As we turn to online shopping for everything from clothes and shoes to larger purchases, like a mattress, the stakes get higher. After all, we spend a third of our lives sleeping — and mattresses aren't cheap — so it's wise to do your research ahead of time, especially before you click "add to cart."
And if you have chronic back or hip pain, mattress shopping becomes even more difficult. Our top-performing pick for those with chronic back pain is the Nolah Original 10", an all-foam mattress with a medium firmness level. In this review, we'll dive deeper into how it performed in our evaluations, so you can gauge whether it's a good fit for you.
The Nolah Original 10" mattress is our best overall mattress pick for those with back and hip pain. While no one mattress can instantly fix chronic joint pain, this model consistently gets top scores in our evaluations from those with pre-existing conditions such as sciatica and scoliosis. It provides great pressure relief and comes in a crowd-pleasing medium level of firmness.
At the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, we've evaluated all sorts of bedding — including more than a hundred mattresses in the past year — in our Lab and with the help of thousands of at-home testers. We've surveyed over 10,000 mattress owners on our tester panel to see how their beds have held up over the years. For our in-depth review of the Nolah Original 10", we analyzed more than 500 data points from dozens of real users. Here's everything you need to know about the brand's original foam mattress.
Nolah Mattress Overview
As Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) mattress brands began popping up in the 2010s, Nolah set itself apart through its engineered materials. Founded in 2016, the brand sought to upgrade the memory foam mattress, which hadn't changed much since its introduction to the industry in the 1990s.
Nolah developed its proprietary AirFoam which was designed to maximize pressure relief while sleeping cooler than memory foam, a material known for trapping heat. Beyond that, Nolah focused on designing a mattress specifically for side sleepers, with the goal of "aligning the spine while cradling a side sleeper's most sensitive joints," according to the brand. These innovations were used to develop the brand's first mattress: the Nolah Original 10".
Pros
- Top scores for comfort and support
- Pressure-relieving memory foam
- Users say it sleeps cooler than other foam models
Cons
- Testers noted it took a few days to adjust to the new mattress
| Height | 10 inches |
|---|---|
| Weight | 70 pounds for a Queen |
| Firmness level | Medium |
| Mattress type | Memory foam |
| Available sizes | Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split King |
| Price range | $799-$1,918 |
| Trial period | 120 days |
| Delivery | Free shipping within the continental U.S. or $125-$225 for setup & removal |
Performance
Overall Comfort & Support
Our testers and panelists alike gave Nolah high scores for comfort and support but noted that it took time for them to completely adjust to the mattress, as the foam feels slightly more responsive than your traditional memory foam. Overall, users gave the bed higher scores after sleeping on it for a month compared to their initial impressions after the first few nights.
One told us, after sleeping on it for a few months, "I am still shocked at how supportive it is for being [made of] such thin foam." Another praised the pressure-relieving feel, noting that it "contours to [her] body but not too much that it leaves an [indent] that [she] can't get out of." Other users reported a notable improvement in sleep quality. One shared, "I liked how it fostered nights of sound sleeping and mornings waking up feeling good and well rested."
Joint Pain Relief
Pressure relief and spinal alignment are the core focuses of Nolah's proprietary foam. This is what separates the brand's offerings from other foam mattresses on the market. Our testers were pleased with how pressure-relieving the foam feels and shared that it doesn't completely collapse under the weight of your body. As one side-sleeping tester put it, "My spine feels properly supported, and it doesn't feel like I'm sinking into the mattress."
Another tester with chronic back pain shared, "I am not cured, but I am not waking up in pain. [On my old mattress,] my hips would be killing me when I slept, and I would be tossing and turning all night. This bed offers the pressure relief that I needed on every part of my body for sure!"
Another tester shared, "My husband and I woke every morning with our bodies free of muscle tightness or our typical achiness that we experienced every morning with our old mattress."
That being said, our testers noted that the pain relief wasn't always seamless or immediate. One tester noted, "Although I was experiencing less back, shoulder and neck pain from this mattress, it still took a few days for me to get used to sleeping on it because I am used to sleeping on much firmer mattresses." Other users who typically preferred firmer beds agreed that it took several weeks to adjust to the softer Nolah, and some ultimately opted to return the bed.
Edge Support
While the Nolah Original 10" excels in many areas, edge support is unfortunately not one of them, though this is typical of foam mattresses. Our testers noted the Nolah Original 10" would "cave in" and "sink" if they sat on the edges, making it less ideal for users who need the extra support to get in and out of bed. If edge support is important to you (e.g., you often sleep or sit on the edge), opt for Nolah's new Original Hybrid. It has a similar thickness and feel, but our testers found they could comfortably sleep on the edge.
Motion Isolation
Like other foam mattresses, Nolah's Original mattress has excellent motion isolation. Our testers, particularly those who sleep with partners or pets, gave the bed top marks in that category. "If one person were to get up, the other would not feel it on the mattress," said one tester. Another tester also shared that she couldn't feel her dog jump onto her bed.
Temperature
One of Nolah's key objectives is to provide the comfort of foam without the fear of overheating. From what we've seen, the mattress has done well amongst our testers and panelists. They reported that the bed "never gets too warm" and gave it top scores for keeping them at a comfortable temperature.
Firmness Levels
The Original 10" has a medium firmness level, which is the most popular firmness level amongst our tester panelists (and a "happy medium" for couples). Nolah also offers a variation with contoured cutouts for a plusher, medium-soft feel that's catered to side sleepers.
To maintain a neutral spinal alignment, side sleepers should look for a softer mattress, back sleepers are best suited to medium firmness and stomach sleepers fare best with a firmer bed. At the same time, those with larger bodies require more support and should opt for a firmer mattress while those with lightweight frames are best suited to softer surfaces.
We've found that the Original 10" works for side and back sleepers, but those who strongly prefer firmer mattresses, especially stomach sleepers, may have a difficult time adjusting to the bed. That being said, some of our testers who previously slept on firmer beds ended up preferring the medium feel of this one. "I initially disliked it and thought it was way too soft, but then I really got used to it quite quickly," reported one.
For a firmer alternative, check out Nolah's best-selling mattress, the Evolution 15", is a hybrid model with several layers of foam on top of coils. It comes in multiple firmnesses, from Plush to Firm. If you're after a very firm mattress, it might not be the perfect fit, but if you want a slightly firm or medium-firm option, it could be just what you're after.
Materials
Nolah Original 10"
The Nolah Original 10" features three layers of foam in a knit Tencel lyocell cover for a balance of cushioning and support. Here are the layers from top to bottom:
- 2" Zoned AirFoam: This layer is engineered for comfort in key areas like the hips and shoulders, and it is designed not to overheat like traditional memory foam.
- 1" CoreComfort Support Foam: This acts as a transition layer between the firm foundational foam and the top layer of comfort foam.
- 7" Solid Sleep Foam Foundation: Firm and dense, this tall layer provides the bulk and support needed for the mattress.
One of our consumer testers, without knowing the material makeup, summed up the feel thusly: "The mattress feels like it is composed of two layers. The first is soft and fluffy and the layer underneath it is firm. The soft layer conforms to my body while the bottom layer remains firm and supportive."
Nolah Original All-Foam Hybrid
Compared to the original, this all-foam hybrid variation uses the same cover and 2-inch top foam layer with a different foam base. Here's each foam component from top to bottom:
- 2" Zoned AirFoam: Identical to the top layer of the Original, this is designed to provide relief at hot spots like the shoulders and hips without overheating.
- 3" Wave Micro-Cut AirFoam Flex: This is the top half of the micro-cut wave layer. Together with the below layers, it's meant to increase flexibility and responsiveness when changing positions and create air channels between layers.
- 2" AirFoam Flex Adaptive Core: This high-density foam layer works in tandem with the two contoured cutout layers.
- 3" Wave Micro-Cut AirFoam Flex: This is the bottom half of the micro-cut wave layer and base of the mattress.
According to the brand, the two flex layers use contoured cutouts, similar to those of an egg carton, for a slightly more responsive feel. The resulting mattress feels contouring and supportive, and one tester found it easy to switch positions at night.
Who Are Nolah's Mattresses Best For?
While there's no one universal mattress for everyone, Nolah has earned high praise from side sleepers and those with joint pain in our tests. The Original 10" comes in a medium level of firmness (with a slightly softer side-sleeper option for an added fee), which is a great option for couples. Stomach sleepers or those who prefer firm beds may not find this mattress (or any of Nolah's foam beds) firm enough.
Back & Hip Pain Sufferers
While no mattress material is medically superior to another, Nolah's foam construction offers relief in key areas, like the shoulders and hips. The medium firmness is also ideal. A medium level of firmness proved effective in improving chronic lower back pain, according to both Naimish Baxi, M.D., a physiatrist at the Hospital for Special Surgery, and a recent meta-analysis (a review of many medical studies).
Take note: Those who are used to sleeping on firm beds may take longer to adjust to the medium firmness. We've found that side and back sleepers found this mattress more comfortable and supportive than stomach sleepers.
In our tests, we found that users with chronic back and hip pain, plus those with conditions like scoliosis, gave Nolah mattresses higher scores than testers. One tester shared: "I have sciatica (at 25 years old!), and this does alleviate some pain! Sleeping on my side on this mattress feels better than other mattresses." Another tester who spends all day on his feet noted, "The mattress is comfortable, and I don't experience pain while I sleep." Plus, a panelist found it "significantly helpful in relieving back pain for [her] husband who has scoliosis."
Side Sleepers
Going back to the brand's roots, the Original 10" was specifically designed for side sleepers. In fact, the brand says its mattresses are "expertly engineered to balance cushioning and support, aligning the spine while cradling a side sleeper's most sensitive joints."
It comes as no surprise, then, that true side sleepers gave it top scores for how soft yet supportive it felt. One noted, "I don't feel crushed from sleeping on my side all night long. My spine feels properly supported." While Nolah notes that the medium-soft all-foam hybrid variation is a side-sleeper favorite, in our tests, both variations earned top praise from several users who sleep on their side.
Ordering, Delivery and Trial Period
The Original 10" is available directly on the Nolah site, but the brand has been breaking into brick-and-mortar retail, with a select number of showrooms across the 50 states if you'd like to feel it in person before you buy it. If you opt to purchase the mattress online, it'll ship to your door within a few days. Similar to other bed-in-a-box brands, Nolah's mattresses come folded up and compressed in a box for DIY setup.
Our testers and panelists found assembly for the Original 10" fairly self-explanatory, although some emphasized that you need to place the rolled-up mattress vertically or along the side of the bed rather than at the head or foot. If you'd rather not set up the bed on your own, Nolah partners with the hauling company LoadUp, who will come to your home and set up the bed for you and/or remove your old mattress for an extra fee. You can opt for this service during the ordering process.
Like other online mattress brands, Nolah offers a sleep trial of 120 days. In most cases, you'll need to keep it for at least 30 days before initiating a return. You can also opt out of the sleep trial before purchasing to save some money, depending on your mattress size. If you decide to return your Nolah mattress, you'll get a refund minus a $99 fee for pickup and return shipping.
Durability and Life Expectancy
According to Nolah, "The mattress life expectancy of an AirFoam mattress is roughly 10 years." Since the brand launched in 2016, we can't verify this claim, but panel members who've had the Original 10" for four and five years confirmed that it's held up well over time and maintained its shape.
The Bottom Line: Are Nolah Mattresses Worth Buying?
Yes. The Nolah Original 10" may seem quite simple on paper, but the feedback from our testers speaks for itself. It consistently earns high scores for comfort and support, including high praise from real users with joint pain. Plus, it comes in a versatile medium firmness and doesn't overheat like other foam mattresses we've tested. Because of this, it's earned a place as our best mattress for back pain. It's also received some of the most positive feedback out of the various mattresses we've tested from the brand.
For those on the fence, we recommend trying Nolah's Mattress Topper, which is made using the same top layer of the Original 10". It's received excellent feedback from many of our testers and comes in both plush and firm options. One even shared that it "made my mattress new again, but better!"
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Why Trust Good Housekeeping?
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab has been testing bedding and home products for over a century. Each year, our experts research and review hundreds of mattresses in addition to surveying our readers, organizing consumer testing and analyzing countless data points.
Grace Wu is a textiles product review analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute and oversaw recent at-home mattress testing of over 100 models. She's interviewed medical experts and written stories about the best mattresses for back pain, the best pillows for neck pain and the best adjustable beds. Before joining GH, Grace earned a Master of Engineering in materials science and engineering and a Bachelor of Science in fiber science from Cornell University.
Grace Wu (she/her) is a product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she evaluates fabric-based products using specialized equipment and consumer tester data. Prior to starting at Good Housekeeping in 2022, she earned a master of engineering in materials science and engineering and a bachelor of science in fiber science from Cornell University. While earning her degrees, Grace worked in research laboratories for smart textiles and nanotechnology and held internships at Open Style Lab and Rent the Runway.
