Berwick, Maine

21 x 72 (53.34 cm x 182.88 cm)

1 ¾" thick (4.445 cm)

Field Information:

Weather in the White Mountains is unpredictable. It can snow any time of the year and it rains a lot. Nighttime temperatures in the summer can dip down to the 20's and 30's. Many of the mountains rise over 4000 feet with moderate to steep trails. Several trails are very steep with a lot of rock climbing and boulder hopping. There are many streams and creeks with several lakes.

Owners Review:

I have owned and used the Therm-a-Rest self-inflating mattress for the last few years and I really like it. I have used it on many camping trips, with no complaints. It’s comfortable, easy to set up, adjust, and put away.

The Therm-a-Rest comes with it’s own stuff sack. It has a fabric handle on the closed end of the stuff sack so it can be easily pulled off the rolled up mattress.

Inside the stuff sack, there is a warning label stating that the stuff sack is to be used for travel only. It also states that the Therm-a-rest shouldn’t be stored in the bag because if left rolled up for a long period wet or damp, mildew may damage the mattress. The warning label suggests to store the mattress inflated in a dry place. I keep mine rolled up and I haven’t had any problems yet. I’ll remember to dry it out before I put it away.

Behind the warning label, there’s a repair kit pocket. This is a good idea and I’ll have to find a repair kit for it.

After taking the Therm-a-Rest out of the stuff sack, I opened the valve and set it on the ground. The mattress started to self-inflate. It took about 3 minutes for the mattress to unroll. After it was inflated, I blew in some more air to make the mattress firmer. Then I closed the valve.

I placed my sleeping bag (The North Face Thunderhead 3D mummy bag) on top of the Therm-a-Rest. Since the mattress in 6’ long (182.88 cm) and my sleeping bag in 6’9" (210.312 cm) long and I’m 6’2" (188.976 cm) tall, I had to place my sleeping bag so that were my feet were on the mattress and the hood of my sleeping bag was off the mattress. I compensated for that by adding a pillow under the hood. This arrangement worked great.

I’ve never had any problems while sleeping on the Therm-a-Rest. I moved around a lot while sleeping but the mattress didn’t move at all.

Taking the air out of the Therm-a-Rest takes time. I had to fold it once, then kneel on it to push out the air. When I rolled it up, I closed the valve. I’ve rolled it up a few times without releasing all the air and it didn’t fit in the stuff sack.

I’m considering using the Therm-a-Rest for winter camping. I told a few hiking buddies about it and they both agreed "that" it wouldn’t insulate me from the cold ground. They suggested putting a foam-sleeping pad under it first. Hopefully I’ll be able to try it this winter.

In conclusion, I really like the Therm-a-Rest self-inflating mattress. The set up instructions are clear, it’s easy to inflate and deflate, and it’s very comfortable. I would highly recommend the Therm-a-Rest to anyone looking for a good mattress (pad) for camping.