THERMAREST

Back in 1971, climbers, Jim Lea, Neil Anderson and John Burroughs knew firsthand that long days in the hills were only made longer by a horrible night’s rest, and a better sleeping pad was key to changing that equation. This blend of science and a desire to make the most of every day outdoors created the world’s first self-inflating air mattress, and it continues to be the fuel that drives Therm-A-Rest today.

“We got started because I wanted a better mattress,” says John Burroughs, co-founder of Therm-a-Rest. As an experienced mountaineer, John knew that the thin, closed-cell foam mats of the early 70’s left a giant opportunity for the creation of a mattress that offered greater comfort. He also knew that demand would be strong for such a solution, but more importantly, he wanted to help people better enjoy the mountains and the wild places that he loved.

As he shifted his weight on his foam ground cushion, he heard the air escaping a closed chamber. A deduction was made that if open-cell foam could be secured in an airtight chamber, a valve could control internal air pressure. The combination of foam and air would protect and thermally insulate campers, keeping them warm and comfortable; plus, the tendency of open-cell foam to rebound would allow the pads to self-inflate. A year and much field-testing later, they had reached a design that offered far superior comfort and performance than anything that had existed before. John dubbed it the “Therm-a-Rest”, a patent application was filed and, by 1972, the Therm-a-Rest mattress was on its trajectory to becoming an integral piece of gear for millions of outdoor enthusiasts.

By 1986, “Therm-a-Rest” had become a household name to adventurers around the world.

With an insatiable drive to innovate, they released the NeoAir® insulated air mattress in 2009 – the single greatest innovation in outdoor sleep comfort since the original Therm-a-Rest mattress.

Today, Therm-A-Rest remain the worldwide leader in outdoor comfort innovation and quality. Why focus on comfort? It’s the simple belief that the better you rest, the better you play.