Cascade Designs Announces 40th Anniversary Therm-a-Rest® Mattress

Seattle, U.S.A. – Cascade Designs, Inc., the Seattle-based industry leader in the design and manufacture of premier outdoor equipment, today announced the 2012 release of a limited edition Therm-a-Rest mattress in celebration of the company’s upcoming 40th anniversary. 

In 1972, a patent was filed for the Therm-a-Rest mattress and Cascade Designs was born. The Seattle-based team that invented it began producing the “world’s first self-inflating mattress” in their factory, bringing superior comfort and warmth to backcountry travelers. By 1985, one million mattresses had been made. Nearly forty years later, with factories in Seattle, U.S.A. and Cork, Ireland, the Therm-a-Rest brand is known worldwide as the standard for outdoor sleeping comfort, with an astonishing fifteen million mattresses in the field. Over the years, the Therm-a-Rest brand line has successfully extended into air and closed-cell foam mattresses, sleep systems, seating and comfort accessories.

“Our manufacturing and design philosophy is—and always has been—to build mattresses that are durable, long-lasting and provide a good value,” said Doug Jacot, Vice-President of Therm-a-Rest products for Cascade Designs. “We’re reminded of our unique heritage when we’re repairing those occasional mattresses in our shop that have been in the field for decades, and are really excited to honor and celebrate that heritage.”

The Therm-a-Rest 40th Anniversary Edition mattress is retro-branded with the 1972 logo—originally hand-drawn by company co-founder, current Chairman of the Board and Chief Product Tester, John Burroughs—and features the now-famous original yellow color. The mattress bridges the past and the future by featuring an exclusive cutting-edge, lighter-density foam, resulting in the most comfortable, thickest and warmest self-inflating mattress in the Fast & Light® category. The individually serial-numbered mattresses also feature a glow-in-the-dark valve and a new soft-grip bottom fabric to prevent slipping on the tent floor. A Women’s 40th Anniversary Edition mattress is also available, featuring extra insulation in the foot and torso areas, and a subtle tone-on-tone fabric print design.

The 40th Anniversary Edition mattress will debut in Europe at the July 2011 OutDoor Trade Fair and in North America at the August 2011 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. The mattress will be available in stores starting January 2012 until supplies last.

About the Therm-a-Rest® Brand

Seattle-based Cascade Designs, Inc. has been the market leader in premium outdoor comfort for 40 years, designing the finest portable outdoor sleeping and seating solutions available under the Therm-a-Rest brand. The company’s commitment to quality manufacturing and innovation ensures that every product offers unrivaled comfort and reliability. All Therm-a-Rest mattresses are made in the Seattle, U.S.A. and Cork, Ireland manufacturing facilities. For more information on the Therm-a-Rest brand, visit www.thermarest.com.

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