Therm-A-Rest Brand Spotlight

For more than fifty years, Therm-a-Rest has pursued one objective: to create innovative solutions for more meaningful rest while exploring the backcountry. Much like Outdoor Gear Exchange, Therm-a-Rest was founded by passionate outdoor enthusiasts aiming to make the inaccessible more approachable. 

As always, an Outdoor Gear Exchange Brand Spotlight means a closer look at our Spotlight’s history, and identity. To celebrate their dedicated focus and storied partnership with Outdoor Gear Exchange, September’s Brand Spotlight is on Therm-a-Rest! 

“I wanted a better sleeping pad” - John Burroughs, co-founder of Therm-a-Rest

Adversity Presents Opportunity

Therm-a-Rest has been headquartered in Seattle, Washington since its founding in 1972. Before then, the company’s founding members were engineers at Boeing. After being wrapped up in Boeing’s mass layoffs in the early 1970s (now dubbed the “Boeing Bust”), John, Neil and Jim turned their focus to creating a more lightweight, comfortable and durable sleeping pad for their frequent mountaineering adventures. 

While working in his garden, Jim found inspiration for this trio’s new project as he kneeled down on his foam ground cushion. As air hissed out of the cushion, Jim Lea thought of a sleeping pad with an airtight barrier around plush foam, paired with a simple valve. After a few experiments, the team had created a prototype, and named it “Therm-a-Rest”.

The world’s first self-inflating mattress was a major breakthrough in comfort for outdoor enthusiasts. And, to this day, Therm-a-Rest still manufactures their products in Seattle, where it all started. 

Scaling to New Heights

In the first decade of business, the Therm-a-Rest sleeping pad had earned a spot in the packs of millions of outdoor enthusiasts. By 1985 Therm-a-Rest opened an additional production and distribution center in Midleton, Ireland to accommodate the growing customer base throughout Europe. 

With production, distribution, and customer service centers on either side of the planet, Therm-a-Rest began expanding their product line, and bringing new technology to outdoor comfort.

Getting (Even More) Comfortable

1986 - The revolutionary RidgeRest foam mat is invented, leveraging a unique pattern of heat-molded foam to elevate insulation.
1993 - Synergy System sleeping bag with built-in sleeve for sleeping pad
1994 - Z-Rest closed-cell foam mattress. Still a go-to for distance hikers.
1995 - Therm-a-Rest builds an in-house cold chamber for product testing
1996 - Vertically die-cut foam allows Therm-a-Rest to make sleeping pads even lighter
2005 - Excess foam from cutting ProLite pads upcycled to create Compressible Pillows
2009 - The first NeoAir sleeping pads are sold to retail customers and set a new standard for light and packable sleeping pads.
2011 - Sleeping bags re-introduced to Therm-a-Rest product line, with ThermaCapture, Toe-asis, Zoned insulation, SynergyLink Connectors
2016 - Collaborated with other manufacturers to develop ASTM F3340-18 standard for measuring the R-value (insulation efficiency) of sleeping pads & mattresses.
2018 - Polar Range bag wins approval from renowned polar explorer, Eric Larsen: “Not only is this bag warm enough for deep, sub-zero cold, it also has features that we often don’t see all in one package.”
2020 - Winglock and TwinLock valves help deploy and deflate sleeping pads faster than ever
2024 - WarmZip center zip sleeping bag improves insulation, patent pending

Outdoor Gear Exchange & Therm-a-Rest

Outdoor Gear Exchange is proud to carry an iconic brand such as Therm-a-Rest. Founded by passionate outdoor enthusiasts, continuing a legacy of environmental stewardship, and producing much of its product in the United States, Therm-a-Rest is our go-to for outdoor comfort.