Douglas and Recore are two well-known companies in the Canadian mattress scene. One is an eco-friendly and Canadian-focused mattress, and the other is a performance mattress geared toward active individuals.

Douglas

Douglas was introduced in 2017 by Canadian bed-in-a-box company Novosbed. Only available in Canada, Douglas was manufactured as a single-firmness mattress, designed from over eight years worth of engineering data and customer feedback. Novosbed has priced the Douglas be the best value Canadian-made mattress in the country. They offer the same level of customer service for the Douglas as they do for their flagship brand, not to mention an industry leading sleep trial and warranty.

Recore

Recore was introduced in late 2018 as the fifth brand from Canadian mattress maker, Novosbed. The three-layer bed is marketed towards active individuals and people who are concerned with performance and productivity – both from their mattress and themselves. In selecting materials, Recore deliberately chose modern materials scientifically tested to offer properties aligned with the latest insights from the growing field of sleep science.

At launch, Recore could lay claim to a number of unique innovations, including being the only latex bed-in-a-box made in Canada, and the only one in the country to use graphite latex foam.

Delivery, Trial, Returns	Douglas	Recore
Shipping cost:	Free shipping	Free shipping
Shipping time:	3–10 days	3–10 days
Sleep trial length:	120 nights	120 nights
Return ease:	Company picks up	Company picks up
Refund:	Yes, full refund	Yes, full refund
Additional fees:	No	No

Thanks to modern compression methods and the rising popularity of the bed-in-a-box, mattresses can now be shipped far more efficiently and conveniently than ever before. Customers no longer need to take a day off work to accept a delivery. Boxed beds are now delivered with the same convenience as most Amazon orders. Some bed-in-a-box companies even offer same-day delivery to certain areas.

Delivery

Both Douglas and Recore use FedEx to deliver their mattresses directly to customers’ doors, and shipping is free throughout Canada. Customers can expect their new mattress to arrive within 3 to 10 business days following order confirmation.

Trial Period

Like many bed-in-a-box companies, Douglas and Recore both heavily promote their sleep trials. With a 120-night sleep trial, Recore and Douglas have one of the longest sleep trials of all mattress brands.

Returns and Additional Fees

If a customer wishes to return their Douglas or Recore mattress within the sleep trial period, the company will arrange to pick up the mattress and issue customers a full refund. There are no additional return or restocking fees for either the mattress.

Out of the Box	Douglas	Recore
Delivered in a box:	Yes	Yes
Box dimensions:	17.5” x 17.5” x 44.5”	17" x 17" x 44"
Box opening:	Scissors required	Scissors required
Box/mattress fitting:	Tight	Tight
Protection layers:	2	3
Expansion time:	2 minutes	1 minute

Delivery Times & Opening the Box

Both the Douglas and Recore mattresses arrived within the expected delivery times. Each product was well-protected within the box by heavy-duty plastic to keep the mattress in good condition during shipping.

Each mattress box was sealed with heavy-duty tape. Customers will definitely need scissors or a knife to open either box. To prevent potential harm to your new mattress, remember to be extra careful when using sharp objects to remove any packaging.

Setting up the Mattress

Once opened, each compressed mattress is easy to remove from the box. We recommend a ‘tip-and-pull’ motion to slowly slide the mattress out from its cardboard container. Simply tip the box from a vertical position down onto its side, and then pull the lightweight box away from the bundled mattress. It’s most efficient to do this process in the room where you intend to use the mattress.

Both mattresses are protected with multiple layers of heavy-duty plastic – an inner layer to keep the mattress compressed in a vacuum seal, and outer layers to keep it compact in a cylinder shape.

Customers will need to unwrap the first layer in order to unroll the mattress, which will still be in its compressed form. Some helpful advice at this stage is to place the rolled up mattress onto the designated bed frame. Next, like the end of a roll of tape, find and peel back the outer layer of plastic. You can use the momentum of unrolling the compressed mattress along the bed frame to help remove the rest of this layer, which could be up to a few meters long. After completing this process, the mattress will be lying unrolled before you.

Expansion Time

Next, cut the final layer of plastic. The vacuum seal now broken, the mattress will quickly begin to decompress. Remove this final layer of plastic as the mattress expands to its full height. Both mattresses reached full expansion in under five minutes.

Douglas and Recore are both combination foam mattresses (Douglas: eco-foam; Recore: graphite latex). Multiple layers of foam work together to offer comfort and support.

The major differences between the Douglas and Recore mattress lie in the different types of foams used for comfort, contouring, and pressure-point relief, not to mention the support layers for motion isolation and edge support. Each mattress contains comfort, transition, and support layers, and these layers vary slightly in height and density.

Also, each mattress also has a unique top cover which showcases the brand’s personality and design aesthetic. Top covers are sometimes removable. In this case, both the Douglas and Recore have removable, machine-washable covers.

Douglas vs Recore Mattress Layers

Douglas Mattress Layers

Douglas uses three layers of foam in the construction of their Canadian foam 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 natural 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.

Of note: As the name suggests, ecoLight™ foam weighs less than traditional high-density memory foam (which starts at 4 to 5 lbs/ft³). Conversely, there is a lower petrochemical volume used in a cubic foot of ecoLight™ as compared to a cubic foot of conventional memory foam. This has a positive impact on the environment, resulting in a lower carbon footprint while still providing the same tactile benefits of denser foam.

Recore Mattress Layers

The Recore mattress contains three layers of foam:

• First layer: 1.5 inches of graphite-infused latex with vertical air channels. This synthetic, allergen-free latex comfort layer transports heat rapidly away from the body through the high thermal conductivity of graphite infused throughout the material. Though latex is known for its durability, it’s primarily favoured for its spring-like resilience, allowing for a bouncier surface than foam or memory foam mattresses. Layer density: 3.4 lbs/ft³.
• Second layer: 2 inches of Vortex™ gel foam. This transition layer helps the mattress properly contour to your body. It also makes up a large part of the shock-absorbing, cushioning feel of the bed. The open-cell gel foam reduces the likelihood that heat will be trapped within the mattress, adding a further cooling element. Foam density: 2.5 lbs/ft³.
• Third layer: 7 inches of motion isolating support foam. This thick bottom layer serves three important functions:
  • Reducing motion ripples between different areas of the mattress;
  • Promoting spinal alignment by limiting the depth sleepers sink into the surface;
  • Enhancing structural integrity and edge support throughout the mattress. Foam density: 1.8 lbs/ft³.

Douglas vs Recore Mattress Cover

Douglas Mattress Cover

Douglas’ Canadian-centric cover shows the brand’s homegrown roots, from its mountain stitching to its red and white colour scheme. Cut from a single piece of fabric and woven together, the cover is almost seamless. The red zipper running all along the side wall is the only colour that breaks up this impressive white canvas.

As for upkeep, the top half is machine washable, a bonus for anyone who can’t stand the thought of spot cleaning their bed by hand. Douglas’ cover is composed of Natural Eucalyptus Fabric™. This proprietary fabric is made from sustainably farmed eucalyptus trees – stretch-knit and very soft, but also extremely durable. The cover is great for moisture wicking and breathability.

Recore Mattress Cover

Appearance and breathability

The Recore mattress has a very distinct and sporty cover that makes it easy to pick out among other mattress brands. The multi-tone charcoal cover is divided into a top and bottom section by the neon orange zipper that runs the full perimeter of the mattress. The top cover is breathable and extremely soft of the touch, further aiding in the cooling properties of the mattress.

Antimicrobial

Though the top cover is primarily composed of polyester, poly-viscose, and spandex, this blend is protected with silver-coated thread. Silver is incorporated into bedding for to its antimicrobial properties; it naturally inhibits the growth of bacteria, maintaining a cleaner and fresher feeling where you sleep. In preliminary testing, the same compound used with Recore’s SilverCharged™ thread met NASA’s standards for antimicrobial performance in use as a disinfectant. It was the only commercially available product that met the full range of antimicrobial performance requirements necessary for long-term space exploration missions.

Machine washable

The top portion of the Recore cover is removable and machine washable. Due to its zipper placement, the cover is easy to remove, even when used on a slightly sunken bed frame or platform.

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. Novosbed 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	Douglas	Recore
Feel:	Medium-firm	Medium
Firmness:	6.6 / 10	4.7 / 10
Edge Support:	7.9 / 10	7.4 / 10
Motion Isolation:	8.3 / 10	7.1 / 10
Bounce:	3.2 / 10	3.6 / 10

Feel & Firmness

According to the testing conducted by third-party engineers (commissioned by us), the firmness and feel of the Douglas and Recore mattresses are as follows:

• The Douglas mattress classifies as medium-firm, rated at 6.6 / 10 on the firmness scale. The Douglas mattress does not have excessive ‘hug.’
• The Recore is a medium mattress, rated at 4.7 / 10 on the firmness scale. The Recore mattress does not have excessive ‘hug.’

Edge Support

Foam mattresses are not known for their edge support; in fact, it is often one of the main issues customers have when moving from innerspring mattresses to foam. According to the testing conducted by third-party engineers (commissioned by us), the Douglas and Recore mattresses have similar edge support scores:

• The Douglas mattress has above-average edge support. It is rated at 7.9 / 10 on the edge support scale.
• The Recore mattress has above-average edge support. It is rated at 7.4 / 10 on the edge support scale.

Motion Isolation

Motion isolation in foam mattresses is usually very good and one of the main reasons couples make the switch from innerspring to memory foam. According to the testing conducted by third-party engineers (commissioned by us), the Douglas and Recore mattresses are both above average for motion isolation:

• The Douglas mattress has above-average motion isolation. It is rated at 8.3 / 10 on the motion isolation scale.
• The Recore mattress has above-average motion isolation. It is rated at 7.4 / 10 on the motion isolation scale.

Bounce

Due to the fact that motion isolation for foam mattresses is generally very good, bounce is generally very low. According to the testing conducted by third-party engineers (commissioned by us), the Douglas and Recore mattresses have similar bounce ratings:

• The Douglas mattress has below-average bounce. It is rated at 3.2 / 10 on the bounce scale.
• The Recore mattress has below-average bounce. It is rated at 3.6 / 10 on the bounce scale.

Overview	Douglas	Recore
Price (Queen):	$799 CAD	$949 CAD
Available in:	Canada	Canada
Made in:	Canada	Canada
Trial length:	120 nights	120 nights
Warranty:	15 years	15 years
Mattress height:	10"	10.5"
Number of layers:	3	3
Cover materials:	Natural Eucalyptus Fabric™	Polyester, spandex, poly-viscose, SilverCharged™ thread
Machine washable:	Yes	Yes
Green policies:	ecoLight™ foam; Natural Eucalyptus Fabric™; Manufactured using renewable energy; Optimized shipping; Recycled cardboard; Recycled ink	Zero-waste manufacturing; Manufactured using renewable energy; Optimized shipping
Feel:	Medium-firm	Medium
Firmness	6.6 / 10	4.7 / 10
Edge support:	7.9 / 10	7.4 / 10
Motion isolation:	8.3 / 10	7.1 / 10
Bounce:	3.2 / 10	3.6 / 10
Discount:	SAVE $50	SAVE $100

Remember, Mattress-Reviews.com is owned, operated, and paid for by Novosbed Inc. and advertises the Novosbed, Douglas, Recore, Brunswick, and Logan & Cove mattress brands. The following is strictly our competitive opinion:

---

Douglas and Recore are two popular and well-reviewed bed-in-a-box brands. So far, each has carved out a unique niche in the market, and this will be the key between deciding between the two strong products.

Douglas comes out ahead in terms of price, environmental consciousness, and motion isolation. It’s also the more firm of the two mattresses, while still maintaining some soft comfort. Shoppers who put the most stock in these qualities are likely to favour Douglas over Recore.

But that’s not enough to drop Recore out of consideration. With its antimicrobial top cover and graphite latex comfort layer, Recore comes out ahead in terms of cleanliness and coolness. It was also designed to optimize the conditions that lead to sleep and performance. The synthetic latex also gives it more bounce and resilience than Douglas’ foam surface. For that reason, sleep junkies, people who prefer a cooler mattress, and athletic individuals of all types might prefer Recore over Douglas.

Ultimately, both brands deliver strong results in terms of motion isolation, edge support, price, and customer service. Where one brand excels, the other is still relatively close behind. For that reason, Mattress-Reviews.com has given special commendation to both mattresses:

• Douglas is Mattress-Reviews.com’s Top Pick for Mattress under $1,000 CAD. 
• Recore is Mattress-Reviews.com’s Top Pick for Latex mattress.