Nolah Mattress Reviews: What Are REAL People Saying?

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Nolah Mattress Reviews: Do They Match The Nolah Marketing Pitch?

Nolah Mattress Reviews

Nolah mattresses are heavily marketed towards side sleepers. It can be hard to find a mattress that has the right balance of softness and pressure relief for side sleepers, who put a lot of pressure through their shoulders in their sleep. Has Nolah cracked the code of getting this balance right? Just how well does Nolah perform for side sleepers? Does it also work for back sleepers? Combo sleepers? Stomach sleepers?

I’ve scoured the internet to find all the Nolah Mattress reviews from customers on both the Nolah website and also independent websites to bring you the true overview of what people are really saying about Nolah.

I’ve got every detail you need to know, and the scoop on whether Nolah lives up to its marketing claims.

  • About Nolah
  • Nolah Mattress Features
  • What Does A Nolah Mattress Mattress Feel Like To Lie On?
  • Is Nolah Right For You?
  • Are There Any Problems With Nolah?
  • What Are People Saying Who Love Their Nolah?
  • Final Opinion: Has Nolah Got It Right? Is This The Perfect Mattress For Side Sleepers?

About Nolah

Nolah is an online bedding company based in Boulder, Colorado. Their flagship items are their two foam mattresses but they also produce a range of bedding accessories. Nolah has been in business since 2015 (practically a lifetime in the online mattress world) and has a reassuring A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Nolah pride themselves on being a technology driven company, which basically means they’re always looking for ways to innovate their materials to bring you mattresses that have something unique that their competitors don’t.

adopt an animal with every nolah mattress purchase

Nolah believes that using memory foams in mattresses is outdated (and I tend to agree with them, I’m seeing more and more proprietary foams in mattresses and there is a general move away from using the term “memory foam” among the better online mattress makers). What do Nolah use in their foam mattress instead? A specially designed and trademarked foam called AirFoam, which you’ll read all about in the next section.

Nolah are also “nice guys”: they have a unique charity initiative as part of their business. For each mattress sold, Nolah makes a donation to protect American wildlife. The money goes to the organization Defenders of Wildlife, who have worked in conservation since 1947. You can choose which animal species you’d like to help, and you’ll be sent an animal adoption certificate along with your mattress purchase. Pretty neat. Nolah reports that the most popular animals among current customers include bald eagles, polar bears, and dolphins.

Nolah Mattress Features

Nolah make two mattresses with one feature that sets Nolah apart from other foam mattresses on the market. The distinguishing feature is the Nolah AirFoam comfort layer.

This foam is not a memory foam, and Nolah claim it is more durable than memory foam and better at relieving pressure points. It has an open cell structure which allows air to circulate through the foam rather than trapping it, so it also keeps you cooler.

Looking through the reviews, I found plenty of customers who’d agree the Nolah mattress lives up to these claims, but before we dive into their comments let’s look at the specifics of the two mattresses.

The two Nolah mattress models are:

  1. 10 inch Original mattress
  2. 12 inch Signature mattress

1. 10 Inch Original Mattress

nolah 10 inch mattress composition

This is the first mattress Nolah made, and is an extremely popular model due to its price and quality.

Price range:

  • $619- $1119

With the RRP coming in at just over $1000 for the largest size, the Nolah Original 10 inch represents incredible value for money.

Like most online mattress companies, Nolah often run
specials. By following my links directly to the Nolah website,
you’ll automatically be offered the best price available as one of my
readers.
If there is no deal offered, I suggest you wait for a sale as
they come around frequently.

Size range available:

There are 6 sizes available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, and California King

Materials:

The cover of the Nolah Original mattress is a blend of polyester and viscose. It is a sturdy knit which has a white top and brown underside, featuring the Nolah smile logo. The cover is soft and designed to wick moisture away as you sleep.

Underneath the cover you will find the following foam layers:

  • Two inches of the AirFoam described above. This is the real standout of a Nolah mattress, with its cooling ability, pressure relieving properties and durability.
  • One inch of Aveena foam as a transition layer between the AirFoam and the support core of the mattress. Aveena foam has a bit of bounce and is breathable, making it similar to latex. The breathability of this transition layer works really well with the AirFoam above. The purpose of a transition layer is to stop you from sinking through the comfort layer to the much firmer support layer, which would feel quite uncomfortable to lie on. Transition layers are found in most all foam mattresses and do an important job.
  • Seven inch foam support layer, which is pretty common across many foam mattress in a box brands. Nothing really special to report about this particular layer.
nolah 10 inch mattress firmness

Firmness:
The rating of 5-6 out of 10 is slightly softer than many other foam mattresses out there: the most common rating seems to be around a 7. A slightly softer rating is good news for side sleepers as it should allow for greater pressure relief through that all-important shoulder area.

Sleep Trial And Warranty

  • 120 night sleep trial (this is more generous than the industry standard, which is around 100 nights)
  • 15 year warranty (this is more generous than the industry standard of 10 years, and shows that Nolah really back the quality of the materials they put into their mattresses)
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2. 12 Inch Signature MattressNolah Signature Mattress Composition

The Signature is Nolah’s flagship mattress, and is the one that gets accolades from all around the internet as being one of the best mattresses out there for side sleepers.

Price range:

  • $1069 –  $1769

The Signature mattress is a significant jump in price over the Original mattress, but it has some amazing features the Original doesn’t.

Like I said before, remember to get a deal on your mattress, when you buy a mattress in a box you should always be able to get money off.  By following my links directly to the Nolah website, you’ll automatically be offered the best price available as one of my readers. If there is no deal offered, I suggest you wait for a sale as they come around frequently.

Size range available:

There are 6 sizes available: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, and California King

Materials:

The cover of the Nolah Signature mattress is organic cotton. It is designed in a sturdy knit and is moisture wicking.

Underneath the cover you will find four foam layers:

  • 2.5 inches of the AirFoam described above. This is the real standout of a Nolah mattress, with its cooling ability, pressure relieving properties and durability.
  • 1.5 inches of Aveena foam as a transition layer between the AirFoam and the support core of the mattress. Aveena foam has a bit of bounce and is breathable, making it similar to latex. The
    breathability of this transition layer works really well with the AirFoam above. The purpose of a transition layer is to stop you from sinking through the comfort layer to the much firmer support layer, which would feel quite uncomfortable to lie on. Transition layers are found in most all foam mattresses and do an important job.
  • 7 inches of foam support layer, exactly the same as in the 10 inch Original.
  • 1 inch of firmer AirFoam this extra layer of AirFoam allows you to flip your Signature Nolah mattress over for a firmer feel. This feature is not available on the Original.

Firmness

Nolah Signature Mattress Firmness

The rating of 4-5 out of 10 for the soft side of this mattress makes it softer than the 10 inch mattress, and should give a greater feeling of lush pressure relief. With the AirFoam layer on the firm side only being 1 inch thick, I’d imagine the mattress would feel more like an 8 than a 7 as at only 1 inch thick it’s capacity for cushioning is lower.

Sleep Trial And Warranty

  • 120 night sleep trial
  • Unbeatable LIFETIME warranty
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Side By Side Comparison Of The Two Nolah Mattresses

While the two Nolah mattresses use the same foams, there are some key differences between the two that explain the price difference between the the Original and the Signature. These include:

  • More AirFoam in the Signature
  • Signature is flippable so you can try a firm side or a soft side
  • Signature has an organic cotton cover
  • Signature comes with a lifetime warranty

Here’s a more detailed comparison straight from Nolah:

Nolah Mattress Comparison

Shipping And Returns:

Like most online mattress companies, you’ll get free shipping with any Nolah mattress purchase.

If you need to return your Nolah mattress, Nolah will help you donate your mattress to a local charity, then refund your money. Customers who have had to return their mattresses have found the process to be quite straight forward and reported that Nolah were helpful and efficient.

What Does A Nolah Mattress Feel Like To Lie On?

With a softer than average firmness rating and AirFoam benefits, a Nolah mattress should feel very comfy if you like to sleep on your side or your back. I see a lot of people commenting on other mattresses (usually rated around a 7, so firmer than Nolah) that they found them too firm, or that they needed a long adjustment period. The softness you get straight up with Nolah is just right for side sleepers, without needing a break-in period.

The softness, particularly in the Signature model, will allow for your shoulder to feel cradled without that pins and needles feel you can get on a mattress that is too firm.

The foam inside Nolah mattresses is designed to respond quickly to pressure, so you won’t sink into this bed when you lie on it. If you change positions in the night, you’ll be able to do this easily without feeling like you’re stuck in the foam. Remember, Nolah is not made from that traditional memory foam.

Being a foam mattress, a Nolah will be good at motion isolation if you sleep with a partner. However, the support around the edges of the mattress could be stronger – if this is a concern for you, a hybrid mattress is a better choice, see my recommendation in the next section.

Is Nolah  Right For You?

Nolah Mattress Is Great For Side Sleepers

The answer is YES if you:

  1. Are a side sleeper. After reading all the Nolah Mattress Reviews and reading up on the technical aspects of this mattress, I believe the combination of the softness and the materials used make a Nolah a great choice for side sleepers.
  2. Sleep on your back. Nolah will also work well for back sleepers: the combination of the AirFoam and the Aveena transition foam means that while you’ll enjoy a soft surface, you’ll still get the support your spine needs to stay comfortably in line and supported as you sleep.
  3. Are a combo sleeper. If you’re anything like me, you might fall asleep on your side and wake up on your back. Or vice versa, or maybe you move during the night. Since Nolah is good for side and back sleepers, it’s also great for combo sleepers.
  4. Are a lighter person. As a lighter person, a firm mattress will provide you with zero pressure relief as your body weight just won’t put any pressure on the mattress. A softer mattress will have more “give”, which allows the contouring support your body needs, meaning you’ll find it way more comfortable than a firmer mattress.

I’d suggest you choose something else if:

  1. You are heavier. will sink right through the soft layer if you weigh 230lb or more, may not get the pressure relieving benefits of the AirFoam as they are intended. You will find a great mattress that has been designed specially for you in my round-up of the best mattresses for heavy people, which you can read here.
  2. You like a firmer bed. Nolah mattresses have been designed with the intent of using them on their softer sides. The 1 inch comfort layer of firmer AirFoam on the signature mattress, which makes the mattress flippable, is a nice nod to people who would like to try out a firmer bed, but it’s a very thin comfort layer. I think if you truly want a firm bed, just get one that has a firmer comfort layer rather than this one, which seems a little bit like a gesture to me.
  3. You are a stomach sleeper. Stomach sleepers put a lot of weight through their hips and pelvis when they sleep. This actually requires quite a firm mattress to keep your spine in line, as a mattress that is too soft can make your hips dip down, leading to back pain when you wake up. Read more about mattresses for stomach sleepers in this article.
  4. You want a mattress with amazing edge support. If you have kids or animals that jump on your bed and push you to the sides, you’ll probably find that NO foam mattress is going to cut it. You really need to get a hybrid mattress for good edge support, as these have firmer casing around the outer coils, giving them stronger edges. My favorite choice for a softer sleep is the Avocado Green Pillow Top mattress, which you can read my review of by clicking here.

Are There Any Problems With Nolah?

Straight away, I don’t like the way Nolah presents the reviews of their mattresses to you. It’s very difficult to see then negative or constructive reviews because you can’t filter them. So I scrolled through every single review page on the site to bring you the following issues people had with Nolah.

Let me say, before I get into it, the comments, on many different forums, are overwhelmingly positive about Nolah. From reading through all of the comments, I would say more than 95% of people who have bought a Nolah mattress really love it and agree with all the claims Nolah makes. I really had to dig to find negative comments.

Here are the issues that did pop up:

  • A couple of people didn’t like the fact that you need to keep the mattress for at least 30 days before you can get a refund. Why does Nolah make you do this? Because it takes around that amount of time to truly know if a mattress is right for you or not. Many other companies have this policy too. This is why I like to find mattresses for you that have at least a 100 night sleep trial so you have a fair chance of really trying it out. Don’t be put off by this 30 night minimum policy, it’s actually what you need.
  • A few people who had previously owned a Nolah 10 inch Original and then “upgraded” to a 12 inch Signature found that the Signature was too soft for their liking. The Original is a truly medium firmness mattress, while the Signature is that extra bit softer. While the Signature is an amazing mattress that is a luxury step up, if you’re after a medium feeling mattress the Original will be a better fit for you.
  • Some very light people (120lb or less) found that the Signature Nolah still wasn’t quite soft enough for what they needed. The lighter you are, the softer the mattress you will need. The Signature should meet the needs of most people (it was only a few who didn’t like it, other light people had no issues) but if you want something really soft, I recommend you check out the Layla mattress instead, which is rated around a 3-4 on the mattress firmness scale. I’ve written a full review of the Layla, you can read it here.
  • A heavier person reported that their Nolah mattress did not have enough support for their hips. This backs up my recommendation that if you’re heavier, Nolah probably isn’t the mattress for you and you’ll need something firmer. I have a great article I linked to earlier on in this review, but here it is again to save you scrolling back up.

What Are People Saying Who Love Their Nolah Mattress?

Read more reviews on the Nolah website

It seems that overwhelmingly, across multiple platforms (not just the Nolah website), people really enjoy their Nolah mattresses. From reading as many Nolah Mattress Reviews as I could find across the whole of the internet, the overwhelming majority of people who have bought a Nolah mattress would agree that it is a great value mattress that works extremely well for side sleepers.

Here’s a selection of some of their comments:

  • “This mattress has greatly lessened the pain I used to get in my shoulder at night, and I’m sleeping a lot better than before.”
  • “This mattress is better than I expected, and Nolah have great service.”
  • “I’m used to a firm mattress and the softness of the Nolah took me a bit of getting used to. However, the softness does not mean I’m any less supported. I feel very comfortable on my Nolah mattress, and get a good night’s sleep.”
  • “We were skeptical about buying a mattress online, but Nolah had such great reviews, especially for side sleepers, we decided to give it a go. We are so glad we did! We find Nolah has the perfect combination of softness on the top, with firmness for support. Pressure point areas like hips and shoulders are accommodated nicely.”
  • I’m a side sleeper so I decided to try Nolah after reading the reviews. I was worried it might be too soft, but it’s actually the right combination of supportive AND soft. I also feel comfortable sleeping on my mattress on my back.”
  • “I waited 3 months before leaving this review, and can say the mattress feels really good when I lie on it.”
  • “We adore ours. It’s supportive, cool, and takes the pressure off our shoulders.”
  • “My fiance used to have back pain, which has gone since we switched our mattress to Nolah. I’m a very hot sleeper but this mattress keeps me at the perfect temperature.”
  • “This mattress is much more comfortable than my previous one. I no longer wake up with pain from pressure points during the night.”

My Final Opinion

So, has Nolah got it right? Are their mattresses the perfect mattress for side sleepers?

In my opinion, after analyzing all the technical aspects of the mattress and reading hundreds of reviews from real readers, I am prepared to say:

  • Yes! I believe Nolah have got it right. I think through the clever use of their own trademarked AirFoam, perfectly complementary transition Aveena foam and the firm support core, Nolah have come up with two extremely comfortable mattresses.
  • Both Nolah mattresses are softer than many of their competitors, but they do not scrimp on support. The combination of softness and support is what makes Nolah so perfect for side sleepers. It also means Nolah will work well for for back and combo sleepers.
  • With their generous sleep trials, warranty periods, and low prices, I think Nolah represents excellent value for money.
  • Don’t just take my word for it, as I’ve shown, there are hundreds upon hundreds of happy Nolah customers who are sleeping more comfortably than ever before on their Nolah mattress, and this is the real info that should seal the deal in your decision to make a Nolah mattress purchase.

Nolah Mattress

From $619
4.75

Overall Rating

4.8/5

Value For Money

4.8/5

Customer Service

4.8/5

Pros

  • Proprietary AirFoam has multiple benefits
  • Excellent choice for side sleepers, back sleepers, combo sleepers, and lighter people
  • Great warranties and value for money (make sure you get a deal)

Cons

  • I would not recommend a Nolah mattress to people weighing 230lb or more as it will probably feel too soft
  • Stomach sleepers will also find Nolah too soft
  • Weak edges (as do all foam mattresses)

AUTHOR

Emily Johnstone

Emily is the creator and owner of bestmattressforyou.com. Emily's scientific background gives her an analytical, critical, and discerning eye to bring unbiased, thorough, and helpful content to the site. Your good sleep is her top priority. Find out more about Emily and bestmattressforyou.com here.