Cascade Designs Therm-A-Rest UltraLite

Review Date
June 23, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: sabetha janzen(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from sabetha

Price Paid:  $54.00 at yellowstone

Summary:
After a ten day trek at philmont my friends lighter and bulkier closed-cell foam pads were getting torn and ripped but mine still didn't show ware after I went back the next year for ROCS. Good program.

Customer Service:
none

Similar Products Used:
none

Review Date
February 17, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: corey green(Unregistered User) ,  Climber , from burnsville north carolina

Price Paid:  $65.00 at local outfitter

Summary:
These pads really are in my opion, the best. I currently own both, the long one for really cold weather and the 3/4 version for every thing else. I have owned the 3/4 version for close to four and a half years and it has been through A LOT. I have never had any problems with these pads even after lots of tentless nights on rough ground. Once when a pet rabbit chewed a small hole in the pad. It patched very easily, and I have had no problems in the chewed part since. The long version has been through several very cold nights some in the single digits.. Both of these pads are first quality and deserve lots of praise.

Customer Service:
Never needed it but I have heard good things about it.

Similar Products Used:
Various other pads

Review Date
September 3, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Tartan1749(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Clawson, MI

Price Paid:  $50.00 at Dick's

Summary:
The perfect pad! I don't care much for comfort since I'm a heavy sleeper and can sleep on wood floors and no pad without a problem. The only reason I got this is for the insulating value - also why I only got the 3/4 length. I just put a fleece jacket down under my legs and I'm good to go. VERY light and compact!! Used it for a few dozen nights and no leaks whatsoever. A bit expensive for a minimal amount of product, but worth every penny.

Customer Service:
N/A

Similar Products Used:
closed cell foam - too bulky!

Review Date
August 26, 2002

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 3 votes

Reviewed by: tut (Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from boise, id

Price Paid:  $65.00 at Sportsman's Warehous

Summary:
This thing sucks! I paid $65 ($70 recommended retail) for a leaky piece of junk. Someone once referred to his matress as a ThermaLeak. Now I know why. I used it once, and ended up sleeping on the ground, because it won't hold air for even an hour. As much as they charge for these things, the quality control needs to be much better. I will be avoiding Cascade Designs products in the future.

Review Date
March 8, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: daisuke(Unregistered User) ,  Climber , from Vina del mar

Price Paid:  $54.00 at Patagonia, Chile

Summary:
After having slept without any pad, then with a cheapo foam pad and getting little sleep most of the time with either of the two, I decided to get a 3/4 ultralite thermarest after trying out my friend''s full length pad (not sure of the model). Since I climb, I need to keep weight down to the absolute minimum due to the weight of all the gear I usually have in my pack. This is one buy you can never possibly regret, to test just how comfortable it is, blow one up, lay down on it and then open the valve and feel it deflate and feel the ground suddenly become present. A warm pad whose insulation you will notice simply by lying down on it with no sleeping bag whatsoever. Weighs almost nothing and packs down smaller than a cheap foam pad so you can carry it in your pack. As long as you don''t toss and turn too much the non-slip surface does work, at least better than foam. Don''t think of it as a luxury, think of it as essential equipment for an enjoyable climb, camping trip, etc etc etc. The price is higher than comparable "spinoffs" (ok ripoffs), but the durability is greater