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Our Nest Bedding Sparrow vs. Nolah Signature Bed Comparison for 2024

Can’t decide between a hybrid or an all-foam bed?

This Sparrow Signature Hybrid and Nolah Signature comparison will showcase two mattress products head-to-head to help you narrow your choices down.

Nest Bedding believes good sleep should last forever and offers a lifetime comfort guarantee to prove it. Nolah is dedicated to giving every sleeper plush comfort with superb pressure relief. 

The Sparrow was formerly known as the Alexander Signature Hybrid and comes in Plush, Medium, and Firm feels. We reviewed the more versatile Medium. The Nolah Signature is sold as an all-foam or a hybrid, but we’ll be checking out the all-foam. 

Quick Comparison: Nest Bedding Sparrow vs. Nolah Signature


Who I’d Recommend the Nest Bedding Sparrow For

  • Pillow top fans – If you like a supportive bed with a slightly plush feel, a hybrid with a pillow top wouldn’t be a bad idea, and this is exactly what the Sparrow offers. Its cooling pillow top contains gel-infused memory foam and phase change fabric to offer a soft, temperature-neutral start to the bed.
  • Shoppers who want customization options – The Sparrow is available in Plush, Medium, and Firm versions, making it suitable for a wide range of sleepers. We reviewed the Medium model, which we wouldn’t recommend for heavyweight sleepers over 230 pounds. Shoppers in that weight category may want to check out the Firm option instead. 
  • Eco-conscious shoppers – While the materials used in this bed aren’t specifically planet-friendly, the brand does offer a Lifetime Renewal Exchange. This program allows you to refresh the mattress with a new comfort layer at any point in the mattress’ life. This could negate the need for buying a new bed, keeping your current mattress out of a landfill. 

Who I’d Recommend the Nolah Signature For

  • Side sleepers – The Nolah Signature was designed with side sleepers in mind, and we can attest to that. “This is a softer mattress, so it’s going to excel for side sleepers who want pressure relief in their shoulders and hips,” noted Emma, a Sleep Advisor mattress tester. However, we think most heavyweight side sleepers will need a more supportive mattress.
  • People with joint pain – Sleep Advisor mattress tester, Liz, often finds sleeping difficult due to her chronic joint pain, but she loved the Nolah Signature. She noted its “perfect mix of plush to firm ratio.” Nolah claims their proprietary AirFoam™ offers four times more pressure relief on the hips, back, and shoulders than standard memory foam. 
  • Shoppers who want the best of both worlds – “If you’re interested in a hybrid feel but want an all-foam bed, you should love the bounce and cool nature of Nolah’s AirFoam™,” Emma said. Furthermore, the Nolah Signature should provide great motion isolation and pressure relief that memory foam is known for without being saddled with many of the material’s drawbacks.  

Comparing Nest Bedding Sparrow vs. Nolah Signature: Top Similarities

  • Cooling  – We found both beds slept temperature-neutral thanks to their cooling technology. The Sparrow has phase-change material, a gel memory foam pillow top, and a coil unit. As for the Nolah, it has a moisture-wicking cotton cover, proprietary cooling foam, and breathable foam.  
  • Suitable for lightweight sleepers – Our team recommends both beds for lightweight sleepers because of the beds’ plush surfaces. However, lightweight side sleepers may prefer the slightly more plush Nolah for added pressure relief at the hips and shoulders. 
  • Bounce – We rated both beds as having moderate bounce, making them suitable for combination sleepers who want to reposition with ease, people with mobility issues, and couples looking for a mattress for sex. 

Comparing Nest Bedding Sparrow vs. Nolah Signature: Key Differences

  • Edge support – We found the Sparrow Signature Hybrid had better edge support than the all-foam Nolah. You may feel supported while lying near the edge of the Nolah, but we experienced buckling when sitting on the edge. 
  • Sinkage – With its quilted gel memory foam cover and memory foam alternative Energex™ comfort layer, the Sparrow offers the feel of a deep hug. Despite having a more plush feel, the Nolah’s top layer of AirFoam™ works with the lower layer of Active Response Foam to keep you more on top of the bed in a gentle cradle. 
  • Trial period – The Nolah Signature comes with a 120-night trial while the Sparrow has a longer 365-night trial. You’re also given the option to opt out of Nolah’s trial, which will save you some money, but it also makes your purchase non-returnable.

Comparing Firmness, Support & Feel 

Firmness 

We rank beds using a firmness scale that ranges from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest. Sparrow’s Medium option comes in at a 5.5.  Depending on your weight, this bed could feel like a true medium-firm or a true medium. 

The Nolah Signature has one firmness option and is classified as a soft mattress, ranking at a 4 on our firmness scale. This firmness level may be an excellent choice for side sleepers or those seeking pressure relief.

firmness scale for 4 and 5.5

Support 

Despite its soft feel, our team found the Nolah had a great deal of support in the lower layers. “It’s completely supportive as well as plush,” our reviewer, Emma, stated. Lightweight sleepers, as well as average-weight side and back sleepers, may do well on this mattress.

The Sparrow also offers great support with its SmartFlow support foam and coil unit. We think lightweight sleepers and average-weight side and back sleepers should also like this mattress. 

Feel 

Our team noted that the Sparrow’s cover feels cool to the touch. The pillow top and comfort layer offer a slow response that envelops you in a deep hug. The Nolah’s cotton cover also feels soft and cool to the touch, and our review team noted that the comfort layer’s proprietary foam had more bounce and cooling in it than traditional memory foam. 


Comparing Sinkage and Bounce 

Our team found the Sparrow offered a deep hug with plenty of supportive contouring and pressure relief thanks to its gel memory foam cover and Energex™ foam comfort layer. The Nolah Signature’s AirFoam™ and Active Response Foam comfort layers provide more of a gentle cradle. Buyers who want to feel like they are sleeping “in” their bed will likely prefer the Sparrow, whereas people who prefer to “float on top” should consider the Nolah.

We expected the all-foam Nolah to have less springiness than the Sparrow hybrid, but we actually experienced similar levels of moderate bounce thanks to Nolah’s responsive second comfort layer that pushes back against the plusher top layer. 

Comparing Motion Transfer

“Foam beds are wonderful when it comes to motion isolation, and this Nolah mattress is no exception,” reported our reviewer, Emma. “While this foam is certainly more responsive than memory foam might be, at the end of the day, it’s still foam; there’s virtually no motion transfer on this bed.” 

Hybrid beds usually have more motion transfer than all-foam models due to their springs, but the Sparrow’s individually wrapped coils prevent movement cascading through the bed. Plus, it’s less bouncy than your typical hybrid thanks to the deep sinkage of its comfort layer, which aids in motion isolation. 

Comparing Cooling 

The Sparrow’s coil system allows for airflow. Additionally, its gel-infused memory foam and THERMIC® phase change pillow top do a great job of dissipating body heat. 

We were also impressed by the Nolah’s ability to regulate temperature. “Many foam mattresses lack cooling capabilities but this bed uses Nolah AirFoam™, which is specifically designed to keep sleepers cool.,” said Emma. “They also say it’s 100 percent temperature-neutral and is made without viscoelastic chemicals, which can trap heat.” 

We think most sleepers should stay comfortably cool on either bed, although particularly hot sleepers or those in warmer climates may want to check out a more advanced cooling mattress


Comparing Construction (Materials & Quality)

Nest Bedding Sparrow Signature Hybrid Mattress

Product image of Sparrow by Nest Bedding mattress

This hybrid features premium coils and high-density foam to deliver the best of both worlds. Hot sleepers should appreciate the temperature-adjusting materials, gel infusions, and the innersprings allowing continuous airflow.

Score 4.0/5
Read Nest Bedding Sparrow Signature Hybrid Mattress Review
CHECK PRICE
SA Brand Icon MattressMaterial

Material

Hybrid

SA Brand Icon PropertyTrialPeriod

Trial Period

365 nights

SA Brand Icon PropertyShipping

Shipping Method

Free shipping

SA Brand Icon PropertyFirmness

Firmness

Multiple firmness options

SA Brand Icon MattressWarranty

Warranty

Lifetime warranty

SA Brand Icon PropertyPrice

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

SA sleeper type hot sleepers
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
SA sleeper type couples
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
SA sleeper type back sleepers
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
SA sleeper type stomach sleepers
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.7/5
Watch Our Video Review

Nest Bedding Sparrow Signature Hybrid Mattress

Product image of Sparrow by Nest Bedding mattress

This hybrid features premium coils and high-density foam to deliver the best of both worlds. Hot sleepers should appreciate the temperature-adjusting materials, gel infusions, and the innersprings allowing continuous airflow.

Score 4.0/5
Read Nest Bedding Sparrow Signature Hybrid Mattress Review
SA Brand Icon MattressMaterial

Material

Hybrid

SA Brand Icon MattressWarranty

Warranty

Lifetime warranty

SA Brand Icon PropertyFirmness

Firmness

Multiple firmness options

SA Brand Icon PropertyShipping

Shipping Method

Free shipping

SA Brand Icon PropertyTrialPeriod

Trial Period

365 nights

SA Brand Icon PropertyPrice

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

SA sleeper type hot sleepers
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
SA sleeper type couples
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
SA sleeper type back sleepers
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
SA sleeper type stomach sleepers
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.7/5
Watch Our Video Review
Product image of Sparrow by Nest Bedding mattress

Nest Bedding Sparrow Signature Hybrid Mattress

This hybrid features premium coils and high-density foam to deliver the best of both worlds. Hot sleepers should appreciate the temperature-adjusting materials, gel infusions, and the innersprings allowing continuous airflow.

Score 4.0/5
Read Nest Bedding Sparrow Signature Hybrid Mattress Review
SA Brand Icon MattressMaterial

Material

Hybrid

SA Brand Icon PropertyFirmness

Firmness

Multiple firmness options

SA Brand Icon PropertyTrialPeriod

Trial Period

365 nights

SA Brand Icon MattressWarranty

Warranty

Lifetime warranty

SA Brand Icon PropertyShipping

Shipping Method

Free shipping

SA Brand Icon PropertyPrice

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

SA sleeper type hot sleepers
Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
SA sleeper type couples
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
SA sleeper type back sleepers
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
SA sleeper type stomach sleepers
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.7/5
Watch Our Video Review

Nest Bedding Sparrow Construction

This is a foam and coil hybrid product that’s compressed and boxed for shipping. The 1-inch pillow top on this 12-inch mattress features gel-infused memory foam combined with super soft THERMIC® phase change fabric to promote cooling.

New layers of the Sparrow mattress
  • The top layer contains a 3-inch Energex™ temperature-responsive foam. This cutting-edge material is designed to provide immediate responsiveness as you change positions, offering a memory foam-like feel without leaving indents. This layer can be replaced in the future if you opt into the Lifetime Renewal Exchange (fees apply).
  • The center features 1 inch of high-density SmartFlow support foam, which acts as a transitional layer to ease you into the coil unit below. 
  • The innerspring layer is constructed with 6-inch individually-pocketed 16-gauge coils. These provide stability to the softer materials and the individual wrapping helps to minimize motion transfer. Reinforced coils around the perimeter provide sturdy edge support.
  • At the base is a 1-inch layer of dense foam to support the innerspring unit.

Nolah Signature 12″ Mattress

nolah signature mattress

Shoppers interested in a hybrid feel should find this Signature bed a perfect choice for their needs.

Score 4.0/5
Read Nolah Signature 12″ Mattress Review
CHECK PRICE
SA Brand Icon MattressMaterial

Material

Foam

SA Brand Icon PropertyTrialPeriod

Trial Period

120 nights

SA Brand Icon PropertyShipping

Shipping Method

Free shipping

SA Brand Icon PropertyFirmness

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6/10

SA Brand Icon MattressWarranty

Warranty

Lifetime warranty

SA Brand Icon PropertyPrice

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

SA sleeper type back pain
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
SA sleeper type side sleepers
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.8/5
Watch Our Video Review

Nolah Signature 12″ Mattress

nolah signature mattress

Shoppers interested in a hybrid feel should find this Signature bed a perfect choice for their needs.

Score 4.0/5
Read Nolah Signature 12″ Mattress Review
SA Brand Icon MattressMaterial

Material

Foam

SA Brand Icon MattressWarranty

Warranty

Lifetime warranty

SA Brand Icon PropertyFirmness

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6/10

SA Brand Icon PropertyShipping

Shipping Method

Free shipping

SA Brand Icon PropertyTrialPeriod

Trial Period

120 nights

SA Brand Icon PropertyPrice

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

SA sleeper type back pain
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
SA sleeper type side sleepers
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.8/5
Watch Our Video Review
nolah signature mattress

Nolah Signature 12″ Mattress

Shoppers interested in a hybrid feel should find this Signature bed a perfect choice for their needs.

Score 4.0/5
Read Nolah Signature 12″ Mattress Review
SA Brand Icon MattressMaterial

Material

Foam

SA Brand Icon PropertyFirmness

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6/10

SA Brand Icon PropertyTrialPeriod

Trial Period

120 nights

SA Brand Icon MattressWarranty

Warranty

Lifetime warranty

SA Brand Icon PropertyShipping

Shipping Method

Free shipping

SA Brand Icon PropertyPrice

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

SA sleeper type back pain
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
SA sleeper type side sleepers
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.8/5
Watch Our Video Review

Nolah Signature Construction

This 12-inch all-foam bed-in-a-box model has a premium organic cotton cover that’s soft, cooling, and moisture-wicking. The Nolah Signature is also available as a hybrid, but this construction breakdown is for the all-foam version.

nolah original bed layers
  • The comfort layer features 2.5 inches of the brand’s cooling AirFoam™, which provides added pressure relief and contouring. This foam contains billions of microscopic air bubbles, which evenly distribute body weight and help to regulate temperature. According to the company, their lab tests show that this foam dissipates heat 20 percent faster than high-end memory foam and is up to 300 percent more durable.
  • The second comfort layer has 1.5 inches of ultra-breathable Active Response Foam, which is designed for bounce and airflow.
  • The support layer is 1 inch of firmer AirFoam™, providing support and additional pressure relief. 
  • The base layer is crafted with 7 inches of breathable, high-density foam, offering stability and durability for the rest of the bed.

Comparing Company Policies & Price

  • Warranty – A lifetime warranty is offered with both beds.
  • Shipping – Each bed comes with free curbside shipping across the contiguous U.S., but the Sparrow also ships to Alaska and Hawaii for a fee. White-glove delivery is offered with both beds for an extra charge. This must be arranged over the phone with the Sparrow but can be added to your online order with the Nolah. 
  • Trial Period – The Nolah Signature has a 120-night trial period, and the Nest Bedding Sparrow has a longer trial period of 365 nights. You can opt out of the Nolah’s trial, which will save you 100 dollars on your purchase. However, be aware that this makes the bed non-returnable. 
  • Returns – Free returns are offered with both beds, with a full refund given when returned within the trial period. However, both brands require you to try the beds for at least 30 nights before initiating a return, and Nolah charges a 99-dollar return transportation fee.
  • Price – The Nolah is more expensive for Twin and Twin XL sizes respectively, while the Nest Bedding Sparrow is pricier in larger sizes. 
SizeNest Bedding Sparrow Price (w/o discount)Nolah Signature Price (w/o discount)
Twin$1,226$1,299
Twin XL$1,332$1,399
Full$1,759$1,649
Queen$2,132$1,799
King$2,452$2,049
Cali King$2,452$2,049
Split KingN/A$2,798
Split Cali King$2,664N/A

Nest Bedding Sparrow vs. Nolah Signature Compared Side-by-Side

FeaturesNest Bedding SparrowNolah Signature
Height12”12”
CoverTHERMIC® phase change fabric and gel-infused memory foam pillow topOrganic cotton
MaterialsEnergex™ foam, SmartFlow support foam, coil system, poly foamAirFoam™, Active Response Foam, high-density foam
CoolingTHERMIC® phase change cover, gel-infused memory foam, aerated materials, pocketed coilsMoisture-wicking organic cotton cover, cooling AirFoam™, breathable foams
Firmness5.5/10 (Medium option)4/10
SupportGreatGreat
Motion TransferMinimalMinimal
Edge SupportExceptionalGood
SinkageDeep HugGentle Cradle
BounceModerateModerate
WarrantyLifetimeLifetime
Trial Period365 nights120 nights
CertificationsCertiPUR-US®CertiPUR-US®
Adjustable Base CompatibleYesYes
ShippingFree delivery to contiguous U.S., White Glove Delivery available for an extra fee, ships to Alaska and Hawaii for an extra feeFree delivery to contiguous U.S., White Glove Delivery available for an extra fee
Made in the USAYesDesigned and assembled in USA
Read Full ReviewNest Bedding Sparrow Mattress ReviewNolah Signature Mattress Review
Shop NowNest Bedding Sparrow MattressNolah Signature Mattress

Final Thoughts

Do we have a clear winner? With their similar bounce, temperature regulation, and motion isolation, it might be hard to make a decision. 

We think those looking for a wider range of options will likely appreciate the Sparrow’s different comfort levels. However, this shouldn’t completely take the Nolah Signature out of the running, as its universal appeal should satisfy many shoppers. Be aware that we don’t think either bed will provide enough support for heavyweight sleepers, though, who may prefer a plus-size mattress.

Need a little more guidance? Then have a look at our full-length reviews which go into even more detail about the specifics of each product.

Olivera Jancikin

Olivera Jancikin

Content Writer

About Author

Olivera is a content writer for Sleep Advisor and is enthusiastic about sleep. She firmly believes in the benefits of daytime naps on top of getting a full 8-hour sleep at night.

Combination Sleeper