Simba 

Simba, a European-based mattress brand, has a global presence and is available worldwide. In Canada, Simba sells its mattresses through Sleep Country, and as part of an exclusive contract, Simba’s Canadian customer service is handled by Sleep Country’s support team. The European versions of the Simba mattress are manufactured in both the UK and Poland. However, in 2020, the brand shifted production for all its Canadian orders from China to Canada.

Douglas

Douglas was introduced in 2017 by Canadian bed-in-a-box company GoodMorning.com. Douglas was manufactured as a single-firmness mattress, designed using eight years' worth of engineering data and customer feedback. GoodMorning.com designed the Douglas to be a value-packed, Canadian-made mattress at an unheard-of low price. They offer the same level of customer service for the Douglas as they do across their growing catalogue, along with a 365-night sleep trial and a 20-year warranty.

Delivery, Trial, Returns	Simba	Douglas
Shipping cost:	Free Shipping (additional fees might apply for remote locations)	Free shipping (additional fees might apply for remote locations)
Shipping time:	3–10 days	3–10 days
Sleep trial length:	100 nights	365 nights
Return ease:	Company picks up	Company picks up
Refund:	In-store credit only	Yes, full refund
Additional fees:	$65 exchange fee	None

We received the Simba mattress for testing, which was delivered to us through FedEx. Shipping is free for most Canadians except those living in the Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut, Newfoundland and Labrador. Customers can expect to receive their new mattress within ten business days.

Douglas also uses FedEx to deliver mattresses to customers directly, and shipping is free of charge across most of Canada. However, certain additional charges may apply to remote areas. Upon order confirmation, customers can expect their new mattress to arrive within a timeframe of 3 to 10 business days.

Sleep Country provides a 100-night comfort guarantee, allowing buyers to try out the mattress in their own homes before making a final decision. With a duration of 100 nights, this sleep trial is considered average in length. However, it is important to note that there are certain limitations to the exchange policy.

1. The Simba mattress can only be returned to Sleep Country for an in-store credit.
2. Customers who decide to return their mattress to Sleep Country must pay an exchange fee of $65 CAD to cover the delivery of a new item and removal of the returned mattress.

Douglas offers an industry-leading 365-night sleep trial. If a customer wishes to return their Douglas mattress within the sleep trial, the company will arrange to pick it up and issue a full refund. There are no additional return or restocking fees for Douglas.

The Simba and Douglas mattresses were easy to unbox and expanded within a few hours. They both arrived on time and were well-protected in sturdy boxes.

To get your new mattress set up, simply tilt the box to its side and let the mattress slide out. After that, you’d remove the outer layer of plastic and roll the mattress out onto your bed frame. As you unroll it, you’d gently peel off the plastic layer. Finally, you’d remove and dispose of the last layer of plastic to break the vacuum seal and let the mattress start expanding.

Most bed-in-a-box mattresses, like Simba, typically reach their full height within minutes to a few days. The Douglas reaches its full height in just three minutes.

The overall composition of each mattress is rather different. Simba is a hybrid mattress, and Douglas is a combination foam mattress. Both mattresses are offered in one firmness level.

Significant differentiators exist between the Simba and the Douglas mattresses. The Douglas mattress is made with different layers of foam, and the Simba 2500 is made with 1-inch micro-coils primarily used for contouring and comfort. Both mattresses have variations in height, density, and composition.

Simba vs Douglas Mattress Layers

Simba 2500 Mattress Layers

The Simba 2500 contains four layers:

• First layer: 1 inch of graphite-infused memory foam. This layer provides comfort and contouring. Because memory foam tends to trap heat, Simba has added graphite flakes in the foam to help with temperature control. Foam density: Unspecified.

• Second layer: 1 inch of micro-coils. Simba’s coil layer helps with motion isolation. The hollow channels in the springs also aid in temperature regulation by improving airflow throughout the mattress.

• Third layer: 3.5 inches of high-density foam. This layer provides additional stability to the mattress and is reinforced at the perimeter for edge support. Foam density: Unspecified.

• Fourth layer: 6.5 inches of support foam. This bottom layer makes up the mattress’s foundation and keeps you from sinking in too deep. It also includes horizontal air channels that divide the mattress into seven zones, promoting spinal alignment and pressure-point relief. Foam density: Unspecified. 

Of note: Simba does not publicly disclose foam density. When Mattress-Reviews.com contacted Simba customer support, they could not provide the foam density for any of their layers.

Douglas Mattress Layers

Douglas uses three layers of foam in the construction of its Canadian-made mattress.

• First layer: 2 inches of ecoLight® cooling gel foam. This cooling gel encourages a restful sleep by ensuring that the mattress doesn’t trap heat. The ecoLight® foam has the durability, responsiveness, and comfort of memory foam, but it has a lower carbon footprint. Foam density: 2.5 lbs/ft³.
• Second layer: 2 inches of Elastex® foam. This transition layer is designed to provide spring and support. Many mattresses use latex for similar reasons. Elastex® is free of the allergy-causing chemicals found in latex.
• Third layer: 6 inches of motion isolation support foam. This thick bottom layer greatly reduces motion transfer between sleepers, and it also enhances edge support.

Simba vs Douglas Mattress Cover

Simba 2500 Mattress Cover

Simba’s top cover primarily consists of polyester, which contains a small amount of elastane for stretch. Synthetic materials like this tend to be less breathable than natural or plant-derived fibres such as Tencel® or cotton. It is worth noting that Simba does not use any eco-conscious fabrics in its outer layer construction, despite the current emphasis on sustainability. While Simba does highlight the antimicrobial benefits of its mattress cover, it is important to keep in mind that these covers are not machine washable.

Douglas Mattress Cover

With its mountainscape stitching to its red and white colour profile, Douglas’ Canadian-centric cover shows the brand's homegrown roots. Cut from a single piece of fabric and woven together, the design is almost seamless. The red zipper running the entire length of the side wall and the red Douglas badge are the only elements that break up this impressive white canvas.

As for upkeep, the top half is machine washable,  to make keeping the surface of your mattress clean a breeze. Douglas' cover is enhanced with moisture-wicking Infinitex™ fibres. This proprietary fabric is stretch-knit and very soft, but also extremely durable. The cover is great for staying cool and breathable through the night, so you won't wake up in a pool of sweat.

Consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious when making purchases. Retailers both in and out of the mattress industry have been incorporating more eco-friendly and ethical policies when selling products and choosing suppliers.

GoodMorning.com Inc. carried out a survey in February 2017, discovering that almost 50% of Canadians are willing to spend more money for more environmentally friendly products. Therefore, in every review on Mattress-Reviews.com, we will highlight each mattress company’s green philosophy, as well as how prominent their policies are on their websites.

Feel & Firmness	Simba 2500	Douglas
Feel:	Medium-Soft	Medium-firm
Firmness:	3.2 / 10	6.7 / 10
Edge Support:	3.1 / 10	7.8 / 10
Motion Isolation:	6.6 / 10	8.3 / 10
Bounce:	4.4 / 10	3.1 / 10

Feel & Firmness

In independent tests conducted by third-party engineers (commissioned by us), significant differences were noted in the feel and firmness of the Simba 2500 and Douglas mattresses:

• The Simba 2500  is a medium-soft mattress. It is rated at 3.2 / 10 on the firmness scale. The memory foam top layer has a significant amount of ‘hug,’ which will appeal to anyone looking for a soft, enveloping mattress that they can sink into. However, strict stomach or back sleepers may find the Simba 2500 too soft to feel properly supported.
• The Douglas is a medium-firm mattress. It is rated at 6.7 / 10 on the firmness scale. The Douglas mattress does not have excessive “hug,” making it more adaptive to various sleep styles.

Edge Support

For those seeking a bed with exceptional edge support, hybrid mattresses are typically the go-to option in comparison to all-foam designs. However, the Douglas mattress exceeds expectations in this area, boasting above-average edge support.

• The Simba 2500 has below-average edge support. It is rated at 3.1 / 10 on the edge support scale. 
• The Douglas mattress has above-average edge support. It is rated at 7.8 / 10 on the edge support scale.

Motion Isolation

If you share your bed with a partner or pets, choosing a mattress with a high motion isolation score can significantly reduce sleep disturbances caused by movement. According to the testing conducted by third-party engineers (commissioned by us),  both Douglas models and the Simba 2500 have above-average motion isolation scores.  

Bounce

Anyone wanting a springy sleep surface will enjoy the added bounce you get on a hybrid mattress. Mattresses with interior springs are known for having a bit more bounce, especially when compared to all-foam models. However, foam mattresses are celebrated for their ability to absorb motion, which often translates into lower bounce. According to the testing conducted by third-party engineers (commissioned by us), the bounce ratings for the Simba and Douglas mattresses vary:

• The Simba 2500 mattress has slightly below-average bounce. It is rated 4.4 / 10 on the bounce scale. 
• The Douglas mattress has below-average bounce. It is rated at 3.1 / 10 on the bounce scale.