Memory foam works very well for pillows. It offers good pressure relief for your upper back and neck, and is great for conforming around your neck, shoulders, and head. But oftentimes it can trap heat. That’s why the Nolah Cooling Foam pillow was created.
In my unbiased review, I’ll go over everything that makes this pillow stand out. From how it keeps you cool, to the materials used, price, and my sleep experience, you should find everything you need about this pillow.
Let’s dive in.
Nolah Cooling Foam Pillow
Nolah's Cooling Foam Pillow has a number of special cooling features and utilizes pressure-relieving proprietary foam.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.80 / 5
Nolah Cooling Foam Pillow Overview
Nolah makes a number of high-quality sleep products. Here at Mattress Clarity, we’ve reviewed the Nolah Original 10” and Nolah Evolution mattresses, which offer amazing pressure-relieving comfort.
But Nolah also makes a number of accessories, like the Nolah Squishy pillow, and the Nolah Bamboo sheets. This review will focus on the Nolah Cooling Foam pillow. Here’s a quick overview on who will enjoy this pillow, and who needs to keep looking.
| Who Might Like the Nolah Cooling Foam Pillow? | Who Might not like the Nolah Cooling Foam Pillow? |
| Hot sleepers | Fans of cloud-like down alternative pillows |
| Stomach Sleepers | Side sleepers |
| Fans of memory foam pillows | People who want king-size pillows |
Nolah Cooling Foam Pillow Firmness and Feel
Buying pillows online doesn’t give you the best idea on how they feel or how firm they are. Let’s talk about these two important factors for the Nolah Cooling Foam pillow.
How Firm is Nolah Cooling Foam Pillow?
The Nolah Cooling Foam pillow is a classic medium-firm pillow. This firmness level prevents your head from bottoming out. It will keep your head and neck in a neutral alignment while you sleep.
Sleeping on Nolah Cooling Foam Pillow
My first impression of the Nolah Cooling Foam pillow was how thin it was. Though Nolah lists it at 6” tall, this is a rather flat pillow. But one side was domed, which can help keep your head and neck elevated. I was worried about this being too flat for side sleeping. As a side sleeper, that’s where I started with my tests.
To my surprise, the Nolah Cooling Foam did provide a good amount of support for side sleeping. I have about average width shoulders, so I think that’s what’s helping me out here. If you have broader shoulders than I do, this pillow might not be the best option for side sleeping.
I felt very comfortable on my back. My head wasn’t going too far back, and my chin wasn’t jutting into my chest either! And because this pillow is fairly flat, it works wonderfully well for stomach sleepers. I was able to compress the foam a good bit, so I felt zero strain on my neck while resting on my stomach. A win for stomach sleepers.
30-60 Min Nap
When it came time for a nap, I was curious to see how this pillow would perform for side sleeping for an extended period of time. Again, I think for someone like me, with average width shoulders, this can definitely work as a good side sleeper pillow. Its somewhat boxy shape gave my head, neck, and shoulders a good amount of support.
But I think this pillow really shines for back and stomach sleeping. I felt very comfortable while sleeping on my back. I do tend to notice myself snoring when I’m on my back, so I generally try to avoid this position.
But I felt very comfortable while on my stomach. I was able to compress the pillow enough that it felt very flat and comfortable. There was virtually no strain on my neck here.
And it definitely sleeps cool. The breathable, phase change material on the outside stayed cool to the touch, while the foam inside never felt like it was going to overheat. So, you can say goodbye to night sweats with this pillow.
What does the Nolah Cooling Foam Pillow Feel Like?
The Nolah Cooling Foam pillow has a good deal of responsiveness to it while still giving people that classic, slow-moving foam feel. I felt it cradle and contour around my head and neck, but still had a good amount of support. And it’s very easy to move around on for combo sleepers out there.
Average Weight Sleepers – 130 lb – 230 lb
Average weight sleepers of all sleeping positions should find comfort with the Nolah Cooling Foam pillow. I still would recommend this pillow to back and stomach sleepers. However, if your shoulders are more on the narrow side, it can be a good fit for side sleeping, too.
Heavyweight Sleepers – Over 230 lb
Heavyweight stomach sleepers should be able to compress this pillow low and flat enough, while still getting some cushioning. Because this is a medium-firm pillow, it should still work very well for heavier back sleepers. I’d be worried about heavier side sleepers with broad shoulders. This pillow might not have the loft to keep your head supported while you sleep, and could cause neck pain to develop.
Lightweight Sleepers – Under 130 lb
Lightweight sleepers of all sleeping positions will also enjoy the Nolah Cooling Foam pillow. It has a decent loft for side sleepers who won’t compress the pillow as much, but will still offer good support thanks to its medium-firmness.
Nolah Cooling Foam Pillow Construction
Let’s take a look at the materials that make up the Nolah Cooling Foam Pillow.
Cover
On the outside, you’ll find a high-quality cotton cover that has been blended with something called Outlast fibers. This is a phase-change material, meaning that the cover will be cool to the touch as it dissipates body heat, keeping your sleep temperature neutral.
Core
The pillow is made out of a single piece of foam. It uses the proprietary Nolah Airfoam, which still has that slow-moving feel to it, but it springs back into shape much quicker than standard memory foam.
This makes it a good option for combination sleepers who tend to move around during the night and don’t want to feel trapped by their pillow.
One side of the pillow also has a domed side that has ridges in it, and the foam has been perforated as well. This combination of features allows for airflow and it shouldn’t trap body heat.
Height/Loft
Loft refers to the height of a pillow. This number is particularly important to pay attention to when considering your sleep position. Stomach sleepers typically need a low, flat pillow, back sleepers need a medium loft, while side sleepers need a tall pillow.
Nolah mentions that the Cooling Foam pillow is 6” tall when uncompressed. In my experience, however, the pillow was much thinner than other pillows I’ve experienced that are 6” tall.
I should point out, however, that Nolah does use the word “uncompressed,” meaning the pillow will flatten and shorten when using it.
Nolah Cooling Foam Pillow Size Options and Price
Check out our chart below for up-to-date pricing information. It’s worth noting that the Nolah Cooling Foam pillow only comes in a queen-size option.
| Size | Price |
| Queen (17” W x 23” L x 6” T) | $99 |
Nolah Cooling Foam Pillow
Nolah's Cooling Foam Pillow has a number of special cooling features and utilizes pressure-relieving proprietary foam.
Mattress Clarity Score
4.80 / 5
Nolah Cooling Foam Pillow Performance
So, what are some other considerations to keep in mind about the Nolah Cooling Foam pillow? Let’s find out.
Sleeping Hot or Cold
With “cooling foam” in the name, I’m happy to say that this pillow will not trap heat. The foam core has perforations and a design that allows for air to easily flow through the pillow.
RELATED: Best Cooling Pillows
The Nolah Airfoam has an “open cell” design, meaning that the foam itself is fairly breathable. This means that even though you’ll sink into the pillow a bit, the foam won’t retain your body heat.
Off-Gassing
The Nolah Cooling Foam pillow comes to you uncompressed, meaning it can be used right away. There may be a slight smell to the foam, which is fairly typical for memory foam, but it should fade after about 24 hours.
Care Instructions
Though this pillow comes with a removable outer cover, Nolah does not recommend machine-washing the cover, or the pillow itself. Spot clean when necessary.
Allergies
Nolah does not list the Cooling Foam pillow as hypoallergenic. However, I can’t see it being an issue for people with sensitive skin or allergies. Cotton and memory foam don’t typically trap allergens, though you may want to spot clean the removable pillowcase when necessary to remove dirt, sweat, and dust mites.
Company Policies
Here’s what you can expect when you purchase the Nolah Cooling Foam pillow.
Warranty Info
Nolah offers a 2-year warranty on the Cooling Foam pillow.
Sleep Trial
While there isn’t a specific sleep trial period for the Nolah Cooling Foam pillow, you have 30 days from the day it was delivered to issue an exchange or a return.
Return Policy
Nolah offers free shipping on orders, but you will have to pay for shipping, or pay for a discounted shipping label if you reach out to Nolah, but you will receive a full refund.
How Does Nolah Cooling Foam Pillow Compare To Other Pillows?
Cooling pillows are great for hot sleepers because they offer good temperature regulation and have some breathable qualities. Let’s compare the Nolah Cooling Foam pillow to two other cooling pillows out there: the Marlow and the Purple Harmony.
Nolah vs Marlow
The Marlow pillow is a good option for people looking for an adjustable pillow with a shredded foam fill. However, what makes this pillow a stand out for adjustability and cooling are the zippers on the side.
With both zippers open, you’ll find mesh gussets which are added for airflow. And with a shredded foam fill, this pillow will sleep relatively cool. However, in my experience, this pillow works better for side sleepers because zipping both sides shut will make the cover tighten and makes the pillow just a little taller.
Stomach sleepers will be able to enjoy the Nolah pillow more thanks to it having a thinner design and being able to compress much easier.
Who Should Get the Nolah Cooling Foam Pillow?
- Stomach sleepers
- People who don’t want to worry about an adjustable pillow
Who Should Get the Marlow Pillow?
- People looking for an adjustable pillow
- Side sleepers
Read our full Marlow Adjustable pillow review.
Nolah vs Purple
Purple is known for its uniquely designed sleep products, such as the Purple grid. You can even find this grid in its Purple Harmony pillow. The grid is incorporated into a stretchy, breathable cover and surrounds a bouncy latex core.
This pillow is offered in three different lofts, making it work for a wide range of body types and all sleeping positions. The Nolah Cooling Foam pillow can work for all sleeping positions, but it works best for back and stomach sleepers, and only comes in one loft.
Both will sleep cool, but if you want something that has a classic foam feel, go for the Nolah Cooling Foam. If you like bouncy, responsive latex foam, the Purple Harmony will work better.
Who Should Get the Nolah Cooling Foam Pillow?
- Back and stomach sleepers
- Fans of all foam pillows
Who Should Get the Purple Harmony Pillow?
- Anyone looking for loft options
- Fans of bouncy, responsive latex foam
Read our full Purple Harmony pillow review.
Our Nolah Cooling Foam Pillow Review Ratings
Take a look at our Mattress Clarity score for the Nolah Cooling Foam pillow!
FAQs
What is Nolah AirFoam?
Nolah’s proprietary memory foam is called AirFoam. The brand describes it as responsive, temperature-neutral memory foam that has a bounciness similar to latex foam. It’s a polyurethane foam, or polyfoam, that is made without harmful chemicals, and is CertiPUR-US certified to show for it.
Where is the Nolah mattress from?
Nolah is a bed-in-a-box mattress company that produces its mattresses and pillows in Colorado.
How long will the Nolah Cooling Foam pillow last?
With a 2-year limited warranty, the Nolah Cooling Foam pillow should last you at least that long, with good care. Memory foam pillows might not be the most durable, but it’s common practice to replace pillows every couple of years to begin with.