Nolah Evolution vs. Signature vs. Natural vs. Original

In This Comparison
Which Mattress Should You Buy? | Compare the Mattresses | Performance Tests

Which Mattress Should You Buy?

The mattresses earning the title for “best overall” from each brand have the highest overall performance. Overall performance is determined by scores from 8 different categories including cooling, motion transfer, response time, edge support, sex performance, pressure relief, off-gassing, and company.

Sinkage and bounce are also taken into consideration, but they are not direct scoring factors.

Our top recommendation from Nolah is their Nolah Natural.

Best Mattress by Category

Before we get into the gritty details, let’s honor some specific mattresses first. The mattresses featured below performed exceptionally well when considering each individual category listed.

Best For	Nolah
Overall	Nolah Natural
Side Sleepers	Nolah Evolution
Stomach or Back Sleepers	Nolah Evolution
Heavy People	Nolah Evolution Comfort+
Cooling	Nolah Evolution
Affordable	Nolah Original
Back Pain	Nolah Evolution
Sex	Nolah Natural
Soft Mattress	Nolah Evolution
Medium-Firm Mattress	Nolah Signature
Firm Mattress	Nolah Evolution

The table below shows the overall performance score of every mattress we’ve tested from each brand. In total, 6 mattresses were tested for this comparison.

All Nolah Mattresses Tested

Nolah Mattresses	Score	Mattress Type	Read Review	Check Price
Nolah Evolution	9.01	Memory Foam Hybrid	Read Review	Check Price
Nolah Evolution Comfort+	8.83	Plus-Sized	Read Review	Check Price
Nolah Luxe Alaskan King	8.92	Specialty	Read Review	Check Price
Nolah Natural	9.33	Latex Hybrid	Read Review	Check Price
Nolah Original	8.46	Foam	Read Review	Check Price
Nolah Signature	8.51	Foam	Read Review	Check Price

Moving on, let’s talk about specific performance categories. Depending on what factors are most important to you, individual mattresses may rise above others. The table below looks at 10 testing categories and highlights the top-performing mattresses in those particular tests.

Factor	Winner	Score
Best Overall	Nolah Natural	9.33
Best Cooling	Nolah Evolution, Nolah Natural	10
Most Sinkage	Nolah Evolution Comfort+	2.59″
Least Sinkage	Nolah Original	2.29″
Lowest Motion Transfer	Nolah Natural	9.5
Fastest Response Time	Nolah Natural	10
Most Bounce	Nolah Natural	11.76″
Least Bounce	Nolah Signature	6.20″
Best Edge Support	Nolah Original, Nolah Signature	9.5
Best for Sex	Nolah Natural	9.4
Best Pressure Relief	Nolah Evolution, Nolah Evolution Comfort+	10
Least Off-Gassing	Nolah Natural	10
Best Company	Nolah	9.4

Looking at all available mattresses we’ve tested, Nolah ranges in firmness from 4 to 7 out of 10.

That said, most Nolah mattresses fall within the medium (5) to medium-firm (6) range. The Nolah Evolution is the only mattress that offers a version with a soft (4) or slightly firm (7).

Nolah does not have a dedicated firm mattress, as many brands do. They do have a mattress for heavier people, but it still has a medium feel (5.5).

Check the table below to see the details of each mattress.

Firmness	Rating	Feel
Nolah Evolution	4, 5.5, 7	Soft, Medium, Slightly Firm
Nolah Evolution Comfort+	5.5	Medium
Nolah Luxe Alaskan King	6	Medium-Firm
Nolah Natural	5	Medium
Nolah Original	6	Medium-Firm
Nolah Signature	6	Medium-Firm

Not sure which firmness you need? Your ideal mattress firmness depends on two major factors—sleeping position and body weight. With the right firmness, your body and spine will maintain proper alignment when sleeping.

Lightweight sleepers or those who sleep on their side tend to need a softer mattress. By comparison, heavier sleepers or those who sleep on their back or stomach tend to need more support and a firmer feel.

Below, we have a deep-dive comparison of the 4 most popular mattresses from Nolah.

Nolah Mattresses

• Nolah Original
• Nolah Signature
• Nolah Natural
• Nolah Evolution

The table below shows overall scores as well as scores from the individual testing categories.

Factor	Nolah Original	Nolah Signature	Nolah Natural	Nolah Evolution
Overall Score	8.46	8.51	9.33	9.01
Cooling	9.0	9.0	10	10
Motion Transfer	7.4	6.8	9.5	8.3
Response	9.1	9.0	10	8.8
Edge Support	9.5	9.5	8.4	8.6
Sex	8.0	7.5	9.4	7.9
Pressure Relief	8.0	9.0	9.0	10
Off-Gassing	9.4	9.4	10	8.3
Company	8.2	8.2	8.2	8.2

This second table shows the data from each test we analyze. We use this data to compare each mattress to others within the brand as well as to compare with over 400+ mattresses we’ve tested to date.

Factor	Nolah Original	Nolah Signature	Nolah Natural	Nolah Evolution
Price (Queen)	$942	$1,299	$1,574	$1,595
Cooling	Excellent	Excellent	Outstanding	Outstanding
Sinkage – Depth	2.29″	2.35″	2.55″	2.56″
Sinkage – Feel	Moderate	Deep	Deep	Deep
Motion Transfer – Acceleration	10.82 m/s²	12.11 m/s²	6.04 m/s²	8.88 m/s²
Response Time – Mostly Recovered	0.3 sec.	0.3 sec.	0.2 sec.	0.3 sec.
Response Time – Fully Recovered	0.8 sec.	1.0 sec.	0.3 sec.	1.2 sec.
Bounce – Height	7.50″	6.20″	11.76″	7.77″
Bounce – Feel	Low	Low	High	Low
Edge Support – Sitting	2.75″	2.75″	4.75″	4.50″
Edge Support – Lying	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Comfort Layer Thickness	6.00″	6.00″	3.00″	6.25″
Mattress Thickness	10.00″	12.00″	11.00″	15.00″
Off-Gassing – Smell	Strong	Strong	None	Strong
Off-Gassing – Days	2 days	2 days	0 days	6 days
Trial	120 nights	120 nights	120 nights	120 nights
Warranty	Lifetime	Lifetime	Lifetime	Lifetime

When it comes to cooling, Nolah mattresses are some of the best. Their hybrid models perform a bit better than their all-foam counterparts, but each of these four mattresses has better cooling performance than the average mattress.

Check out the table below to see how each mattress compares regarding cooling.

Cooling Test	Score	Baseline	Max. Temp.	Ending Temp.
Nolah Original	9.0	73.1°	90.7°	80.3°
Nolah Signature	9.0	77.4°	90.2°	80.3°
Nolah Natural	10	77.7°	88.3°	80.9°
Nolah Evolution	10	78.1°	89.7°	80.9°

• Baseline Temperature – the temperature of the mattress before anyone lies on it
• Maximum Temperature (0 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after lying on it for 15 minutes
• Ending Temperature (after 5 minutes) – the temperature of the mattress after being lied upon and having no one on it for 5 minutes

Below, you can watch a video of how the heat dissipates on each mattress during our cooling test. For this test, we lie on the mattress for 15 minutes, get off the mattress, and then take periodic surface-level temperature measurements.

The average cooling score across all mattresses tested to date is 8.6.

The Nolah Natural and Nolah Evolution models both earned perfect, 10/10 scores, which is substantially better than the average mattress. These mattresses both utilize a pocketed coil unit that improves breathability over solid blocks of foam.

These models also have other features, such as cooling fibers in the cover or the benefit of natural latex over synthetic foam.

This is evidenced by the two all-foam models, the Nolah Original and Nolah Signature, having slightly lower scores. This isn’t to say all-foam mattresses cannot achieve outstanding cooling, but these foam models are also on the lower price end in Nolah’s lineup.

In the end, Nolah mattresses can be trusted as some of the best options to avoid overheating while you sleep. However, you’ll need to spend closer to $1,500 to $1,600 to get the best cooling experience they have to offer.

Nolah mattresses lean toward having deeper sinkage than average. Across these four most popular Nolah models, all but one have deep sinkage measurements, and that one is right on the line between moderate and deep.

Check out the table below to see how each mattress compares regarding sinkage.

Sinkage Test	Sinkage Feel	Sinkage Depth
Nolah Original	Moderate	2.29″
Nolah Signature	Deep	2.35″
Nolah Natural	Deep	2.55″
Nolah Evolution	Deep	2.56″

The level of sinkage for each mattress is documented in the images below.

The average sinkage depth across all mattresses tested to date is 2.21″.

Back and stomach sleepers usually prefer less sinkage, which better maintains proper alignment of their spine. While all Nolah models have deeper-than-average sinkage, they should be suitable for back and stomach sleeping.

Generally, side sleepers enjoy a deeper level of sinkage as that typically translates to better pressure relief and contour. This is where the Nolah mattresses truly shine. The Nolah Original (2.29″), Nolah Signature (2.35″), Nolah Natural (2.55″), and Nolah Evolution (2.56″) are all fantastic options for side sleepers.

Are you over 300 lbs.? Heavier sleepers generally need a mattress with a firmer feel to maintain optimal support. Nolah makes a mattress specifically designed for the heavier bodies that still has a medium feel and deep sinkage. If that interests you, check out the Nolah Evolution Comfort+.

When it comes to motion transfer, Nolah mattresses have mixed results. On average, the popular Nolah models have a motion transfer score of 8.0. So, combined, they are slightly below average in terms of motion transfer performance (higher than average).

Check out the table below to see how each mattress compares regarding motion transfer.

Motion Transfer Test	Score	Acc. Range
Nolah Original	7.4	10.82 m/s²
Nolah Signature	6.8	12.11 m/s²
Nolah Natural	9.5	6.04 m/s²
Nolah Evolution	8.3	8.88 m/s²

The level of motion transfer on each mattress is also documented in the videos below.

The average motion transfer score across all mattresses tested to date is 8.2. This is one of the most common areas a mattress can struggle with. However, the Nolah Natural managed to exceed all expectations with its 9.5 score. It is far and away the best Nolah mattress in terms of motion transfer.

Its organic cotton cover and particular latex foam are effective at isolating motion in place and preventing it from shooting across the mattress.

All-foam models typically have an advantage in this area, but the Nolah Original and Nolah Signature both demonstrated motion transfer performance. Something about the layering of thinner memory and poly foam seems to have made these models worse for motion transfer compared to their older versions, which had thicker and fewer foam layers.

If you sleep with a partner and are concerned with waking each other up by getting in and out of bed while the other is sleeping, the Nolah Natural will be your best bet. These others all have a fairly significant risk of disturbing sleepers with basic movement.

If a highly responsive mattress is a priority for you, then Nolah mattresses are a great pick. All Nolah mattresses are better than or tied with the average mattress in terms of response time.

Check out the table below to see how each mattress compares regarding response.

Response Test	Score	Mostly Recovered	Completely Recovered
Nolah Original	9.1	0.3 seconds	0.8 seconds
Nolah Signature	9.0	0.3 seconds	1.0 seconds
Nolah Natural	10	0.2 seconds	0.3 seconds
Nolah Evolution	8.8	0.3 seconds	1.2 seconds

The level of responsiveness for each mattress is documented in the videos below.

The average response score across all mattresses tested to date is 8.8. The Nolah Evolution is the slowest Nolah mattress, but it is still tied with this sitewide average (based on 400+ mattress reviews).

This is explained by the many foam layers that make up its comfort layer, and this includes quality memory foam. These typically are slower to respond as a tradeoff for being denser and more comfortable.

The Nolah Original and Nolah Signature both use a lot of foam, but these are less dense, as confirmed by Nolah themselves. These two models use foams from 1.5 PCF to 2.5 PCF, whereas the Evolution model has a 4.0 PCF memory foam in its top layer. The difference in feel was immediately apparent in our tests.

That brings us to the fastest responding mattress, the Nolah Natural. If there’s one clear advantage of latex hybrids, it’s their innate, lightning-fast response time. While we can split hairs between Nolah models, the fact is that all of these mattresses should be more than responsive enough for the average sleeper trying to avoid that crater-like stuck feeling.

Bounce is a preferential factor that can inform sleepers of the type of feel a mattress has. In the case of Nolah mattresses, they all lean towards having low bounce, with the exception of the Nolah Natural.

Check out the table below to see how each mattress compares regarding bounce.

Bounce Test	Bounce Feel	Bounce Height
Nolah Original	Low	7.50″
Nolah Signature	Low	6.20″
Nolah Natural	High	11.76″
Nolah Evolution	Low	7.77″

The level of bounce for each mattress is documented in the videos below.

The average bounce across all mattresses tested to date is 8.74″.

The Nolah Natural distinguishes itself, once again, with its high bounce measurement. This 11.76″ is right at the high end of what I recommend to the average sleepers. Any more than this and mattresses start feeling like a trampoline, but the Nolah Natural is still within the Goldilocks zone, in my opinion.

The Nolah models that use poly and memory foams demonstrate a restrained level of bounce that feels more cozy and relaxed. If that is more to your preference, the Nolah Original, Nolah Signature, and Nolah Evolution may be best for you.

That said, mattresses with more bounce are better for ease of movement and increased sex performance. However, higher bounce also typically creates a higher level of motion transfer. So there are pros and cons when it comes to bounce.

When it comes to a supportive edge, we see the lower-end Nolah mattresses with the better scores.

Even so, all Nolah mattresses have a good rating when it comes to edge support. It’s simply that the higher-end models, the Nolah Natural and Nolah Evolution, show a deeper compression when sitting at the edge.

Check out the table below to see how each mattress compares regarding edge support.

Edge Support Test	Score	Sitting Sinkage	Lying Support
Nolah Original	9.5	2.75″	Excellent
Nolah Signature	9.5	2.75″	Excellent
Nolah Natural	8.4	4.75″	Excellent
Nolah Evolution	8.6	4.50″	Excellent

The level of edge support is documented in the images below.

The average edge support score across all mattresses tested to date is 8.7.

With less material, the Nolah Original and Nolah Signature have a bit of an advantage over the thicker Nolah models. They each demonstrated a very minimal level of compression when sitting at the edge, which is useful for numerous non-sleeping activities.

However, when it comes to sleeping, all Nolah mattresses have an excellent level of edge support for lying bodies. This can be a lifesaver, as you can now trust those extra inches at the edge if you have a partner who’s a bedhog during their sleep.

When it comes to sex performance, the Nolah mattresses are, again, a bit mixed. These plush, comfortable foams are fantastic for sleeping, but they aren’t always ideal for… not sleeping.

Check out the table below to see how each mattress compares regarding sex.

Sex Test	Sex Score	Bounce	Edge Support	Noise	Pressure Relief	Cooling
Nolah Original	8.0	7.2	10	10	8.0	9.0
Nolah Signature	7.5	6.3	10	10	9.0	9.0
Nolah Natural	9.4	9.8	7.8	10	9.0	10
Nolah Evolution	7.9	7.3	8.1	10	10	10

The average sex score across all mattresses tested to date is 8.2. By this measure, the Nolah mattresses underperform, except for one.

The Nolah Natural is the best model for sex. Its latex foam and pocketed coil unit provide the bounce and/springiness that is advantageous for sustaining such activities. Its subpar sitting edge support does make it less suitable for activities to take place on the perimeter of the mattress, however.

All this said, we don’t want to give the impression that the Nolah Original, Signature, or Evolution would be a showstopper for sex. Simply, if you want to maximize your sex game, the lively, springy feel of the Nolah Natural would be a great benefit.

When it comes to pressure relief, Nolah mattresses are good at their worst and outstanding at their best. We see better scores as the price increases through their mattress lineup.

Check out the table below to see how each mattress compares regarding pressure relief.

Pressure Relief Test	Score	Comfort Layer	Support Layer
Nolah Original	8.0	6.00″	4.00″
Nolah Signature	9.0	6.00″	6.00″
Nolah Natural	9.0	3.00″	8.00″
Nolah Evolution	10	6.25″	8.75″

The average pressure relief score across all mattresses tested to date is 8.6. Based on this number, the Nolah Original is the only Nolah mattress to not exceed the average. However, this mattress is still priced under $1,000. Despite the slightly lower-than-average performance score, it’s a great value pick for sleepers looking to stay under this $1K threshold.

The Nolah Signature hits a sweet spot for price and pressure relief performance. It packs an exceptional amount of comfort material for its $1,299 price tag. This is equaled by the Nolah Natural, which is a bit thinner and has the feel of latex over the more common memory foam.

Some may prefer this latex feel, but many find it polarizing. The mere 3.00″ of latex foam layers is also a somewhat limiting factor for pressure relief.

The materials included in each mattress are documented in the images below.

More foam does not always mean better results. However, this is a situation that proves that rule. The Nolah Evolution is the model with the best pressure relief. Not only is it the thickest, with 15″ of material, but it also includes some of the densest foam material the brand has to offer.

As we state in our individual reviews, all of these Nolah mattresses have great scores for their price. But if you’re searching for the most comfortable, best pressure-relieving mattress you can find, the Nolah Evolution is the best this brand has to offer.

When it comes to off-gassing, Nolah mattresses are fantastic when it comes to low off-gassing.

Each one of these popular Nolah models has a smell duration that lasts shorter than average, with one of these having no offensive smell right out of the box.

Check out the table below to see how each mattress compares regarding off-gassing.

Off-Gassing Test	Score	Initial Smell	Smell Duration
Nolah Original	9.4	Strong	2 days
Nolah Signature	9.4	Strong	2 days
Nolah Natural	10	None	0 days
Nolah Evolution	8.3	Strong	6 days

The average smell duration across all mattresses tested to date is 7.13 days.

A particular advantage of the Nolah Natural is that it has no offensive smell right from the start. In our experience, it was ready for full use upon its initial unboxing.

The Nolah Original and Nolah Signature were also incredibly quick, compared to this 7-day average. Even the Nolah Evolution, with its denser foams and special cooling cover, had a shorter-than-average smell duration.

In the end, you won’t have to worry about an excessive and offensive odor from Nolah mattresses. But, if you’re particularly sensitive to synthetic smells, the Nolah Natural is the best choice for you.

Finally, let’s discuss the company policies that may sway your choosing Nolah over other brands. Nolah’s company score is good but below average for a few reasons.

Nolah mattresses come with a 120-night trial period and a lifetime warranty. The length of this trial is fair, but unimpressive compared to many companies that offer a full year (or even compared to the average at 170 nights).

The lifetime warranty is a generous offer, but the fine print is worth some reading. Most notably, it includes a prorated period after 10 years, where the original purchaser will receive increasingly less and less of the full value.

We’re also not crazy about the return fee, especially in an ever-increasing online shopping landscape that offers free returns. All that said, Nolah still has some fairly customer-friendly policies.

Check out the table below to see more details on Nolah company policies.

Company	Nolah
Score	8.2
Trial Period	120 nights
Warranty	Lifetime
Shipping	$0
Returns	$99
Country of Origin	USA

To date, we have tested 407+ mattresses from 107 different brands. The average trial length is 170 nights and the average warranty is 13 years, excluding 41% of mattresses that offer lifetime warranties.

Nolah Testing Data

Mattress Name	Overall Score	Cooling Score	Motion Transfer Score	Response Time Score	Edge Support Score	Sex Score	Pressure Relief Score	Off-Gassing Score	Company Score	Type	Thickness	Firmness	Sinkage	Bounce	Trial (days)	Ships To	Price (Queen)	Read Review
Nolah Natural	9.33	10	9.5	10	8.4	9.4	9.0	10	8.2	Latex Hybrid	11.00"	Medium	2.55"	11.76"	120 nights	USA	$1,574	Review
Nolah Evolution	9.01	10	8.3	8.8	8.6	7.9	10	8.3	8.2	Memory Foam Hybrid	15.00"	Soft Medium Slightly Firm	2.56"	7.77"	120 nights	USA, Canada	$1,595	Review
Nolah Luxe Alaskan King	8.92	9.0	9.4	9.7	8.9	8.4	9.0	7.8	8.2	Specialty	13.50"	Medium-Firm	2.37"	8.90"	120 nights	USA	$3,750	Review
Nolah Evolution Comfort+	8.83	9.0	7.6	9.0	8.9	8.2	10	9.2	8.2	Plus-Sized	15.00"	Medium	2.59"	8.21"	120 nights	USA	$1,874	Review
Nolah Signature	8.51	9.0	6.8	9.0	9.5	7.5	9.0	9.4	8.2	Foam	12.00"	Medium-Firm	2.35"	6.20"	120 nights	USA	$1,299	Review
Nolah Original	8.46	9.0	7.4	9.1	9.5	8.0	8.0	9.4	8.2	Foam	10.00"	Medium-Firm	2.29"	7.50"	120 nights	USA	$942	Review