Nolah Evolution Mattress Review: A Cooling, Plush And Sturdy Hybrid
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Forbes has published an in-depth review of Nolah's mattress collection, highlighting its wide-ranging lineup, including foam and hybrid models designed for diverse sleep preferences. The article explores the unique features of each mattress, such as the innovative AirFoam material, customizable firmness levels, and eco-conscious options. This detailed review offers valuable insights for those considering Nolah for their next mattress purchase. Below is an excerpt and you can See the full review here.
Vetted: What Forbes Had to Say About Nolah
When it comes to luxury hybrid mattresses, the Nolah Evolution 15-Inch Mattress has garnered attention as a top pick, and Forbes has taken notice. In their detailed review, they highlight the mattress's exceptional design, performance, and versatility, offering three firmness options and specialized features for plus-size sleepers. Praised for its cooling technology, motion isolation, and pressure relief, the Nolah Evolution delivers comfort and support for a wide range of preferences.
Since first testing the Nolah Evolution 15-Inch Mattress a few years ago, it’s stayed in my mind as one of the better hybrids from an online mattress company. It’s always made sense to me that it’s the brand’s bestseller. At the time I first reviewed it, it came in only one firmness, a medium feel, but now it’s available in three levels of firmness and with an option for plus-size sleepers. In this Nolah Evolution Mattress review, I cover the softest model (plush) and how the mattress performed overall after sleeping on it for over a month.
During my testing, I tracked everything from edge support to motion transfer to cooling. Although I slept on the plush model, I also tested the luxury-firm model and can make recommendations for each firmness (I’d expect the overall mattress performance should be very similar for the firm model, as well). Keep reading to find out how the mattress ranked and who should try the Nolah Evolution (and at which firmness level).
Type: Hybrid | Nolah’s firmness rating: Plush, luxury firm or firm | Trial period: 120 nights | Warranty: Lifetime | Height: 15 inches
Best for:
- Most sleeping positions, due to multiple firmness levels
- Couples sharing the bed
- Hot sleepers
Skip if:
- You prefer the feel of memory foam
Nolah Evolution Mattress Construction, Firmness And Feel
15 Inches Of Support And Pressure Relief
The Nolah Evolution is a 15-inch hybrid mattress that combines pressure-relieving foams and zoned coils with reinforced edges. The top 4 inches of the mattress are surrounded by a border gusset, which allows air to escape the mattress to keep it dry and prevent you from overheating. It also features carrying handles along the exterior to help when moving the bed.
See the breakdown of all of its layers below.
- Cover: An organic cotton cover built with the brand’s ArcticTex fibers, which are designed to dissipate body heat and keep sleepers cool and dry.
- Euro topper: A 2-inch quilted Euro topper is designed with breathable foam and high-thermal conductivity quilting to help draw heat away from the body while providing pressure relief.
- Comfort layer: A layer of zoned AirFoam, Nolah’s proprietary foam, has hole-punched zones to allow for more flexibility at the shoulders and more support beneath the hips. By promoting airflow, this design also makes it breathable and regulates temperature.
- Support foam layer: Two inches of CertiPUR-US–certified foam adds support and additional pressure relief.
- Transition layer: A 1-inch layer of foam helps transition to the layer of coils below and adds a slight bounce to the mattress.
- Support layer: Eight inches of individually wrapped coils with zoned support provide durability, responsiveness and targeted support for different areas of the body. The coils along the perimeter are thicker for extra edge support.
- Base layer: The final layer is recycled plant fiber, which supports the upper layers and adds stability to the mattress.
As mentioned, I tested the plush model of the Nolah Evolution, and I truly found it to be a soft mattress. It provides a nice hugging feel that doesn’t suck you in. The foams cushion my pressure points while on my side and fill in my lumbar region as needed while on my back. There’s a little bit of sinkage but not too much. It feels more like cushioning and pressure relief than anything. Because I primarily sleep on my side, I love a soft mattress, so this is an ideal firmness level for me. I sporadically sleep on my back throughout the night and also find it comfortable in this position. Nolah mainly recommends the plush model for strict side sleepers, though.
The brand suggests side, back and combination sleepers choose the luxury-firm model (which has a true medium-firm feel with a touch of softness) and the firm model for those who need a flatter surface with extra support, including heavier sleepers up to 350 pounds. If you weigh more than 300 pounds, Nolah recommends you opt for the Comfort Plus model.
Nolah Evolution Mattress Features
Airflow-Promoting Materials Prevent You From Overheating
A queen-size Nolah Evolution weighs about 115 pounds, so I highly recommend having someone help you unbox it and set it up. My fiancé and I pushed the box up the stairs together to get it to our room and broke a sweat along the way. (Okay, I’ll be real: He did most of the work, but I still found myself out of breath for a minute.)
I was impressed by how quickly the mattress took shape after unboxing it and the absence of noticeable odors. It has a durable, quality structure that felt supportive right away. It also came with two free pillows that took a bit longer to expand and take their shape, but once they did, I found them to be of good quality.
Pressure Relief
As a side sleeper, I’m always looking for pressure relief around my hip and shoulder. It’s difficult to find a mattress that doesn’t cause at least some discomfort around my shoulder after lying on it for a while. But I haven’t felt that at all with the Nolah Evolution 15. The pressure relief has been fantastic for me as a side sleeper. I also feel comfortable on my back, but I wouldn’t recommend the plush version for any back sleepers with back pain or who are heavier in weight.
Cooling
Although Nolah doesn’t market this mattress as a cooling bed, I found it to excel at temperature regulation. I’m a hot sleeper, so I know the dance routine of kicking off the sheets in the night quite well. I haven’t felt hot on this bed, and I think it does a great job promoting airflow.
Motion Transfer
Motion transfer is a big no-no for anyone who shares the bed with a partner or a pet and is awakened easily by movements (I’m talking about myself here). I share the bed with my partner, my cat and occasionally my dog. I don’t feel my partner or cat when they move around or get in and out of bed, and I only feel my dog when he jumps up on the bed. So overall, the Evolution does a really good job at isolating motion.
Support
I like to sleep right next to the edge of the bed, and there’s no sinkage on the Nolah Evolution. I find myself well-supported in both the middle and at the edge. To me, this shows its reinforced edges are doing the job. There is some sinkage when you sit on the edge, but not enough that you feel unstable. The mattress also doesn’t dip in the middle like some do.
Ease Of Movement
I’ve noted that I move around in the night from my side to my other side to my back, and I have no problem doing so on the Nolah Evolution. I wouldn’t say it’s an extremely bouncy bed that springs me up easily (at least the plush model isn’t), but it doesn’t make me feel trapped.
About The Company
Nolah started out designing mattresses specifically for side sleepers and their needs. Many of its beds are on the softer side and provide the contouring and relief that side sleepers need around their joints, while also offering support for spinal alignment. However, some of its models are now designed for other styles of sleepers, too (I guess it’s not all about us, fellow side sleepers). Along with mattresses, the company offers bases, bedding and mattress accessories.
Shipping And Delivery
The brand ships the bed compressed in a box for free out of its factory in Arizona via FedEx. For me, it arrived within a week of receiving the shipping notification. Or you can order white glove service, which means the movers set up the mattress for you. You can choose from three service options: the brand only removes your old mattress, the brand only does the setup for you, or the brand does both removal and setup. These services range from $150 to $300 but are often discounted.
Trial Period And Returns
Nolah offers a 120-night trial period, but you can opt out of the trial period and save $100 on your purchase. If you keep the trial period (which I recommend), then you can return the mattress for a full refund if you don’t like it after sleeping on it for 30 nights. Keep in mind you’re responsible for a $99 pickup fee if you do return it, and you have to initiate the return process within 120 nights.
Warranty
Nolah offers a lifetime warranty that covers any manufacturing defects. However, if you report the defects three to 10 years after purchasing it, you’ll be charged a $99 transportation fee to repair and recover it. In years 11 to 25, you pay half the original purchase price if it’s deemed defective. After 25 years, you pay 60% of the original purchase price.
Other Mattresses From The Brand
Nolah currently offers seven different mattresses, ranging from all-foam to hybrid to kids options. Take a look at a couple of its most popular models below.
Nolah Natural 11-Inch Mattress
The Nolah Natural is the brand’s eco-friendly offering. It’s designed with organic cotton and wool, Talalay latex and zoned support coils. The brand says this is its most responsive mattress, which is a great match for side and combination sleepers.
Nolah Original 10-Inch Mattress
The Nolah Original is the brand’s most affordable mattress. Nolah says it has a medium feel with zoned support that works best for side sleepers. Despite being an all-foam mattress, it’s also built with airflow-promoting materials so you don’t overheat (which is often a concern with all-foam beds).
My Expertise
I’m the senior mattress and sleep editor at Forbes Vetted with years of mattress testing and research under my belt. Along with having tested dozens of mattresses, I’ve attended conferences and visited mattress showrooms and manufacturing facilities to learn more about the industry and its production processes. I also stay on top of the latest industry news and technology to make sure Forbes Vetted recommends only the best products out there.
How I Tested The Nolah Evolution Mattress
I tested the Nolah Evolution in the plush model by sleeping on it for over a month. I took into account how supported I felt in the middle of the mattress and along the edges, how easy it was to move around on, whether I could feel my partner’s or pets’ movements and how my body temperature felt throughout the night. I also tested the luxury-firm model in a showroom and checked out its edge support, overall feel, motion isolation and support.
Final Thoughts
This is a high-quality mattress with different firmness options that should work for most sleepers. As a side sleeper who loves a soft bed, I think the plush model is excellent. It offers cushiony, pillow-like comfort without being too soft. However, I also found the luxury-firm model comfortable for side sleeping, and I think it’s better for those who sleep in multiple positions and want a medium-firm feel. The firm model is a good match for stomach sleepers and those who want more support. The Nolah Evolution performed extremely well in cooling, motion isolation, support and pressure relief, so I recommend couples check it out, too.
But if you like really deep sinkage (think classic memory foam), then I don’t think this mattress is going to be the best pick for you. That said, it’s also not an extremely bouncy mattress since it offers a plush Euro pillow topper. So if you like a really lifted, flat mattress feel, then an innerspring mattress might be a better choice.
What Is The Firmness Of The Nolah Evolution?
The Nolah Evolution is available in three different firmness levels: plush, luxury firm and firm. Nolah says the plush model is a 4 to 5 out of 10 on the firmness scale, the luxury firm is a 6 to 7 out of 10, and the firm is a 7 to 8 out of 10. Nolah also offers the Evolution Comfort Plus, a model designed specifically for plus-size sleepers that the brand rates as a 5 to 6 out of 10 in firmness.
Where Are Nolah Mattresses Made?
Nolah mattresses are designed and assembled in the United States. Nolah is part of the 3Z Brands mattress portfolio, which has a manufacturing facility in Arizona. From the sewing process to the foam pouring, Nolah mattresses are built and shipped from that factory.
Do Nolah Mattresses Have Fiberglass?
No, Nolah does not use fiberglass in its mattresses. The brand says it’s committed to its customers’ safety and comfort, and that its mattresses undergo rigorous testing to earn third-party safety certifications. The Nolah Evolution has CertiPUR-US–certified foams that are free of ozone depleters, heavy metals and chemical fire retardants. You can also check out our full list of the best mattresses without fiberglass for more options.
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