Quick Answer: The Douglas mattress (GoodMorning.com, Canadian-made) is a true medium (around 5/10), while the Casper Original is medium-firm (around 7/10). Douglas typically comes in at a lower queen price. Choose Douglas for side sleeping and softer feel; choose Casper for firmer support. Try both if possible.
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These Are Not Similar Mattresses
Most "Brand A vs Brand B" mattress comparisons involve two mattresses that are nearly identical in firmness, construction, and price. This is not one of those comparisons.
The Douglas by GoodMorning.com is a medium-feel mattress rated around 5 out of 10 on the firmness scale. The Casper Original is a medium-firm mattress rated around 7 out of 10. That is a two-point gap on a ten-point scale, which translates to a noticeable difference when you lie down. These mattresses target fundamentally different comfort preferences.
The Douglas costs $799 for a queen. The Casper Original costs approximately $1,295. That is a $496 difference. And the Douglas comes with a 15-year warranty and a 365-night trial, while the Casper offers 10 years and 100 nights respectively.
If you already know whether you prefer a medium or a medium-firm feel, this comparison is straightforward. If you do not know, that is the first thing to figure out before spending any money.
The Firmness Gap: Medium vs Medium-Firm
Research published in Sleep Health, the journal of the National Sleep Foundation (Radwan et al., 2015)1, found that mattress firmness preferences are not arbitrary. They correlate strongly with body weight, sleep position, and existing pain conditions. Side sleepers generally report better sleep quality on medium surfaces that allow shoulder and hip contouring, while back and stomach sleepers tend to prefer firmer surfaces that maintain spinal alignment without excessive sinking.
The Canadian Chiropractic Association echoes this guidance, noting that mattress firmness should be matched to individual body mechanics rather than chosen based on popularity or brand recommendation.
Douglas at 5/10 (medium): This mattress will let your shoulders and hips sink in more noticeably. For side sleepers, especially those under 180 lbs, this contouring helps reduce pressure point pain. Back sleepers may find it adequate but not as supportive as they would like, and stomach sleepers will almost certainly feel their hips sinking too far into the surface.
Casper at 7/10 (medium-firm): This mattress provides more surface resistance. Your body stays closer to the top of the mattress rather than sinking in. Back sleepers and combination sleepers tend to prefer this feel because it makes position changes easier and keeps the spine in a more neutral alignment. Side sleepers under 150 lbs may find it too firm at the pressure points.
Neither firmness is better in absolute terms. But one of them is better for you specifically, and the difference between 5/10 and 7/10 is large enough that choosing the wrong one will affect your sleep quality.
The Value Comparison Casper Cannot Win
Setting aside firmness preference, the objective metrics heavily favour the Douglas:
- Price: Douglas $799 vs Casper ~$1,295 (Douglas saves you $496)
- Trial period: Douglas 365 nights vs Casper 100 nights
- Warranty: Douglas 15 years vs Casper 10 years
- Independence: Douglas is made by GoodMorning.com, an independent Canadian company from Edmonton. Casper Canada is owned by Sleep Country, the largest mattress retailer in the country.
GoodMorning.com has built its reputation on transparent pricing with no promotional gimmicks. Their prices stay the same year-round. No "sale" prices, no coupon codes, no artificial urgency. Douglas was named Canada's Best Overall Mattress by Canadian Living and GoodMorning.com was named Canada's Best Mattress Company by Maclean's.
Casper, on the other hand, relies heavily on brand awareness built through podcast sponsorships and digital advertising. The brand recognition is real, but you are paying for it in the product price. At $1,295 for a queen all-foam mattress with undisclosed foam densities, the Casper is expensive relative to what independent Canadian brands offer.
Side-by-Side Specifications
| Feature | Douglas (GoodMorning.com) | Casper Original |
|---|---|---|
| Queen Price | $799 | ~$1,295 |
| Height | 10" | 10" (tested ~9") |
| Type | All-foam | All-foam |
| Firmness | 5/10 (medium) | 7/10 (medium-firm) |
| Comfort Layer | 2" ecoLight cooling gel foam | 1" AirScape perforated foam |
| Transition Layer | 2" Elastex responsive foam | 1.5" memory foam |
| Support Base | 6" polyfoam | 6.5" ProSupport polyfoam |
| Trial Period | 365 nights | 100 nights |
| Break-in Minimum | 30 nights | Not specified |
| Warranty | 15 years | 10 years |
| Foam Density Published | No | No |
| Certifications | CertiPUR-US | CertiPUR-US |
| Shipping | Free across Canada | Free across Canada |
| Parent Company | GoodMorning.com (independent) | Sleep Country Canada |
| Returns | Free, full refund | Free, full refund |
What Is Inside Each Mattress
The Douglas uses a three-layer system with a 2-inch ecoLight cooling gel foam on top, which features an open-cell structure designed to let heat escape. Below that is 2 inches of Elastex foam, a latex-free responsive material that adds bounce and prevents you from sinking too deeply. The base is 6 inches of denser polyfoam for structure.
The Casper Original also uses three layers but distributes them differently: just 1 inch of AirScape perforated polyfoam on top, 1.5 inches of memory foam in the middle, and a thick 6.5-inch ProSupport base. The comfort and transition layers are thinner than the Douglas (2.5 inches combined vs 4 inches), which partly explains the firmer feel.
Neither brand publishes foam density numbers, which makes a direct durability comparison difficult. However, both are CertiPUR-US certified, meaning the foams have been tested for harmful emissions and meet performance standards.
The Douglas has a thicker combined comfort and transition section (4 inches vs 2.5 inches), which generally provides more contouring and pressure relief. This aligns with its softer 5/10 firmness rating. Whether that is an advantage depends entirely on whether you want more contouring or more surface firmness.
The 15-Year Warranty: What It Actually Covers
Douglas's 15-year warranty sits at the top end of the Canadian bed-in-a-box market, alongside Endy and Logan and Cove. For context, many competitors offer 10 years. Here is what it typically covers and what it does not:
Usually covered: Indentations deeper than 1 inch (without weight on the mattress), physical flaws in construction, defective materials, and broken or protruding components.
Usually not covered: Normal wear and softening, comfort preference changes, stains or damage from misuse, and use with an improper foundation or bed frame.
A 15-year warranty does not mean the mattress will last 15 years. All-foam mattresses in this price range typically last 6 to 8 years before comfort degrades noticeably. The warranty protects against manufacturing defects, not gradual wear. Still, 15 years of defect coverage is half again what Casper offers and among the best in the industry.
Our In-Store Advice
At Mattress Miracle, we often see customers who are torn between a medium and a medium-firm mattress. This is one of those cases where trying both firmness levels in person makes an enormous difference. A 5/10 and a 7/10 do not just feel "slightly different." They feel like different categories of mattress.
If you are considering the Douglas or the Casper, visit our showroom and spend 10 minutes on a medium mattress and 10 minutes on a medium-firm mattress. That will tell you which firmness level your body prefers, and from there, the brand choice becomes much simpler.
We carry foam mattresses across the full firmness spectrum, and we are happy to help you find the right feel without any obligation to buy from us.
Medical Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you are experiencing chronic pain, sleep disorders, or other health conditions, please consult a qualified healthcare professional. Your family doctor, chiropractor, or physiotherapist can provide guidance specific to your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who makes the Douglas mattress?
Douglas is manufactured by GoodMorning.com, an independent Canadian mattress company headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta. GoodMorning.com also makes Novosbed, Logan & Cove, Juno, and Octave mattresses. The company was co-founded in 2009 by the Prochazka family and operates without affiliation to any major retail chain.
Is the Casper Original firmer than the Douglas?
Yes, significantly. The Casper Original rates approximately 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale (medium-firm), while the Douglas rates approximately 5 out of 10 (medium). This is a noticeable difference that affects which sleep positions each mattress suits. The Douglas is better for side sleepers who need pressure relief, while the Casper is better for back and stomach sleepers who need a firmer surface.
Why does the Douglas have a longer warranty than Casper?
GoodMorning.com offers a 15-year warranty on the Douglas to signal confidence in their product quality and to differentiate from competitors. It is among the longest warranties in the Canadian bed-in-a-box market. The warranty covers manufacturing defects and deep indentations, not normal wear. While the mattress itself may last 6 to 8 years, the extended warranty provides long-term peace of mind against defective materials.
Can I try a Douglas mattress in a store?
Douglas is sold primarily online through douglas.ca and goodmorning.com, though GoodMorning.com has begun opening its own retail locations in select cities. There is no location in the Brantford area. The 365-night trial is designed to let you test the mattress at home instead. If you want to test a medium-firmness mattress in person before buying, visit a local mattress store like Mattress Miracle in Brantford to find a comparable feel.
Is the Douglas a good alternative to the Casper?
If firmness is compatible with your needs, the Douglas is a strong alternative. It costs $496 less, offers a 365-night trial (vs 100), and has a 15-year warranty (vs 10). The main caveat is firmness: the Douglas at 5/10 is significantly softer than the Casper at 7/10. If you need medium-firm support, the Douglas is not a direct replacement. If you prefer medium, it is better in nearly every measurable way.
Shop This Topic at Mattress Miracle
Popular picks at Mattress Miracle:
- Restonic ComfortCare Dalton & Albany pocketed-coil mattress
- Whitney double-sided bamboo mattress
- Somnia 3.0 neck support pillow
Or shop our mattress collection in our Brantford showroom.
Find Your Firmness at Mattress Miracle
We are a family-owned mattress store in Brantford, helping our community sleep better since 1997. Come lie on medium and medium-firm mattresses side by side to discover which your body prefers.
441 1/2 West Street, Brantford, Ontario
Call 519-770-0001Sources
- Radwan A, Fess P, James D, et al. Effect of different mattress designs on promoting sleep quality, pain reduction, and spinal alignment. Sleep Health. 2015;1(4):257-267.
- Kovacs FM, Abraira V, Pena A, et al. Effect of firmness of mattress on chronic non-specific low-back pain. The Lancet. 2003;362(9396):1599-1604.
- Casper Canada. Casper Mattress Collection.
- CertiPUR-US. What is Certified Foam?