I Tried the Nolah AirFoam Luxe Mattress Topper for a Month and Loved Its Plush, Cooling Comfort, and Supportive Motion Isolation

I've recently been testing the Nolah AirFoam Luxe Mattress Topper, and have been sleeping more soundly than ever.

Yes, it's far more expensive than others I've used in the past, but, boasting impressive pressure relief, thermoregulation, and motion isolation (though the edge support is a little lacking), I'd definitely say the higher price point is justified.

For that reason, I can confidently say this is the best mattress topper I've tried.

Nolah Airfoam Luxe Mattress Topper Review

At college in Edinburgh, Scotland, a mattress topper was a non-negotiable. Moving into different apartments each year meant I was usually met with an old, flat, sagging mattress, and my trusty topper was my savior.

I've now been sleeping on and testing the Nolah Airfoam Luxe Mattress Topper for more than 30 nights, and can confidently say it's worlds away from my more affordable version and makes a big difference to overnight comfort and cooling.

Specifications: Nolah Airfoam Luxe Mattress Topper

Unboxing and First Impressions: Nolah Airfoam Luxe Mattress Topper

The Nolah Airfoam Luxe Mattress Topper arrived handily rolled, but I have to say it is heavy. My partner helped me unbox, maneuver, and unroll it, but if you live alone, you might be better off asking a friend, neighbor, or relative to lend a hand.

Straight away, I noticed how cool – almost wet – to the touch the GlacioTex cover feels, and how plush the filling is. Unfortunately, I was also struck by an extremely strong chemical off-gassing smell, which is common with foam toppers, and, while a little unpleasant, is completely harmless and does fade.

For that reason, I'd recommend unboxing the topper and leaving it flat and without a cover on for at least a couple of days – I didn't, but wished I had. Now, 30 nights later, that smell has dissipated completely.

Once the topper was rolled out and on the bed, I lay on it to assess the comfort levels straight out of the box, and was immediately impressed. Cool and cradling, my mattress had never felt better, and I couldn't wait to wind down, go to bed, and spend the night on it.

What's It Like to Sleep On the Nolah Airfoam Luxe Mattress Topper?

Pressure relief (5/5): The topper feels firm yet soft and supportive in all the right places. I tend to be a side sleeper, but I haven't noticed any discomfort as I move around in the night, and haven't experienced any back or hip pain since using this topper. There's also been no issue with the topper slipping and sliding around in the night, as the straps have held it firmly in place.

Thermoregulation (5/5): As I've said, I'm not a hot sleeper, but as the topper feels cool to the touch, thanks to the GlacioTex cool-tech fibers, my bed has felt cool and comfortable all month long.

Motion Isolation (4/5): The motion isolation didn't seem overly impressive when I tested with weights and a glass of water, but I share a bed with my partner every night, and have never noticed any issues or disturbances as he moves around in the night. My reckoning was, as such a soft and squishy topper, a small area of pressure applied, like a weight or a glass of water, causes more sinking than the more even weight application of a body. When I lay on the topper alone, my suspicions were confirmed – I felt cradled and supported, but not like I was sinking deeply into the topper.

Edge support (3/5): Although this topper feels firm, the edge support is a little lacking. Even with just a 1.5 kg weight, you can see how much it squashes down, and it's the same when you sit on the edge of the bed. This is no issue for me at all, but if you struggle getting in and out of bed, it may be something to consider. In general, though, as this topper is only two inches thick (far thinner than a mattress), it shouldn't make it significantly more difficult to get out of bed.

Delivery (5/5): The Nolah AirFoam Luxe Mattress Topper arrived rolled and vacuum-packed, and was conveniently delivered straight to my door, but it is heavy. That being said, someone stronger than me would be able to move it alone, as my partner was able to, and the smaller size of the box means it's easy to fit through smaller doorways and up and down stairs.

I would suggest opening the mattress topper in the room you intend to use it in, as it becomes a bit cumbersome once unrolled. But as I mentioned, there is a strong off-gassing smell when it's first opened. If you don't have space in your bedroom, unroll it somewhere with enough space to leave it flat for a couple of days, and then ask a friend or family member for a hand once the scent has dissipated.

Who Would the Nolah Airfoam Luxe Mattress Topper Suit?

• All sleep positions: The Nolah Airfoam Luxe Mattress Topper is designed to offer cradling, cooling comfort in any sleep position. I'm a staunch side-sleeper, but the five-pound foam offers support and pressure relief no matter how you sleep, although the medium-soft firmness means it's best for side and back sleepers.
• Sleepers with back pain: That same comforting, medium-soft firmness is also ideal for anyone with a backache – you might think that something firmer is needed, but in reality, the firm mattress or topper is likely the cause of your aches and pains.
• Hot sleepers: The GlacioTex cover (one of two options; the other is organic cotton and costs the same) makes this an ideal pick for hot sleepers. The cover feels cool to the touch and features high thermal conductivity fibers that work to actively draw heat away from the body. The cover is also cleverly removable and machine-washable – handy as hot sleepers will need to clean and care for their mattress toppers more regularly.
• Couples: This topper boasts excellent motion isolation, so it is a good pick for couples who share a bed.

What Shoppers Say About the Nolah Airfoam Luxe Mattress Topper

I know I've had a great experience with the Nolah AirFoam Luxe Mattress Topper, but I was interested to find out the general consensus from shoppers, who have left reviews on the Nolah site.

I was pleased to see, although it is worth noting that there are only 23 reviews on the site, that this topper has an overall rating of 4.4/5 stars.

'Expensive, but actually very effective,' reads one recent review from verified shopper Allen J. 'The foam is very comfortable and the optional cooling cover works, which was unexpected.'

Another, from Cynthia G., stood out to me in particular. 'After more than 20 years, I’m finally free of back pain and pain in my hips! This is as close to a miracle as I could ask for, thank you!'

A third, from Kenneth P., echoes Allen and Cynthia's. 'This adds a great deal to the comfort of the mattress I purchased,' they say. 'The Evolution Luxury Firm was already great, but with the mattress topper, it’s like heaven.'

That being said, there are a couple of more negative reviews, though I don't necessarily agree with them. For example, the singular one-star review from Rachel S says the topper is not comfortable, 'The reviews claimed this was a great topper for side sleepers. I have not found that to be the case, and have actually had more hip pain after sleeping on this topper.

'Also, be aware that there is a hefty fee to return anything from this company. This was not cheap, so I am highly disappointed. I also believed it was supposed to be a cooling type of topper, but when two people are in the bed, it gets hot. So disappointed in the product, and the customer service.'

In my opinion, the topper has been great for side sleepers (although I don't suffer from hip pain), and I have found it cooling, even with two people in the bed. I do wonder whether a couple of people who claim it doesn't have these cooling properties purchased the 'Organic Cotton' cover option, rather than the 'GlacioTex,' as mine genuinely feels cool to the touch.

Also, that 'hefty fee' that Rachel mentioned doesn't seem to be an issue – a recently updated support page on the Nolah site states, 'Our Return's Team will coordinate pickup of your mattress or foundation. It’s totally hassle-free and at no cost to you. Once the pickup is confirmed, we’ll refund your full purchase price.'

Nolah also replied to Rachel's review, 'Dear Rachel, we apologize for the discomfort you experienced with our topper. We allowed you to donate the topper and have issued you a full refund. Thank you for the review.'

Of course, though, mattresses, toppers, and bedding are all subjective, and one person's experience will be different from anyone else's, and no review is 'right,' or 'wrong.'

My Verdict

All in all, I've had a great, positive sleep experience with the Nolah AirFoam Luxe Mattress Topper. If you're a hot sleeper or are looking to fix a sagging mattress, I'm convinced that you won't be disappointed by it, and it delivers on all its comfort and cooling claims. Though expensive, it's a far cheaper investment than buying one of the best mattresses.

It's also a good option if you're suffering from general aches and pains and need a little more support. But if you have serious back pain, for example, you'd be better off opting for an orthopedic mattress or finding the right mattress to suit you.

If you've spotted any serious signs that you're sleeping on a bad mattress, it might also make more sense to buy a new mattress. The Nolah AirFoam Luxe Mattress Topper isn't a miracle worker, and mattresses should be replaced every seven to 10 years.

If you are planning to purchase the Nolah AirFoam Luxe Mattress Topper, you should be able to save some money in the mattress sales.

How We Test Mattress Toppers

Want to know a little more about how we test mattress toppers here at Homes & Gardens? First things first, I'll match a mattress topper to one of my sleep experts. We live across the country, and represent a large variety of body types, climates, ages, and needs. Once matched, we assess each mattress topper for pressure relief, thermoregulation, motion isolation, and edge support for a minimum of 30 nights before we write our reviews.

To test pressure relief, we lie in a number of different positions, assessing how the topper feels when lying on our back, side, or stomach. We also assess this when sleeping at night, noting if any positions feel uncomfortable.

To test thermoregulation, we make a note of any time we wake up sweating or overheating. Conversely, we also pay close attention to whether we feel noticeably cooler in bed and upon waking.

In order to assess motion isolation, we fill a glass with water and place it in the centre of the topper. Then, we use a hand weight, moving it closer and closer towards the glass, to assess how much compressing one part of the topper affects other areas, and whether we notice any tipping. If it does, that's a sign of poor motion isolation, which might prove problematic for couples. Where possible, we'll also lie on or sleep on the topper with another person to assess how tossing and turning affects one another.

To assess edge support, we sit on the edge of the bed in various positions to test how the edge holds up. If we notice ourselves slipping and sliding off, then the edge support is lacking. We'll also use a hand weight to demonstrate this edge support.

Finally, as included in this review, we look at other verified customer reviews to see if there are common issues, complaints, or praise for the product. We also examine the delivery process, warranty, and length of the sleep trial to provide consumers with all of the information they need to make an informed purchase. Then, we bring it all back to price, to ensure that we think the price point is justified by a positive experience, or not so by a negative one.

What to Shop

If you're interested in the Nolah AirFoam Luxe Mattress Topper, but want a few more options to browse and compare, here are some of my top recommendations.

Some are cooling, some are thinner, and some are specifically designed for adding comfort and support, so I've tried to include something that's suitable for everyone.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

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