Nolah Evolution Mattress Review – We Tried It ($700 Off)

This review has been written by Dan Cartwright – the website owner – who has been testing products and creating online reviews since 2015 to help consumers find the right products for their needs.

The Nolah Evolution is Nolah’s most popular mattress apparently.

And I’ve just spent the last 30 nights sleeping on it – so is the Nolah Evolution a good mattress or not and who is it best suited to?

The Nolah Evolution is an excellent mattress that’s durable and should last at least 6-8 years or longer with the correct care. The Nolah Evolution is suitable for all sleeper types – especially heavier weighted sleepers over 230 lbs due to its thick 15″ profile.

In the rest of this Nolah Evolution mattress review, I discuss in more detail the suitability and considerations for this mattress based on my first-hand experience of sleeping in it and performing tests on it.

This should help you decide if the Nolah Evolution mattress is right for you or not.

Not sure? Check out my other top-rated mattresses here that I’ve tested and reviewed.

Nolah Evolution Mattress Review

Watch my video review of the Nolah Evolution 15″ mattress above to see me test out this mattress first hand and see inside the mattress.

I’d rate the Nolah Evolution as one of the best mattresses that I’ve reviewed – I’d put it joint top with the Puffy Lux Hybrid due to its brilliant support and good pressure relief.

More specifically, the qualities of the Nolah Evolution make it ideal for just about every sleeping position – including front, back, side, combination, and lighter weighted sleepers.

Furthermore, the thick 15″ profile, adaptive support, and soft Euro top makes the Nolah Evolution ideal for heavier weighted sleepers over 230 bs and heavier weighted side sleepers in particular.

This review covers the luxury firm version of the Nolah Evolution but you can opt for the plush version if you want more pressure relief or the firm version for more pushback and support.

Click the red buttons below to buy directly from Nolah with the maximum discount currently available.

Recommended For

• Heavy weight sleepers – if you weigh more than 230 lbs then the extra thickness of the Nolah Evolution combined with the robust coil core and the zoned support means that you won’t sink too far into the mattress and you’ll instead remain in good posture.

• Front and back sleepers – the zoned support means that you’ll be kept in good posture in the front and back sleeping positions regardless of your weight because the Euro top also provides pressure relief for lighter weighted sleepers. I personally found the back sleeping position the most comfortable.

• Side sleepers – the padding and pressure relief provided by the Euro top and the foam in the comfort layer means that side sleepers of all weights will feel comfortable in the side sleeping position. I have very painful arthritic shoulders and I was able to sleep comfortably in the Nolah Evo without issue.

• Edge sleepers – the high density polyfoam edge support can provide strong but adaptive edge support around the edge of the bed for both light and heavy weighted sleepers. The Nolah Evo is my #1 rated mattress for edge sleepers.

• Couples – if you sleep as a couple then the Nolah Evolution will be ideal for you because the thick profile, pocket coils, and foam layers help to dampen movements so that you don’t feel each other moving around at night. I was able to sleep with my partner in the Nolah Evolution without being disturbed.

• Heavier weighted side sleepers – if you are a side sleeper over 230 lbs then it can be really challenging to find a mattress that provides adequate support and pressure relief. However, the luxury firm version of the Nolah Evolution is ideal for side sleepers over 230 lbs. If you are a side sleeper in the 200 – 230 lbs range then you might prefer the plush firmness for more weight distribution and better pressure relief. If you are a very heavy side sleeper over 275 lbs then you might prefer the firm option.

• Lighter weighted sleepers – if you weigh less than 150 lbs then the luxury firm option should be ok for you, whilst the plush version offers more ‘give’ if you weigh less than 130 lbs so that you don’t feel like you are sleeping on a surface that’s too firm.

• Skinny sleepers – if you have a body fat percentage lower than 15% then the plush option will offer the maximum amount of pressure relief to ensure that friction points on your body are minimized.

• Warmer sleepers – the cooling foams in the top layer combines with the coil core to provide a good degree of through-flow so that warm air can be replaced by cooler ambient air. I also found the top of the Nolah Evolution to be cool to the touch which was nice because I tend to sleep hot naturally.

• Restless and combination sleepers – if you tend to toss and turn like me at night then the padding of the Euro top can help to reduce the pressure points that make you restless, whilst the pushback of the foam and coils makes it easier to switch positions.

• Athletes and active people – the Nolah Evolution is perfect if you’re an athlete, runner, gym-goer, or active person like me because the foams help to reduce pain and discomfort whilst the cool-to-the-touch foams can help to reduce your body heat if you train late in the evenings (see my guide to better sleep after a late workout here too).

Not Recommended For

• Those that want a true memory foam feel – whilst the Nolah Evolution offers a nice balance between memory foam and regular polyfoam in order to provide pressure relief without the sinkage, you might prefer the Puffy Lux Hybrid if you want a more contoured and deep memory foam feel.

Pros

• Super thick profile – the 15″ profile means that the Nolah Evolution is ideal for much heavier weighted sleepers.

• Euro top – the padding on top of the mattress combines with the foams to provide pressure relief and looks neater than a pillow top.

• Proprietary foams – Nolah use their own polyfoam blends to ensure that the foams offer pressure relief, responsiveness, and cooling capabilities.

Cons

• Cover can’t be removed – I recommend using a mattress protector to ensure that the surface of the Nolah Evolution doesn’t get stained.

• Deep pocket fitted sheet required – the 15″ profile means that you’ll need a deep pocket fitted sheet to ensure that the sheet fits the bed.

Specs

Here’s a summary of the key specifications for the Nolah Evolution mattress:

Performance

Here is a table summary of how the Nolah Evolution performs in the critical performance areas based on my own personal tests:

Nolah Evolution Detailed Analysis

Below is a detailed analysis of the specs, design, and sleeping suitability for the Nolah Evolution mattress based on my personal findings of purchasing and investigating this mattress first-hand:

1: Specifications

Below I have picked out the key specifications of the Nolah Evolution that have the most significance for you as a sleeper and explained what they mean in more detail:

• Hybrid design – the hybrid design means that you get the support of a strong coil base with the comfort and pressure relief provided by the foam in the upper comfort layer.

• 15″ profile – the average mattress is 10″ thick, The extra 5″ of foam and coils that you get with the Nolah Evo means that the mattress is suitable for much heavier weighted sleepers over 230 lbs because the mattress won’t compress too far.

• Different firmnesses – you can buy the Nolah Evo in plush, luxury firm, or firm. The firmness is NOT adjustable on the same mattress (like the Mend Adapt is) – so you should choose the plush if you are under 150 lbs and/or sleep on your side; the firm if you are over 230 lbs and sleep on your front or back; whilst the luxury firm is the sweet spot for everyone else.

• Zoned support – the support coils are firmer around the middle of the mattress and softer in the upper and lower thirds to allow for better posture when compared to a mattress that has the same spring tension all over.

• Euro top – the Euro top is an extra layer of padding that’s stitched into the mattress to provide pressure relief. A Euro top is similar to a pillow top in that both are extra layers of padding, except the pillow top is stitched on top of the mattress whereas the Euro top is stitched into the mattress – the Euro top looks cleaner and more stylish.

• Reinforced edges – the high density support foam that runs around the edge of the mattress stops the edge from sinking in too far; this means that you can use the full area of the mattress and also sit on the edge of the bed.

2: Design

The design of the mattress and the materials it contains dictates how the mattress will feel in general terms (your body type, body weight, and dominant sleeping position are also key factors).

That’s why I’ve cut open my Nolah Evolution mattress – as shown in the photo above – and provided a description below so that you know what this mattress contains and how these materials will affect the performance and feel (more details on this in upcoming sections):

Comfort Layer: 2″ Foam Euro Top + 2″ Cooling Polyfoam

The upper comfort layer of the Nolah Evolution consists of 2″ of foam that makes up the pillow top plus a further 2″ of cooling polyfoam.

It’s important to note that the Nolah Evolution does NOT contain any memory foam – instead, the proprietary polyfoam blends offer a mixture of pressure relief and responsiveness without the heat retention issues that come with some types of memory foam.

This means that the Nolah Evolution doesn’t contour close to your body like a memory foam mattress does, but instead feels more bouncy and mobile whilst also helping to reduce discomfort by reducing friction on the more angular regions of your body.

Transition Layer: 2″ High-Density Polyfoam

The high-density transition layer provides support and helps to cushion your weight so that you don’t sink too far into the support core below.

Support Core: 8″ Zoned Pocket Coils + Edge Support Foam

The support core consists of 8″ of pocket coils that are arranged so that there’s more support around the hip and lower back region, whilst there’s more ‘give’ around the shoulders and knee areas.

This means that you’ll sink into the mattress in the right areas to help keep you in good posture to guard against joint and muscle pain.

There’s also a row of high-density polyfoam running around the edge of the mattress to ensure that you feel well supported right up to the edge of the mattress.

3: Sleeping Position Suitability

Below is a table that summarizes how the luxury firm version of the Nolah Evolution will typically feel for different sleeping positions relative to different body weights.

The luxury firm option is the ‘sweet spot’ that will suit most people.

Go for the plush version if you want more pressure relief and weight dissipation if you are under 150 lbs and/or a side sleeper.

The firm version is better for heavier weighted front sleepers over 275 lbs that need even more support and pushback to maintain good posture.

4: Body Type Suitability

The table below summarizes how different body types interact with the luxury firm version of the Nolah Evolution to change the feel slightly.

The plush version is better for sleepers with a skinnier build for more pressure relief.

Whilst the firm version can create more pushback to stop you from feeling too enveloped by the materials to keep you cool if you have a higher body fat percentage.

Nolah Evolution In-Depth Testing Results

Below is a more in-depth breakdown of the key performance areas of the Nolah Evolution based on my own first-hand experience of sleeping in this mattress and my extensive testing.

You can see me perform the tests in the video review above.

For reference, I’m about 5’8″ and weigh around 180 lbs – so I’m an average sleeper type.

1: Outstanding Overall Support

I personally found the overall support of the Nolah Evolution to be superb.

I came to this conclusion by sleeping on the mattress extensively for more than 30 nights successively in all sleeping positions across the entire area of the mattress.

Although I’m an average-weighted sleeper, the thicker profile and zoned support made it obvious that this mattress can cope with much heavier weights than what most normal mattresses can.

2: Very Good Edge Support

I found the edge support of the Nolah Evolution to be very good.

It didn’t sag when I sat on the edge of the mattress and I was able to sleep right up to the edge of the bed with my arm over the side – which is great news if you are an ‘edge’ sleeper.

I think the edge support will be able to accommodate heavy edge sleepers too, with only those in excess of 300 lbs potentially having to shuffle further back towards the middle of the mattress.

That’s why the Nolah Evolution is also my #1 rated mattress for edge sleepers.

3: Good Pressure Relief

Although the Nolah Evolution doesn’t have the same level of pressure relief that a memory foam mattress like the Puffy Lux Hybrid offers, it’s still good enough to soften pressure points in any sleeping position for all sleeper types.

I have painful arthritic shoulders and knees, but I was able to sleep comfortably in the Nolah Evo on my front, side, and back.

4: Easy to Move Around In

I found the Nolah Evolution very easy to move around in because the foams in the top layer are more responsive than memory foam and the pushback of the springs makes it possible to switch positions without getting bogged down.

I would expect this level of responsiveness to still apply to sleepers even beyond the 230 lbs mark.

5: Very Good Motion Isolation

Because the mattress is so thick and the coils are individually encased, I wasn’t able to feel my bed partner moving around in the Nolah Evolution.

6: Very Quiet

Even though the Nolah Evolution has an 8″ coil core, the mattress is almost silent when I get on it and move around.

This is a plus for couples because you won’t be able to hear the springs as you move around.

7: Excellent for Couples

All in all, the Nolah Evolution is a brilliant mattress for couples because it’s quiet and minimizes motion transfer to limit night time disturbances.

If like me, you find it difficult to get to sleep with another person in the bed, then check out my guide to sleeping better as a couple.

8: Sleeps Very Cool

As a warmer sleeper, I found the Nolah Evolution a joy to sleep in because the AirFoamICE™ foam makes the mattress cool to the touch.

The material that runs alongside the Euro top is ventilated so that the warmer air is pushed out of the mattress as you move around.

Plus the coils allow for the through-flow of air to help keep you cool all night.

9: Good for Allergies

I didn’t experience any worsening of my hayfever, dry skin, or dust mite allergies whilst sleeping in the Nolah Evolution.

10: May Help to Reduce Pain

I suffer quite badly with arthritis in my shoulders and knees due to overdoing it with the sports and I’m also still very active in the gym and in boxing.

However, the pain that I experience is significantly reduced at night when sleeping in the Nolah Evolution.

I attribute this to the soft Euro top and adaptive foams plus the zoned support that works together to reduce friction points and dissipate pressure away from the joints.

Based on this, I think that the Nolah Evolution may be a good choice for other sleepers with conditions like osteoarthritis, sciatica, back pain, and fibromyalgia.

But you should always talk to your doctor first to decide on the best treatment plan and mattress type for your unique health profile.

11: Very Low Risk of Sagging and Indentation

Because the Nolah Evolution is so thick and the materials are so durable (cutting into this mattress for testing was no easy task!) I wouldn’t expect this mattress to sag or indent prematurely.

You can’t flip the Nolah Evolution, but you can still rotate your mattress every few months to even out the weight distribution to guard against dips and valleys for peace of mind.

12: Lifespan of More than 6-8 Years

Based on the quality of the materials and the extra thick durable profile, I would expect the Nolah Evolution to last at least 6-8 years – probably much longer.

13: Good Value for Money

Whilst the Nolah Natural is more on the premium end of the price range for this type of hybrid mattress (without a discount) I personally think the cost is worth it when you consider that this mattress will almost certainly outlast cheaper mattresses by several years.

Key Information

You can get the key information directly from the Nolah website here, so I’ve just summarized the key pricing and buyer benefits for you below.

Sizes and Prices

120 Night Sleep Trial

The 120-night sleep trial means that you can try the mattress out and return it for a full refund if you’re not happy.

Lifetime Warranty

The lifetime warranty covers you against manufacturing defects and flaws for the duration of the time that you are the original owner.

Comparisons

Below are some comparison summaries that explain how the Nolah Evolution stacks up against some of the other mattresses that I’ve slept on (see the full list of my mattress reviews here).

Click the red buttons to read more about each mattress.

Nolah Evolution v Nolah Natural

In my opinion, the Nolah Evolution is superior to the Nolah Natural in most areas – especially support – but you might want to consider the Nolah Natural if you want maximum cooling capabilities or a mattress with a bouncier feel.

Nolah Evolution v Mend Adapt

The Mend Adapt is another thick mattress that can handle heavier weighted sleepers and is a good option if you want to be able to switch between soft and firm settings on the same mattress via its flippable comfort layer.

However, I believe that the Nolah Evolution has a slightly better build quality thanks to the Euro top and the edge support is a bit better.

Nolah Evolution v Puffy Lux Hybrid

The Puffy Lux Hybrid offers more of a memory foam feel that provides closer contouring and better pressure relief that will suit lighter-weighted sleepers and side sleepers very well.

However, it’s not quite as cooling as the Nolah Evolution and isn’t able to provide the same level of support for much heavier weighted sleepers.

Conclusion: Suitable for All Sleeper Types

The Nolah Evolution is a well-rounded mattress that can be used by any sleeper type and is especially suitable for heavier weighted sleepers in particular due to the exceptional support and thick profile.

Dan

Dan is the founder and head content creator at Bedroom Style Reviews.

He has been working as a professional online product reviewer since 2015 and was inspired to start this website when he ended up sleeping on a memory foam mattress that was too soft and gave him backache.

Through in-depth research and analysis, Dan’s goal with this website is to help others avoid such pitfalls by creating the best online resource for helping you find your ideal mattress, bedding, and bedroom furniture.

Dan is a qualified NVQ Level 2 Fitness Instructor with 6 years’ experience helping clients improve their health through diet, exercise, and proper sleep hygiene.

He also holds several college and university-level qualifications in health sciences, psychology, mathematics, art, and digital media creation – which helps him to publish well researched and informative product reviews as well as articles on sleep, health, wellbeing, and home decor.

Dan also has direct personal experience with insomnia, anxiety, misophonia (hypersensitivity to sounds), and pain from both acute and long-standing sporting injuries – he enjoys writing insightful articles around these subjects to help fellow sufferers of such conditions.

Learn more about Dan here.