Nolah Evolution vs. Signature vs. Natural vs. Original

In This Comparison
Performance Tests | Firmness | Support & Sleeping Positions | Design | Materials

At NapLab, we put each mattress to the test.

We test 8 different factors that impact the comfort and feel of the mattress.

Testing categories include cooling, motion transfer, response time, edge support, sex, pressure relief, off-gassing, and a company score.

The table below shows how each of the four Nolah mattresses scored in each category.

Factor	Nolah Evolution 15	Nolah Natural	Nolah Original	Nolah Signature
Cooling	10	10	9.5	9.5
Motion Transfer	8.5	9.7	10	9.3
Response	10	10	10	10
Edge Support	9.9	9.1	9.5	8.4
Sex	9.8	9.8	9.1	9.3
Pressure Relief	10	9.5	9.0	10
Off-Gassing	9.8	10	9.6	9.4
Company	9.5	9.5	9.5	9.5

To generate these scores we use a series of different data points and performance tests.

The table below shows the data we generated to determine all performance scores.

Factor	Nolah Evolution 15	Nolah Natural	Nolah Original	Nolah Signature
Overall	9.77	9.67	9.51	9.47
Max Temp.	88.6° F	88.3° F	85.7° F	88.1° F
Max Sinkage	2.48″	2.55″	1.99″	2.15″
Total Motion Transfer	11.10 m/s²	6.04 m/s²	2.62 m/s²	7.62 m/s²
Response Time	0.2 sec.	0.2 sec.	0.4 sec.	0.2 sec.
Total Bounce	8.72″	11.76″	5.22″	7.56″
Edge Support – Sitting Sinkage	3.25″	4.75″	4.00″	6.25″
Edge Support – Lying Support	Exceptional	Excellent	Excellent	Good
Sex Overall	9.8	9.8	9.1	9.3
Comfort Material	6.00″	3.00″	3.00″	4.00″
Off-Gassing – Smell	Strong	None	Strong	Strong
Off-Gassing – Days	3 days	0 days	5 days	7 days
Trial	120 days	120 days	120 days	120 days
Warranty	Lifetime	Lifetime	Lifetime	Lifetime

Nolah Head-to-Head: Which Is the Winner?

The table below shows which of these four mattresses is the winner in each scoring category we test for.

Factor	Winner	Value
Best Cooling	Nolah Evolution 15, Nolah Natural	10
Most Sinkage	Nolah Natural	2.55″
Least Sinkage	Nolah Original	1.99″
Lowest Motion Transfer	Nolah Original	2.62 m/s²
Fastest Response Time	Nolah Evolution 15, Nolah Natural, Nolah Signature	0.2 sec
Slowest Response Time	Nolah Original	0.4 sec
Most Bounce	Nolah Natural	11.76″
Least Bounce	Nolah Original	5.22″
Best for Sex	Nolah Evolution 15, Nolah Natural	9.8
Best Pressure Relief	Nolah Evolution 15, Nolah Signature	10
Least Off-Gassing	Nolah Natural	None, 0 days

The Nolah Evolution is tied with Natural for best cooling, as well as best sex performance. It is tied with the Nolah Signature for the best pressure relief.

The Nolah Natural had the most sinkage, the most bounce, and the least off-gassing.

The Nolah Original had the least amount of sinkage, the slowest response time, and the least bounce.

All other Nolah (besides the Original) tied for the fastest response time.

The sinkage level on the Nolah Natural and the Nolah Evolution was about 0.5″ deeper than the sinkage we measured on the Nolah Original and Nolah Signature.

Sinkage Test	Sinkage Depth	Max Sinkage
Nolah Evolution 15	Deep	2.48″
Nolah Natural	Deep	2.55″
Nolah Original	Minimal	1.99″
Nolah Signature	Moderate	2.15″

The average level of sinkage across all mattresses we’ve tested to date is 2.25″.

This puts the Nolah Original and Nolah Signature at slightly less sinkage than average and the Nolah Natural and Nolah Evolution at slightly more sinkage than average.

Images below show the level of sinkage for each mattress.

The conclusion we draw here is that the plush quilted covers of the Nolah Evolution and Nolah Natural allow for deeper sinkage, more hug, and more contour than the all-foam mattress without the plush covers.

Motion Transfer Test	Score	Acc. Range
Nolah Evolution 15	8.5	11.10 m/s²
Nolah Natural	9.7	6.04 m/s²
Nolah Original	10	2.62 m/s²
Nolah Signature	9.3	7.62 m/s²

For comparison, the average amount of motion transfer we see from all other mattresses we’ve tested to date is 5.83 m/s².

Using this data, the Nolah Natural and Nolah Evolution has higher levels of motion transfer than average. The Nolah Original has lower levels of motion transfer compared to the average.

Among all Nolah mattresses, the Evolution is really the only one that draws some red flags for motion transfer.

If you’re a single sleeper or just not particularly disturbed by motion, this may not be an issue. But if you awake easily or have a partner that tosses and turns all night, you may want to skip the Evolution for this reason.

Nolah Evolution Motion Transfer

Looking at the motion transfer chart on the Evolution, you can see how motion plays a big role here. The energy spikes are consistently higher than other Nolahs and that energy continues for almost a full second.

Nolah Signature Motion Transfer

On the Signature, the big spikes all occur within the first 0.25 seconds and it basically all dissipates by 0.5 seconds.

Nolah Natural Motion Transfer

On the Nolah Natural, motion doesn’t spike as high as on the Evolution, but the coils still hurt the mattress in this area. Compared to all-foam, you can see how the Natural hybrid continues to translate motion across the mattress for over 1 second.

Nolah Original Motion Transfer

Energy levels are absorbed a lot quicker on the Nolah Original, basically gone by 0.42 seconds. Also, the spike of that initial motion is less than half what we saw on the Nolah Natural and Evolution.

All of these mattresses had very good response times, being mostly recovered between 0.2 and 0.4 seconds and fully recovered between 0.3 and 0.7 seconds.

Response Test	Score	Mostly Recovered	Completely Recovered
Nolah Evolution 15	10	0.2 seconds	0.7 seconds
Nolah Natural	10	0.2 seconds	0.3 seconds
Nolah Original	10	0.4 seconds	0.6 seconds
Nolah Signature	10	0.2 seconds	0.3 seconds

The average response time across all mattresses that we’ve tested to date is 0.56 seconds to be mostly recovered and 0.94 seconds to be fully recovered.

All four of these Nolah mattresses have faster response time than average.

You can see these material responses in real-time in the video below.

Nolah Evolution Response Test

Nolah Signature Response Test

Nolah Natural Response Test

Nolah Original Response Test

When considering bounce, we saw greater variations. Bounce is a bit of personal preference so it’s not really good vs. bad.

Depending on your personal preference, you may lean more towards one of these Nolahs over the others.

Bounce Test	Bounce Height	Bounce Range
Nolah Evolution 15	Moderate	8.72″
Nolah Natural	High	11.76″
Nolah Original	Very Low	5.22″
Nolah Signature	Low	7.56″

The hybrids are going to offer more bounce than the all-foam. We saw the most bounce with the Nolah Natural and moderate bounce on the Evolution.

The all-foam Original and Signature had low or very low bounce.

Bounce levels can also be viewed in real-time via the short video clips below.

Nolah Evolution Bounce Test

Nolah Signature Bounce Test

Nolah Natural Bounce Test

Nolah Original Bounce Test

The average amount of bounce across all mattresses tested to date is 9.35″.

Using this standard, the Nolah Evolution and Nolah Natural are bouncier than average and the Nolah Original or Nolah Signature both have less bounce than average.

Edge support on the Nolah mattresses is pretty good overall. When considering edge support, we’re looking at two factors—sitting edge support and lying edge support.

Edge Support Test	Score	Max Sinkage	Lying Support
Nolah Evolution 15	9.9	3.25″	Exceptional
Nolah Natural	9.1	4.75″	Excellent
Nolah Original	9.5	4.00″	Excellent
Nolah Signature	8.4	6.25″	Good

Lying edge support is excellent on all four mattresses, but sitting edge support could be better.

The average level of sinkage (when sitting right at the edge of the mattress) is 4.67″.

The Nolah Evolution was fantastic—the coils prevent excess sinkage and provide adequate support for comfortably sitting at the edge.

For a non-hybrid option, the Nolah Original was a close second. Oftentimes we don’t see great edge support on all-foam mattresses, but I was pleasantly surprised here.

The Nolah Natural and Nolah Signature both had more sinkage than average, as you can see in the photos.

In a perfect world, I would like to see edge sinkage closer to 4.0″ or less.

Here’s a look at our sex formula:

Sex Score Formula = (Bounce * 0.5) + (Edge Support * 0.2) + (Noise * 0.2) + (Sinkage * 0.05) + (Cooling * 0.05)

We use the following scores, plugged into the formula, to derive a sex score for each mattress.

Sex Test	Sex Score	Bounce	Edge Support	Noise	Pressure Relief	Cooling
Nolah Evolution 15	9.8	9.7	9.9	10	10	10
Nolah Natural	9.8	10	9.1	10	9.5	10
Nolah Original	9.1	8.8	9.5	10	9.0	9.5
Nolah Signature	9.3	9.4	8.4	10	10	9.5

Looking at these factors, there are some glaring differences when it comes to sex performance.

The Nolah Evolution has good bounce and fantastic edge support. It is quiet, cool, and offers good pressure relief.

The Nolah Signature has good bounce, but not really enough to make for great sex performance. Edge support was really quite bad and it hurt the score a considerable amount. Noise, pressure relief, and cooling were all good.

The Nolah Natural has the best bounce, which greatly helps the score. Noise and cooling were perfect 10’s and it has excellent pressure relief as well. The edges were a little weak, which did hurt the score, but the Natural still outperformed the Original and the Signature by a long shot in this category.

The Nolah Original has less bounce, which hurts it the most, followed by pressure relief, which isn’t really as good as the Natural. Cooling is a little less as well, but the edge support is superior to the Natural.

For pressure relief, more comfort material is generally a pretty strong sign for good performance.

Pressure Relief Test	Score	Comfort Layer	Support Layer
Nolah Evolution 15	10	6.0″	9.0″
Nolah Natural	9.5	3.0″	8.0″
Nolah Original	9.0	3.0″	7.0″
Nolah Signature	10	4.0″	8.0″

The Nolah Evolution scored the best in this category and for good reason. It has the thickest comfort layer and also the thickest support layer, as well as a 2″ quilted foam top layer. These factors combine to create fantastic pressure relief.

The Nolah Signature has a 4.0″ comfort layer, which is the 2nd thickest layer. Overall, this mattress is 3″ thinner than the Evolution, but had the same perfect 10 score for pressure relief.

On the Nolah Natural, the top layers of natural latex create a more generalized contour around the body, combined with the organic wool and organic cotton cover—a nice combination for good pressure relief.

The Nolah Original also has a 3.0″ comfort layer like the Natural, but the materials create a different dynamic here. Poly foam as the only comfort material is great for cooling, but somewhat hurts it when it comes to pressure relief. The Original had the lowest score among all other Nolah mattresses.

Off-gassing has a little bit of a range among these four Nolah mattresses.

Off-Gassing Test	Score	Initial Smell	Off-Gassing Period
Nolah Evolution 15	9.8	Strong	3 days
Nolah Natural	10	None	0 days
Nolah Original	9.6	Strong	5 days
Nolah Signature	9.4	Strong	7 days

All Nolah mattresses (with the exception of the Nolah Natural) had a strong smell upon unboxing.

The Nolah Natural had no smell after it was unboxed and we could sleep on it immediately.

The Evolution off-gassed in 3 days, the Original took 5 days, and the Signature took a full 7 days to off-gas.

All of these mattresses are manufactured from Nolah so all company policies are the same across the board.

Company	Nolah
Trial Period	120 nights
Warranty	Lifetime years
Shipping	Free shipping
Returns	$99
Country of Origin	USA

They have a 120-night trial period, a lifetime warranty, and free shipping to your door. If you decide to return the mattress you will need to pay $99.

Considering firmness, all of these Nolah mattresses come in a medium to medium firm firmness level.

Firmness	Rating	Label	Read Review
Nolah Evolution 15	4, 5.5, or 8	Soft, Medium, Firm	Read Review
Nolah Natural	5.0	Medium	Read Review
Nolah Original	6.5	Medium-Firm	Read Review
Nolah Signature	5.0	Medium	Read Review

The Nolah Evolution is the only one that comes in three different firmnesses—plush, medium, or firm.

• 4 out of 10
• 5.5 out of 10
• 8 out of 10

Softer mattresses can be a better fit for lighter sleepers or those who prefer to sleep on their sides. Firmer mattresses are often better for heavier sleepers or those who prefer to sleep on their stomach or back.

The Nolah Natural and Nolah Signature are both a 5 out of 10 on the firmness scale and the Nolah Original is closer to a 6.5 out of 10, slightly firmer.

To use the table below, find your body weight and preferred sleeping position.

It’s important to know your ideal firmness prior to purchasing a new mattress.

I wouldn’t say that any of these mattresses are really ideal for heavier sleepers except for the Nolah Evolution – Firm. The Evolution is the only mattress with a 15″ thick profile and a 6″ comfort layer. These factors are influential in the overall comfort and pressure relief a mattress can give a heavy sleeper.

Likewise, if you’re a lightweight side sleeper and are worried about a mattress feeling too firm, you may want to consider the Nolah Evolution – Plush. This mattress is a 4 out of 10 on the firmness scale and provides enough contour for a lightweight sleeper to really engage with the mattress materials.

Nolah Evolution

The Evolution 15 is available in 3 different firmnesses. As a result, each firmness is better suited to different types of sleepers.

Plush Version

Sleeper Weight	Stomach Sleeper	Side Sleeper	Back Sleeper
Under 150 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes
150-225 lbs.	Maybe	Yes	Maybe
225-300 lbs.	No	Maybe	No

Luxury Firm Version

Sleeper Weight	Stomach Sleepers	Side Sleepers	Back Sleepers
Under 150 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes
150-250 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes
250-300 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes

Firm Version

Sleeper Weight	Stomach Sleepers	Side Sleepers	Back Sleepers
Under 150 lbs.	Maybe	No	Maybe
150-250 lbs.	Maybe	No	Maybe
250-300 lbs.	Yes	Maybe	Yes

Nolah Natural

Sleeper Weight	Stomach Sleepers	Side Sleepers	Back Sleepers
Under 150 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes
150-250 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes
250-300 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes

Nolah Signature

Sleeper Weight	Stomach Sleepers	Side Sleepers	Back Sleepers
Under 150 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes
150-250 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes
250-300 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes

Nolah Original

Sleeper Weight	Stomach Sleepers	Side Sleepers	Back Sleepers
Under 150 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes
150-250 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes
250-300 lbs.	Yes	Yes	Yes

Design

Although they come from the same company, these four mattresses are very different.

Design	Type
Nolah Evolution 15	Poly Hybrid
Nolah Natural	Latex Hybrid
Nolah Original	Poly Foam
Nolah Signature	Poly Foam

The Nolah Evolution and Nolah Natural are both hybrid mattresses with quilted covers, high-profile looks, and a coil-based support system.

The Nolah Original and Nolah Signature are both poly foam mattresses with a thinner profile and all-foam construction.

Materials

Let’s take an inside look on what exactly makes up each of these mattresses.

What is latex foam?

Latex foam is naturally derived and is a more environmentally-friendly choice. Poly foam, by comparison, is manmade (from oil) and offers a completely different feel. The Nolah Natural is the only option here that uses natural latex.

Hybrids vs. All-Foam

Also, as we saw above, hybrids provide more bounce and good edge support. All-foam mattresses have a different feel with less bounce and less sinkage (concerning Nolah).

Which Mattress Should You Buy?

There are pretty substantial differences between the 4 Nolah mattresses.

Should You Buy the Nolah Evolution?

I would recommend the Nolah Evolution if you’re looking for:

• Excellent cooling. The combination of poly foam and pocketed coils gave the Evolution amazing cooling performance. It has low levels of heat retention and the coils really allow that heat to escape as needed.
• Exceptional edge support. The Evolution only has 3.25″ of edge sinkage (when sitting), which is significantly better than the average.
• Deep sinkage. If you prefer the feel of deeper sinkage, more hug, and more contour, the Evolution could be right for you. This mattress has the deepest sinkage among all Nolah we tested.

Click here to learn more or to check the price of the Nolah Evolution hybrid mattress.

Should You Buy the Nolah Signature?

I would recommend the Nolah Signature if you’re looking for:

• Good pressure relief. The signature has 4.0″ of comfort material and a nice blend of materials, offering good pressure relief for a wide range of sleeping positions and sleeper weights.
• Fast response time. The Signature ties for the fastest response among Nolahs. If you’re looking for an all-foam option that springs back like a hybrid, the Signature is a solid pick.
• Thicker profile than the Original. The Original is an all-foam mattress, but has a thinner 10″ profile. The Signature offers the all-foam feel, but the thicker profile offers improved performance in some areas.

Click here to learn more or to check the price of the Nolah Signature hybrid mattress.

Should You Buy the Nolah Natural?

I would recommend the Nolah Natural if you’re looking for:

• Natural materials. The Nolah Natural uses natural latex, which is derived from the sap of rubber trees.
• No off-gassing. There was no off-gassing smell on the Nolah Natural, even immediately coming out of the box. This is great if you are sensitive to odors and want to sleep on your new mattress right away.
• More bounce. This mattress has over twice the level of bounce as the Nolah Original. That also means higher levels of motion transfer, but if you’re looking for an active and engaging mattress, this is a solid option.

Click here to learn more or to check the price of the Nolah Natural hybrid mattress.

Should You Buy the Nolah Original?

I would recommend the Nolah Original if you’re looking for:

• Less motion transfer. Because the Original is 100% foam, it has notably less motion transfer than the other Nolah mattresses. If you sleep with a partner or are a light sleeper in general, the Original may be the better choice for you.
• A slightly firmer feel. The Nolah Original has a 6.5 out of 10 firmness. Most other Nolah mattresses are softer, with the only exception being the firm version of the Nolah Evolution 15.
• Less sinkage. The Nolah Original also has less sinkage than what we noted on the Natural. While both are comfortable, the Natural had a deeper level of hug and contour while the Original was a bit more restrained.

Click here to learn more or to check the price of the Nolah Original foam mattress.

FAQ