Nolah Original 10 Review: Best Mattress for Side Sleepers

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A white Nolah Original mattress sits on a simple bed frame in an open room. An open blue Nolah box stands beside the bed.

If you’re a side sleeper, you know how important it is to find a mattress that provides the perfect balance of comfort and support. The Nolah Original 10 is our top pick for side sleepers, thanks to its combination of pressure-relieving memory foam and supportive base layer. 

While we definitely recommend this mattress for side sleepers, it can be a great choice for most individuals looking for a memory foam mattress that offers superior comfort and support.

All About Nolah

Nolah is a mattress company that was founded in 2015 with the goal of providing an alternative to traditional memory foam mattresses. Nolah’s mattresses are made with a unique type of memory foam that is designed to be cooler and more comfortable than other types of memory foam. In addition to their use of high-quality, innovative materials, Nolah also offers a 120-night sleep trial and a 15-year limited warranty.

Nolah’s flagship mattress is the Nolah Original 10, which is our top pick for side sleepers. The Nolah Original 10 is a 10-inch memory foam mattress that features three layers of foam. The top layer is a 2-inch layer of Nolah’s AirFoam, which is a pressure-relieving memory foam that contours to your body. Beneath this top layer is a 7-inch layer of high-density polyethylene core, 3 inches of foam, and a 1-inch transitional layer.

Nolah Signature 12
Nolah Evolution 15
Nolah Natural 11
Nolah Nurture 10

Nolah Original Mattress Comfort and Support

The Nolah Original 10 is a great choice for side sleepers, as it offers a balance of comfort and support. The two-inch top layer of Nolah’s AirFoam contours comfortably to your body while the middle and bottom layers provide plenty of support. Let’s dig a little deeper into what makes this mattress a comfortable and supportive option.

A young man sleeps soundly on his back atop a Nolah Original mattress.

Firmness

The Nolah Original 10 is a medium-firm mattress, which means it falls right in the middle of the firmness spectrum. This makes it a great choice for side sleepers, as it provides the perfect balance of comfort and support. The Nolah Original 10 has a traditional memory foam feel, which means it contours closely to your body.

Cushioning

The Nolah Original 10 is a great choice for side sleepers who want a cushioned mattress. The two-inch top layer of Nolah’s patented AirFoam provides pressure relief and contours to your body, while the middle and bottom layers offer support.

Bounce

Like most memory foam mattresses, the Nolah Original offers minimal bounce compared to innerspring or hybrid options. However, because it is medium-firm, most sleepers will have an easy enough time moving around in bed without feeling like they’re sinking into the mattress.

Pressure Relief

The Nolah Original 10 does an excellent job of relieving pressure, thanks to the top layer of Nolah’s AirFoam and supportive high-density core. The memory foam contours closely to your body, which alleviates pressure points.

Spinal Alignment

Memory foam mattresses like the Nolah 10 are excellent at promoting proper spine alignment. By cushioning the hips and other sensitive areas and conforming to your body, this mattress keeps you comfortable and stable while you sleep to reduce fatigue and aches in the morning.

Additional Features of the Nolah Original

When researching mattresses online, you’ll want to know about additional features and characteristics that will impact the quality of your sleep. When it comes to the Nolah 10, here’s what we’ve found.

Motion Isolation

The Nolah 10 does an excellent job of isolating motion, thanks to the memory foam top layer. This means that if you have a partner who moves around a lot in bed, you’re less likely to be disturbed by their movements while you sleep.

Temperature Regulation and Cooling

Memory foam mattresses are often less than ideal options for hot sleepers because the components tend to trap heat. However, with Nolah’s breathable cover, which is made of plant-based materials, this mattress is a suitable choice for both cold and hot sleepers.

Edge Support

The Nolah Original 10 has great edge support, thanks to the high-density base foam in the core layer. If you are sitting on the edge of the mattress or trying to get in or out of bed, the foam layers will prevent you from feeling like you’re about to fall off.

How Much Does a Nolah Original Mattress Cost?

The Nolah Original 10 is a great value for the price. It’s a medium-firm mattress that’s packed with features to ensure a comfortable night’s sleep. The Nolah Original 10 is available in all standard sizes with undiscounted prices starting around $550.

SizeDimensionsPrice
Twin38” x 75”$549.00
Twin XL38″ x 80″$699.00
Full53″ x 75″$799.00
Queen60” x 80”$899.00
King76” x 80”$1,099.00
California King72” x 84”$1,099.00

Shipping and Delivery

You will get free shipping on your Nolah 10. Once your mattress arrives, you’ll have 120 days to try it out.

With the 120-night trial period, there is a 30-day “break-in” period, during which you will not be able to return the mattress. However, if you’re not satisfied with the mattress between 30 and 120 nights of sleeping on it, you can return it for a full refund.

If you choose to return the mattress, Nolah will actually send a courier to retrieve it and deliver it to a donation or recycling center.

Who Sleeps Best on the Nolah Original 10?

A Nolah Original 10 mattress rests on a simple bed frame in a minimalistic bedroom. The image depicts a cross section of the mattress, revealing its foam layers.

Different sleepers may have varying experiences when sleeping on a Nolah mattress like the Original 10. Factors such as your weight, your sleep style, and whether you sleep alone or with a partner can impact your comfort and quality of sleep.

By Weight

Your weight tends to have an impact on how well you sleep on mattresses made of different materials.

Lightweight Sleepers

Light sleepers, who weigh less than 130 lbs, are likely to sleep comfortably on the Nolah Original no matter what their sleep style is. The AirFoam and high-density foam construction provides the right amount of comfort and firm support to provide pressure relief, proper spinal alignment, and contouring for lighter sleepers.

Average Weight Sleepers

Individuals of an average weight, typically between 130 and 230 lbs, will usually find this mattress to be a comfortable choice. Side and back average weight individuals will be especially comfortable with the amount of firmness and relief they receive. However, average weight stomach sleepers may sink too far into the mattress to be comfortable throughout the night.

Heavy Sleepers

Heavier sleepers who weigh more than 230 lbs often experience some discomfort on an all-foam mattress, especially thinner mattresses. Some heavyweight sleepers can sleep well on the Nolah Original because of the amount of pain and pressure relief they get while resting. However, some individuals may prefer a thicker, firmer mattress, like the Nolah Evolution 15, for more support.

By Sleep Position

Your preferred sleep position will also affect your mattress choice. For most sleep styles, the Nolah Original 10 offers comfort and stability.

Side Sleepers

The Nolah Original 10 is our favorite choice for side sleepers, especially lightweight and average weight individuals.

The thick layers of foam can provide the hip and shoulder support that side sleepers need, and Nolah mattresses use a particularly dense foam core to help prevent sleepers from sinking in too much. Pressure relief is a common desire for side sleepers, and Nolah mattresses can provide this with ease.

Looking for other options? Check out our other recommendations on the best mattresses for side sleepers.

Stomach Sleepers

Stomach sleepers may find the Nolah Original to be too soft, as they need a firmer mattress to keep their hips and pelvis from sinking in too far.

Back Sleepers

For back sleepers, this mattress is just right – not too soft and not too firm. The Nolah Original will provide the perfect amount of support to keep your spine aligned while you sleep.

Combination Sleepers

The Nolah Original is a great choice for combination sleepers, as it’s a versatile mattress that can accommodate all sleep styles. If you move and switch positions overnight, the Nolah will accommodate your motion and contour around your hips and spine, keeping you comfortable and supported.

With or Without Company

Whether you sleep alone or with a partner can also affect your choice in mattress.

Couples

If you sleep with a partner, the Nolah Original 10 is an excellent choice. The mattress does an excellent job of isolating motion, so you won’t be disturbed by your partner’s movements during the night.

Individuals

If you sleep alone, the Nolah Original will also provide a comfortable and restful night’s sleep. You’ll enjoy the plush comfort of the memory foam top layer, as well as the supportive base foam layer, for a good night’s sleep.

Final Review

The Nolah Original 10 is our favorite mattress for side sleepers. This medium-firm mattress offers great pressure relief, contouring, edge support, motion isolation, and more. With free shipping, a 120-night no-strings-attached trial period, and competitive deals available online, the Nolah Original 10 is one of the best bed-in-a-box mattresses available online.

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