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 my Nolah Original mattress review, I’ll cover my experience with this mattress and discuss whether it actually provides pressure relief. By testing its performance across a variety of categories, I also have a good idea of which sleepers this mattress may work for.
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Nolah delivers ultimate pressure-relieving features in this all-foam mattress specifically designed for side sleepers.
35% off + free pillows on select mattresses
Material
Foam
Trial Period
120 nights
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Firmness
Medium: 5/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Nolah delivers ultimate pressure-relieving features in this all-foam mattress specifically designed for side sleepers.
Material
Foam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Medium: 5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Nolah delivers ultimate pressure-relieving features in this all-foam mattress specifically designed for side sleepers.
Material
Foam
Firmness
Medium: 5/10
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Original 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 the areas of overall pressure relief, support, bounce, and edge support.
| Test | Nolah Original | Average |
| Overall | 4 | 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 Transfer | 3 | 3.9 |
| Cooling | 2 | 3.9 |
| Bounce | 4.5 | 4 |
| Edge Support | 4 | 3.9 |
| Couples | 3 | 3.9 |
Watch Our Nolah Original 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 Original 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 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. 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 cooling beds here.
Customer Reviews of the Nolah Original 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 Original Mattress
Although the Nolah Original is designed for side sleepers, we tested the Nolah Original in all sleep positions to determine who else it’s best suited for. Body weight can also affect how you experience a mattress so we made sure to consider this factor as well. Additionally, our testers examined qualities such as supportiveness, responsiveness, motion isolation, temperature regulation, and how well it performs for couples.
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, I tested it in all sleep positions to determine who else it’s best s suited for.
Additionally, I examined qualities such as supportiveness, responsiveness, motion isolation, temperature regulation, and how well Nolah Original performs for couples.
To learn more about our testing methodology, visit our product review process page.
Firmness & Feel
Firmness Scale: 6.5/10 (Medium Firm)
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 and felt that this mattress was squarely in the medium-firm category, making it appealing to many sleepers. The softness created by the upper foam layers offers a soft contouring feel that fills the area between your hips and shoulders.
I’d say that side sleepers and petite folks may be the best suited for this mattress since they sink into it less. Heavyweight sleepers 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.
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 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.
Side Sleepers
- Lightweight Sleepers – 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 – 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 – 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
- Lightweight Sleepers – 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 – I thought the lift was good, and the longer I was on the bed, the more the foam contoured to me.
- Heavyweight Sleepers – 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
- Lightweight Sleepers – According to Loren, she experienced great lifting and a comfortable feel while on her stomach.
- Average-Weight Sleepers – I found that the foam layers provided great lifting to aid in spine alignment. No complaints here for stomach sleeping.
- Heavyweight Sleepers – Heavyweight back 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.
Is the Nolah Original 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. Browse our picks for the best 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.
Browse: Mattress for Hip Pain
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: Mattress for Shoulder Pain
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 restested the Nolah Original and the temperature had risen 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.
Performance for Couples
3/5
Couples need beds that isolate motion, provide some bounce, keep both sleepers cool, and offer edge support. The Nolah provides great bounce and edge support, but it doesn’t perform as well when it comes to motion isolation and cooling. Therefore, depending on the couple’s specific needs, this bed may be a good fit, but others, particularly heavier ones, may want to explore one of the best mattresses for couples.
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
Medium: 5/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Nolah delivers ultimate pressure-relieving features in this all-foam mattress specifically designed for side sleepers.
Material
Foam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Medium: 5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Nolah delivers ultimate pressure-relieving features in this all-foam mattress specifically designed for side sleepers.
Material
Foam
Firmness
Medium: 5/10
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
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.
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 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. According to Nolah, the foam is designed to be 100 percent temperature-neutral, but I didn’t find this to be the case. The manufacturer also says 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, I 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, 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.
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 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
Medium: 5/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Nolah delivers ultimate pressure-relieving features in this all-foam mattress specifically designed for side sleepers.
Material
Foam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Medium: 5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Nolah delivers ultimate pressure-relieving features in this all-foam mattress specifically designed for side sleepers.
Material
Foam
Firmness
Medium: 5/10
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
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 Brands
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| Nolah Original 10″ Mattress | Nectar Mattress | Helix Midnight Mattress | |
| Rating | |||
| Firmness | Medium: 5/10 | Medium-firm: 6.5/10 | 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, Side Sleepers, Hip Pain, Joint Pain | Couples, Back Sleepers, Side Sleepers |
Who I Recommend the Nectar For
- Value seekers
- Those who love memory foam
- People with hip pain
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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|
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| Nolah Original 10″ Mattress | Nolah Evolution Hybrid Mattress | Nolah Evolution Comfort+ | |
| Rating | |||
| Firmness | Medium: 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
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 4 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
Medium: 5/10
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Nolah delivers ultimate pressure-relieving features in this all-foam mattress specifically designed for side sleepers.
Material
Foam
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Firmness
Medium: 5/10
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Trial Period
120 nights
Price Range
$$$$$
Nolah Original 10″ Mattress
Nolah delivers ultimate pressure-relieving features in this all-foam mattress specifically designed for side sleepers.
Material
Foam
Firmness
Medium: 5/10
Trial Period
120 nights
Warranty
Lifetime warranty
Shipping Method
Free shipping
Price Range
$$$$$
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