Our Nolah vs. Saatva Bed Comparison for 2020
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Torn between a hybrid or all-foam bed? This Saatva and Nolah comparison will help you decide by breaking down the construction, feels, and key similarities and differences between each mattress.
Saatva believes that a comfortable, luxury experience should be affordable to all sleepers. Nolah is dedicated to giving back to the environment, allowing shoppers to choose a wildlife creature to support with their purchase.
Read through this comparison to find out how each item stacks up to your needs. Then check out our in-depth reviews for a more comprehensive analysis of each mattress:
Quick Comparison: Saatva vs. Nolah
- Classic innerspring feel
- Affordable luxury
- Quality construction
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- Medium level firmness
- Good pressure relief
- Temperature neutral
Comparing Construction (Materials & Quality)
Saatva Construction
This is an innerspring mattress that ships fully-formed, not compressed.
The 3-inch Euro Top cover should feel plush and inviting and is treated with antibacterial GuardinⓇ which may reduce allergens. This product is available in 14.5 inches and 11.5 inches. We will focus on the 14.5-inch version with differences between the two noted as necessary.
- The top layer contains a .5-inch Lumbar Support Enhancement. The wires and memory foam in this system should promote proper spine alignment and enhanced support.
- The second layer is a system of 4-inch Individually Wrapped Coils. Foam is wrapped around the coils to help absorb movement. The individually pocketed design should compress or stand firm depending on your body’s needs.
- The bottom layer is made up of a 7-inch Steel Coil Base Support made from tempered, recycled steel. This system is designed to lend overall durability to the entire mattress. This system utilizes fewer turns to lower the height of this layer to an estimated 4 inches.
- The perimeter is comprised of a Dual Perimeter Edge Support system. This is a reinforced foam edge that travels around the upper set of coils to promote a consistent feel with minimal sinkage throughout the entire surface of the bed.
Nolah Construction
This is a bed-in-a-box, all-foam construction.
The polyester and Viscose blend cover of this 10-inch bed should prevent overheating and wick moisture away from the sleeper.
- The first layer is a 2-inch Cooling Nolah AirFoam™. This should promote a cooler sleep experience as air circulates through the material.
- The second layer consists of a 1-inch Supportive High-Resilience Foam. This material should provide ample bounce with a quick response time to aid in easy repositioning.
- The base layer holds High-Density Base Foam at 7 inches thick. This should provide stability to the upper comfort materials.
Comparing Firmness (Support & Feel)
We have used our comfort scale to compare the feels of these two beds. This system places items on a scale of 1-10 that uses 1 as incredibly soft and 10 as very firm.
Saatva’s product has a 6 on this scale, which should feel like a Medium to Medium-Firm depending on the person. Nolah has a 4.5, which should be experienced as Medium to Medium-Soft. Saatva is also available in multiple comfort levels, with Plush Soft and Firm options to choose from.
Having Medium feels, either bed should work well for most position preferences. However, some side sleepers may enjoy the softer pressure relief of the all-foam bed as this should relieve pressure in body parts that tend to press against the mattress, like the shoulders and hips. Many stomach sleepers might prefer the firmer feel of the Saatva as this should prevent the hips from sinking too deeply into the mattress, which could impact spine alignment.
The lumbar section of the Saatva should respond slightly slower than the rest of the mattress, which should provide a quick response time. The Nolah should offer a faster response time than traditional memory foam as its proprietary AirFoam™ is designed to perform more like latex.
Comparing Sinkage and Bounce
Both beds should offer a gentle cradle that keeps you closer to the top of the mattress.
Saatva should provide ample bounce from the supportive coil systems. The all-foam material of the Nolah should offer minimal bounce, but you should never feel “stuck” in the mattress as the foams respond quickly and should reshape easily as you move around. Either of these options should work well for combination sleepers.
Comparing Motion Transfer
Motion transfer is not often an important consideration for most shoppers. If you do happen to be looking for a mattress that can help minimize disruptions due to restless partners, this section may be of particular interest to you.
Containing two different coil systems, the Saatva may provide a medium amount of motion transfer. Nolah should keep motion transfer at a minimum as its all-foam design should absorb energy and prevent it from moving throughout the mattress. People who share their bed with other sleepers or pets may want to consider the Nolah if they sleep exceptionally light.
Comparing Edge Support
Many buyers do not consider edge support to be a key feature when choosing a mattress. However, if you share your bed with a partner or just want to maximize your sleep surface, you may prefer solid edge support.
Saatva should provide exceptional support thanks to the reinforced foam edges and dual coil systems. Nolah should perform as expected for an all-foam construction, with slightly deeper compression noticed when sitting or lying down when compared to the reinforced support of the Saatva. Those who value enhanced edge support may want to consider the Saatva for their needs.
Saatva vs. Nolah Compared Side-by-Side
| Features | Saatva | Nolah |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 14.5”, 11.5” | 10” |
| Cover | Cotton Euro Pillowtop with blended foams | Polyester and Viscose blend |
| Materials | Memory foam, pocket coils, steel coils, reinforced foam perimeter | AirFoam™ and polyfoams |
| Cooling | Double coil systems | AirFoam™ and Viscose cover |
| Firmness | 6/10 | 4.5/10 |
| Support | Great | Great |
| Motion Transfer | Medium | Minimal |
| Edge Support | Exceptional | Good |
| Sinkage | Gentle Cradle | Gentle Cradle |
| Bounce | Moderate | Minimal |
| Warranty | 15 years | 15 years |
| Trial Period | 120 nights | 120 nights |
| Certifications | CertiPUR-US® | CertiPUR-US® |
| Adjustable Base Compatible | Yes (only in 11.5”) | Yes |
| Shipping | Ships in the United States and Canada, White Glove Delivery service is free | Free in the contiguous United States |
| Made in the USA | Yes, a factory in Toronto serves customers in the Ontario area | Yes |
| Size | Saatva Price (w/o discount) | Nolah Price (w/o discount) |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | $699 | $549 |
| Twin XL | $799 | $699 |
| Full | $1,049 | $799 |
| Queen | $1,199 | $949 |
| King | $1,599 | $1,069 |
| Cali King | $1,599 | $1,069 |
| Split King | $1,598 | n/a |
Should I Buy Saatva or Nolah?
Still trying to decide between the hybrid or the all-foam options? In this section, we will break down who we think each product is best suited for and why.
We Would Recommend Buying Saatva if You are Looking for:
- Solid support. With two coil systems, this product should provide ample support for sleepers of all kinds. The reinforced edges should maintain stability across the bed’s entire surface.
- Multiple comfort options. Shoppers can choose between three different comfort options and two different height models of this bed. Stomach sleepers may be drawn to the two firmer options.
- Good bounce. This product should offer a good amount of bounce due to the coils. Combined with the fast response of the comfort materials, this should allow for sleepers to move around easily.
We Would Recommend Buying Nolah if You are Looking for:
- Enhanced pressure relief. Shoppers should notice enhanced pressure relief due to the all-foam nature of this product. The comfort materials should compress under body weight to relieve pressure from pushback against the body.
- A comfortable side sleeping experience. This mattress should feel softer than the Saatva, which should present as a Medium to Medium-Soft feel. This should make this item a good choice for side sleepers who prefer a soft comfort level.
- Minimal bounce. There should be very little bounce present in this all-foam mattress, but the materials should respond quickly to prevent you from feeling “stuck.” This product should promote enhanced motion control to minimize sleep disruptions.
Final Thoughts
These two products should provide very different comfort feels. Saatva’s hybrid should provide solid support with lots of bounce and a consistent feel from edge-to-edge. Nolah should offer enhanced pressure relief with minimal bounce and enhanced motion control.
Be sure to check out our in-depth reviews of each mattress for a closer look at how each item performs.
More Nolah Comparisons:
Author: Sleep Advisor
Our team covers as many areas of expertise as we do time zones, but none of us started here as a so-called expert on sleep. What we do share is a willingness to ask questions (lots of them), seek experts, and dig deep into conventional wisdom to see if maybe there might be a better path towards healthy living. We apply what we learn not only to our company culture, but also how we deliver information to our over 12.7M readers.
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