About Thermarest
Posted by Mark Richardson on Feb 02, 2026
Therm-a-Rest's Story
In 1971, a mix of unemployed Boeing engineers, a leaky foam gardening pad, and the dream of better nights under the stars came together to change how people experience the outdoors forever. By 1972, Cascade Designs was formed and began selling the Therm-a-Rest Standard 3/4 – the world’s first self-inflating sleeping pad. The rest, as they say, is history.
Thermarest can rightly claim that they started a minor revolution in backpacking comfort. Before 1972, there was the 'closed cell foam mat' to sleep on, which provided insulation but little comfort. Since 1972, the introduction of self-inflating mats and then ultralight airbeds from Thermarest and other companies has transformed the quality of sleeping outdoors. Since moving into sleeping bags in 1997, Thermarest has demonstrated that whatever they do is to an amazingly high standard.
Innovation & Technology
While they made the first self-inflating mattress, their legacy of groundbreaking technologies continues to define the entire category of outdoor comfort. With over fifty years of experience, they have spent decades more than anyone else focused exclusively on crafting innovative solutions for outdoor comfort, allowing users to make the most of their time outside.
Made Locally
With company-owned manufacturing facilities in Reno, NV, and Cork, Ireland, the vast majority of their sales worldwide come from products built by the hearts, minds, and hands of Therm-a-Rest employees. In business speak, this is called vertical integration, and they are committed to it because it results in significant benefits when it comes to innovation, quality, stewardship, and service.
Therm-a-Rest Today
In many ways, they now operate much like they did over 50 years ago. Although they have grown, they are proud to maintain a single-minded commitment to quality and innovation by designing every product based on a wealth of personal experience and producing the majority of what they sell with their own hands.
Advocacy & Sustainability
They are committed to doing all they can to preserve and advocate for the wild places that everyone loves and relies on. From locally adopting trails and supporting conservation organizations to globally making the right choices in materials and manufacturing practices to reduce their footprint, they believe that doing it right matters now for a bright future.
hermarest can rightly claim that they started a minor revolution in backpacking comfort. Before 1972, there was the 'closed cell foam mat' to sleep on, which provided insulation but little comfort. Since 1972, the introduction of self-inflating mats and then ultralight airbeds from Thermarest and other companies has transformed the quality of sleeping outdoors. Since moving into sleeping bags in 1997, Thermarest has demonstrated that whatever they do is to an amazingly high standard.