As anyone in my life could tell you, I love to sleep. I’m a firm believer in getting at least 8 hours of uninterrupted rest each night, which as an untethered young adult, is something I prioritize (especially while I still can). But despite my penchant for some good shuteye, I’ve never invested in a good mattress. I’ve always figured that as long as I was getting enough sleep, where I was sleeping didn’t matter. A few years and a lot of aggravating back pain later, I regretted not investing in a more comfortable place to lay my head every night. So, when I got the opportunity to test Nolah’s best-selling Evolution mattress, I jumped at the chance to see what I was missing out on.
As obvious as it seems now, switching mattresses made me realize just how much of a disservice I’d been doing to myself all the years. In the three months since ditching my bargain bed, my ever-present back pain has virtually disappeared, and—dare I say—I don’t feel utterly zombie-like on days when I can’t get my full 8 hours.
And sure, a mattress upgrade almost always guarantees better sleep depending on which one you buy, but there’s something particularly magical about the Nolah's ability to lull you to sleep. But since buying a new mattress is a big, and ultimately personal, decision, I’ve broken down everything you need to know to help you come to your own conclusion. Read on for the full review.
Delivery
Every Nolah mattress comes rolled in an eco-friendly box that ships free to your home, which is convenient if you want to avoid waiting around for a mattress delivery. If you live in a walk-up apartment, like me, or have an upstairs bedroom, just be aware that the box is very heavy (a Queen mattress weighs 110 pounds), so you’ll want an extra set of hands to help bring it into the bedroom or you can pay for mattress removal and setup services through the company, which starts at $125.
Price
The queen size costs $2,299. The company allows you to pay in monthly installments over 3,6, or 12 months with 0-30% APR. Plus, Nolah runs regular sales (it’s currently $1,599!), so keep an eye out for discounts. The best part? You have 120 nights to test your new mattress. If you don’t like it (but I bet you will), Nolah will send a driver to pick it up from your home and donate it to a local charity.
Install
The mattress is vacuum-packed and will expand upon opening, so make sure to move any furniture out of the way before cutting the plastic it comes wrapped in. Although the instructions say that it takes between 24 and 48 hours to fully expand to its full height of 15 inches, it seemed to inflate almost immediately. If you don’t notice an immediate expansion like I did, don’t stress; the brand ensures that you can sleep on the mattress right away.
My Thoughts on Nolah's Mattress
There’s a reason the Evolution is Nolah’s best-selling mattress. The mattress is specifically designed to support your spine (it was even rated as the best mattress for spinal support by Forbes and the Sleep Foundation in 2022). Using individually-wrapped coils arranged in a tri-zone system, the mattress is made to respond to movement and weight distribution, which helps support spinal alignment for side, back, and stomach sleepers. This bottom layer sits below multiple layers of cushion for additional spinal support.
Nolah also offers several different levels of firmness to choose from: Plush, Luxury Firm, and Firm. I chose the Luxury Firm, which has a good balance of support and comfort. It was an especially good choice for me and my boyfriend, with whom I share the bed, since he, as a side-sleeper prefers softer mattresses, while I tend to favor something firmer. It’s a win-win for both of us!
And if you’re a hot sleeper, you’ll love the Euro topper and cool-touch cover that work by pulling heat away from the body. (As a hot sleeper myself, I was pleasantly surprised when I had to actually turn down the AC in my apartment in the middle of the night!) I can finally get quality sleep, back pain free.
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