The new Therm-a-Rest EvoLite mattress blends the convenience of self-inflation with the added comfort of air. Using a new type of foam that the company claims is the lightest and most compressible on the market, the mattress offers NeoAir quality comfort while saving you quite a few breaths in the setup process.
The 5 cm thick EvoLite uses Atmos Foam—a new type of foam that is lighter and more compressible than the standard urethane foam used in other Therm-a-Rest mattresses. The foam is poured in a closed, atmospherically-controlled chamber, allowing for precise control over uniformity and loft. All gasses used in the chamber are captured and scrubbed before venting, allowing for a more environmentally-friendly process.
Therm-a-Rest’s Airframe construction alternates foam and air channels to reduce weight, while keeping the self-inflation function but increasing loft. Because of this new construction, the EvoLite mattress ends up twice as thick as the ProLite, with roughly the same R-value (2.1 vs 2.2) and only a slight increase in weight (480 grams vs 460 grams for a size Regular).
The new Therm-a-Rest EvoLite mattress will start shipping January 2015.
I am also excited about Therm-a-Rest’s new Slacker hammock. Made in the US using a woven diamond ripstop fabric, the hammock is available in single and double sizes. An attached pocket can hold your book, iPad, headlamp, and other small items, while also doubling as a stuff sack. For those of you in mosquito-heavy environments, the mesh Slacker Hammock Bug Cover clips onto the suspension points to create a bug-tight seal.
The Slacker hammock is available in 5 different colors, including two custom prints.