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Backpacker Magazine – Fall/Winter Gear Guide 2010
Gear Review: Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest Solar Sleeping Pad
An indestructible sleeping pad with an aluminized surface layer that reflects body heat.
Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest Solar (Courtesy Photo)
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Tags:
- Gear |
- Sleeping bags |
- Winter camping |
Slumber Away
With these other cozy bags and pads
[indestructible]With these other cozy bags and pads
Over the last 23 years, this .75-inch-thick mat has survived because it’s tough, insulating, and light. Winter campers and mountaineers have long relied on its no-fail durability to provide a barrier against cold snow. This year, the RidgeRest gets a well-deserved facelift.
The new Solar keeps everything we love about the RidgeRest and adds a virtually weightless aluminized surface layer, which reflects body heat like a space blanket. It bumps the insulation value and our tester (a seasoned RidgeRest user) says, “I could definitely notice the difference—the coating lessened the bite of sleeping on snow.”
Pair it with a cushy inflated pad for the ultimate winter bed. Downside: Like all closed-cell foam pads, it’s bulky when rolled. $40; 1 lb. 3 oz.; reg. or long; cascadedesigns.com
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READERS COMMENTS
I purchased a RidgeRest Deluxe for a 90 day solo bicycle trip (98F to -4F range). The Deluxe is
the thicker than standard pad.
By the end of the trip the foam had partly collapsed and the ridges distorted. High pressure points (hips) caused the foam to distort and lose most of its padding capability. This collapse and distortion had a very noticeable impact on comfort and warmth. Foam will not tear of puncture easily ... But the RidgeRests are NOT the equivalent of a solid pad. I still use mine because it will never leave me flat and I often use it for mid-day naps ... and inflation / deflation rollup is just not practical.
It will never deflate in the middle of the night
**** Very light compared to everything else ***
Anyone remember ensolite from the 1970's?
Note: I am 6'8" so it may last longer for you.
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