Since first testing the Nolah Evolution Mattress a few years ago, it’s stayed in my mind as one of the better hybrids from an online mattress company. It’s always made sense to me that it’s the brand’s bestseller. At the time I first reviewed it, it came in only one firmness, a medium feel, but now it’s available in three levels plus an option for plus-size sleepers. In this Nolah Evolution Mattress review, I cover the softest model (plush) and how it performed overall after sleeping on it for over a month.
During my testing, I tracked everything from edge support to motion transfer to cooling abilities. Although I slept on the plush model, I also tried the luxury-firm model alongside a panel of testers and can make recommendations for each firmness. (I’d expect the overall mattress performance to be very similar for the firm model, as well.) Read on to find out more about my experience with this bed, and why it became the top recommendation in our best mattresses for side sleepers roundup.
Nolah Evolution Mattress Construction, Firmness And Feel
14 Inches Of Support And Pressure Relief
The Nolah Evolution is a 14-inch hybrid mattress that combines pressure-relieving foams and zoned coils with reinforced edges. The top 4 inches of the mattress are surrounded by a border gusset, which allows air to escape the mattress, keeping it dry and preventing you from overheating. It also features carrying handles along the exterior to help when moving the bed.
See the breakdown of all of its layers below.
- Cover: An organic cotton cover built with the brand’s ArcticTex fibers, which are designed to dissipate body heat and keep sleepers cool and dry.
- Euro topper: A 2-inch quilted Euro topper is designed with breathable foam and high-thermal conductivity quilting to help draw heat away from the body while providing pressure relief.
- Comfort layer: A layer of zoned AirFoam, Nolah’s proprietary foam, has hole-punched zones to allow for more flexibility at the shoulders and more support beneath the hips. By promoting airflow, this design also makes it breathable and regulates temperature.
- Support foam layer: Two inches of CertiPUR-US-certified foam adds support and additional pressure relief.
- Transition layer: A 1-inch layer of foam helps transition to the layer of coils below and adds a slight bounce to the mattress.
- Support layer: Eight inches of individually wrapped coils with zoned support provide durability, responsiveness and targeted support for different areas of the body. The coils along the perimeter are thicker for extra edge support.
- Base layer: The final layer is recycled plant fiber, which supports the upper layers and adds stability to the mattress.
As mentioned, I tested the plush model of the Nolah Evolution, and I truly found it to be a soft mattress. It provides a nice hugging feel that doesn’t suck you in. The foams cushion my pressure points while on my side and fill in my lumbar region as needed while on my back. There’s a little bit of sinkage, but not too much. It feels more like cushioning and pressure relief than anything. Because I primarily sleep on my side, I love a soft mattress, so this is an ideal firmness level for me. I sporadically sleep on my back throughout the night and also find it comfortable in this position. Nolah mainly recommends the plush model for strict side sleepers, though.
The brand suggests side, back and combination sleepers choose the luxury-firm model (which has a true medium-firm feel with a touch of softness) and the firm model for those who need a flatter surface with extra support, including heavier sleepers up to 350 pounds. If you weigh more than 300 pounds, Nolah recommends you opt for the Comfort Plus model.
Nolah Evolution Mattress Features
Airflow-Promoting Materials Prevent You From Overheating
A queen-size Nolah Evolution weighs about 115 pounds, so I highly recommend having someone help you unbox it and set it up. My fiancé and I pushed the box up the stairs together to get it to our room and broke a sweat along the way. (OK, I’ll be real: He did most of the work, but I still found myself out of breath for a minute.)
I was impressed by how quickly the mattress took shape after unboxing it and the absence of noticeable odors. It has a durable, quality structure that felt supportive right away. It also came with two free pillows that took a bit longer to expand and take their shape, but once they did, I found them to be of good quality.
Pressure Relief
As a side sleeper, I’m always looking for pressure relief around my hip and shoulder. It’s difficult to find a mattress that doesn’t cause at least some discomfort around my shoulder after lying on it for a while. But I haven’t felt that at all with the Nolah Evolution. The pressure relief has been fantastic for me as a side sleeper, and our panel tester who tried the luxury-firm version agreed: “Side sleeping on this one is very comfortable,” she said. “I feel supported and cradled.” I also feel comfortable on my back, but I wouldn’t recommend the plush version for any back sleepers with back pain or who are heavier in weight.
Cooling
Although Nolah doesn’t market this mattress as a cooling bed, I found it to excel at temperature regulation. I’m a hot sleeper, so I know the dance routine of kicking off the sheets in the night quite well. I haven’t felt hot on this bed, and I think it does a great job promoting airflow.
Motion Transfer
Motion transfer is a big no-no for anyone who shares the bed with a partner or a pet and is awakened easily by movements (I’m talking about myself here). I share the bed with my partner, my cat and occasionally my dog. I don’t feel my partner or cat when they move around or get in and out of bed, and I only feel my dog when he jumps up on the bed.
We also conducted a formal motion isolation test with our panelists by placing a glass of water on the mattress and moving around on the other side. The luxury-firm version performed well during these tests, as one tester noted: “The water in the glass barely moved, even when I jumped on the bed.” So overall, the Evolution does a really good job at isolating motion.
Support
I like to sleep right next to the edge of the bed, and there’s no sinkage on the Nolah Evolution. I find myself well-supported both in the middle and at the edge. To me, this shows its reinforced edges are doing the job. There is some sinkage when you sit on the edge, but not enough that you feel unstable. The mattress also doesn’t dip in the middle, and the same can be said about the luxury-firm version. “I can comfortably lie on the edge in various positions without feeling like I’m going to slide off,” says one panelist. As another adds, “When lying near the edge, the mattress feels just as supportive as the center.”
Ease Of Movement
I’ve noted that I move around in the night from one side to the other and onto my back, and I have no problem doing so on the Nolah Evolution. I wouldn’t say it’s an extremely bouncy bed that springs me up easily (at least the plush model isn’t), but it doesn’t make me feel trapped, either. The luxury-firm version also has a similar feel. One panelists notes that, “While the mattress isn’t bouncy, per se, it is responsive to movement.”
About The Company
Nolah started out designing mattresses specifically for side sleepers and their needs. Many of its beds are on the softer side and provide the contouring and relief that side sleepers need around their joints, while also offering support for spinal alignment. However, some of its models are now designed for other styles of sleepers, too (I guess it’s not all about us, fellow side sleepers). Along with mattresses, the company offers bases, bedding and mattress accessories.
Shipping And Delivery
The brand ships the bed compressed in a box for free out of its factory in Arizona via FedEx. For me, it arrived within a week of receiving the shipping notification. Or you can order white-glove service, which means the movers set up the mattress for you. You can choose from three service options: the brand only removes your old mattress, the brand only does the setup for you, or the brand does both removal and setup. These services range from $150 to $300 but are often discounted.
Trial Period And Returns
Nolah offers a 120-night trial period, but you can opt out of the trial period and save $100 on your purchase. If you keep the trial period (which I recommend), then you can return the mattress for a full refund if you don’t like it after sleeping on it for 30 nights. Keep in mind you’re responsible for a $99 pickup fee if you do return it, and you have to initiate the return process within 120 nights.
Warranty
Nolah offers a lifetime warranty that covers any manufacturing defects. However, if you report the defects 3 to 10 years after purchasing it, there’s a $99 transportation fee to repair and recover it. In years 11 to 25, you pay half the original purchase price if it’s deemed defective. After 25 years, you pay 60% of the original purchase price.
Other Nolah Mattresses We’ve Tested
Nolah currently offers eight different mattresses, ranging from all-foam to hybrid to kids options. We put several of the brand’s most popular models to the test. Take a look at our findings below.
Final Thoughts
This is a high-quality mattress with different firmness options that should work for most sleepers. As a side sleeper who loves a soft bed, I think the plush model is excellent. It offers cushiony, pillow-like comfort without being too soft. However, I also found the luxury-firm model comfortable for side sleeping, and I think it’s better for those who sleep in multiple positions and want a medium-firm feel. The firm model is a good match for stomach sleepers and those who want more support. The Nolah Evolution performed extremely well in cooling, motion isolation, support and pressure relief, so I recommend couples check it out, too.
Even after two years of testing, this mattress continues to be just as supportive and comfortable as it was when I first got it. I’ve since moved it to my guest bedroom, and all my guests appreciate how it feels—I’ve had some text me to say they don’t want to get out of bed because they’re so comfortable.
But if you like really deep sinkage (think classic memory foam), then I don’t think this mattress is going to be the best pick for you. That said, it’s also not an extremely bouncy mattress, since it offers a plush Euro pillow topper. So if you like a really lifted, flat mattress feel, then an innerspring mattress might be a better choice.
How I Tested The Nolah Evolution Mattress
I slept on the plush model of the Nolah Evolution for over a month before initially writing this review. I took into account how supported I felt in the middle of the mattress and along the edges, how easy it was to move around on, whether I could feel my partner’s or pets’ movements and how my body temperature felt throughout the night. Since then, I’ve also tested the luxury-firm model alongside our panel testers to check out its support, overall feel and motion isolation.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The stories in Forbes Vetted’s robust mattress and sleep section are rigorously researched, expert-backed and contain firsthand testing insights from various testers. We’ve published dozens of mattress stories, including best lists and in-depth reviews.
- This review was written by deputy editor and certified sleep coach Bridget Chapman. She’s tested over 200 beds, and regularly attends sleep conferences, visits mattress showrooms and leads our panel testing sessions.
- All of our mattresses are reviewed against a set list of criteria for consistency, and to gather both quantitative and qualitative information.
- This story will continue to receive regular updates to include new brand information and/or testing insights. It was last updated in July 2026.