’t compromised. We think the all-foam design of the Nolah isn’t supportive enough for heavy sleepers who are better off with a firmer bed or a more supportive hybrid mattress.
- People with back pain – Oftentimes, the best mattress for back pain is medium-firm to firm and contains coils for a more supportive design. We found the Nolah too soft to provide adequate support for spine alignment, which may exacerbate pain for those with an achy back.
First Impressions: Firmness & Feel
Firmness Scale: 5/10 (Medium Plush)
Please remember that firmness is a subjective characteristic and your shape will dictate how you experience a bed. A heavier person whose weight can more easily push through softer comfort and support layers may experience a bed as softer than a lightweight person. The way you are shaped could also play a role here. Consider your weight, shape, and size when evaluating firmness scores.
Mattress firmness reflects how firm or soft the bed feels when you lie down, and we rate mattress firmness on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the most firm.
We ranked the Nolah Original’s firmness level a 5 out of 10, which is considered medium plush or slightly softer than medium firm. The softness created by the upper foam layers offers a soft contouring feel that fills the area between your hips and shoulders.
We’d say that side sleepers and petite folks may be the best suited for this mattress since they sink into it less. Heavyweight sleepers and those who rest on their stomach, though, are better off with a firmer mattress since this bed’s plush feel is unlikely to provide enough support.
How Does It Feel?
When you first lie down on the mattress, you’ll feel the soft Tencel™ cover and the 2-inch foam layer. Also, thanks to Nolah’s proprietary AirFoam™, this mattress should fall somewhere in the middle of the traditional slow-response memory foam and the bounciness of latex.
According to Stuart, “This foam is a little bit softer than some of the other foam options out there.” However, the high-density foam core underneath offers enough pushback to keep you supported without feeling like you’re sinking into quicksand.
Testing the Nolah Original Mattress: How it Performed
Sleep Advisor’s Testing Methodology
At Sleep Advisor, our mattress reviews are based on findings from in-person tests that allow us to have a genuine understanding of how the mattress feels and performs.
Although the Nolah Original is designed for side sleepers, Stuart tested it in all sleep positions to determine who else it’s best suited for. Body weight can also affect how you experience a mattress, so keep in mind Stuart weighs around 150 pounds.
Additionally, our team examined qualities such as supportiveness, responsiveness, motion isolation, temperature regulation, and how well Nolah Original performs for couples.
Sleeping Positions for Different Body Types
The Nolah Original mattress should support 350 pounds per side or 700 pounds total. While this is a high-weight capacity, we don’t recommend this mattress for heavyweight sleepers. This mattress’s all-foam design and softer feel are likely to be unsupportive for these sleepers.
| Weight | Side Sleepers | Back Sleepers | Stomach Sleepers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightweight Sleepers (-130 lbs) | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★☆ |
| Average-Weight Sleepers (130-230 lbs) | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★☆ |
| Heavyweight Sleepers (+230 lbs) | ★★☆ | ★☆☆ | ★☆☆ |
Side Sleepers
- Lightweight Sleepers – We think lightweight side sleepers should find that the plush softness of this all-foam bed both cradles them and provides excellent pressure relief on smaller areas such as their shoulders and hips.
- Average-weight Sleepers – As an average-weight person, Stuart said, “These foams really take the strain off my hips and my shoulders. I can also feel myself transitioning nicely into the stabilized base layer.”
- Heavyweight Sleepers – The soft foam layers of this mattress should provide ample cushioning to most heavyweight side sleepers. However, we think that those who weigh closer to 300 pounds may find that they sink too much into this mattress, which can have the opposite effect.
Back Sleepers
- Lightweight Sleepers – If you are a lightweight back sleeper, you should enjoy the soft, contouring top layers of this bed. Additionally, we found that the base layer provides excellent support and alignment.
- Average-weight Sleepers – Stuart found that foam layers contour nicely to these back sleepers, while the supportive base layer aids in spine alignment.
- Heavyweight Sleepers – We can see most heavyweight back sleepers sinking too far down into the foam layers, which can cause spine misalignment.
Stomach Sleepers
- Lightweight Sleepers – If you are a lightweight back sleeper, you should enjoy the soft, contouring top layers of this bed. Additionally, the base layer should provide excellent support and alignment.
- Average-weight Sleepers – The foam layers contour nicely to these back sleepers, while the supportive base layer aids in spine alignment.
- Heavyweight Sleepers – Heavyweight back sleepers may feel that they are sinking too far down into the foam layers, which can cause spine misalignment.
Pressure Relief & Pain
4/5
“Nolah should excel in providing pressure relief,” according to Stuart. This bed has a softer construction that contours the body to ensure no pressure builds up. This is especially important for side sleeping as pressure tends to build up around the hips, knees, and shoulders.
You can feel your body slowly sinking just enough to experience a gentle cradle around the pressure points. Unless you’re a heavy sleeper, we don’t think you’d fall through and feel trapped in the foam.
Back Pain
For lightweight sleepers, the Nolah Original’s soft, contouring top layers and supportive base layer should work in tandem to help alleviate back pain. However, we think those who rest on their stomach, as well as heavyweight sleepers, may find they need a firmer mattress to provide adequate support and spine alignment.
Hip Pain
When it comes to how well this mattress alleviates hip pain, the answer depends on your body weight. We think that some heavyweight sleepers may feel that their hips sink too far into this mattress, which could create discomfort in the hips. However, lightweight to average-weight sleepers should find that this mattress contours to their hips nicely to help with pain.
Shoulder Pain
We feel this mattress should do an excellent job at easing shoulder pain thanks to its combination of softness and support. Similar to hip pain, though, heavyweight people may sink too much and feel discomfort, but others should get plenty of relief on the Nolah.
Support
4/5
Support is also vital in a mattress: Your spine needs a good, sturdy surface to remain straight throughout the years, i.e., one that won’t be susceptible to sagging. While the Nolah Original is on the softer side, it does have a 7-inch high-density foam base, which should give the majority of sleepers the support that they need. We think the base is a good foundation for the upper layers, preventing them from sagging over time.
Motion Transfer
4/5
“There was almost no motion transfer at all — super minimal,” shared Stuart. Unlike some beds that contain bouncy coils, memory foam beds are wonderful when it comes to motion transfer. The Nolah Original does a good job thanks to its all-foam design that keeps motion transfer to a minimum.
Temperature Regulation / Cooling
4/5
Many all-foam mattresses lack cooling capabilities, but this bed uses Nolah AirFoam™ which is specifically designed to keep sleepers cool. The brand claims their Nolah AirFoam™ is 100 percent temperature neutral and created without viscoelastic chemicals, which can trap heat, allowing you to snooze comfortably all night long. This material also contains hundreds of microscopic air bubbles for maximum airflow and breathability.
Bounce
3/5
There isn’t much bounce on the surface, but repositioning shouldn’t be an issue for most people, thanks to the High-Resilience Foam layer. While you should sink in a bit on the top, this foam layer underneath offers enough pushback to make repositioning easy. As Stuart noted, “Repositioning should be fairly simple, as your body doesn’t leave an impression in the foams.”
Edge Support
4/5
We feel the Nolah does a good job of keeping the edges from collapsing, especially for an all-foam mattress. Since it doesn’t have any coils, we expected the edges to be softer. However, we felt only a bit of sinkage when sitting in this area.
Lying near the edge should feel secure enough for most people. As Stuart said, “Nolah’s edge support performs very well for an all-foam bed-in-a-box mattress.” He went on to say, “If your spouse is taking more than their share of their bed, you can scooch onto the edge and you shouldn’t feel much comfort difference.”
Performance for Couples
4/5
The best mattress for couples is one that isolates motion, provides some bounce, keeps both sleepers cool, and offers edge support. Since the Nolah received higher marks in these categories, we think many couples could love this bed. However, heavy couples may want to explore other options as they may not get the support they need to sleep comfortably.
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Nolah delivers ultimate pressure-relieving features in this all-foam mattress specifically designed for side sleepers.
Material
Foam
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Soft: 5/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Nolah delivers ultimate pressure-relieving features in this all-foam mattress specifically designed for side sleepers.
Material
Foam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Soft: 5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Nolah delivers ultimate pressure-relieving features in this all-foam mattress specifically designed for side sleepers.
Material
Foam
Firmness
Soft: 5/10
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Preference-based Features
Adjustable Base Compatible
You can place the Nolah Original on any foundation, including adjustable bases. The company has their own adjustable bases available on its website — there is even one with built-in massage options.
Handcrafted in the USA
Eco-Friendly Benefits
With each Nolah Original mattress purchased, the company makes a donation to the Defenders of Wildlife, which helps protect wildlife and the places they call home.
Construction: What’s Inside the Nolah Original?
The Nolah Original mattress is wrapped in a snow-white Tencel™ cover that offers a soft, breathable feel. The cover is also of botanical origin, which helps it to wick away moisture from the body and regulate body heat.
Under the cover, three foam layers make up the bed’s 10-inch height.
- The top layer is a 2-inch layer of proprietary Nolah AirFoam™. Nolah’s technological research and innovations led to the creation of the exclusive material, which they say sleeps cooler than memory foam infused with cooling gel. The foam is designed to be 100 percent temperature-neutral, and they say it’s more durable than latex.
- The second layer consists of a 1-inch layer of latex-like support foam. This serves as a transition layer from the top to the bottom layer and helps prevent you from feeling the hard base underneath.
- The third layer is a 7-inch high-density poly foam base that provides support and structure for the mattress. The base’s thickness and density help to even out the softness of the top two layers.
Unboxing & Off-Gassing
Your Nolah Original mattress will arrive rolled and compressed in a box. After getting it out of the box, position the rolled mattress and then cut the plastic away to unwrap it.
Once the plastic you remove the plastic, the bed should start taking shape immediately. At this point, we noticed an odor caused by off-gassing that is unpleasant but harmless. Any smell should dissipate quickly and can be sped up by putting the mattress in a well-ventilated room.
Certifications
- CertiPUR-US® Certified: The foams in this bed are CertiPUR-US® certified. CertiPUR-US® is a third-party program that ensures the foams meet rigorous health and safety standards. This means they don’t contain harmful substances like ozone depleters, PBDEs, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and phthalates. They should also have low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.
Coupons, Trials, Warranties, and Shipping
- Shipping – Shipping is free to the continental United States.
- Optional White Glove Delivery – Nolah partners with Load Up, a third-party logistics company, to offer white glove delivery and removal services. For an additional cost of 125 dollars, you can get your new mattress delivered and set up and your old bed removed.
- Trial – You can keep this product for 120 nights to make sure it’s a good match, and if it isn’t, the company will refund your money.
- Warranty – This brand offers a lifetime warranty with the Nolah Original.
- Return Policy – If at any time during the 120-night trial, you decide this mattress isn’t for you, you can return the bed for a full refund. However, you will be responsible for a 99-dollar return pickup fee.
Sizes & Prices
| Size | Dimensions (inches) | Price (w/o discount) |
| Twin | 38” x 75” x 10” | $999 |
| Twin XL | 38” x 80” x 10” | $1,199 |
| Full | 54” x 75” x 10” | $1,349 |
| Queen | 60” x 80” x 10” | $1,449 |
| King | 76” x 80” x 10” | $1,749 |
| Cal King | 72” x 84” x 10” | $1,749 |
| Split King | 38″ x 80″ x 10″ (per side) | $2,398 |
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Nolah delivers ultimate pressure-relieving features in this all-foam mattress specifically designed for side sleepers.
Material
Foam
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Soft: 5/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Nolah delivers ultimate pressure-relieving features in this all-foam mattress specifically designed for side sleepers.
Material
Foam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Soft: 5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Nolah delivers ultimate pressure-relieving features in this all-foam mattress specifically designed for side sleepers.
Material
Foam
Firmness
Soft: 5/10
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Nolah AirFoam™, and why is it so great?
The Nolah mattress brand specially creates its own AirFoam™, which is designed for exceptional durability and temperature neutrality. It also claims to relieve pressure better than traditional memory foam, having four times as much pressure relief. Finally, tiny holes in the foam help it promote more airflow.
Can I try the Nolah Original out risk-free?
Within the 120-night trial period, you have no obligation to keep the mattress, so you can try it out for almost four full months to ensure it’s the right bed. We think this is enough time for just about anyone to make sure they’re investing in a product that they look forward to sleeping on night after night.
What is the Nolah Original mattress made of?
Nolah’s founders realized traditional mattress materials like latex and memory foam were underperforming, so they created a truly unique and patented material called AirFoam™. Beneath this initial layer, the Nolah contains two more foam layers that provide support and responsiveness.
How firm is the Nolah Original mattress?
The Nolah Original fell at a 5 out of 10 on our firmness scale, which classifies it as a medium plush bed. However, the bed usually fits lightweight and side sleepers the best, but we think some average-weight sleepers like Stuart may also like it.
Nolah Original vs. Other Brands
Nolah Original vs. Nectar
Product
Firmness
Trial Period
Product
Nolah Original 10″ MattressFirmness
Soft: 5/10Trial Period
120 nights
Product
Nectar MattressFirmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10Trial Period
365 nightsWho We Recommend the Nolah For
- Pressure relief seekers
- Those who sleep hot
- Fans of softer mattresses
Who We Recommend the Nectar For
- Value seekers
- Those who love memory foam
- People with hip pain
Nolah Original vs. Helix Midnight
Product
Firmness
Trial Period
Product
Nolah Original 10″ MattressFirmness
Soft: 5/10Trial Period
120 nights
Product
Helix Midnight MattressFirmness
Soft: 6/10Trial Period
100 nightsWho We Recommend the Nolah Original For
- Lightweight sleepers
- Those looking for a lifetime warranty
- Eco-friendly shoppers
Who We Recommend the Helix Midnight For
- Fans of hybrid mattresses
- People who have back pain
- Those who weigh between 130 and 230 pounds
Nolah Original vs. Other Nolah Models
Nolah Original vs. Nolah Evolution
Product
Firmness
Trial Period
Product
Nolah Original 10″ MattressFirmness
Soft: 5/10Trial Period
120 nights
Product
Nolah Evolution Hybrid MattressFirmness
Multiple firmness optionsTrial Period
120 nightsWho We Recommend the Nolah Original For
- Average-weight sleepers
- Side sleepers
- Fans of all-foam mattresses
Who We Recommend the Nolah Evolution For
- People looking for targeted spinal alignment
- Sleepers with back, shoulder, or hip pain
- Those looking for extra support
Our Verdict
After putting this mattress through a series of tests, we think that it’s a great choice for lightweight and side sleepers, as well as some average-weight folks. This bed’s excellent motion isolation also makes the Nolah Original a top pick for co-sleepers, especially if one in the pairing tends to toss and turn.
However, we think that heavyweight sleepers and those who prefer to sleep on their stomachs may not be as keen on this mattress. They may find that they sink too far down into the mattress and don’t receive the support they need around their hips. Overall, the Nolah Original earned a 3.8 out of 5.
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Nolah delivers ultimate pressure-relieving features in this all-foam mattress specifically designed for side sleepers.
Material
Foam
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Soft: 5/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Nolah delivers ultimate pressure-relieving features in this all-foam mattress specifically designed for side sleepers.
Material
Foam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Soft: 5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Nolah delivers ultimate pressure-relieving features in this all-foam mattress specifically designed for side sleepers.
Material
Foam
Firmness
Soft: 5/10
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Julia Forbes
Lead Product Tester
About Author
Julia is the Lead Reviewer at Sleep Advisor, specializing in testing out mattresses and sleep accessories – she’s in the right line of work, because she loves to sleep.
Stomach Sleeper