Petite to average-weighted sleepers who weigh under 230 lbs
Side sleepers and some combination sleepers
Shoppers looking for a good value
Memory foam lovers
Heavy sleepers over 230 lbs
Back and stomach sleepers
Nolah Mattress Review
Nolah offers a few comfortable all-foam mattresses that competes with the likes of online beds like Casper and Nectar. This review will focus on their entry-level Original 10 Mattress, but we’ve also written about the more expensive and flippable mattress, Nolah Signature 12, that you may want to check out as well!
Though, aside from their comfortable and versatile bed options, Nolah is one of the more animal-friendly bed in a box brands in the industry, as they will “adopt” an animal for every mattress sold, and donate to a wildlife preservation charity who’s aim is to save and protect animals that are local to the United States.
We have left no stone unturned in this review, so in an effort to make it easier to find what you’re looking for, below is a quick table of contents. Click the links to jump to whichever section of our Nolah review you prefer:
Honest Nolah Mattress Comparison Video
We are really into video reviews. We think they show more and allow us to clearly convey what a bed is like. Here is our full video review for the Nolah Original 10 mattress.
Keep reading to learn more.
Nolah Mattresses Construction And Design
We usually categorize mattresses into two construction types: foam mattresses and hybrid/spring mattresses. The Nolah Original mattress is an all-foam bed, made with a proprietary foam that makes up the top layer. A lot of beds will have a unique top layer of foam. We’ve seen it on Puffy, Casper and many others.
As you might have guessed by now, the Nolah Original 10 is a 10″ thick mattress, as are most bed-in-a-box mattresses. Here’s a breakdown of the three layers:
- Base layer – A 7” base layer of high density foam to provide support for the remaining mattress layers and of course, your body
- Transition layer – A 1” layer of softer poly foam to provide cushion, and prevent you from feeling the dense bottom layer
- Comfort layer – 2” of “Cooling Nolah AirFoam,” Nolah’s proprietary foam which will provide a bulk of the mattress’ comfort
The Nolah AirFoam is an open cell foam that helps to circulate airflow. Part of the goal here is to better regulate temperature within the mattress so you don’t wake up sweating because the mattress has been retaining all of your body heat.
Nolah 10 Mattress Cover
The Nolah Original 10 is wrapped in an extremely soft cover made with Tencel, with a textured white finish that give the mattress a very clean, bright look.
Like many online mattresses, the cover is not machine washable. So, instead, grab some mild detergent and warm water and spot clean where you need to. If you are worried about keeping your mattress clean, Amazon has plenty of affordable mattress protectors that you can pick up, as does Nolah. A cover may restrict airflow in the mattress, or change how the bed feels.
Firmness And Feel
The Nolah mattress falls in between a medium and medium-soft on our firmness scale. That’s based on the opinion of several average-size people—it will feel softer to heavier individuals and firmer to petite folks.
Overall, we’d characterize the feel of the bed as neutral with a hint of soft memory foam. We should also add that it’s comfortable, especially if you’re sleeping on your side.
The Original 10 is fairly quick to respond after applying pressure to it, which means you won’t get that stuck-in-the-mud feeling. Combination sleepers tend to prefer more responsive mattresses such as Nolah.
You can see that the bed snaps back nearly immediately when you take away the pressure. This makes it a lot easier to rotate positions at night and can help you get more restful sleep because it means that you’re exerting less energy to switch sleeping positions.
Temperature Regulation
Nolah Original 10 doesn’t sleep hot, but it doesn’t sleep especially cold either thanks to the brand’s proprietary Airfoam inside the mattress. We’d say it’s temperature neutral. The temperature in your room or whether you’re wearing flannel pajamas will most likely be the dominating factor in determining whether you sleep hot or not.
Learn more about temperature regulation and how we rate it!
Considerations For Couples On Nolah
There are two other important factors that couples should consider when selecting a new mattress: (1) how well it isolates motion and (2) how strong are the edges of the bed.
Motion Isolation
The Original 10 Nolah mattress does a good job of isolating motion. Motion isolation is important for couples with restless sleepers. If you are in a relationship and are not planning to purchase a king-size mattress, this bed is a good option.
Edge Support
In regards to edge support, the Original 10 is average, like a lot of other 10″ all-foam beds. It’s not bad, but we’ve tested plenty of mattresses with better edge support, including Beautyrest Black. Edge support is only critically important for couples that share a smaller size mattress like a twin XL or a full.
If you like the Nolah Original and sleep with a partner, we think you should get a queen, king, or California king. Though, keep in mind, while support is important, it’s not nearly as important as feel, firmness, temperature regulation, motion isolation and price.
Sleeper Type Analysis For Nolah Original 10
Back And Stomach Sleepers
Given that the Original 10 Nolah mattress is a softer mattress, it’s not ideal for strict stomach or back sleepers that weigh over 230 lbs. Generally, if you sleep primarily on your stomach and/or back, you’ll want a firmer mattress. A few good examples of firmer beds are DreamCloud and Cocoon Chill by Sealy. That said, if you’re petite, you can likely sleep on your back/stomach just fine on Nolah.
Firmness is relative based on body weight and size. The more you weigh, the more pressure you’ll be putting on the bed, and thus it will feel softer to you. The inverse is true for lighter individuals—they will typically experience mattresses to be firmer overall.
Side Sleepers
Because the Nolah Original 10 is on the softer range of the firmness spectrum, it will provide great pressure relief for your hips and shoulders, which makes it ideal for side sleepers. When you lay on Nolah you do sink in and the bed sort of hugs you, but it’s comfortable. Simply put, the Nolah Original 10 is one of the best mattresses for side sleepers you can purchase online. There are a lot of other mattresses that we like here as well, but Nolah is the quintessential bed for side sleepers. If you’re looking for soft foam, maximum pressure relief, extra comfort, Nolah is it.
Combo Sleepers
Combo sleepers typically either need to choose a mattress that falls in the middle of the firmness scale or pick one that’s designed for their most common sleeping position. If you’re a combo sleeper but you tend to sleep more often on your side, the Nolah is a great option for you.
Because the Nolah has excellent responsiveness, it’s good for combo sleepers that move constantly as well. But if you mostly find yourself sleeping on your back or stomach, you might be better served with another mattress.
Body Type Analysis
Heavy Individuals
Unfortunately, this mattress won’t work great for heavy body types. The Nolah Original 10 is an all-foam mattress that’s only 10” thick. Heavier people are going to need a thicker, extra supportive mattress—probably one that incorporates innersprings or pocketed coils. If you’re over 230 lb, there are other mattresses that are going to be more comfortable and durable for you than Original Nolah 10, such as the Nolah Evolution. Or, you can take a look at our list of the best mattresses for heavy and obese sleepers if you want to check out a few of our recommendations.
Average To Petite Individuals
This bed is best suited for petite individuals and medium size individuals. It’s the same for Leesa, Tuft & Needle and many other 10″ foam mattresses. You can also compare Nolah vs. Tuft & Needle if you are having trouble deciding.
Nolah Mattress Pricing
The Original 10 is the most affordable mattress that Nolah makes. In fact, as the name states, it is the original Nolah mattress.
The Nolah 10 is affordable considering how comfortable it is and the company policies that Nolah holds. There are certainly other cheaper mattresses on the market, but Nolah it’s priced such that most people can afford it. Here’s a pricing breakdown before any discounts:
| Size | Price (MSRP) |
|---|---|
| Twin | $619 |
| Twin XL | $759 |
| Full | $879 |
| Queen | $1,019 |
| King / Cal King | $1,119 |
Does Nolah Offer Promos And Discount Codes?
Like the rest of the mattress industry, Nolah sets prices a little high in terms of MSRP so the company can offer discounts. You can check Nolah’s website for current offers and discounts.
As you might have expected, the biggest mattress deals are during major holidays such as 4th of July and Black Friday. Make sure to check out our best bed deals to save some dough! We also should have a coupon on this page for you to save money on the Nolah 10, regardless of the time of year you’re shopping. After the discount, you can get this mattress for around $200 cheaper.
Nolah Mattress Review Verdict
During our Nolah Mattress review, we found the Nolah Original 10 is a great option for side and combo sleepers who are looking for a plush foam mattress. Folks who weigh over 230 lbs or need a particularly firm mattress, however, may not love this bed. But at the end of the day, it’s comfortable and comes with a trial period so that you can test it for yourself. Plus, we do appreciate that Noah donates to help a wildlife animal of the buyer’s choice with every purchase.
Other Nolah Reviews
Nolah Mattress Ratings
- BBB: Nolah has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau
Why Trust Us
Get the kind of sleep you’ve only dreamed of with some help from our team of mattress experts. We personally test more than 150 of the best sleep solutions from over 60 leading brands on site, so you can be sure you’re getting unbiased reviews, fair comparisons and personalized recommendations.
Review team
Tharon Green
Stomach Sleeper
McKenzie Dillon
Combo Sleeper
Dillon Lopez
Combo Sleeper
JD Christison
Combo Sleeper
Nolah Company Policies
Both the trial period and the warranty surpass what is typical for the industry. However, you should read the warranty for more information about what’s covered. With Nolah, you get:
- Free shipping and completely free returns
- A 120-night risk-free trial period
- A lifetime warranty
FAQs
It is about a “medium-soft” meaning it’s good for people that want a lot of pressure relief.
If you’re heavier, or you’re a back or stomach sleeper, the Nolah Evolution 15 would be better for you. Petite individuals and side sleepers will likely do well with the Nolah Original 10”.
Nolah frequently provides discount codes on its website. We’ve seen offers for 25 percent off mattresses in the past, so check back frequently.
Yes! Nolah has a 120-night risk-free trial period and 100% free returns during that trial period.
Unboxing your mattress is unbelievably easy. First, take your Nolah Original 10 bed out of its shipping box. Next, position it where you want to sleep, then tear away the protective plastic coating. Your mattress should then start to expand and come to life! Just be sure to give it 24-48 hours to fully expand, air-out, and settle before sleeping a full night on it.
We were sent the beds from Nolah so that we could review them. We did not accept any payment from Nolah (or any other brand) to say good or bad things about the beds. We review products independently and with our own team.
Nolah is a Colorado based company. All of their mattresses are made in the United States. They are made in one of their eight factories across the USA. All the materials used in their mattresses, both foam and cover, are also 100% made in the USA.
You can use your Nolah mattress on any flat surface, including the floor. Nolah specifically states on their website to just place the Nolah mattress directly on the floor or other flat supportive surface. Slats in your bed frame should be okay, as long as they are no more than 3 to 4 inches apart. Nolah also sells their own adjustable base bed frames on their website. One of their bed frames even includes a full body massage feature. Check out their website for more information.
Nolah operates 100 percent online to keep costs down, so you won’t be able to try before you buy, but you can return it for free within 120 days if you’re not satisfied.