Why Pay More? Military Issue Therm-a-Rest Sleeping Pads - As Low As $8!

[@laaaliiiluuu]

People often overromanticize what "military grade" means. It usually means "the minimum requirements for a soldier to not quit their job and bought at a price as low as possible".

[@duanethedesertrat4376]

Had one, the most uncomfortable pad I ever slept on, then it sprang a leak and I threw it away. I think Luke could sleep on a concrete floor and be comfortable!!!!!!!!

[@mucccvhorob4596]

I have one too. So uncomfortable ive not used it since the first time. Its a waste of space

[@SnackHauler]

“Military Grade” doesn’t always mean better.

[@duanethedesertrat4376]

@@SnackHauler ya got that right!

[@ccscomments757]

I have had two of the "Civilian versons". I have always found them to be superior in every way to any other camping mattress I have ever owned. I think you, and everyone else who has replied negatively about this product have never enjoyed camping outside the comfy bed in your RV?

[@owenblount7334]

Hard wood floors are nice every once in a while

[@roddybrod]

It's hard to believe an R-value of 6 and 3 is going to feel the same. That's seems like the difference maker for cold winter ground camping.

[@MsRotorwings]

I agree. At an R value of 3 one will feel the cold. 6 is more comfortable. One can compensate by adding a foam pad or more insulation. The price is reasonable.

[@16ft2in]

In snow, sure. otherwise...

[@DarkMetaOFFICIAL]

it's hard to believe nerds can even tell the difference lol i use a mss

[@adambeachard3249]

I think what he meant by " for all intents and purposes " is that most people don't camp in cold enough weather to be able to tell a difference between 6 and 3 which is a true and factually accurate statement.

[@ocho8172]

​@@adambeachard3249Thank you!

[@HighlanderMikeGolf]

Slept on a military one in the Army for 10 years and used it for another 14 years after I retired. Not nearly as much use as this channel, but used it in all types of terrain and environments. Slept on it on the front deck of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle. No issues, no complaints. It’s not like a night at the Hilton, but you can sleep good. Only had to make 1 repair to a small hole and I did replace the valve once because it got crushed in the military.

[@BEDSOGJT]

Bring back the military surplus side of your channel please.

[@Daveinstthomas5212]

Don't buy it. It is junk.

[@olegoathiking1962]

I still use my original ThermoRest pad from the 80's! It's great!

[@Sam_Saraguy]

Likewise, it's a great pad. It should be stored inflated.

[@williamolliges2622]

Same. I’m not packing them, but use them as a cot mattress. They’re perfect.

[@MtVQ]

yeah, I have an old thermarest pad, I believe it's the civilian version, but it sounds way more like the modern military version compared to the modern civilian pad. mine is green and brown!

[@ebroskie]

I have a 30 year old Thermorest that is still amazing for backpacking.

[@ericw7723]

For the last 10 years, I’ve I have used the XL base camp version. It’s always been my go to car camping mat even for cold weather camping. I am 6 foot three and over 200 pounds and find it very comfortable. It has never leaked. I am also a side sleeper.

[@ericwalker3459]

I’m just getting into winter camping in northern Alberta. Would you recommend that pad on top of a cot for car camping? I have a 13 foot bell tent and a good wood stove. Plus propane heater for when it gets crazy cold

[@ericw7723]

That should work fine for you. I use the same setup as you except my tent is slightly smaller.

[@KitCreep]

I’ve had one since 2020. It’s just comfy enough and it got me down to 6°F on top of snow and ice when I paired it with a closed cell pad underneath. As far as military sleep gear goes, this thing is luxurious lol.

[@andrewcollie]

Looks identical to my Therm-a-rest pad from the early 1990s - and it's still going strong!

[@joanfos4890]

I have one from then and still use it😊

[@Gutterfighting]

I have a thermorest from 1989/90 I bought when i worked for Eastern Mountain Sports, which still works perfectly.

[@TheAnimal191]

I picked up one of the coyote brown pads from my surplus store for $25, I didnt know it was a rare color. So far it does the job. Great video, thanks for helping us stay informed.

[@northerniltree]

I'll give ya $26 for it. Them's rare as hen's teeth!

[@CAVCOP]

Started in the Military in 1989 with the foam P pad as an Infantryman. Retired in 2012 with the .mil thermarest. Went to a surplus store and bought two of them, one for me and one for the wife. It’s the little things when sleeping in the outdoors that matter. It’s a good pad for its size/value.

[@viewsandreviews180]

Many years ago I got the military self inflating pad. It still holds air and works well with my military sleep system.

[@renegadearms]

I starting getting issues those in 2008 up until I retired in 2024 and they were greated except in the winter in Alaska the foam was better. Just like we got issued some awesome Outdoor Research gloves and gear in Alaska that i still have to this day, but take my advice the military ones are great get those versus the civilian model but they dont pack down small like some new Nemo sleep pads like I have.

[@10thAveFreezeOut]

Strength, honor and cheap gear that does the job are why I love this channel!

[@stevesummersell_K4WXX]

I have the 3/4 length civilian version for hammock camping (with an underquilt). Works great. On the ground or go-to-ground with the hammock, does fine.

[@stevenshytle]

Don't be afraid of repairs. Got one with a 4 inch slash from a knife. Seamgrip to seal it and 30 years later. Still works.

[@czyhorse482]

I've spent many a night sleeping on the Base Camp model. I always pack my Therm-a-Rest Sports Seat when camping or hunting.

[@tecategt5]

Fold it in half and roll it up gets pretty small and if you can roll tight saves a lot of room. Pared with tight wrap woobie, anything down to 50° is a good night and light pack.

[@michaelwhite9199]

I never had one of those. All I had was the old ISO mat then the folding pad. Good to see the DOD trying improved gear.

[@hoser7706]

That is just the old school 90s Thermarest. The original and mil spec ones then had brass valves first. Just pre-dates the Ultralite versions that packed smaller and were only 1” thick. And the solid foam ones were very warm even at old time R-vslues of 2.2. CCF under it for Cdn winters. Great, timeless product!!

[@ahill209]

They must have started issuing them after I left active duty in 1989. I was in the 10th Mountain Division and I ended up purchasing my own Thermarest. Huge difference in the field, given there wasn't a single cot allowed in the entire division.

[@seantran4178]

Thank you, Luke. I just got one for myself. I love it.

[@infinity9646]

As bulky as it us, a couple jam knots with 550 cord keep it in check on the side of my ruck. I noticed a big difference sleeping on the cold ground with it vs without. Much warmer with it!

[@helidude3502]

Thank you, maybe 😁 Ordered 2 used that are supposed to be tested not to leak. We shall see. With small discount for purchasing 2 and a coupon code I got them for just under $40 Anything costing less was disclosed to be leaking. I figured it’s worth the gamble to see if I like this type of product and I can try stacking 2 if I’m uncomfortable with just one. If I don’t like them, then I’m not out $100+ a piece. If I like them and they leak, then I can feel confident buying a new one. If I like them and they don’t leak, then I got a bargain.

[@davidlanders2671]

I still have my therm-a-rest self inflating pad that works just fine. It's 40+ years old. Great product.

[@jimbrown9885]

I have one of these and then bought a Big Agnes Rapid since I 4 season. For me, BA performed well down to single digits paired with a reflector base.

[@ccscomments757]

Actually, the civilian version, which I purchased over a year ago, has a different valve. The new valve can be set to not allow air to escape while it is open: This so you can add air without loosing air. I find it to be better than my old civilian air pad. BOTH of my Civilian pads came with a compression sack. BOTH have the lifetime warranty that allows you to send it back when it has issues and Thermarest will replace it free (+ shipping costs). I did order the second (and newer) Thermarest when the first started delaminating from its interior foam (where it is noisy during that de-lamination process and ultimately ends up with a bubble where the thickness of the pad is much greater than it originally was, but that it still holds air). I did not know there is a less expensive version that will likely have many of the same characteristics. More about that delamination: I was able to flip the pad over, and since the issue was happening to one end of the pad (not in the middle) I was able to position the pad so that the delamination process was happening closer to my feet and on the ground side of the pad. In this way, I was able to keep using the pad for the several days I had it before ordering a new one.

[@joshholton4712]

I have the coyote/od version. It has saved my back many times over the last 6 years and continues to do so. Payed $80 for it brand new in 2018. Edit: had no idea my version is super rare. Nice!

[@CalumMacNeil-qb6wp]

Got one of those military versions many years ago. Still works fine.👌👍

[@steveturner3999]

I love my Thermorest military pad. Got it brand new on sale for $60.00 as well. Works as well as my Thermorest I bought for hiking a section of the AT back in 1998.

[@dexterm2003]

I have the Exped megamat 10 XL, and it is awesome. It was expensive and is not small or light, but for comfort, it truly can't be beat!

[@BreakingBranches78]

Me too. I love my megamat! There is no way I could sleep on that comfortably.

[@WH6FQE]

I went with Threm-a-rest's $150 upgraded 4" thick version for backpacking. It is less than 2 pounds, and rolls down to a smaller footprint by being folded in half lengthwise before rolling it up. My old bones just don't do as well on thin pads now as they did back when I was in the Corps.

[@americashypeman]

Just found one at my local surplus store for $30 brand new.

[@leeinwis]

No way !

[@joemikeska2657]

Still have mine from my deployment to Iraq. It works, but is a little thin, they were designed to be used with a military cot.

[@SnowyAspenHills]

That would make more sense, I’m sure most people who side sleep would have a bad night on a mat that thin when placed directly on the ground.

[@mikehiggins3281]

I kayak the Pacific coast of North America and have used a Luxury Edition Thermarest for years. The extra thickness makes it possible to sleep on rocky beaches. So between the civilian and military versions, I would go for the thicker one.

[@Pouncerman]

Hey Luke, I hope you and your family are safe. I live in Eastern Tn and I am aware of how bad it is in western NC. Stay safe!

[@jeremymoses7401]

Got issued a mummy digi version in 2008, only a 3 season though. Putting it on your isomat on a cot is the money shot. Bought me a 4 season when i got home from that deployment.... finally retired it last year.... thats late '08 to mid '23 for years of use

[@pwb2684]

I have been using thermorest pads for decades. Still have the first one I bought. These days I do mostly car camping and have added a cot to my sleeping system. A Thermorest on a cot? Might as well be sleeping at home in your bed. I would definitively buy the military option for two reasons, price and superior materials. I always go for quality believing the old adage that it is your best economy and in this case cheaper, what's not to like?

[@kvonzwild8979]

Luke I believe I would go with what you like since your reviews don't have a hidden agenda behind them. I appreciate your breakdown and actually agree that, unless you camp in freezing conditions, the R 3v6 is negligible.

[@BladePressure]

Anyone who thinks mil-spec is some high level of durability - never served in the military.

[@partbreaker]

Fact

[@richardwarren7492]

Built to the lowest bid and you are 100% correct.

[@patricksullivan9713]

So true haha! I still have mine in the closet

[@myerereynolds3752]

Depends on what branch, only the best for worlds finest navy😂

[@josephjohnson6849]

Eh I've used eight inch foam sheet in the trash once.

[@kynkadeoutdoors]

My 1st sleeping pad was a Military surplus sleeping pad

[@frstesiste7670]

1.5 inch was the thickness of the original Thermarest. I got mine around 1980 and it was a revolution in comfort and isolation for packed size. Mine unfortunately started leaking very slowly after some years. Had to reinflate it 3-4 times during the night and I was never able to find a hole and repair it. Anyway, Thermarest started making the "ultralight" one-inch version and I switched to that. If inflated fairly hard it was still good enough for comfortable sleep IMO - and packed much smaller. Used that for thruhikes of the PCT and AT and had to replace it once but by that time Thermarest had a much better warranty and replaced it for free. Today I either would go for another one-inch pad or one of the lighter but thicker non self-inflating models. Don't see much point in the thicker 1.5-inch models now. Too large packed size and too heavy for what you get, but I can see it makes sense for car camping and/or on a super tight budget.

[@richardhenry1969]

I had one in the 80s used it for years. It was a short one. It was hard to not slide off it. But i was never cold so it must of had good insulation.

[@daviddarlingauthor]

Slept on those for nearly two decades. Not too bad. Found they slip all around underneath, so ended up placing inside my bivi bag.

[@TacMoTo]

I have been in the military for almost 30 years, I have never been issued an air mattress, it is just not cost affective for the government, just because a company has products with NSN “national stock numbers” doesn’t mean that the the Gov or military actually purchased it. I did purchase my own, and have burnt through four of them in six years, the patch kits are close to useless.

[@johngalt6929]

Thanks for your candor and for your service!

[@renegadearms]

I was in the Army from 2003-2024 when I retired and I was issued from CIF the therma rest pad starting in 2008 so not sure how you missed it but they were great except when I was stationed in Alaska the foam pads were better in the Arctic.

[@GenStallion]

I was issued an even more basic one. Went and upgraded at the px.

[@BatmanShampoo]

I’ve been issued 4 of, so they’re 100% out there and very commonly issued. You seem to be an outlier in my experience

[@kaleoariola]

I immediately thought of the sleeping pad we got issued in 2005 when i saw the thumb nail.

[@stevesmith3556]

I have a military version and a version from the early 90s. They are exactly the same. I think they started making them thicker for the public around 98. I had to patch the military one. But it's the same product with a different badge on it. Either way, they are awsome!

[@oscarbriceno1940]

All of my sleeping pads are or have been thermarest. I have a two of these military style Thermarest pads. They are great, meant for the 5 tier sleep system, I have used them with cots. In addition, I own two Pro Plus, XL luxury, and had a Moon Kinng. The moon king failed me this past spring. Al have kept me warm in snow and cold weather. I have done late fall, winter, and snow camping. Great Products from Thermarest.

[@Darignobullseye]

I love the idea of lighter and more durable. I am hesitant on thickness and comfort but I would purchase to use with a cot. Thanks for the info

[@timplumb21]

Thanks for the heads up I just went to eBay and I found one of these pads for $9.99 plus the same amount for shipping the pad is on its way to my house right now best pointer and or advice I've gotten from this channel since the Teton sports mountain ultra 1 tent. 👍👍👍👍

[@josephmartin1540]

Wish the mil version also came in a wide. 20” leves both my shoulders on the ground! Very helpful video, thank you.

[@jeffrichards5106]

Hi Luke, glad I got mine when I did. It was quite a few years ago. Bought it from Coleman's Surplus. Brand new and I think, if I remember right, it was about $25. Mine is the military green color. I was happy to see it was made by Thermarest when I got it. I own several Thermarest pads also. 👍

[@MultiTipsie]

The military version would have been ideal when it was about 17 cm longer! I am 185 cm and the military one is just 183 cm (approx). I wonder why, since lots of people are a lot longer than 183 and I hate having my feet on the ground! Especially when it is cold or moisty! I have two luxury (the biggest and thickest from that year) mattresses from around 1997! They still work perfectly! I had two lighter ones for trekking, but gave them away a few years back, because I don't have the money for holidays anymore! My kids use the mattresses for their camping trips and I used them indoors for when my kids were sleeping at my place. They are still terrific in performance! Worth all their money!

[@ryanalvarado3986]

I scored a brand new USMC MARPAT version of Therm-a-rest ProLite on eBay years ago. There are deals to be found, but sometimes it is just straight luck.

[@Csucsu299_]

Hi, I have the civilian version of this pad, and it has a Wing Lock vent. It is best than this "HUSKY" vent. But! the price is awesome! Thanks for video.

[@garyking9908]

Still have my 3/4 thermarest I got in the late 70s and its still holding up

[@sharoncarthy3764]

Your reviews are always interesting. Thanks for the info on sleeping pads. I have an air sleeping pad but I'm thinking of a self-inflator and this might be the one.

[@hokudadog7637]

Looks great, but width is too small for me. I want 25 inch minimum for any sleeping pad, 30 inch desirable

[@Leima1]

It looks like the self-inflating sleeping pad of the Dutch army, which you can sometimes get really cheap in surplus stores. I have had one in use for years and it has lasted well.

[@psyamok3735]

Amazing!!! This is one of the very best Luke's review on a product! I will get the military version any day vs the retail mkt one.

[@chriszeis5477]

Thanks going backpacking next week I just ordered one👍

[@JoeyJackson-200T]

Must be nice to have that self inflating pad. When I used a pad in the military I had to blow it up and it was more than 10 puffs of air. There for a long while we used a thin foam pad. But, both types were better than hard ground

[@mcjosh416]

The one I got issued had a giant hole in it and it’s like half an inch thick but boy is it warm especially when you put inside the bivy with the entire sleep system

[@nicholaslafferty3928]

I ride bicycle and motorized bicycle to camps and trailheads so things need to be light and packable. These seem great at $20 including shipping on amazon but are about a pound too much unfortunately. If its what i had I'd be glad though! Of course go with the suggestion here!

[@greggorter]

Great info Luke but sorry, 1->2 inches of pad to lay on isn’t enough for me, (5’10” @ 240lbs) I use, and I’m very happy i paid a bit more for the Exped MegaMat 10 LXW Self Inflating Camp Mat……. (100mm) - 4 inches of pure delight when camping in the Australian Outback ! Probably your product there would be better suited for a hiking / camping situation for lightweight situations.

[@BUZZKILLJRJR]

Great vidoe and price is great BUT..... The difference between 3 and 6 R value is actually big, while it may nor seem so in warm or average temperatures, an extreme cold temperatures it will make a massive difference. R value of 3 is everything above down to zero and four and higher is everything below zero so for winter adventures 6 will be far better. So while it might not feel like it during

[@chillahification]

I think this is a great tip and a great find. But the details are off. It is not the same valve, newer Thermarest such as the Basecamp have winglock valves, this one is the older design. The thickness difference means ticker foam inside the pad. That likely contributes to the weight difference in addition to polyester instead of nylon. R value 6 instead of 3 is a massive difference but maybe one not relevant to most users. One is fit to sleep on snow the other one is a three season pad. They are not the same pad in anything other then shape and manufacturer IMO. Titel should be: Get a thermarest pad for cheap. Because it's a good deal, just not the same thing.

[@UnknownSpartan]

I think this is based on the old versions of the Trail Light Scout pad. I've got one from the 2000's.

[@MG-bs5mr]

Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't R-values ... I cant think of the word. Maybe "linear?" What I'm getting at is: doesn''t an R-value of 6 offer twice as much insulation as 3. Three times as much as 2 and etc? So while most campers won't feel a difference because they're not out in conditions that warrant a 6 R-value, there IS a huge difference between the temperatures a 3 and a 6 can cope with.

[@scottmyers4802]

I found one in a burgundy/gray color at a milatary surplus store for 25 bucks. It works awesome. Same dimensions as your gray milatary one.

[@greggmouritzen7478]

Funny, i had both. One issued and the other i bought. Ihe one i bought dad the seem blow out on the side. Or should i say, it delaminated. The only difference was the color, but now that you mentioned it, it did appear a little thicker. I never noticed the difference between the two.

[@BoDiddlydodah]

I think you need to do a whole playlist/series on the latest and greatest companies to be sponsored by the military, along w their surplus products available for purchase

[@IMDARKFIRE007]

I mean I would go for the civilian version being thicker as I'm a side sleeper and HATE my hip grinding on the ground. That said, my Nemo Tensor I got for free because of a small tear that I repaired is still going like a champ.

[@northerniltree]

Inflated 1/2 way, these are perfect to insulate my beer keg on a camping trip.

[@munchh2007]

I have an "original", 21"x72" red wine colour top, brown underside, i bought it 2nd hand online for about £15, i just never got on with it, im a side sleeper and my hip just sits on the floor and i ache like hell in the morning, but then i was away using a military style cot bed, i find them to be a bit hard on the hip, but with this therma-rest ontop, the best nights sleep, i use it like this often now. I do use a self inflating mat when i have to sleep on the ground, but i use an "Outwell Dreamcatcher", its 4" (10cm) thick, no hip problems with this one 😁, its not for backpacking though. You should check one out. 💜

[@JayKoczan]

I have the civilian version, caught it on sale, and I have zero regrets.

[@ReasontoLiveAdventures]

A very timely video, since I have to replace my REI pad.

[@timsimler9322]

Could you maybe do a budget friendly in today’s time camping for beginners video one day? My family really want to get into it but things are VERY expensive from what I’ve tried to look up via your advice. I appreciate you and your content.

[@TS-om7vb]

I would get the civilian one because the military one doesn't come in a larger size and thicker version. Wish I could pay extra for the Vinyl. $100 extra for an item I would expect to last many years is not a deal breaker for sonething more comfortable and I move about quite a bit. The larger the pad the better.

[@danieljones2183]

I am interested. I must check into a military version for car camping

[@jesusislord2515]

Still using my thermarest from the 80's.

[@ClaudeBohls]

I’m not going to lie that looks really serviceable. Oooooool. You know who

[@RandomVelocity]

I bought a nice sea to summit $90 large rectangle love it super comfortable. I think the R value is 4.3 or something. I only camp until mid October here up in New England. But yeah, super comfortable pad. I put it on a one Tigris cot great combo.

[@99Racker]

Military for the reasons you noted. Either one is a bit short for me.

[@migueltorres8925]

Hey Luke I sure I’m going to get the military issue pad. I have the Carinthia #1 & #4 sleeping bags I should be good thanks for the information

[@fairwind8222]

I like the comparison of civy to military. How about make it a series?

[@muemelification]

I wouldn’t want to use either of those. I can’t see a single advantage of „self-inflating“ mats in general. They’re heavy, uncomfortable and if they have a hole, they’re not a bit better than any other air mattress with a hole. Also, they don’t really inflate themselves.

[@RealFooking]

Can you please make a long term review about the Carinthia Micro Tent that you made a video about in 2016?

[@brandydarling1]

For all intents and purposes it’s the same thing. Thanks for saving us some $$

[@jyo8914]

Almost 60 years old and those 'thin' sleeping pads wouldn't cut it. I'd spend more at the chiropractor after I get back home than paying for a heavier duty/thicker sleeping pad.

[@jf3518]

Blowing moist air into a sleeping pad is a big no no. This video feels almost like a parody. R Value 3 vs 6 is a massive difference. Having an R value of 3 and still being that heavy is quite impressive.

[@stewarttrains98]

Have two of them, I can sleep well on one but have been thinking about double stacking them. Just don't know if I want to carry the extra thickness. Of them rolled together.

[@SandDownSouth]

"Intents and purposes." Not "Intensive purposes." 😜 Thanks for the info. Gonna order one!

[@bobclark7211]

Thanks Luke.

[@ralphfeatherstone7813]

For the price, you could afford to buy two and get added plushness by stacking them. Of course, there is a weight penalty. Good review as always Luke.

[@dobrofool]

I just posted a response as well, and stating that I did exactly that. Plus I bought the military roll up foam for underneath, which is nice because it has the tie straps glued to the bottom. Two pads plus that foam mat is good to down below zero and is quite comfortable. I also use rubberized Walmart shelf material, which is the same dimensions as the pad, in between the two pads. It stops them from sliding apart! For wild camping, I could care less about that little extra weight. These puppies are durable. One of my best purchases 👍

[@cobbler88]

I'm going to give Luke some latitude here regarding R-Value. I think this is the difference between a camper and a thru-hiker when it comes to evaluating the importance of that sort of difference in R-value. I'm probably doing it because - to be honest - I think people put WAY too much stock in that number. As he said, if you have a proper sleep system, it's not a big deal. Remember that a thru-hiker might have the best system he can get ... for the weight. But if you or I was just putting together a tent camping trip on some BLM land, the sleep system we put together is likely going to be superior as far as comfort goes, and may cost about 1/10th the price.

[@jimp.7286]

Very cool. Thank you for sharing this. Saving money on outdoor gear. 👍

[@felishagathright4013]

How do you search for military issue gear? We have a military surplus store close by, but its all more vintage stuff.