Nolah Mattress Topper review

I'll be totally honest: I didn't need a mattress topper as my existing mattress is only a year or so old. Or at least I thought I didn't. I tested this one because it was part of the job, but I am pleased to report that I was totally wrong — your bed will benefit from a mattress topper whether it's seven days or seven years old. And if you rent and currently sleep on a mattress you have no information about or aren't happy with, then a topper should be a no-brainer.

Before unwrapping and sleeping on the Nolah Mattress Topper, I was sleeping alright, but still struggling with some neck pain. This topper brought me back to neutral and was sure to provide me with extra support and comfort just where I needed it. I sleep on my back strictly, but this topper actually made sleeping on my side a lot more comfortable. I would avoid it if you sleep on your front, though.

Quick Menu:
1. TLDR
2. Testing
3. Specs
4. Unboxing
5. Comfort
6. Breathability and cooling
7. Is it right for you?

The Nolah Mattress Topper utilizes two inches of the company's proprietary Air Foam found in its flagship mattress, the Nolah Original. Its design is simple but effective — foam wrapped in an organic cotton cover placed upon your existing mattress, secured in place with thick elastic bands on each corner. It fits your needs and is available in two firmness options, Plush with a cloudlike 3/10 firmness level and Luxury Firm with a moderate 5–7/10. Choose wisely. I'm a back sleeper and I reviewed the firm version of this topper, FYI.

Nolah Mattress Topper review

TLDR: What I thought of the Nolah Mattress Topper

I'm quite happy with the Nolah Mattress Topper and how I felt after sleeping on it each morning. I sleep on my back but occasionally I found myself sleeping comfortably on my side. Both ways I slept my spine always stayed aligned. But, when I rolled onto my front, it was admittedly super uncomfortable and my spine was definitely not aligned. I really noticed a difference in my back pain while sleeping on this topper, even though my mattress underneath is perfectly fine and fairly new, adding this topper to the mix made me feel even more supported as I slept. I did test the firm version of this topper but admittedly, I didn't find it firm whatsoever so if you do need something firm, give this one a pass. It was very pillow-like instead.

If you sleep beside someone, the slightly reduced surface size might be an issue for you. It's also on the high end for a foam topper that's only two inches thick. But, it is made of a special foam, AirFoam, which is free of heat-trapping viscoelastic chemicals for a cooler sleep.

Another great reason to buy is its organic cotton cover that is wrapped around this topper that's breathable and moisture-wicking. Though it's not washable, FYI. And do bear in mind that it has straps to ensure it doesn't slide down your bed. It also comes with a 10-year warranty and a 30-day trial.

Testing the Nolah Mattress Topper

Jaclyn Turner

Hi, I'm Jaclyn, previously sleep eCommerce editor across the homes titles at Future, including Real Homes. This means I used to spend my days evaluating the best mattresses, toppers, pillows, and more while seeking out the best ways to make the bedroom your oasis. I slept on this Nolah topper for a number of weeks before making my mind up.

Sleep stats: • Sleep position: I typically fall asleep and wake up on my back. I don't toss and turn during the night • Insomnia: I don't have any trouble falling asleep. I could sleep with the lights on • Sleep problems: I have trouble getting into REM and Deep Sleep and some breathing issues that affect my overall quality of sleep • Average sleep time: Between 8 and 9 hours

Nolah Mattress Topper specifications

• Type: Memory foam
• Fill: Pressure-relieving proprietary AirFoam™️
• Cover: Organic cotton
• Firmness: Plush or Firm
• Thickness: 2"
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Cal King
• Price: $299 – $499 
• Warranty: 10 years 

Unboxing the Nolah Mattress Topper

The Nolah Mattress Topper ships directly to your door via FedEx if you buy it direct from Nolah. The box can easily be carried into the house and set up by one person. The topper is rolled inside the box. Once it's placed on the bed, you can gently cut the protective plastic wrapping and it will immediately expand. Elastic straps on each corner hug your existing mattress and don't slip and slide. These secure straps fit mattresses 10"–15".

There wasn't any indication on the box whether the topper was the Plush or the Firm, and I didn't see anything on the topper itself, to confirm that it was the Firm. I would have liked to see that for peace of mind because I found the firm plusher than I was expecting.

Any offgassing was minimal, and a remote memory of the past. 

Is the Nolah Mattress Topper comfortable?

It's immediately comfortable. Enough so, that'd I'd like to hit snooze approximately 11 more times to keep that snuggled and supportive cushion. 

It provided the support and relief to pressure points I needed to keep my body aligned. I'm typically a back sleeper, but the extra cushion found me spending increased time on my side. My torso cratered in the mattress when I tried lying on my stomach, so I don't imagine myself finding prolonged comfort there.

I slept in a temperature-neutral state that didn't cause me to overheat. The topper also stays put. I almost would have forgotten it was on, except I remember it completely changed how my bed felt, for the better of course. 

My existing mattress has excellent edge support, so I didn't feel it diminished by the topper, but, it is very easy to pinch the two-inches resilient foam almost together. Being foam, I also think it adds increased motion isolation, but the degree of which will be influenced by your existing mattress. 

From a performance standpoint, I give it five stars for doing everything I needed a mattress topper to do, but the design is also very much involved with my experience, and I found some concerns with sizing. A thread on Reddit also noted a similar situation with his twin-size topper.

The mattress topper doesn't seem to cover the full surface area of my bed, leaving about a one-inch gap on both the left side and the top of my bed. Now, pillows sit at the head of my bed, and I sleep on the right side of the bed, so didn't affect my day-to-day. I don't share the bed with anyone and am not in danger of slipping too close to the edge, but it definitely does narrow the bed a bit, since you're not going to try to sleep on an uneven surface.

I ponder why it's slightly smaller than the normal 54" by 75" of a standard full-size bed. Upon closer inspection, the mattress' material label notes the dimensions of the bed as 52.5" x 74.5". Of course, once sheets are on, you can't really notice.

Is the Nolah Mattress Topper breathable and cool?

The Nolah Mattress Topper is made with two inches of Nolah's proprietary AirFoam which is said to be more durable, four times better for pressure relief, and better for cooler sleep.

AirFoam is made of high-resilience polyurethane foam to help you sleep temperature neutral. It actually has qualities that mirror latex, with more bounce as opposed to sink. AirFoam contains billions of microscopic air pockets that act as individual shock absorbers to limit motion transfer and reduce pressure on your shoulders, back, and hips.

The organic cotton cover is soft with a slightly plush quilted design. It's breathable and wicks away any moisture, but you'll still want to add your sheet or mattress protector directly on top of it. It also zips off for easy washing. The foam can be spot cleaned if anything does leak onto it. 

Is this the right mattress topper for you?

The Nolah Mattress Topper has a 30-day trial period, however, should you decide it's not for you, you are responsible for the costs to ship it back. The topper is covered by a 10-year limited warranty for the original purchaser. If the Nolah Topper is found to be defective, it will be replaced or repaired by Nolah.

Invest in this mattress topper if:
You're working with an uncomfortable mattress that's either new or a couple of years old
You're a side or back sleeper
You suffer from back or neck pains
You want to try a topper before making your mind up

Avoid this mattress topper if:
You're on a budget
You sleep on your front
You sleep beside someone and your bed is small

If that's what you're after, or you think there might be a better topper out there for you, here are a few options we've also tested:

Real Homes' Review Process

There's much more to how we test mattresses (and toppers) ICYWW, but for a brief overview, our mattress topper testers are all required to sleep on their bed with the new product for a minimum of three to four weeks before reaching their verdict, testing the topper according to a strict brief. This allows Real Homes to compare and contrast their mattress topper experiences to find the best product. During the review, we will pay close attention to comfort, support, cost, and how it lives up to claims. We will also choose a reviewer depending on how they sleep, and we will ensure that this matches the type of topper we give them.