Therm-a-Rest
Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest Classic (Regular)
Best use
- Made for
- Backpacking and wild camping
- Not for
- Bikepacking, Winter mountain
Why these labels
- Backpacking and wild camping: The maker states this use, and the published specs do not rule it out.
- Bikepacking: Bulky for bike bags: packs to 16 litres
- Winter mountain: R-value 2: too little insulation on frozen ground
From the maker's stated use and the published specs.
- Summer wild camp: 4/10 UK, roughly May to September, nights above about 8 °C, sheltered pitches.
- Three-season hills: 4/10 UK hills in spring and autumn. Wind, rain, and nights near freezing. Below this trip's minimum: needs warmth 5+ (R 3 or more).
- Winter camp: 4/10 UK winter or high ground. Below freezing, strong wind, possibly snow. Below this trip's minimum: needs warmth 7+ (R 4 or more).
- Weight: 8/10 How much it adds to your pack, compared with the whole market.
R-value 2 (ASTM).
Lowest price we found
£25.99 at Ultralight Outdoor Gear
Go to Ultralight Outdoor Gear Compare 2 shopsSummer wild camps on a tight budget
- Type
- Foam
- R-value
- 2 (ASTM)
- Weight
- 400 g (Regular)
- Thickness
- 1.5 cm
- Size
- 183 x 51 cm
Packed size 16 L, 51 cm long and 20 cm across Compare with a 2-litre bottle
About one and a half 2-litre bottles long and about twice as wide. Drawn to scale.
Where to buy
Ultralight Outdoor Gear £25.99 In stock. Free delivery. Free UK delivery over £15.
View at shop: Ultralight Outdoor GearNeedle Sports £30 In stock. Free UK delivery over £50.
View at shop: Needle SportsPrices checked 8 Nov 2026 on each shop's own page; shops can change them. We earn no commission on these links; shops are listed by price. More
Our ratings (out of 10)
1 to 10, compared with the whole market. Each says what it's based on. How we score
Warmth
From maker's figures 3/10How well it stops the cold ground chilling you. 3: Below average. Fine for some trips, not others.
Maker's R-value of 2.0 (Therm-a-Rest's FAQ says it rates its pads to ASTM F3340-18) sits in the R 2–2.9 band: fine for summer nights, not enough alone for spring, autumn or winter.
Thickness
From maker's figures 1/10How deep it is. Deeper is comfier, above all for side sleepers. 1: A real weak point.
1.5 cm thick.
Quietness
Estimate from maker's specs: foam mats make no noise 8/10How little it crinkles or squeaks when you turn over. 8: Clearly better than most.
A foam mat makes no noise when you turn over.
Weight
From maker's figures 8/10How much it adds to your pack. 8: Clearly better than most.
Maker's 0.40 kg (400 g) sits at the bottom of the 400–549 g band. Therm-a-Rest's US page gives the same pad as 397 g, which would be under 400 g (band 5); Needle Sports lists 400 g.
Packed size
From maker's figures 1/10How much room it takes in or on your rucksack. 1: A real weak point.
Rolls to a cylinder 51 cm long and 20 cm across: 3.1416 x 10 x 10 x 51 = 16,022 cm³, about 16 L, in the 7 L+ band. It rolls rather than folds, so it rides on the outside of a rucksack.
What reviewers say (out of 10)
Ratings marked * are from reviews and are not part of the trip score. They are reviewers' scores, not our own measurements. How we score
Comfort*
Reviewers' average 5/10How comfy it is, including for side sleepers.
3 reviews on comfort, e.g. "Not the most advanced or comfortable pad out there but if you want to travel hard and fast".
Stability*
Estimate: only 1 review about stability (fewer than the 3 we need, so never above 8) 8/10How well you stay on it without rolling off or bouncing.
1 review on stability, e.g. "Surface not slippery (11)".
Durability*
Estimate: only 2 reviews about durability (fewer than the 3 we need, so never above 8) 7/10How well it resists punctures, leaks and worn valves over seasons of use.
2 reviews on durability, e.g. "Very durable.".
In short
Good for
- Summer wild camps on a tight budget
- A puncture-proof backup, or a layer under an air mat for extra protection and warmth
- Back sleepers and anyone happy on a firm bed
Strengths
- Nothing to puncture, nothing to inflate
- About 400 g for a full-length pad
- Works well as a layer under an air mat, as The Dan Watts uses it, to protect it from the ground and add a little warmth
Weaknesses
- Thin at 1.5 cm and firm: reviewers feel the ground, especially on their side
- R 2.0 is a summer figure only
- Very bulky: it rolls up to about 16 L and has to go on the outside of the rucksack
- The 2024 relaunch has no reflective layer, and some buyers say it feels lower quality than the older pad
- Only 2 sources speak about how it holds up, so it has no durability score
Sources
We haven't tested this ourselves. Every score comes from these specs, tests and reviews.
ShowHide sources (5)
- Therm-a-Rest: RidgeRest Classic Sleeping Pad specifications (Cascade Designs EU)
- YouTube, The Dan Watts: Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest Classic and RidgeRest SOLite review
- YouTube, Joshua Johnson Outdoors: Thermarest, EVA, Exped, Nemo closed-cell foam sleeping pads review and comparison
- Therm-a-Rest customer reviews: RidgeRest Classic Sleeping Pad (66 reviews, 4.6 out of 5)
- Bergfreunde customer reviews: Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest Classic (24 reviews)