Name:  Josh Esteves
Age:  25
Gender:  Male
Height:  6'3" (191 cm)
Weight:  265#  (120 kg)
Email address:  jandk1800(at)yahoo(dot)com
City, State, Country:  Modesto, CA , USA
Backpacking background:  I started backpacking five years ago, mostly day hiking and overnight trips with a few multi day trips and one solo 3 day trip.  I started backpacking in the Ozark Mountains of  Arkansas and recently returned to California and have been hiking the coastal Santa Cruz Mountains and the Sierras.  I started backpacking as a heavy weight (over 65# pack for an overnight trip) but now consider myself a lightweight backpacker (10-15# base weight).  I have found that lightweight backpacking allows me to carry all my gear and my son at the same time.

Production information
    a. Manufacturer:  Therm-a-Rest
    b. Year of manufacture:  2004
    c. Manufacturer's URL:  http://www.thermarest.com/
    d. Listed weight:  14 oz (400 g)
    e. Weight as delivered:  13.2 oz  (374 g)
    f. Product description:
            Size: regular 20" x 72" - 51 cm x 183 cm
                As delivered:  19.75" x 72" - 50 cm x 183 cm
            Rolled size:  20" x 8 " - 51 cm x 20.32 cm
                As delivered:  19.75" x 8" - 50 cm x 20.32 cm
            Thickness:  0.625" - 1.59 cm (same as delivered)
            R-Value:  2.6
            MSRP:  $22.95
The RidgeRest is made of closed-cell foam with a ridge design that traps air under the pad to help insulate and increase softness.  The material is also slicker than many other closed-cell pads and doesn't stick to gear or skin as badly as many other pads.

Field information
    a. Castle Rock State park in the California Santa Cruz Mountains
    b. Description of  location:  Coastal mountain range, sea level to 2000+ feet (600+ meters) elevation, dense redwood forest with rocky to sandy terrain.
    c. Weather conditions:  tested in various conditions from humid and hot to damp and cool, to rainy and cold, but never below 24 F (-4 C).
   
Field Use
The sleeping pad was used in many different situations from on a ground cloth with a quilt under a tarp to in a tent with a sleeping bag.  I carried it rolled up and strapped to the bottom of my pack and inside my pack rolled loosely with my gear stuffed inside it.  I didn't have any trouble carrying it either way but I prefer to have it inside my pack when I have the room, which is usually the second or third day of a trip.  When rolled up inside my pack the sleeping pad's texture allowed other gear to easily slide in and out of the pack without sticking to the pad.  I also slept directly on the RidgeRest while fully clothed and found it comfortable on my face and other exposed skin.  It performed well in all situations with adequate warmth and is relatively light weight.

Summary
The sleeping pad greatly outperformed the cheaper closed-cell pads from discount stores and the comfort, warmth, and durability are far better than the light weight inflatable mattresses I have used before.  I have snagged the RidgeRest on trees and scraped it on rocks with little damage being done to the pad.  With proper cleaning and flattening of the campsite there is no problem with comfort.  In a developed high traffic campsite I spent a night on some rocky and hard ground that wasn't the most comfortable, which I hold myself and the ground responsible for, not the pad.  I spent many nights as a kid stealth camping on my grandfathers ranch and I believe that in warm weather nature can provide proper insulation and cushioning without the need of a pad.  However, most established campsites only offer hard ground to sleep on which can be uncomfortable even with a very thick pad.  The RidgeRest is enough pad to make the hard established sites bearable.
I have used the RidgeRest for over a year now and it still performs like new.  Due to my weight I find many sleeping pads unable to keep me comfortable for a full nights rest, but the RidgeRest has kept me from tossing and turning many nights in a row.  
I have used the pad in temperatures just below freezing and found it provided adequate insulation.  
The pad is a full body pad but can be cut down in size to save weight.  The pad has a tendency to roll up when first laid out, which can be fixed by throwing a sleeping bag on the pad once at camp, or simply by laying it so that is curves toward the ground.  While it doesn't provide the best comfort or insulation available on the market, I find the lighter weight of the RidgeRest to offset the negative, making it a great 3-season sleeping pad.