Douglas Original vs. Douglas Alpine vs. Douglas Summit

Douglas has been manufacturing mattresses in Canada for the last seven years and is focused on making quality all-foam mattresses. While it may still be a young company, it has already found many fans and carved itself a firm position within the Canadian mattress market. 

If your search for a new mattress has led you to Douglas and you are now stuck deciding between the Douglas mattresses, we want to help you make that important decision. At Slumber we use a range of tests to rate the mattresses’ various performance features and we can use the ratings to compare different mattresses. 

So continue reading, how the Original, Alpine, and Summit performed in the tests and how they compare against each other. 

Overview of the Company

Douglas is one of the Canadian mattress companies operating under the GoodMorning.com umbrella. GoodMorning.com has been helping Canadians find the right mattress and other bedding essentials since 2009 while Douglas sold its first mattresses in 2017. Other GoodMorning.com brands include Juno, Logan & Cove, and Novosbed. 

All Douglas mattresses are made in Canada and the company uses only Canadian fabrics and foams to ensure quality. By keeping the materials and production Canadian, the company is reducing its carbon footprint and supporting the Canadian economy. 

Douglas only sells its mattresses online, which helps them to reduce their costs; a saving that they pass on to their customers. The company has built itself a reputation for innovation, for example, reducing heat retention, which is a common problem with many foam mattresses, and is one of the most popular bed-in-a-box mattresses in Canada.

The setup we used to test the Douglas Original mattress
The setup we used to test the Douglas Original mattress
Testing Dumbbells on the Douglas Mattress
Testing Dumbbells on the Douglas Mattress

Douglas Original Vs. Alpine Vs. Summit Price Comparison

The Original is the lowest-priced mattress from Douglas and with even the king-size mattress available for less than a thousand dollars, it is a great option for anyone looking for a budget-friendly mattress. The Alpine sits in the middle and is a slightly upgraded version of the Original and the Summit is the most luxurious mattress available from Douglas. 

If you are concerned about the quality of the Original, you don’t need to be. Yes, it is true that cheaper mattresses can be made with lower-quality materials and craftsmanship, but that is not the case here. All three Douglas mattresses performed well in our tests as you will see a little later in the article. 

Mattress SizeDouglas OriginalDouglas AlpineDouglas Summit
Twin$599$799$999
Twin XL$649$849$1,049
Full$699$899$1,149
Queen$799$999$1,299
King$899$1,099$1,399
California King$899$1,099$1,399
Split King$1,298$1,698$2,098
RV MattressFrom $599From $799From $999

Mattress Sizes

Unsurprisingly, having been made by the same company, the Douglass mattresses have identical widths and lengths. The difference is in the height of the mattress with the Original being the thinnest and the Summit the thickest option. The mattresses are designed to fit regular-sized bed frames and the sizes range from twin to split king (which is actually two twin XL mattresses put together). 

For RV enthusiasts, the mattresses also come in regular RV bed dimensions. There are three RV mattress options: RV bunk small, RV three-quarter, and RV short queen. With the RV options, you can sleep as comfortably on the road as you do at home. 

Mattress SizeDouglas Original/Alpine/Summit
Twin75” x 38” x 10”/11”/12”
Twin XL80” x 38” x 10”/11”/12”
Full75” x 53” x 10”/11”/12”
Queen80” x 60” x 10”/11”/12”
King80” x 76” x 10”/11”/12”
California King84” x 72” x 10”/11”/12”
Split King80” x 38” x 10”/11”/12”
RV MattressBunk: 75” x 28” x 10”/11”/12”¾: 75” x 48” x 10”/11”/12”Short Queen 75” x 60” x 10”/11”/12”

Sleep Trials, Warranty, and Delivery

The sleep market in Canada is very competitive and many companies offer sleep trials and free deliveries to attract customers. Below, you will find the details on the sleep trial and delivery from Douglas together with warranty information. 

Sleep Trial

Traditionally, when people would research a new mattress, they would visit brick-and-mortar stores and try the mattresses by lying on top of them. With online mattress stores, you can only base your decision on the information and reviews you can read about the mattresses. Buying a mattress without being able to physically try how it feels, is a daunting idea. Or would be, if it weren’t for sleep trials. 

A sleep trial means you can try the mattress at home for a set period. With Douglas, it is 365 nights. If you decide before the time is up that the mattress is not right for you, Douglas will arrange a free pickup and refund your money. Note that you cannot return the mattress within the first 21 days of delivery. This is because it will take some time before your body becomes used to the new mattress. After 21 days, you can speak to customer service and they will arrange the rest. 

Delivery

Douglas has two warehouses in Canada: Ontario and Alberta, and your mattress will be shipped out from the facility nearest to you. Mattresses are shipped by FedEx and generally delivered within a week. You will get a delivery estimate when you order. Note that you will have to pay for delivery if you live in some of the more remote areas of Canada. You can find the full list of areas where shipping fees apply on the company’s website. Currently, the shipping fee for the listed areas is $250. 

Warranty

All Douglas mattresses come with a 20-year warranty which demonstrates the trust the company has in their materials and craftsmanship. Considering that the average lifespan of a foam mattress is around 10 years in every night use, the warranty will cover you against material or manufacturing-related defects for as long as you are likely to have the mattress. 

Mattress Construction and Performance

Testing and evaluating the innovative layers within the Douglas Original Mattress
Testing and evaluating the innovative layers within the Douglas Original Mattress

There are many similarities in how the Original, Alpine, and Summit mattresses are constructed. For example, they are all full-foam mattresses made with three separate layers of foam. However, there are also differences that affect how the mattresses feel and perform. 

Below, you will find how the three Douglas mattresses are constructed, followed by how they performed in our tests.

Differences in the Construction of Original, Alpine, and Summit Mattresses from Douglas

All three of the mattresses are made with three layers of foam, so what are the differences? Let’s look at each mattress in turn. 

The Original has CoolSense to wick away heat and moisture while you sleep. It is a removable cover made with sustainable and biodegradable Infinitex™ thread that can be washed to keep your mattress feeling fresher. The top foam layer of the Original is ecoLight cooling gel foam and it is two inches thick. It is followed by a two-inch layer of Elastex® foam and finished with a six-inch layer of high-density foam. 

The Alpine also has a CoolSense cover and ecoLight and Elastex® foam layers. It is here we can notice the first difference, which is that the top layer includes Polar, a phase-changing material that enhances the mattress’s cooling abilities. It is also thicker, at 2.25 inches. The middle layer is also 2.25 inches thick, and the final layer, made with motion isolation support foam, is 6.5 inches totaling 11 inches in height. 

The differences between the Summit and the other two mattresses begin with the cover, which is made using cooling nanofibres. The first foam layer, 2.5 inches thick, has Polar phase-changing materials and the second layer is 2.5 inches thick Elastex® foam. The final layer of high-density foam adds height to the mattress and eliminates vibrations.  

A look at the Douglas original mattress design
A look at the Douglas original mattress design

Temperature Control 

Original 8.7/10; Alpine 9.1/10; Summit 9.3/10

Foam mattresses are known to trap heat and make you sleep hot so we were positively surprised with the scores for all three Douglas mattresses. They all scored significantly better than many other foam mattresses and most people, unless you tend to sleep very hot, would be comfortable with any of these mattresses. 

If you are a very hot sleeper, the Summit is the best for cooling effects. It got one of the highest scores among all the mattresses we have tested. The nanofibres in the CoolSense cover and the cooling gel foam and phase-changing technology in the top foam layer work together to move heat and moisture away from you effectively so you don’t overheat. 

Motion Isolation 

Original 9.6/10; Alpine 9.8/10; Summit 9.6/10

Motion isolation is an important criterion for anyone who shares their bed. The higher the motion isolation score, the better the mattress prevents vibrations from travelling from one part of the mattress to another. 

Douglas has mastered the art of isolating motion as all of their mattresses scored near perfect scores in our tests. The Alpine scored the highest, with the Original and Summit tied at 9.6 out of 10. Our testers reported feeling very little, if any, disturbance when another person moved on the mattress. Therefore, any of these mattresses would suit couples, even if your partner is a restless sleeper. 

Edge Support

Original 6/10; Alpine 9.6/10; Summit 6.5/10

Foam mattresses usually do not have strong edges, which is why the Alpine surprised us in our tests. It has a very strong edge that is resistant to sagging and sinking. Because the Summit performed so well in the other areas, we were expecting more from it. 6.5 was a somewhat disappointing score and only marginally better than what the Original scored. 

Despite the lower scores, the Original and the Summit do offer some edge support and more than many other foam mattresses. While most people will be happy with the edge support the Original and the Summit mattresses offer, consider getting the Alpine if you like to sleep on the edge or have mobility issues and need a more supportive edge when getting in and out of bed. 

Firmness and Comfort

Original 6.5/10; Alpine 6.5/10; Summit 7.0/10

Firmness Chart 6.5
Both the Douglas Original and Douglas Alpine rate at a 6.5 on the firmness scale.

When we test a mattress for firmness and comfort, we give it a score out of ten. The lower the score, the softer the mattress is. Most Canadians need a mattress that has a firmness level between 4 and 7 because a softer/firmer mattress will not offer the right balance of support and contouring for most people. 

Firmness Chart 7
The Douglas Summit is a 7 on our firmness scale.

All three Douglas mattresses are suitable for most Canadians regardless of their preferred sleeping position because they are medium-firm mattresses. For most people, they will offer the right amount of support and contouring, keeping your spine in alignment and preventing pressure points from forming. If you prefer a slightly firmer mattress, go for the Summit or you can always adjust the feel of your mattress (either way) with a mattress topper. 

A side profile of the Douglas Summit Mattress before testing for edge support
A side profile of the Douglas Summit Mattress before testing for edge support

Final Verdict: Which Douglas Mattress is Right for You?

All the Douglas mattresses are innovative, Canadian-made mattresses that have a lot to offer. The biggest deciding factors will be the level of firmness, edge support, and cooling properties. The Summit is firmer than the Original or the Alpine and has the most effective cooling properties. 

On the other hand, if edge support is very important to you, then the Alpine is the best choice, while the Original is a great budget-friendly mattress that does not compromise on quality. When making your final decision, consider what is important to you and what your sleeping requirements are. The bottom line with the Douglas mattress is, whichever you choose, you will get a comfortable mattress that is likely to help you sleep well for years to come. 

DetailDouglas OriginalDouglas AlpineDouglas Summit
Price$599-$1,298$799 to $1,698$999-$2,098
Warranty20 years20 years20 years
Sleep Trial365 nights365 nights365 nights
Free Shipping and ReturnsYes (some exceptions)Yes (some exceptions)Yes (some exceptions)
TypeAll-foamAll-foamAll-foam
Thickness10 inches11 inches12 inches
Firmness6.56.57.0
Temperature Control8.79.19.3
Motion Isolation9.69.89.6
Edge support69.66.5
Mattress sizes availableTwin to Split KingTwin to Split KingTwin to Split King

Frequently Asked Questions

Which of the Douglas mattresses is best for couples?

The performance feature you want to focus on when deciding if a mattress is good for couples is its ability to isolate motion. In our tests, the Alpine scored the highest for motion isolation (9.8). However, all three mattresses from Douglas have better-than-average motion isolation (Original 9.6, Summit 9.6) and we can recommend any of them to couples. 

Are all Douglas mattresses made in Canada?

Yes, all Douglas mattresses are made in Canada using exclusively Canadian fabrics and foams. 

How long will it take to receive my mattress after ordering?

It depends on how far you live from one of the two distribution centres (Ontario and Alberta) but usually within a week. You will get a shipping estimate when you order. If there are delays, for example, due to adverse weather, you will be notified by the customer service team. 

Is it worth spending more money on the Alpine or Summit or is the Original just as good?

It depends on what you want from your mattress. When deciding if you should go for an upgraded version of the Douglas Original, you need to look at the mattresses’ performances overall based on what is most important to you. For example, if you often sleep hot, then it is worth spending more to get the Alpine or Summit, which have better temperature regulation technologies than the Original.

Will I get my money back if I don’t like the mattress?

Douglas offers their customers a sleep trial. This is a period that allows you to use the mattress at home and return it within the trial period if you are not happy and receive a full refund. The sleep trial from Douglas is 365 nights.

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