I've nudged readers toward some practical gifts and that's from the heart because I had been saving up to purchase something big - and practical - for my Mummu. My Mom, Mummu, and I had been playing Scrabble one night in the fall and our games always take so long because we talk and talk and talk. Mummu casually mentioned that her decades old mattress had been really causing her some sleepless nights as well as aches and pains. I'm not sure exactly how old that mattress is, but it's way older than me and that's old enough, so after that conversation I decided that I would surprise her with a new mattress. After getting a foam mattress ourselves, I was thinking about getting her a foam mattress too because I thought it would be a crazy good surprise to have it shipped to her door! The only problem was I wasn't sure if she would find ours soft enough, so I was going to do some comparison shopping online before committing.
In a funny coincidence, Wayfair, a longtime collaborator, reached out to me about reviewing the Nora mattress! I promptly ordered a double mattress for Mummu but I couldn't even wait for the package-on-the-doorstep surprise idea (I never could keep a secret) and immediately phoned her to spill the beans.
Her new Nora mattress arrived and my Mummu is SO thrilled! Granted, her old mattress was terrible to sleep on so it probably isn't a fair comparison, but she is seriously smiling ear to ear.
We both tested it out and it's really cushy. It's firm and offers great support, but you definitely sink into it a little, which feels amazing.
The one thing Mummu noticed right away is that it's cool to the touch, thanks to a 3" thermo-regulating layer of gel-infused cooling foam. There's also a 2" gel-infused memory foam (which gives it that cushy feel), plus two 3.5" layers of high density support foam (which keeps it from getting too cushy). It really does feel quite different from our mattress, especially the cooling sensation and that memory foam - even the mattress cover is unique, crafted from a material derived from jade (!) which enhances the cooling effect.
I think my Mummu will enjoy the cooling properties because, being Finnish, she never seems cold. Sure, she'll put on a cardigan but all summer long she keeps her house cool as an icebox and I have never, ever seen her don a hat in the winter - even if the rest of us are in toques and snow pants. I wish I had inherited that gene because I am always cold.
The Nora mattress is a really competitive price too. The queen is $749 and the king is $949, but I've seen great sales, so watch for those. There are nearly 500 reviews on Wayfair and the rating is almost 5 stars and because of that amazing return policy, it's a pretty safe bet!
There are a few small drawbacks though, which are worth mentioning.
1. For some reason, even though the mattress was allowed to relax for the 12 hours it requires after unrolling it (and then another 24 hours before I snapped the final photos) the mattress cover seems too large and that creates a sort of wrinkled effect. But really, it's going to be covered with sheets anyway but I wanted to point it out, because it gives the illusion of the mattress not having expanded enough in the photos.
2. Like our foam mattress, the edges collapse when you sit on the edge of the bed. The same thing happens with our mattress, but I honestly don't notice it anymore. Even though this doesn't bother her, I did caution my Mummu to be careful when she sits on the edge of the bed. If you're buying this for someone who isn't very mobile, or prone to falls, it might not be the right choice.
3. I didn't realize until we were ready to unroll it in a dramatic unveiling that the company doesn't recommend a typical boxspring for underneath, because it can cause the mattress to sag. Oops! That was definitely an oversight on my part. Hubby and I will have to hack her bed to create a base that's suitable but that's okay - and it makes total sense, so that's not even a drawback, just a head's up.
Edited (Jan 14th, 2018): Yay! More testing has determined that you can use the Nora with any foundation or base. I love that the company was so thorough and made sure this was possible.
Those are really my only concerns and they're so minor. Otherwise we loved the convenience of having it shipped to the house - what a fun way to surprise someone, right?! (if you don't already spill the beans) - and it was a snap to unroll. Once it puffed up, it was ready to sleep on and I didn't notice any off-gassing like with other brands, which was really nice. I would have felt really terrible if the mattress had smelled bizarre, even if it was only for a few days. Unlike ours, this mattress feels more plush and you sink into it more, without giving up support, so if you like a softer mattress that hugs you, this one might be a great fit. And if you are someone who gets sweaty at night - or you sleep beside someone who does - the incredible cooling properties of the memory foam might be perfect for you.
After getting our foam mattress, I really thought all of these roll-up-and-ship mattresses would be the same but this one feels so different. If you've been considering one, it will definitely help to comb through some reviews and find the one with features that suit your needs.
