Douglas Original Mattress Review
Product Research: Our Process
The Douglas Original Mattress
Construction
1. Cover
The cover is moisture-wicking, which should keep you dry overnight. Plus, it’s removable and machine washable.
2. Cooling Gel Foam
Douglas claims this foam doesn’t retain heat like traditional memory foam, but our testers’ experience has been the opposite (more on this below).
3. Premium Elastex® Foam
The middle layer of the mattress is similar to natural latex foam in bounce, support, and responsiveness.
4. Motion Isolation Support Foam
While the support foam isn’t super durable, it’s good at isolating motion transfer. You shouldn’t be disturbed by your partner’s movements.
Comfort & Performance
Let’s explore the comfort and performance features of the Douglas Original. Read on for what our testers thought of it!
Although advertised as medium-firm, it definitely feels softer. Many of our testers reported finding the Douglas too soft for their liking, describing a sinking sensation as they were trying to sleep.
When it comes to comfort and back pain prevention, the sweet spot is between firm support (to promote natural spine alignment) and plush comfort (to let your muscles fully relax and ease pressure points). The Douglas Original Mattress misses the mark by lacking support. Knowing that this mattress has the reputation of breaking down fast and getting even softer with time, I don’t recommend it to sleepers looking for support and durability.
Choose a mattress slightly firmer than the Douglas Original to keep your back in a neutral position throughout the night and avoid pain or injury—especially if you sleep on your back or stomach.
Bounce
How bouncy is the Douglas Original Mattress? While the top layer makes you feel like you’re sinking into the mattress a bit, the Premium Elastex® Foam makes up for it by having the same bouncy feel as latex. All in all, this mattress has an average amount of bounce.
Motion Transfer
One thing this mattress does well is isolate motion to keep you stable throughout the night. If you’ve ever tried falling asleep while the person beside you tosses and turns, you know how frustrating it can be—especially if your mattress lacks motion control and you get jolted awake with every move! Testers reported that with the Douglas Original Mattress, they barely felt a thing. And it’s all thanks to the magic of foam.
Compared to those old-school spring mattresses that bounce more than a trampoline, foam mattresses are way ahead. They’re designed to absorb movement so you can sleep peacefully through any disturbance on the other side of the bed. The Douglas is comparable to other foam mattresses in its ability to isolate motion.
Breathability
Do you tend to overheat at night? Be warned: This mattress won’t make things better for you. In fact, our testing revealed that the top layer of the mattress retains body heat for much longer than other types of foam, leading to the dreaded night sweats.
Breathability in a mattress is about comfort (obviously), but it also impacts sleep quality, mould prevention (ew!), and durability. Let me explain:
- Your body temperature drops slightly at night to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Without a surface that dissipates heat, the conditions won’t be ideal for deep, restorative rest.
- Mould prevention comes down to ventilation—moisture often leads to mildewy odours (and worse) when trapped in a mattress.
- Last but not least, mattresses with low breathability are less durable, as heat retention breaks down the foam faster.
My verdict? This mattress ranks among the least breathable we’ve tested. Along with poor durability, it’s the main drawback of the Douglas Original Mattress.
Conclusion
The Douglas Original Mattress is a decent option if price is your main consideration. Just make sure you understand the level of firmness and breathability you’re getting and how it may negatively affect your sleep!
On one hand, this mattress lacks breathability, support, and durability. On the other hand, the motion isolation is on par with more expensive mattresses. If your budget is super strict and you don’t mind a mattress on the softer side with minimal cooling abilities, go ahead and give it a shot. However, with an extra investment of $100, you could purchase a higher-quality mattress with top-notch support and durability, saving you money in the long run. And if there’s one thing I don’t advise to cheap out on, it’s sleep quality and back pain prevention!
Douglas mattresses come with a 365-night trial, although they don’t permit returns until night 21. Also, you should know that you need to wrap the mattress in plastic before you return it. So if you’ve already thrown out the plastic it came in, you’ll need to purchase a new mattress bag to complete the return.
Please note: All prices referenced in this article reflect MSRPs and are accurate to the best of our knowledge as of August 4, 2024.
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