Nolah Evolution Review

In This Review
Performance Tests | Firmness | Support & Sleeping Positions | Design | Materials | Comparisons | FAQs

At NapLab, we put each mattress to the test.

We test 10 different factors that impact the performance, comfort, and feel of the mattress. We then take the results of those tests and compare them to every mattress we’ve tested to date.

Check out the full performance table below to see how this mattress ranks:

Factor	Nolah Evolution	Average
Overall Score	9.01	8.54
Price (Queen)	$1,595	$1,536 (Memory Foam Hybrid only)
Cooling – Score	10	8.6
Sinkage – Depth	2.56″	2.21″
Sinkage – Feel	Deep	Moderate
Motion Transfer – Score	8.3	8.2
Motion Transfer – Acceleration	8.88 m/s²	8.77 m/s²
Response Time – Score	8.8	8.8
Response Time – Mostly Recovered	0.3 sec.	0.4 sec.
Response Time – Fully Recovered	1.2 sec.	1.0 sec.
Bounce – Height	7.77″	8.85″
Bounce – Feel	Low	Moderate
Edge Support – Score	8.6	8.7
Edge Support – Sitting	4.50″	3.94″
Edge Support – Lying	Excellent	Excellent
Sex – Score	7.9	8.2
Pressure Relief – Score	10	8.6
Comfort Layer Thickness	6.25″	4.3″
Mattress Thickness	15″	12.2″
Off-Gassing – Score	8.3	8.1
Off-Gassing – Smell	Strong	Strong
Off-Gassing – Days	6 days	7 days
Company – Score	8.2	8.8
Trial	120 nights	172 nights
Warranty	Lifetime	39% have lifetime warranties, average of other 61% of mattresses is 13 years

How is Nolah Evolution Different?

The Nolah Evolution is a 15″ memory foam hybrid mattress with an overall performance level that is higher than the average mattress and a price that is also slightly higher. But the difference between the Evolution and the average memory foam hybrid mattress is less than $60.

Note from Derek – The Nolah Evolution is available with an optional cooling pillow top. This pillow top adds an extra inch of material / height to the mattress. The Nolah Evolution we tested included the optional pillow top.

Advantages

Advantages of the Evolution include better cooling performance and fantastic pressure relief. This mattress has a 6.25″ comfort layer, which is a full 2.0″ thicker than the average comfort layer thickness. The mattress as a whole is 15″ thick, 2.8″ thicker than average.

While mattress thickness doesn’t always have a direct correlation to pressure relief, it typically does. And because of the high quality of the materials used on the Evolution, the result is truly exceptional pressure relief.

Neutral Factors

This mattress has deep sinkage and a low level of bounce. Both of these factors are considered neutral since they are neither good nor bad. Depending on your personal preference, you may find this feel to be attractive or unattractive.

In addition, the following scoring categories maintained average (or near average levels)—motion transfer, response time, edge support, and off-gassing.

Disadvantages

The biggest disadvantages of the Evolution include a lower sex score (largely due to low bounce and less than incredible edge support when seated).

The trial is also a bit shorter than average, only 120 nights, where the average is 172 nights. Lastly, returns are $99.

The Nolah Evolution has outstanding cooling. During our tests, I did not feel any significant level of heat retention on my body. To the contrary, the mattress maintained a notable cooling feel during our tests.

The Nolah Evolution has an optional cooling pillow top that can be added, and our version of the mattress included that cooling cover.

This cooling pillow top, called Glaciotex, appears to be the same cover that’s available on Helix Luxe and Elite mattresses (which wouldn’t be a stretch, as 3Z owns and manufactures both Helix and Nolah).

This cooling cover has an immediate and pronounced cooling feel around the body. In addition, it maintained much of that cool-to-the-touch feel for the duration of our cooling tests.

• 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 (5 minute) – the temperature of the mattress after being lied upon and having no one on it for 5 minutes

Beyond the cooling cover, the mattress is equipped with high-quality, high-performance foams that seem to breathe well and avoid heat retention.

In addition, the hybrid design is bringing extra airflow into the mattress, which further helps to mitigate heat.

In our objective temperature tests, we measured a max surface level temperature of 89.7° F. This is 0.2° less than the average of 89.9° F, based on all of our tests to date.

After getting off the mattress, the temperature declined by 3.8 degrees from minutes 0 to 1, which is 1.0 degrees warmer than the average 0 to 1 minute decline of 4.8 degrees.

When we consider the combination of objective data, my subjective experiences, and an analysis of the materials, I’m confident in my view that cooling is outstanding.

The Nolah Evolution has deep sinkage. During our tests, we measured a pressure point sinkage depth of 2.56″.

This is 0.35″ more sinkage than the average sinkage depth of 2.21″, based on all of our tests to date. Despite the deeper sinkage, the mattress creates a more balanced hugging feel around the body.

The level of sinkage is documented in the image below.

The 2.0” quilted cover creates immediate and significant pressure relief and comfort for the body. Beneath that, we have 2.5” of memory foam, which quickly forms to your body’s shape, helping to further alleviate pressure points.

The mattress certainly has a noted memory foam feel; however, it’s still a more balanced feel.

I don’t feel that more traditional polarizing memory foam feel with this mattress and I never felt stuck or entrapped by the foams. I would describe it as a “modern” memory foam feel.

The Nolah Evolution has a low level of motion transfer. During our tests, we measured a total acceleration range of 8.88 m/s². This is 2% more motion transfer than the average of 8.69 m/s².

The mattress benefits from the thick 6.25” comfort layer, 2.5” of memory foam, and a pocketed coil unit. All of these factors are helping to reduce bounce and dissipate energy.

As such, I was a little surprised to see motion worse than average. It’s possible the poly foam layers are creating a little more movement due to their highly responsive nature.

The level of motion transfer is also documented in the video below.

In our motion transfer chart, which visualizes our accelerometer data, we can see the highest motion peaks from 0 to 0.25 seconds.

Motion steps down considerably thereafter and by 0.88 seconds, we’ve returned to near-zero levels of energy, which is 0.01 seconds longer than the average motion duration of 0.87 seconds.

All things considered, motion transfer is good, and yet, far from amazing.

The Nolah Evolution is a mixed bag for material responsiveness, with a very fast mostly recovered response time and a moderate fully recovered response time.

In our mostly recovered test, we measured a recovery speed of 0.3 seconds, which is 0.10 seconds faster than the average of 0.40 seconds, based on all of our tests to date.

In our fully recovered responsiveness test, we measured a recovery speed of 1.2 seconds, which is 0.21 seconds slower than the average of 0.99 seconds.

The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.

Most of the materials within the mattress spring back to their original shape extremely quickly. Only the topmost 1.0” memory foam layer has a notable slowness to recover to its original shape.

Even so, that one layer does slow down the full responsiveness speed for the mattress.

If you’re sensitive to response time the slower-than-average full recovery speed could be problematic. That said, for most sleepers, I don’t expect these response speeds will be an issue.

The Nolah Evolution has a low level of bounce. During our tests, we measured a total bounce height of 7.77″. This is 1.13″ less bounce than the average of 8.90″, based on all of our tests to date.

The combination of a thick euro style pillow top, 2.5” of memory foam, a slower responsiveness 1.0” memory foam near the top, and a considerably thicker than average 6.25” total foam comfort layer are all working together to reduce bounce.

The level of bounce is also documented in the video below.

That lower bounce is helping to keep motion transfer lower. However, a lower bounce also negatively impacts sex performance. As such, there are pros and cons worth considering.

The Nolah Evolution has good sitting edge support and excellent lying edge support.

In our sitting edge support test, we measured a sitting sinkage compression of 4.50″. This is 0.54″ more sitting sinkage than the average of 3.96″, based on all of our tests to date.

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

While lying directly on the edge of the mattress, I felt that the support was excellent in all sleeping positions. The mattress uses reinforced edge support coils.

These coils are 13.75 gauge and are firmer and more supportive than the other coils in the mattress. This helps to create more support along the edge.

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

Beyond the reinforced edge support coils the mattress is thicker than average and has excellent support in general, both of which are helping to deliver solid edge support for both sitting and lying.

The Nolah Evolution has fair sex performance. First, let’s talk through what the Nolah does well. Noise is minimal and both pressure relief and cooling are outstanding. So no issues there.

Moving on, we measured a middling performance with edge support at 4.50” of sitting sinkage. This should be good enough for the mattress edge to be a functional and usable part of the mattress for most couples, but it certainly could have been better.

Sex Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Rating
Bounce	65%	7.3	Moderate
Edge Support	20%	8.1	Good
Noise	5%	10	Minimal
Pressure Relief	5%	10	Outstanding
Cooling	5%	10	Outstanding

Lastly, we bounce, which we measured at 7.77”. This is notably lower than average and means the mattress is more strenuous and tiring to have sex on.

When we consider these factors together we find that sex performance is good, and yet far from amazing.

The Nolah Evolution has an outstanding level of pressure relief. During our tests, I felt no significant pressure points on my body. The mattress is exceedingly comfortable and a big reason for that is the cooling pillow top.

This pillow top seems to be making a notable difference not only for cooling, but for pressure relief as well.

That extra comfort material takes a mattress that was already comfortable and pushes it to the next level.

The mattress is equipped with 6.25″ of comfort material, which is 1.98″ more comfort material than the average comfort layer thickness of 4.27″, based on all of our tests to date.

All of the foams look and feel high quality, both in hand and on the body.

In our pressure mapping tests, we measured a max PSI of 0.77, which is well within the 1.0 PSI threshold we want to see. A 2.0 PSI is a high-pressure point and the Nolah is far from that mark.

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Side Sleepers	0.14	0.70

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Back Sleepers	0.08	0.73

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Stomach Sleepers	0.08	0.77

One of our NapLab testers (Kyle W.) asked if he could have this mattress after we were done testing it. Kyle has been sleeping in the iSense Premier Hybrid for a couple of years and that mattress is a strong performer and nearly twice as expensive ($3.1K).

Even so, Kyle found the pressure relief and comfort dynamic from the Nolah Evolution is simply better for him.

When I consider our objective pressure mapping tests, material thickness, material quality, and my subjective experience on the mattress, I’m confident most sleepers will find the pressure relief to be outstanding.

The Nolah Evolution had a strong smell upon the initial unboxing. The mattress smelled for 6 days. This is 0.8 days shorter than the average smell duration of 6.8 days.

Nolah mattresses come with a 120-night trial period and a lifetime warranty. Shipping is free. Returns are $99.

Company Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Data
Returns	40%	7.0	$99
Trial Period	30%	8.0	120 nights
Warranty	20%	10	Lifetime
Shipping	10%	10	$0
Country of Origin	0%		USA

Comparing 101+ brands tested to date, the average trial period is 172 nights, 52 nights more than Nolah offers. That being said, Nolah does offer a lifetime warranty.

To date, only 39% of all mattresses we have tested have lifetime warranties. The average of the other 61% of mattresses is 13 years.

The Nolah Evolution comes in three firmness options—Soft, Medium, and Firm.

Medium Firmness

We tested the Medium version and found the firmness to be a 5.5 out of 10, which gives it a medium feel.

Plush Firmness

I would estimate the plush version is a 4 out of 10 on our firmness scale. This gives it a soft feel.

Firm Version

I would estimate the firm version is a 7.5 out of 10 on our firmness scale, which gives it a slightly firm to firm feel.

Support on the Nolah Evolution is outstanding. During our tests, I felt well supported in all sleeping positions. The mattress is equipped with a 8.75″ support layer. This is 0.86″ thicker than the average support layer thickness of 7.89″, based on all of our tests to date.

We tested the medium version of the mattress, which is a 5.5 firmness. This firmness is suitable for most body types and sleeping positions.

However, the mattress also comes in a soft and firm version, so if you have a strong preference for soft or firm it’s great that there are more options.

Moving on, the mattress is equipped with a zoned pocketed coil unit, which increases firmness and support in the middle of the mattress, helping to create better support where most sleepers carry most of their weight. Zoned support also helps to reduce body impressions and sagging in the middle of the mattress.

Check out the table below to see the sleeper weights and sleeping positions that would be best suited for this mattress.

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

The Nolah is thicker than average, has a thicker-than-average comfort layer, and a thicker-than-average support layer. Lastly, it also uses reinforced edge coils that are firmer at the edge, extending the usable sleeping surface area of the mattress.

When we look at the complete picture of design, materials, and performance, it just doesn’t get much better than this for support.

Based on all of my tests to date, an analysis of the materials, and my subjective experiences, I’m confident that most sleepers will find support on the Nolah Evolution is outstanding.

The Nolah Evolution is a 15″ memory foam hybrid mattress that comes in three firmness options—Soft, Medium, and Slightly Firm.

The Nolah Evolution is 15″ thick and contains a combination of different foam types and coil-based support. From top to bottom, here is a full list of the materials used in this mattress:

• 2.0” quilted cover
• 1.0” memory foam
• 1.5” memory foam
• 1.0” poly foam
• 0.75” poly foam
• 8.0” pocketed coils
• 0.75” support foam

The cover of the Nolah Evolution includes two main parts—a soft phase change material cover that remains cool to the touch and a quilted Euro foam topper.

This top layer assembly has a breathable gusset, which helps to limit heat retention and improve cooling performance.

As mentioned above, the Nolah Evolution has an optional cooling pillow top that can be added, the GlacioTex cover, which very closely resembles the cover used on Helix Luxe and Helix Elite mattresses. The mattress that we tested did have this advanced cooling cover.

This cooling cover has an immediate and pronounced cooling feel around the body. In addition, it maintained much of that cool-to-the-touch feel for the duration of our cooling tests.

Including the 2.0″ quilted cover, the comfort layer is 6.25″ thick. Directly below the quilted cover, there are two layers of memory foam (the top one is 1.0″ thick and the second layer is 1.5″ thick).

Beneath the memory foams are two layers of transitional poly foam. This includes a 1.0″ poly foam followed by a 0.75″ poly foam.

All of these foams are working together to provide a balanced and dynamic comfort layer above the support layer.

The support layer is 8.75″ thick and made of coils and support foam. Right below the poly foam is an 8.0″ pocketed coil unit followed by a 0.75″ layer of support foam.

Product Evolution

The Nolah Evolution was launched back in 2020. In 2023 the Nolah company was purchased by 3Z brands (which is a vertically integrated mattress manufacturer). In 2023 there were numerous changes made by 3Z to the Nolah design and materials.

Self-Poured Foam. Nolah is now pouring its own foam instead of outsourcing these materials. In our tests, we found that the use of these additional memory foam layers changes the mattress type from a Hybrid to a Memory Foam Hybrid and the mattress has a distinctly different feel from the older version.

More Zoned Support. Additionally, Nolah has added a third layer of zoned support. This layer is the 2nd layer of transitional ply foam, directly above the pocketed coil support layer.

Optional Cooling Cover. While not new to the 3Z brand, the GlacioTex cooling cover is a new option for the Nolah mattress. In our tests of this cooling cover on Helix mattresses, adding the cooling cover improved cooling performance by a full point (taking cooling performance from 9 to a perfect 10).

Going back in time, there were other changes that took place on the mattress in 2022. These 2022 changes include:

The cover was changed. Switched to an organic cotton cover with blended cooling fiber. It’s designed to be more breathable, soft, and better at wicking moisture.

There was previously a 1.0″ foam layer that separated the coils from 6.0″ of comfort foam. This layer was removed in the 2022 version of the Evolution.

There was previously an edge support foam. That foam has been removed. Edge support is now handled by an improved coil system.

The coil system was changed. The new coil system has reinforced perimeter edge coils that are 13.75-gauge steel. This improved edge support, while also simplifying the material construction of the mattress.

Other Mattresses to Consider

Not sure if the Nolah Evolution is the right pick for you? Check out these three other top-rated memory foam hybrid mattresses for alternatives you may want to consider.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Check out some of the top FAQs on the Nolah Evolution mattress below and get the answers you’re looking for.