Nolah Mattress Review

Nolah Original 10 Mattress Review

Construction

Let’s take a closer look at the layers:

• High-density base foam. Measuring 7 inches, the core layer serves to support both your body and the whole mattress construction. It responds nicely to pressure, feels solid and sturdy, and seems to be rather durable.
• Supportive high-resilience foam. It is 1 inch thick and does a couple of things. First off, it serves as a transition layer between the firmer base and the top comfort layer. Additionally, this high-resilience foam adds a good amount of bounce to the construction, making a mattress quite responsive. It even feels more like latex than foam, to be honest.
• Cooling Nolah AirFoam. Measuring 2 inches, it is quite soft and offers an immediate response. This layer serves to provide fast pressure relief and a cooling effect. It does not contain any heat-sensitive chemicals, which makes this foam feel less warm. It also prevents the top layer from retaining your body heat, helping with temperature regulation.

Cover

In this review of Nolah mattress, we need to take a closer look at the cover as well. It plays a huge role in your comfort and temperature regulation, which is why its materials are very important.

Now, in the Original model, Nolah uses a blend of natural viscose and high-quality (but synthetic) polyester. The cover feels very smooth and pleasant to the touch. It does not irritate the skin and doesn’t make you sleep hot either. The fabric is breathable, so I assume the percentage of viscose in this blend is rather large.

“Nolah mattresses do not require any specific setup or special bed frames. You can use your Original 10 with your old bed frame or foundation. Simply place the Nolah mattress where your old one used to be, and you’re good to go!”

Firmness and How It Feels

Another factor I want to mention in my Nolah mattress review is how the Original model feels. Of course, this characteristic will depend on different users and their weight, but overall, Nolah feels very plush. It rates around 5 or 6 on the firmness scale (from 1 to 10), which makes it ideal for side sleepers.

This mattress feels very cradling. It gently hugs your body and cradles the pressure points. When sleeping on the Original model, you will feel like you’re sleeping “in” the foam rather than lying on top of it.

Support

In terms of support, the original model might not satisfy all users. Because this is a rather plush and cradling model, it can provide decent support to average and lightweight sleepers. It works nicely to help with the proper weight distribution and spinal alignment. However, heavier sleepers may find this mattress to be not supportive enough. Here is a list of best mattresses for heavy people. 

As for the edge support, this is where Nolah does not shine. Because this is a memory foam mattress, its edge support is rather weak. So, if you happen to sleep on the edge of the bed, chances are you might not feel very comfortable.

Motion Transfer

Just like the majority of foam mattresses, Nolah does a pretty good job reducing the motion transfer. Because it’s quite cradling and hugging, it absorbs the movement nicely without allowing it to be transferred to the other side of the bed.

Of course, if you and your partner have a big weight difference, the smaller person will definitely feel the motions of the larger one. However, while being noticeable, the motion on the other side of the bed will not be very disturbing.

“Usually, when buying a new mattress, you need some time to break it in and get used to it. The general break-in period varies and actually depends on your old bed. The more worn out it is, the longer it will take you to get used to your new, fresh mattress.”

Sinkage

This Nolah mattress is rather interesting when it comes to sinkage.

Let me explain:

The top layer is very cradling while the second (transition) foam layer is rather resilient. Such a combination of layers results in a very interesting outcome. You sink deep into your mattress (for around 5 inches) but do not feel like you are stuck in the foam.

This is the courtesy of that second high-resilience layer:

It provides you with a good amount of bounce to prevent the feeling of being stuck in the foam.

Smell and Off-Gassing

New mattresses have a characteristic odor in the majority of cases, and Nolah is not an exception. However, its off-gassing is minimal and not overpowering. It’s not chemical or too strong, so even if you have a sensitive nose, I think you shouldn’t worry.

Just give the mattress some time to air out if you notice the odor. Opening the windows helps immensely (of course, if the weather allows for it). And don’t hurry to put the sheets on your new bed. Just give it some time to “breathe”.

Something You Should Know

Here’s a thing that truly makes Nolah stand out from other mattress companies:

With every purchase, part of the money is donated to the organization called Defenders of Wildlife, which works to protect the North American species and their natural habitat.

When purchasing a mattress, you will be given a choice of an animal you want to adopt. This means some of the money from your mattress will be used by Defenders of Wildlife to protect the species you’ve chosen.

This is truly impressive, in my opinion. Nolah tries to take care of our environment and protect the biodiversity. Besides, it also makes their customers feel good when they purchase from the company, as they know that their money will help someone.

The Good and The Bad: Overview

Considering both the strong and the weak points can help you determine whether the Original mattress by Nolah will work for you. So, here’s a list of the most important pros and cons:

Prices

In my opinion, the Original 10 model offers a good value for money. The mattress is high-quality and doesn’t cost like a super luxurious bed. Additionally, it is currently on sale!

Here’s a full list of the current pricing:

“Obviously, Nolah is not the cheapest mattress on the market. However, if you want to get one for yourself but aren’t ready to invest a larger sum, the company offers a financing option through Klarna. You can make payments as low as $69 per month, depending on the mattress size that you choose. This is a great way to buy a new bed without spending too much at once.”

Shipping, Returns, and Guarantees

Let me tell you this right away:

When buying from Nolah, you get one of the best delivery conditions.

The company ships from 8 US-based factories for free (to 48 states except for Alaska and Hawaii). Usually, the mattress arrives at your door within 5-10 days. The mattress is shipped compressed in a box, which means it will be easier for you to carry it to the bedroom.

It gets better:

The returns are free as well.

The company offers a 120-night sleep trial with a mandatory break-in period of 30 days. If the mattress doesn’t work for you, all you have to do is contact the company. They will arrange a free pick-up and give you a full refund. Easy-peasy.

The Original 10 mattress is also covered by a 15-year limited warranty. It covers the defects, which aren’t caused by normal wear. All the conditions and the necessary info can be found on the manufacturer’s website. You can also contact the customer service representative. They are always polite and will answer all your questions.

Whom Is This Mattress the Most Suitable For?

If you are wondering “Will the Original 10 mattress really work for me?”, let me help you figure it out. You are going to love this mattress if you:

• want a generous amount of cradling;
• need instant pressure relief;
• love the foam feel but hate sleeping hot;
• want to be hugged by your mattress but don’t want to feel stuck in it;
• are an average/lightweight side sleeper;
• sleep with a partner and need good motion isolation;
• don’t tend to sleep on the edge of the bed;
• want to help save the American wildlife.

Whom Is This Mattress Not Suited For?

Nolah isn’t a universally comfortable mattress, unfortunately. It won’t really work for people who:

• are back or stomach sleepers;
• want more resilience and bounce;
• don’t like the hugging feel of the foam;
• weigh more than average;
• tend to roll to the edge during the night;
• prefer buying from established, well-known companies;
• need to test their mattress in the store before making a purchase.

Construction

This is a flippable model, which means you can sleep on both of its sides. The layers include:

• The firm-side cooling Nolah AirFoam. Being 1 inch thick, this layer serves to provide a good level of support to stomach and back sleepers.
• The reinforced high-density core foundation. It is 7 inches tall and serves as the base of the mattress. This layer is dense and can withstand larger sleepers and regular use without a problem.
• The deep supportive high-resilience foam layer. Measuring 1.5 inches, this layer works to provide cradling and pressure relief while being bouncy and resilient. It serves to prevent the feeling of being stuck in the foam.
• The soft-side cooling Nolah AirFoam. This layer is 2.5 inches thick. It is ideal for side sleepers since it provides a generous amount of cradling.

Cover

Another thing I want to mention in my review of Nolah mattress is the cover. The Original model uses the viscose + polyester blend. However, the Signature 12 has a pure cotton cover, which is great news for people who appreciate the natural fabrics and materials.

The cover is very soft and pleasant to the touch. It is also breathable and has great moisture wicking properties, which means it can contribute to the temperature regulation.

Firmness and How It Feels

Because this is a flippable mattress, it rates differently on the firmness scale. The soft side is somewhere near 5, while the firm side rates 7.5-8 out of ten. The softer side offers great pressure relief levels. It is very cradling and allows for a good amount of sinkage, ideal for side sleepers. As for the firm side, it is rather resilient with a moderate amount of hugging. It offers superb support levels and does not let your body sink in too deep.

“To offer the most affordable prices to their customers, Nolah chose to eliminate the middleman and sell their mattresses directly from the factories. Their mattresses cannot be found in physical stores or showrooms. This, of course, can be a drawback for people who prefer testing their mattress in the store. However, this also makes Nolah mattresses cheaper than the majority of their competitors, whose products you can find in physical stores.”

Support

Obviously, the support levels will depend on the side you’re using. The softer one is great for average users, I believe, since it is very cradling and might not support larger sleepers. However, the firm side offers great support and can easily handle heavier users. It isn’t too thick and is placed right on top of the core layer. That’s why this side is stiffer and can hold pretty much anyone.

As for the edge support, here’s where the story repeats. Just like with the Original model, the Signature 12 offers a rather weak edge support (on both sides). This is a common issue for foam mattresses, so you shouldn’t really be surprised.

Motion Transfer

Again, because this is a pure foam mattress, the Signature 12 has good motion isolation levels on both sides. The foam absorbs the movement effectively, which means this model is suitable for couples.

Sinkage

This model offers different sinkage levels on two sides, which makes it a rather versatile mattress. The softer side is very generous when it comes to cradling, so it allows your body to sink deep into the foam. Interestingly enough, you don’t feel stuck in the mattress material thanks to the second resilient layer.

As for the firm side, it isn’t that hugging. Therefore, it allows for minimal sinkage. When lying on it, you might sink for an inch or two, which is enough to properly cradle your body when sleeping on your back or stomach.

Smell and Off-Gassing

Let me warn you right away:

Your new mattress is going to have a slight odor. However, that smell isn’t chemical or even unpleasant. It’s just the “new mattress” smell, which will disappear completely in a couple of hours.

“What’s interesting about Nolah is the fact that the company uses a new type of foam – a pneumatic one. This foam is air filled, which means there are numerous micro air pockets in it. These tiny air holes improve the ventilation and breathability of the mattress. Additionally, they serve to absorb the movement, offering an improved comfort to the users.”

Something You Should Know

You already know that Nolah tries to support the wildlife protection by donating money from every mattress purchase. Another thing I want you to know is that Nolah is quite young. The company was launched in 2015 and sells their products exclusively online.

This factor is important because some users prefer buying from older, time-tested companies. This, of course, doesn’t necessarily mean that Nolah is a bad company. It only means that the durability of their mattresses is yet to be tested with years.

The Good and The Bad: Overview

This is important: considering both the good and the bad will help you reach the most informed decision. So, here’s what you can expect from the Signature 12 mattress:

“In case you don’t have a bed frame and aren’t planning to invest in it right now, you can still use your Nolah mattress. The manufacturer states that the mattress can be placed directly on the floor. However, keep in mind that you will need to ventilate the mattress every week in order to prevent the moisture from accumulating underneath it.”

Prices

Just like the Original model, the Signature 12 is currently on sale. Here are the prices:

Shipping, Returns, and Guarantees

Because this mattress belongs to the same company as the previous one, the shipping and return conditions are the same.

The only difference is in the warranty period. While the Original model was covered by a 15-year warranty, the Signature 12 comes with a lifetime one. This is good news for people who don’t trust young companies. With such a warranty, you will be protected for years.

Whom Is This Mattress Most Suitable For?

The Signature 12 offers a rather versatile use, which means it is suitable for a larger group of people. Now, it will work great for you if you:

• want a 2-in-1 model;
• need either good cradling and pressure relief or firm support;
• don’t like to sleep hot;
• need a mattress, which can be used by different people;
• want a bed with a lifetime warranty;
• need good motion isolation;
• don’t mind it when a mattress doesn’t have reinforced edges;
• don’t need to test the mattress in the store before buying it;
• want to help save the animals of North America.

Whom Is This Mattress Not Suited For?

Even though the Signature 12 is a rather versatile mattress, it’s not perfect for everyone. It might not be the best option for people who:

• need a medium-firm bed;
• want a more bouncy feel;
• tend to sleep on the edge of the bed;
• need to test the mattress in the store;
• don’t like the cradling feel of the foam.

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