Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest Deluxe Sleeping Pad

I sometimes use other Thermarest pads like the Prolite series for comfort, but for the maximum alpine solution nothing matches the Ridgerest Deluxe. As far as sleeping pads go, this model is overkill for sleeping on anything but snow and ice- unless you are looking for the ultimate cushy sleeping experience. Insulation from the ground is only critical in wintry conditions, as bare ground temps don't really cool enough to notice. But in winter or sleeping on snow or ice, cold can seep through your pad and make for long, sleepless nights. Inflatable pads lose most of their insulating values if they are punctured. On expeditions and climbing trips I can't afford to gamble on durability, so this pad had become my mainstay. Plus, it has an insulating value of R3.1, which is higher than any pad on the market for its weight. Solid, simple, and reliable.

As a proud owner of both a Ridge Rest and an inflatable Therm-a-rest, I'd like to give a shout out to the traditional closed-cell foam pad. I'm no exception to the rule, I'm getting old and my bones and back creak when I get up after a night on the ground, so I still tote my inflatable around on occasion, but here's the goods on a Ridge Rest: these sleeping pads are the lightest weight around; they don't absorb water; no patching/repairs needed; pads double as excellent emergency first aid supplies when bulky padding/braces are in demand; this pad keeps you warm even in the coldest conditions (no air to heat up underneath my body); absorbs minor inconsistencies on the ground like divots and pebbles. Hands down, Ridge Rests provide the best bang for your buck.

The question you have to ask yourself is, “Do I want to be comfortable hiking or do I want to be comfortable sleeping.” I chose the former when I headed out to hike the AT. I decided that saving money and weight were more important than having the super comfy sleep setup. I'm glad I did. These pads aren't all that comfortable but they weigh almost nothing, cost very little, and are fine swinging around on the back of a backpack rather than inside it. I got used to slightly uncomfortable sleeping pretty easily and I think the payoff was worth it.

This is a great pad for tough conditions, take it places that you would fear poking a hole in your inflatable. Pad is easily modified with a sharp pair of scissors. I trimmed the length and the width and took the corners off at the head (All in a relentless pursuit of shaving grams off my pack). I use this pad with my ultralight backpack, it acts as the frame rolled into a tube and shoved into the pack. All the rest of the gear fits in the interior of the roll pad.

I have a huge Gregory back, and could not fit this inside the pack. I ended up tying it to the outside, but lost it when crossing one of the mountain streams in heavy rain. It also used to get caught on the brush and trees. It was comfortable to sleep on while I had it, but I ended up buying the Therm-a-Rest Z-lite sleeping pad instead. The square shape and smaller size made it easier to attach to the bottom of my backpack.

I've used this on several backpacking trips and although its freakin huge (and I have the small, which isn't for sale on here) I've never felt like i've lost sleep due to my pad. I'ts comfortable - I always look foward to going to bed. As far as strapping it to my pack - my Klamath pack has straps on the bottom that hold it perfectly tight. If your looking at this, don't be afraid to go ahead and buy it...

After using the Thermarest R4 for two seasons and the Ridge Rest for one. I am sold on the ridge rest for winter ascents. Warmer overall because it keeps you off the snow. Insulation to weight factor seems to be more favorable. No inflation worries. The only down side is the bulk which must be carried on the out side of pack. I will deal with that and consider it worth it for the added comfort.

Big fan of this pad. The deluxe is definitely worth the upgrade over the regular. The added thickness was much appreciated during some winter camping trips. The downside is that it doesn't pack small. It will always be a big roll strapped to the outside of your pack. This pad can't fail so I guess I don't worry too much on the trail about it getting poked with sticks and branches.

Pretty comfortable, definate upgrade from plain CCF pad. Also, you never have to worry about leaks. Rolls up kind of large, but you can fold it if you need to or roll it up, put it in your pack vertically and let it unroll in you pack. Then pack your stuff inside. This technique works good with frameless rucks like Golite and others.