Nolah Luxe Alaskan King 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 value of the mattress. We then take the results of that test and compare to every mattress we’ve tested to date.

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

Factor	Nolah Luxe Alaskan King	Average
Overall Score	9.01	8.58
Price (Queen)	$3,250	$2,597 (Specialty only)
Cooling – Score	9.0	8.7
Sinkage – Depth	2.37″	2.14″
Sinkage – Feel	Deep	Moderate
Motion Transfer – Score	9.4	8.1
Motion Transfer – Acceleration	6.33 m/s²	8.79 m/s²
Response Time – Score	9.7	9.0
Response Time – Mostly Recovered	0.2 sec.	0.4 sec.
Response Time – Fully Recovered	0.6 sec.	0.9 sec.
Bounce – Height	8.90″	9.60″
Bounce – Feel	Moderate	Moderate
Edge Support – Score	8.9	8.6
Edge Support – Sitting	4.00″	4.02″
Edge Support – Lying	Excellent	Good
Sex – Score	8.4	8.5
Pressure Relief – Score	9.0	8.7
Comfort Layer Thickness	4.5″	4.1″
Mattress Thickness	13.5″	12.0″
Off-Gassing – Score	7.8	8.1
Off-Gassing – Smell	Strong	Strong
Off-Gassing – Days	8 days	7 days
Company – Score	9.1	8.7
Trial	120 nights	176 nights
Warranty	Lifetime	24% have lifetime warranties, average of other 76% of mattresses is 13 years

How is Nolah Luxe Alaskan King Different?

The Nolah Luxe Alaskan King mattress is a specialty hybrid with higher overall performance than average as well as a price tag that is also higher. But can we ignore the elephant in the room?

The elephant is this enormous mattress. The Nolah Luxe comes in one size, the Alaskan King—104″ x 104″ or 44% larger than a standard King mattress.

Check the table below for a quick size comparison:

Size	Dimensions	Square Footage
King	76W x 80L”	42 sf.
California King	72″W x 84″L	42 sf.
Alaskan King	104W x 104L”	75 sf.

Advantages

Besides the obvious size advantage, what other advantages are there for the Nolah Luxe?

This mattress has above-average cooling performance, faster material response time, and better edge support (both when sitting and lying on the edge of the mattress).

This mattress ships in three boxes so despite it’s enormous size, you actually don’t need an 8′ door to get it inside, which can be a huge bonus if you have single doors or stairs to navigate.

Neutral Factors

Sinkage is deep and bounce levels are moderate on this mattress.

Disadvantages

In the same way that the large size could be an advantage, it could also be a disadvantage if you don’t have a huge room to put it in.

A mattress of this size would require a room that is a minimum of 12×12′ (only providing 3′ on each side of the mattress). Larger would be even better. We had to test this mattress in the garage where we store mattresses, as it was the only room big enough.

Likely due to the sheer mass, this mattress also takes a bit longer than average to off-gas, but not significantly longer (8 days instead of the average 7).

The Nolah Luxe Alaskan King has excellent cooling. During our tests, I did not feel any significant level of heat retention around my body. The hybrid design allows the mattress to breathe well by providing airflow.

In addition, the Nolah Luxe uses no memory foam, instead opting for more breathable and less heat-retentive poly foams (one of which is infused with gel). Lastly, the mattress is topped with a cooling cover, which gives the mattress a cool-to-the-touch feel.

• 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

In our objective cooling tests, we measured a max surface level temperature of 87.7° F, which is 2.0° cooler than the average of 89.7°.

When we consider the complete picture of objective data, subjective experience, and material analysis, I’m confident most sleepers will find cooling performance to be more than sufficient. 

Heat Dissipation Over Time

The Nolah Luxe Alaskan King has a deep level of sinkage. During our tests, we measured a sinkage depth of 2.37”. This is 0.23” more sinkage than the average of 2.14”, based on all of our tests to date.

The level of sinkage is documented in the image below.

The mattress has a more generalized body contouring hug. This is in contrast to many memory foams that create a more dramatic and exacting hug around the body.

The more generalized hug creates more of a circular depression around the body. Lastly, heavier parts of the body do sink down a bit more, so you can expect the butt, hips, and midsection to sink more than your arms, legs, and head.

The Nolah Luxe Alaskan King has a very low level of motion transfer. During our tests, we measured an acceleration range of 6.33 m/s². This is 28% less motion transfer than the average of 8.78 m/s², based on all of our tests to date.

Without question, the sheer size and quantity of materials is the greatest factor helping to reduce motion. With a larger mattress size we have more foam material that energy can be dispersed into.

In addition, sleepers will likely be further apart from one another, further decreasing the likelihood of feeling movements across the mattress.

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 from 0 to 0.14 seconds.

Motion declines rapidly thereafter and by 0.65 seconds we’ve returned to near-zero levels of energy.

Both the motion duration and motion peaks are kept in check. I expect most sleepers will find this level of motion transfer to be perfectly satisfactory.

The Nolah Luxe Alaskan King has a very fast material response time. During our mostly recovered test, we measured a recovery speed of 0.2 seconds, which is 0.2 seconds faster than the average of 0.4 seconds.

The level of responsiveness is documented in the video below.

In our fully recovered test, we measured a recovery speed of 0.6 seconds, which is 0.3 seconds faster than the average of 0.9 seconds.

Both of these are notably faster than the average and while not quite instant, they aren’t far from it. The rapid response ensures sleepers will never feel stuck on the mattress and it’s easy to move around on.

The Nolah Luxe Alaskan King has a moderate level of bounce. During our tests, we measured 8.90” of total bounce height, which is 0.71” more bounce than the average of 9.61”, based on all of our tests to date.

Ideally, I like to see bounce in the 8-12” range. It’s enough to help make it easy to move around on the mattress and improve sex performance, while not significantly negatively impacting motion transfer.

At 8.90” of bounce the Nolah is on the lower end of my range, but still within it.

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

The bounce at this relatively lower level is definitely helping to keep motion transfer in check. However, it also means that sex performance is only good, but far from great.

The Nolah Luxe Alaskan King has a good level of siting edge support and excellent lying edge support. In our sitting edge support test, we measured a sitting sinkage compression of 4.0”.

This is just slightly better than the average sitting sinkage of 4.01”, based on all of our tests to date. Even while sitting directly on the edge the mattress remains supportive and there is no collapse of materials.

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

Lying edge support was even better. While lying directly on the edge of the mattress I felt well supported in all sleeping positions. The mattress seems to do notably better when weight is more evenly distributed.

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

The Nolah uses an 8” pocketed coil unit and the coils are all 13.5 gauge. Notably, the mattress doesn’t contain any type of reinforced edge support coils along the perimeter like many other Nolah mattresses do.

While its clear edge support isn’t as good on the Nolah Luxe Alaskan King compared to many other Nolah mattresses, it certainly isn’t bad either. Especially in a case like this where the mattress is enormous, there will be little reason to sleep on or nor the edge.

The Nolah Luxe Alaskan King has good sex performance, but it’s also far from great. On the positive side of things, noise is minimal and both pressure relief and sex are excellent. Edge support is good at 4.0” of sitting sinkage.

Sex Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Rating
Bounce	65%	8.0	High
Edge Support	20%	8.8	Good
Noise	5%	10	Minimal
Pressure Relief	5%	9.0	Excellent
Cooling	5%	9.0	Excellent

However, the lack of a reinforced perimeter foam or reinforced edge coils means it’s not incredible.

In addition, we have just 8.90” of total bounce. When it comes to sex bounce I want to see at least 10”. The Nolah is close, but also just not quite there.

The result of a relatively lower level and bounce and good, but not great edge support means that the Nolah only earns a good score for amorous activities. 

The Nolah Luxe Alaskan King has excellent pressure relief. During our tests, I did not feel any significant level of pressure points on my body.

The mattress is equipped with a 4.5” comfort layer, consisting of a 1.5” quilted cover, and 4.0” of poly foam (split across 3 layers).

This 4.5” comfort layer is slightly thicker than the average comfort layer thickness of 4.1”, based on all of our tests to date.

All of the foams, in addition to the coil unit, look and feel high quality. I’m confident in the pressure relief performance, as well as the durability and longevity of the mattress.

In our objective pressure mapping tests, we measured a max PSI of 1.53. While lower is always better, 1.53 for only one sleeping position isn’t bad by any stretch. PSI at or near 2.0 is where we start to be concerned about high pressure and the Nolah Luxe is no where near those levels.

Overall, I’m pleased with the level of pressure relief and I expect most sleepers will find it more than satisfactory. 

Pressure Map – Side Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Side Sleepers	0.19	1.53

Pressure Map – Back Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Back Sleepers	0.12	0.79

Pressure Map – Stomach Sleepers

Pressure Relief (PSI)	Average	Maximum
Stomach Sleepers	0.13	0.93

Offgassing on the Nolah Luxe Alaskan King mattress was strong right out of the box. It came shipped in three different boxes.

We unboxed each box at the same time and the units within the boxes all smelled for about the same amount of time, 8 days.

Nolah mattresses offer a 120-night trial period and a lifetime warranty. Shipping is free, but if the mattress ends up not working out, there is a $99 fee to return the mattress.

Given its huge size, this return fee isn’t all that surprising. But Nolah charges this fee on all their mattresses, not just this specialty XL one.

Company Factor	Factor Weight	Score	Data
Trial Period	15%	8.0	120 nights
Warranty	10%	10	Lifetime
Shipping	5%	10	$0
Returns	20%	7.0	$99
Trust	50%	10	Outstanding
Country of Origin	0%		USA

Compared to the average mattress, this trial period is a bit shorter than average (the average trial is 173 nights) and the warranty is longer than 76% of all mattresses we’ve tested to date.

The Nolah Luxe Alaskan King mattress comes in a single firmness, 6 out of 10, with a medium-firm feel.

The Nolah Luxe Alaskan King has excellent support. During our tests, I felt well-supported in all sleeping positions. The mattress is equipped with an 8.0” pocketed coil unit.

This is slightly thicker than the average support layer thickness, which is 7.9” thick, based on all of our tests to date. The coil unit uses 13.5 gauge wires, which are on the thicker side compared to many other mattresses on the market.

A thicker gauge wire creates better support, better durability, and better longevity for a mattress. With a mattress as large as this it’s likely a requirement, as a less thick wire would likely create significant support and other performance issues.

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

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

Notably, the mattress does not utilize zoned coils (which create more / less support at certain portions of the mattress).

While I do like to see zoned coils whenever possible, in this mattress it’s not surprising to not have zoned coils as the extra large mattress size would certainly complicate a typical zoned unit configuration.

Design

The Nolah Luxe Alaskan King is a 13.5″ mattress with a medium-firm feel, 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale. This mattress is available in a single size, Alaskan King.

Materials

The Nolah Luxe Alaskan King mattress is a 13.5″ hybrid. In total, there are five layers from top to bottom, including:

• 1.5” Quilted Cover
• 1.5” Poly Foam
• 1.5” Poly Foam
• 1.0” Poly Foam
• 8.0” Pocketed Coils

Notably, our law tag was missing most of the customary information we expect to see. The most likely reason is that we received and tested an early pre-production version of the mattress.

The Cover

The Nolah Luxe has the same GlacioTex cooling cover we’ve seen on other Nolah mattresses. It is hypoallergenic and zips on during mattress assembly.

This cover is a thin fabric, designed to limit heat retention, but has a quilted foam core.

The quilted core is two foams—a 1.0″ foam beneath the cover for added softness followed by a 1.5″ gel swirl foam (according to the manufacturer).

Note: When we measured the quilted cover, we found the total thickness to be closer to 2.0″, but Nolah states the cover is 1.5″ thick.

The Comfort Layer

The comfort layer is made of three layers of foam. There is a 1.5″ poly foam (green) followed by a 1.0″ transitional poly foam (yellow).

The last foam within the comfort layer is a thinner 1.0″ transitional poly foam. This layer is designed to help ease pressure points as sleepers sink into the mattress and begin to engage with the support layer.

The Support Layer

The support layer is a simple 8.0″ pocketed coil unit. Each coil is individually encased in a thin fabric that allows the coils to move independently of each other.

Product Evolution

The Nolah Luxe Alaskan King mattress was launched in mid-2024. As of launch, it is only available in a single size, Alaskan King.

Other Mattresses to Consider

If you’re looking for an XL family bed that can fit the whole crew, the Nolah Luxe Alaskan King is a bit of a unique breed. To date, we’ve only tested one other extra large mattress (the Big Mattress Classic).

If you’re open to a smaller size and pushing two beds together or just want a hybrid with a similar feel, here are a couple of other options you may want to consider.

Frequently Asked Questions

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