Douglas Original Mattress Review
Product Research: Our Process
Douglas Original: Is It Worth The Hype?
Our Verdict
Overall, I did not find the Douglas was exceptionally better than similar competitors, and found this mattress to lack bounce, which was consistent with other online reviews, such as mattressreviews.ca. For only a dollar more, you can invest in the Silk & Snow S&S Mattress, which is not just award-winning but also impressed us with its high-quality construction.
You May Prefer - Silk & Snow S&S
| Silk & Snow | Douglas | |
| Price (Queen) | $800 | $799 |
| Rating | 9.26 | 6.71 |
| Cooling |
 |
 |
| Motion Isolation | 9/10 | 6/10 |
| Pressure Relief | 8.5/10 | 5/10 |
Douglas Original: Is It Worth The Hype?
Mattress Sizes & Prices
| Size | Price | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | $599 | 38″ x 75″ x 10” |
| Twin XL | $649 | 38″ x 80″ x 10” |
| Full / Double | $699 | 53″ x 75″ x 10” |
| Queen | $999 | 60″ x 80″ x 10” |
| King | $1099 | 76″ x 80″ x 10″ |
| California King | $1099 | 72″ x 84″ x 10” |
Purchasing and Returns
Unboxing and First Impressions
The Douglas Original arrived at my doorstep in a compact box that was pretty beat up when I received it. Compared to other beds-in-a-box I’ve received, the Douglas Original felt lighter, which may make manoeuvring the box to my bedroom easier but left me questioning the quality of the mattress. This mattress took 30-40 minutes to expand to its full form but did not feel stable enough to sleep on the first night, so I decided to give it 48 hours. Something to keep in mind about the Douglas Original is that there is a strong off-gassing smell, which lasted 55 days before it went away. It resulted in me and my partner having some headaches and coughing for a few days.
Construction
1. Douglas CoolSense® Cover
The machine-washable cover is made with cooling-infused nanofibers meant for temperature regulation.
2. 2” ecoLight® Cooling Gel Foam + Polar® Temperature Balancing
A layer of cooling-gel-infused memory foam meant to regulate temperature.
3. 2” Premium Elastex® Foam
Body-contouring memory foam.
4. 6” Motion Isolation Support Foam
Foundational support foam.
Comfort
The entire Douglas mattress range offers a pretty similar construction, with the Douglas Original having slightly less foam than its pricier alternatives. The enveloping feel of the mattress made it hard to shift around at night, and as a result, exacerbated my back pain. Even as a side sleeper, the contouring was too much for me and did not necessarily feel supportive in my shoulders or hips. I could certainly relate to common customer complaints about how soft this mattress was.
Firmness
This mattress leans towards a medium-soft feel, scoring 4 out of 10 on our firmness scale. The lack of firmness has caused this mattress to sink too deep in average body weight (I am 127 lbs, and my partner is 200 lbs), causing body pains and offering less pressure relief for key pain areas of the body. I would prefer if there was a quilted or tufted top that made moving across the surface more comfortable and getting in and out of bed easier.
Motion Transfer
Memory foams usually are praised for motion isolation, however, Douglas Original did not particularly excel in this area. During the tests we conducted in our sleep lab, there seemed to be significant movement in the water vessel when the sleep tester got in and out of bed, and did not settle for X seconds. If you share your bed with someone, you may want to look at other mattresses such as the Silk & Snow S&S or the Endy Original that offer significantly better motion isolation.
Cooling
Some of the Douglas Original customers have pointed out that the mattress is not as cooling as they hoped. I tested it out with an open mind; however, was disappointed to find out that it did not dissipate my body heat as I hoped. After 3 hours of reading in bed, the surface temperature was X. My partner, who is a hot sleeper, had trouble falling asleep as he experienced night sweats and overheating when sleeping on this mattress.
Edge Support
The Douglas Original‘s edge support wasn’t as strong as I hoped. I tried sitting and lying down on the edge and experienced slipping and falling off shortly after. There was about 7-8” of sinkage, taking me down all the way to the foundational foam, and causing a very uncomfortable and unbalanced feel. This could mainly be due to the lack of a reinforced border or the mattress layers being too soft.
Sinkage and Responsiveness
The sinking feeling of this mattress was one of the biggest disappointments I had with the Douglas. Not only did this make it difficult to get in and out of bed, but I also observed my spine curving when lying down, contributing to my back pain. As the mattress also lacks bounce, I did not find a method to minimize the sinking effect. When we dropped a 5lb ball onto the mattress, it only bounced once, and a few centimetres above the mattress’ surface, before settling.
How does it suit different sleeping positions?
Side Sleepers
The Douglas Original can be soft enough for most side sleepers who prefer a cushiony feel. That being said, those who dislike the “sinking in” feeling may still find it uncomfortable and not supportive enough.
Back Sleepers
Back sleepers may find this mattress to lack the firmness they desire, and their lumbar region may find the sinkage too deep. However, for lightweight back sleepers, the Douglas Original can be comfortable enough.
Stomach Sleepers
Stomach sleepers will find this mattress to be too soft for them, causing their hips to sink too deep and not supportive enough to maintain spinal alignment.
Combination Sleepers
Combination sleepers may find the Douglas Original difficult to sleep, due to the enveloping feel. Lightweight combination sleepers may find they can move easily, but bigger bodies may feel stuck when they try to move throughout the night.
Lightweight Sleepers
For lightweight sleepers, the Douglas Original can provide adequate support and comfort, as they do not require more support or firmness.
Heavy People
Heavier individuals should consider better alternatives that provide ample firmness and support for them. The Silk & Snow S&S Firm is a great alternative for them.
Should You Buy the Douglas Original?
The Douglas Original raises concerns in a few key areas of mattress performance, including support, firmness, cooling, and motion isolation. The overall performance does not justify choosing this mattress when there are higher-performing options at the same price point. I can only recommend this mattress for short-term use, such as in vacation homes or for growing children.
I’ve also compared Silk and Snow vs. Douglas, and found contrasting differences in performance, with Silk & Snow S&S exceeding expectations in cooling, motion isolation, edge support, and comfort. It also provides a medium-firm feel that suits a wider range of sleepers and maintains its support for years to come.
Please note: All prices referenced in this article reflect MSRPs and are accurate to the best of our knowledge as of February 1, 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Casper Atlas Hybrid Compares to Similar Mattresses
|
Douglas Original |
Silk & Snow S&S |
The Casper |
The Endy Original |
|
| Rating |
6.71/10 |
9.26/10 |
9.40/10 |
9.40/10 |
| Firmness |
Medium-soft: 4/10 |
Medium-firm: 6.5/10 |
Medium-firm: 6.5/10 |
Medium-firm: 6.5/10 |
| Material |
Memory Foam |
Memory Foam |
Memory Foam |
Memory Foam |
| Cooling |
|
|
|
|
| Best For |
Side Sleepers, Lightweight Sleepers, Short term use |
Suits a wide range of sleepers |
Suits a wide range of sleepers |
Suits a wide range of sleepers |
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