Written by Julia Forbes, Sleep Advisor Mattress Tester
Bed-in-a-box brand Nolah aims to turn sour mornings into sweet ones by prioritizing pressure relief in their flagship mattress, the Nolah Original. This all-foam bed should appeal to side sleepers, who are the most prone to pressure buildup in the shoulder and hip, as well as many other seepers navigating joint pain in general. Follow along as I share my experience testing this mattress.
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Nolah Mattress Performance Ratings
How the Nolah Compares
Here at Sleep Advisor, we’ve tested over 150 different mattresses. The Nolah Original outperforms other mattresses we’ve tested in terms of price, pressure relief, support, bounce, and edge support.
| Test | Nolah Original | Average |
| Overall | 3.9 | 4.1 |
| Mattress Height | 10″ | 11″ |
| Sleep Trial | 120 Nights | 141 Nights |
| Price (Queen) | $1,149 (before discounts) | $1,695 |
| Pressure Relief | 5 | 4.3 |
| Support | 5 | 4.5 |
| Motion Isolation | 3 | 3.9 |
| Cooling | 2 | 3.9 |
| Bounce | 4.5 | 4 |
| Edge Support | 4 | 3.9 |
| Couples | 3 | 3.9 |
Watch Our Nolah Mattress Video Review
Editor’s Note: We are in the process of updating our video review. For the latest testing findings, please refer to our written review.
Who I Recommend the Nolah For:
- Side sleepers – I 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, I think you should enjoy the way the Nolah Original feels.
- Lightweight sleepers – Loren Bullock, who also stepped in to test this bed as a lightweight sleeper, said, “The foam contoured my entire spine, which is rare for me. I normally don’t sink far enough down in the mattress.” Therefore, we think this could be a good choice for petite consumers.
Who I Don’t Recommend the Nolah 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. I think the all-foam design of the Nolah isn’t supportive enough for heavy sleepers who are better off with a firmer mattress or a more supportive hybrid mattress.
- Those who sleep hot – The temperature of this mattress raised almost 10 degrees in five minutes, and it took over five minutes for it to return to its starting temperature. I would not recommend this bed to those who get hot when they sleep, as it traps heat. Find mattresses for hot sleepers here.
Customer Reviews of the Nolah Mattress
According to Nolah’s website, the Nolah Original has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars. Some customers have noted that the Nolah Original mattress may have less edge support, yet many customers praise its superior pressure relief as a significant advantage.
Testing the Nolah Mattress
Sleep Advisor’s Testing Methodology
Even though the Nolah Original is designed for side sleepers, I tested it in all sleep positions to determine who else might enjoy this mattress.
Body weight can also affect how you experience a mattress, so I made sure to get feedback from my teammate, Loren, who is a petite sleeper, while I am an average-weight sleeper. I also tested the bed for support, bounce, cooling, and more – all areas that can help make or break your sleep space.
For more on our testing methodology, visit our product review process page.
Firmness & Feel
Firmness Scale: 6.5/10
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.
I ranked the Nolah Original’s firmness level a 6.5 out of 10, meaning this is considered a medium-firm mattress.
How Does the Nolah Mattress 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.
I found this bed incredibly supportive and loved how straight my spine felt when lying on the Nolah Original. However, I was concerned with how warm this mattress felt during testing.
Sleeping Positions for Different Body Types
The Nolah mattress should support 350 pounds per side or 700 pounds total.
Side Sleepers
| Body Type | Weight Range | Tester Feedback |
|---|---|---|
| Lightweight Sleepers | Less than 130 pounds | Loren, our lightweight tester for the Nolah, got plenty of contouring from this bed while lying on her side, which is helpful in this position so pressure doesn’t build up. |
| Average-Weight Sleepers | 130-230 pounds | I didn’t feel any shoulder pressure with the Nolah Original. Much like Loren, I appreciated how the foam layers contoured around me and relieved pressure around my hips and shoulders. |
| Heavyweight Sleepers | More than 230 pounds | The foam layers of this mattress should provide 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. |
Explore mattresses for side sleepers here.
Back Sleepers
| Body Type | Weight Range | Tester Feedback |
|---|---|---|
| Lightweight Sleepers | Less than 130 pounds | If you are a lightweight back sleeper, Loren thinks you should enjoy how the top layers of this bed contour around your whole spine. Loren said that she is usually not heavy enough to sink far enough down to appreciate this kind of contouring. |
| Average-Weight Sleepers | 130-230 pounds | I thought the lift was good, and the longer I was on the bed, the more the foam contoured to me. |
| Heavyweight Sleepers | More than 230 pounds | I can see most heavyweight stomach sleepers not receiving enough support around their hip and midsections. This could cause sinkage, which can lead to pressure build-up and awkward spinal positions. |
Browse beds for back sleepers.
Stomach Sleepers
| Body Type | Weight Range | Tester Feedback |
|---|---|---|
| Lightweight Sleepers | Less than 130 pounds | According to Loren, she experienced great lifting and a comfortable feel while on her stomach. |
| Average-Weight Sleepers | 130-230 pounds | I found that the foam layers provided great lifting to aid in spine alignment. No complaints here for stomach sleeping. |
| Heavyweight Sleepers | More than 230 pounds | Heavyweight stomach sleepers may feel that they are sinking too far down into the foam layers, which can cause spine misalignment. |
Discover the best mattresses for stomach sleepers.
Pressure Relief
5/5
The Nolah Original contours the body to ensure no pressure builds up. This is especially important for side sleeping as pressure can accumulate around the hips, knees, and shoulders.
From my experience, I felt the AirFoam prevented pressure very well. You can feel your body slowly sinking just enough to experience a gentle cradle around the pressure points. I don’t think you’d fall through and feel trapped in the foam unless you’re a heavy sleeper.
Learn More: Best Mattresses for Pressure Relief
Is the Nolah Mattress Good for Pain Relief?
I think the Nolah Original is an excellent mattress for pain relief for lightweight and average-weight sleepers. Folks in those weight categories should find that they are comfortable and supported regardless of their preferred sleep positions, as this mattress has excellent contouring, pressure relief, and support. However, heavyweight people will likely experience less support, which could exacerbate pain in some cases.
| Back Pain | For light and average-weight sleepers, the Nolah Original’s soft, contouring top layers and supportive base layer should work in tandem to help alleviate back pain. Although stomach sleepers can sometimes experience back pain because a mattress doesn’t keep their hips lifted, lighter and average-weight folks should not experience sinkage when sleeping on the Nolah Original. However, heavyweight sleepers may find they need a firmer mattress to provide adequate support and spine alignment. Read more about mattresses for back pain here. |
| Hip Pain | When it comes to how well this mattress alleviates hip pain, the answer depends on your body weight. I 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. Read more about mattresses for hip pain here. |
| Shoulder Pain | I think 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. Explore more mattresses for shoulder pain here. |
Support
5/5
Support is 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. The medium-firm Nolah Original has a 7-inch high-density foam base, which should give many sleepers the support that they need. I think the base is a good foundation for the upper layers, preventing them from sagging over time. This is one of the most supportive mattresses that I’ve tested.
Motion Isolation
3/5
There was some noticeable motion transfer with this mattress. Although all foam mattresses often isolate motion well, the Nolah Original is a thinner mattress with great responsiveness. Therefore, I was not surprised that this bed didn’t do as well as many of its memory foam counterparts. If you sleep with a restless partner or pet, I’d suggest looking for a bed with better motion transfer.
Temperature Regulation / Cooling
2/5
When I tested the mattress’s temperature, it was 68.5 degrees. After lying on it for five minutes, I re-tested the Nolah Original, and the temperature rose almost 10 degrees.
Given that it took more than five minutes to return to its original temperature, I don’t recommend this bed for hot sleepers. Despite the manufacturer’s attempts to add cooling properties to this mattress, it still traps heat.
Bounce
4.5/5
I was pleasantly surprised with how easy it was to move on this mattress. I never felt stuck when I was repositioning due to its springy feel. My thoughts on how the Nolah performed in the bounce category were confirmed when I conducted bounce tests. All foam beds don’t typically provide the kind of bounce that the Nolah Original and I would recommend it for sexually active couples and combination sleepers who like the feel of all-foam beds but dislike feeling as if they are moving around in quicksand.
Edge Support
4/5
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, I expected the edges to be softer. However, the mattress’s petite height plays a big role in it having good edge support. This is because the short height allows you to immediately hit the high-density foam that holds you in place.
Accessibility
4/5
In this category, we look at what the mattress brings to the table. Does it have special features and standout policies? What makes it stand out?
In the case of Nolah Original, it’s meant to be pressure-relieving and great for side sleepers, and I’d say it definitely excels at that. I also like that the bed comes with a lifetime warranty.
Even though Nolah added in their proprietary foams, which are said to be more cooling, they underwhelmed me in our testing of this bed, which is why I gave it a 4 instead of a 5.
Customer Service
4/5
Nolah is a well-known brand that offers great policies like a 120-night trial, free shipping, and a lifetime warranty. They’re easy to get in touch with, especially thanks to the online chat, where you can get instant answers to all your questions.
I took a point off because there’s a return shipping fee of $99, which means you’re not technically getting a full refund if you decide to return the mattress.
Performance for Couples
3/5
Couples need beds that isolate motion, provide some bounce, keep both sleepers cool, and offer great support from the center to the edges. The Nolah provides great bounce and edge support, but it doesn’t perform as well when it comes to motion isolation and cooling, which is why it earned a 3 here. Therefore, depending on the couple’s specific needs, this bed may be a good fit, but others, particularly heavier couples, may want to explore one of the best mattresses for couples.
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.
Find our picks for the best adjustable bases here, or explore the Nolah Adjustable Base with Massage.
Handcrafted in the USA
Nolah Original mattresses are assembled in Arizona. Find more beds made in the USA here.
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 Mattress?
The Nolah Original mattress is wrapped in a snow-white TENCEL™ cover that offers a soft feel that also works to wick away moisture and regulate body heat. Under the cover, three foam layers make up the bed’s 10-inch height.
- Beneath the cover is a 1-inch layer of proprietary zoned Nolah AirFoam™ ICE to help enhance pressure relief at the shoulders for the side sleepers while promoting cooling.
- The middle section is another 1-inch layer of Nolah AirFoam™ ICE.
- The third layer is an 8-inch high-density poly foam base that provides support and structure for the mattress.
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, I noticed an unpleasant but harmless odor caused by off-gassing. Any smells like this 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.
Noteworthy Updates
The Nolah Original is also available as a hybrid with coils. This ergonomically designed mattress should be great for people who want a little more bounce and breathability than the all-foam Original provides.
Coupons, Trials, Warranties, and Shipping
| Shipping | Shipping is free to the continental United States. They don’t ship to Canada, Hawaii, or Alaska. |
| White Glove Delivery | Nolah partners with Load Up, a third-party logistics company, to offer white glove delivery and removal services. For an additional $125, 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 return pickup fee. |
Nolah Mattress 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 |
| Short Queen | 60” x 74” x 10” | $1,449 |
| Queen | 60” x 80” x 10” | $1,449 |
| Short King | 72” x 75” 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 Mattress FAQs
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. I 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 6.5 out of 10 on our firmness scale, which classifies it as a medium-firm bed.
Nolah Original vs. Other Mattress Brands
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| Nolah Original 10″ Mattress | Nectar Mattress | Helix Midnight Mattress | |
| Rating | |||
| Firmness | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 | Firm: 7.5/10 | Medium-firm: 6/10 |
| Material | Foam | Foam | Hybrid |
| Cooling | — | — | — |
| Warranty | Lifetime warranty | Lifetime warranty | 10-year warranty |
| Shipping | Free shipping | Free shipping | Free shipping |
| Trial Period | 120 nights | 365 nights | 100 nights |
| Best For | Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers | Back Sleepers, Back Pain, Stomach Sleepers, Side Sleepers, Couples | Couples, Back Sleepers, Side Sleepers |
Who I Recommend the Nectar For
- Value seekers
- Those who love memory foam
- People who prefer a firmer foam mattress
Read our Nectar mattress review here.
Who I Recommend the Helix Midnight For
- Fans of hybrid mattresses
- People who have back pain
- Average-weight sleepers
Explore our in-depth Helix Midnight review here.
Nolah Original vs. Other Nolah Models
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| Nolah Original 10″ Mattress | Nolah Evolution Hybrid Mattress | Nolah Evolution Comfort+ | |
| Rating | |||
| Firmness | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 | Multiple firmness options | Medium: 5/10 |
| Material | Foam | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Cooling | — | — | |
| Warranty | Lifetime warranty | Lifetime warranty | Lifetime warranty |
| Shipping | Free shipping | Free shipping | Free shipping minus HI and AK |
| Trial Period | 120 nights | 120 nights | 120 nights |
| Best For | Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers | Side Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Hip Pain, Seniors | Hot Sleepers, Back Sleepers, Side Sleepers |
Who I Recommend the Nolah Evolution For
- People looking for targeted spinal alignment
- Sleepers with back, shoulder, or hip pain
- Those looking for extra support
Find our full Nolah Evolution mattress review here.
Who I Recommend the Nolah Evolution Comfort+ For
- People who like beds with a Euro top
- Those with mobility issues
- Shoppers who want the option of professional delivery and setup
Read our Nolah Evolution Comfort+ review now.
My Verdict of the Nolah Mattress
After putting this mattress through a series of tests, I think that it’s a great choice for lightweight and side sleepers, as well as some average-weight folks. This bed’s excellent bounce also makes the Nolah Original a top pick for combination sleepers and sexually active couples.
However, we think that heavyweight sleepers, especially 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 3.9 out of 5.
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Product Details
Our Recommendation
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Julia Forbes
Sleep Advisor Mattress Tester
About Author
Julia is a product tester 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
Education & Credentials
- Certified Sleep Science Coach