Douglas Original vs Douglas Alpine Mattress Comparison

Douglas is a fairly new company within the Canadian mattress market but it has quickly become a popular choice, especially among people who are looking for a bed-in-a-box mattress. Once you have narrowed down your options and decided to get a Douglas mattress, you still have more choices to make: which of the three Douglas mattresses should you go for?

In this article, we focus on the Douglas Original and Alpine mattresses. We have tested both mattress thoroughly and here use the results to compare them. With this article, we want to help you make a decision between the Original and the Alpine so you end up with a mattress you will be happy with for years to come. 

Comparison At A Glance

Summary
The Douglas Original is a classic all-foam mattress that manages to perform admirably in most catagories, far outpacing other all-foam mattresses we've looked at. The Alpine is Douglas's improved model, upgrading most aspects of the Douglas Original for a softer, more supportive feel.

Overview of the Company

Douglas was founded in 2017 and it is one of the GoodMorning.com companies which also include Novosbed, Logan & Cove, and Juno. GoodMorning.com is known for Canadian-made mattresses and Douglas is no exception. All the mattresses are made in Canada using locally sourced and eco-conscious materials. 

In a relatively short time, Douglas has established itself as one of the most popular brands for bed-in-a-box mattresses. The company is also known for solving common issues with foam-based mattresses such as heat retention. Douglas mattresses are only available online, meaning they have lower costs than companies with brick-and-mortar companies, and they pass these savings to their customers. 

Douglas Original Vs Alpine Price Comparison

Because the Alpine is an upgraded version of the Original, this is reflected in the price of the mattress. For most of the sizes (except the split king) you need to add another $200 to get the Alpine. However, the Alpine is still a very reasonably priced mattress and there are good reasons why it is more expensive, as you will see when we compare the mattresses feature by feature. 

Mattress Sizes

Since both mattresses are from the same company the length and width dimension are identical. The only difference is the height of the mattresses. The Original and Alpine mattresses come in all the regular sizes from twin to split king. Each mattress also comes in three different RV sizes. 

Mattress Construction and Performance

Now we have covered the sleep trial, warranty, and delivery details, it is time to focus on how the Original and Alpine differ in terms of construction and performance. Below we will share with you our test results and what that means in terms of key factors. 

Differences in Douglas Original And Douglas Alpine Construction

Both the Original and Alpine mattresses feature three layers of foam. The Alpine is slightly thicker at 11 inches compared to the Original’s 10 inches. They both also feature a CoolSense cover, which is designed to reduce heat. It does this by wicking away moisture and heat while you sleep. The cover can be removed and washed to keep your mattress looking and feeling fresher and more hygienic. 

It is what is under the cover that makes the difference in feel and price. Let’s look at the Original first as it is the company’s “basic” model. The Douglas has a top layer which is two inches thick and made with ecoLight cooling gel. The middle layer, also 2 inches thick is Elastex® foam and the final layer is six inches thick high-density foam. 

In the Alpine, the top layer is also made with ecoLight but it is 2.25″ thick. The difference is that the layer also includes phase-changing material known as Polar, designed to remove excess heat faster and maintain a consistent temperature throughout the night. 

The second layer is Elastex which mimics the properties of natural latex. It is responsive and contours the body. This layer, like the top layer, is 2.25″ thick. The third and final layer is 6.5″ thick and made with motion isolation support foam to offer enhances motion isolation. 

Temperature Control 

To start with, we have to mention that both mattresses have excellent temperature control, especially for an all-foam mattress. In the past, foam mattresses were known to trap heat and cause you to overheat easily. Douglas has solved this with the innovative use of cooling technologies in both the Original and Alpine mattresses. 

Most Canadians will find that either of these Douglas mattresses helps them to maintain an even temperature and therefore sleep more comfortably. In the Original mattress, the CoolSense cover and ecoLight foam effectively remove heat away from you while you sleep. It performs a bit better than the Douglas Alpine, likely because the Douglas Alpine is made of thicker materials.

However, the difference isn’t drastic enough for us to recommend one mattress over the other. Both will keep you cool well throughout the night.

Motion Isolation 

When we tested the Original and got a near-perfect score, we weren’t sure if we would find another all-foam mattress that could perform better. But we did: the Alpine mattress which scored 9.8/10. 

Both scores are incredibly good and mean that very little motion travels across the mattress when a person moves around. Since both mattresses received the same score, your choice should depend on the other features that you value. Either option is solid when it comes to motion isolation.

Edge Support

All-foam mattresses are not known for having good edge support so we were very surprised when we tested the Alpine: once again it got an almost perfect score. It performed a little better than the Douglas Original, but the difference is so small that most won’t be able to tell the difference.

Regardless of where you sleep, both of these Douglas mattresses offer complete edge-to-edge support. The edges of the mattress won’t sink or sag when you sit down, and you’ll get the same level of support when you sleep near the edge.

Firmness and Comfort

The most common way to rate the firmness level of a mattress is to use a scale from 1 to 10 where 1 represents the softest mattresses and 10 the firmest mattresses. Most Canadians need a medium-firm mattress as too soft will allow them to sink in too much and too firm will not offer pressure relief. 

Both the Original and the Alpine scored 6.5 in our firmness and comfort tests, meaning they are medium-firm mattresses. The bottom layer in each mattress is designed to add support while the softer upper layers contour the body and prevent pressure points from forming. While most people will find either of the mattresses comfortable, they might be too soft for heavier sleepers. If that is the case, the mattress could be topped with a firmer mattress topper. 

Which Mattress is Right for You?

What Are Customers Saying?

Customers who purchased the Douglas Original mattress were extremely happy with the way it felt, including all of its great performance metrics.

“Now we know why this is one of the best-selling mattresses in Canada. I can’t get over how comfortable it is.”

— Slumber.ca Verified Mattress Review (Douglas Original)

Those who bought the Douglas Alpine are also happy with its performance, but appreciate the feedback the mattress gives and the thicker layers.

“This mattress is perfect for us. It doesn’t let motion transfer too far, but it’s not still enough to feel unnatural. We couldn’t ask for a better option.”

— Slumber.ca Verified Mattress Review (Douglas Alpine)

Sleep Trials, Warranty, and Delivery

When you are choosing a new mattress, it is important to look at details such as sleep trial, warranty, and delivery together with how well the mattress’s physical needs meet your requirements. Douglas’s sleep trial and warranty are among the best offered in Canada and you can even get a free delivery. 

Sleep Trial

Douglas has a very generous sleep trial period: 365 nights. This is more than enough time for you to decide whether the mattress you have chosen is right for you. The company asks you to use the mattress for a minimum of 21 nights before you decide. This is because it will take your body some time to get used to a new sleeping surface. 

If you are not happy with the mattress and decide to return it, you need to contact Douglas’s customer service. They will arrange a free pickup for the mattress and your money to be returned to you. Once Douglas has the mattress, they will issue a refund and usually you will receive it within 14 business days. 

Warranty

Not only does Douglas offer one of the best sleep trials, they also have one of the best warranties. When you purchase a mattress from Douglas, it is covered under the warranty for 20 years. The length of the warranty speaks volumes about the quality of the materials and workmanship since it covers defective materials and workmanship. With a warranty like this, you can tell that Douglas makes the mattresses to last. 

Delivery

All Douglas mattresses are made in Canada and shipped out from one of their two warehouses located in Ontario and Alberta. They use FedEx to ship their mattresses and delivery is free to most locations. However, if you happen to live in some of the more remote parts of Canada, you may have to pay for shipping. This can significantly increase the cost of your mattress as the shipping fee is currently $250. 

Final Verdict: Original or Alpine?

Based on our test results, we can recommend either of the mattresses for most people. However, if it is in your budget, we believe it is worth spending the extra to get the Alpine version because of the enhanced temperature control, motion isolation, and edge support it offers. 

The table below can be used for quick comparison between the two Douglas mattresses. 

Third Option From Douglas

There is one more option you might like to check out from Douglas, which is the Summit. It is an additional $300 more than the Alpine and $500 more than the Original. The Summit has thicker layers than the other two mattresses and the cover includes additional cooling technology called CryoFusion. It uses nanofibres that reduce heat on the mattress’s surface. 

The Summit has two comfort foam layers that are an inch thicker than the Original and half an inch thicker than the Alpine. The support foam is also thicker, increasing the mattress’s height further. The thicker layers enhance the supportive, contouring, and pressure relieving properties of the mattress. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I spent the extra money on the Alpine?

The Alpine is worth the upgrade if you need a mattress that will respond when you move around. Feedback is a huge factor for some Canadians, including couples. It offers the same great performance as the Original with enough of an upgrade to justify the additional cost.

Do both mattresses feel generally the same?

These mattresses feel similar, but the Alpine feels a little softer when it comes to cushion at the top of the mattress.

Which mattress is best for couples?

The Douglas Original and the Douglas Alpine received the exact same score in motion isolation. Either one would be a good choice for couples.

Should I choose the Original or Alpine as a side sleeper?

Side sleepers, especially heavier side sleepers, may want to choose the Alpine. It has thicker, softer layers with slightly better alignment and response than the Original.

Which of these options is better at reducing temperature?

The Douglas Original is slightly better at reducing higher temperatures than the Alpine. The Alpine’s thicker layers may have something to do with this. However, the difference is negligible at best; both work fairly well to reduce heat.