Therm-a-Rest

Therm-a-Rest is a pioneering brand in the outdoor industry, best known for inventing the world's first self-inflating mattress in 1972. The brand was founded in Seattle, Washington, by three former Boeing engineers—John Burroughs, Jim Lea, and Neil Anderson—who sought to improve the comfort of sleeping outdoors after witnessing the limitations of traditional closed-cell foam pads. This innovation led to the formation of Cascade Designs, Inc., which serves as the parent company for Therm-a-Rest and several other reputable outdoor brands like MSR and Platypus.

Therm-a-Rest is distinguished by its commitment to 'in-market' manufacturing, maintaining its own production facilities to ensure high quality and vertical integration. The majority of its products for the North American market are manufactured in Reno, Nevada (with historical production in Seattle), while its European headquarters and manufacturing hub are located in Midleton, County Cork, Ireland. As of 2026, the brand remains under the ultimate ownership of Cascade Designs, Inc., which continues to be a privately held, family-controlled business headquartered in Seattle, USA.