Cascade Designs Deluxe LE Thermarest Pad Review

"This 2 inch thick pad is light for a full length pad (2 lb. 5 oz) and works well. I was able to keep my hips and shoulders off the ground and sleep in comfort. The weight is worth a good night's sleep to me. This time I plan to follow the manufacturer's advice about keeping it unrolled between usages."

"The biggest problem I have had is rolling this thing up the first time, or second time,to fit into the storage sack that comes with it . After graduating from a closed cell foam pad I get frustrated with this dam thing. Try rolling it up three times in a row while it is -20 degrees with winds of 45mph,or even in the rain. Good product but after spending $89.50 on it I'm thinking of returning it or have someone ??? supply me with a bigger stuff sack. (it won't be me!! )"

"get a full length if you winter camp.
if it gets a hole in it it's about useless, until repaired."

"This thing is HUGE and correspondingly comfortable. I can only recomend the LE for car camping where the extra padding may be needed for the hard compacted ground prevalent in that environment. It is complete overkill for soft forest duff. If you must get this unbelieveably heavy pad then get the 3/4 length... it is all you would need and it saves a good deal of weight."

"I've been using my full-length LE for 9 years now. It's a beautiful pad providing the ultimate in comfort. Now that my aging bones are beginning to complain about the weight, I'm shopping for a short Prolite 3 or 4, but will continue to use the LE in winter. I've only had one leak in the LE and it was easily fixed once I found it. Getting it into the stuff sack used to be a real chore until I discovered expelling most of the air first by folding the pad in half several times, closing the valve and then rolling it. I recommend storing all Thermarest pads inflated (valve open) and have made a special hanger from a piece of pvc pipe and some nylon cord so I can hang it in the closet with my clothing items."