Sleep on it...

My favorite pad next to my favorite sleeping bag. Truly a match made in heaven.

Anyone else out there have a tough time getting a good night's sleep in the outdoors? Well, you're definitely not alone. When I was younger (those were the days!) I could get away with a military surplus sleeping bag and a 1/2" thick closed-cell foam pad. That stuff just won't cut it anymore. I need support and comfort if I want to avoid bitter regret at the end of a multi-day trip. For years I used the venerable Therma-Rest by Cascade Designs with great success, but even that mattress has reached obsolescence. The only pad I use now is made by Pacific Outdoor Equipment. Formerly known as the "Max Thermo" (which it was called when I bought it), it is now called the "Ether" series, which has changed imperceptibly from the original design.


I have used this pad from just above sea level, to around 10,000 feet in elevation, in temperatures near freezing (I haven't actually had frost on my bag...yet). Used in conjunction with my Big Agnes "Zirkel" sleeping bag (which was designed for just such a pad), I've logged over 20 restful nights in the outdoors. Not to mention its second function as a "crash pad", that is, my go-to pad for overnight stays while traveling. No punctures, blowouts, or cold spots to report.


Normally, an inflatable mattress, such as the one you might find at the dollar store, has no inherent insulating qualities to speak of. That's because the air inside the mattress is free to move about unimpeded. Through this convection process, body heat is quickly dissipated, especially if the mattress is exposed directly to the cold outside air or ground. This pad utilizes bats of synthetic insulation (similar to that used in sleeping bags) inside each air chamber of the mattress to inhibit this air circulation and promote heat retention. The result is a sleeping pad that is not only soft, but warm as well. It achieves its compact size from the compressible properties of P.O.E's proprietary synthetic-fiber insulation (verses the open-cell foam used in most self-inflators).

Here's a little size comparison with a 16.4 oz. propane canister on the left and a standard, run-of-the-mill, 2 liter soda bottle on the right. The stuff-sack is actually a bit too big for the pad which, when necessary, can be compressed to about 2/3 the size seen here.

Another thing worth mentioning is the robustness of the shell material. It is a high-denier (that means tough), polyurethane-coated, rip-stop nylon material that is welded at the seams. Should you somehow manage to puncture the pad in the field, it comes with a repair kit that can be used just about anywhere (except perhaps underwater, though, truthfully, I have never tried).


Keep in mind that this product can only perform to its fullest when used with a quality sleeping bag. Although I have used it in some adverse conditions, it has always been with a well-designed bag, intended for the temperatures and environment in which they were used. A top-quality sleeping pad, combined with a cheap 50-degree sleeping bag in sub-freezing conditions, is a recipe for disaster. You could end up miserable and hypothermic...if you're lucky. A good sleep system not only ensures comfort, but safety as well.


Perhaps the only disadvantage to this pad is that it is not "self-inflating" like many others on the market today, such as the Therma-Rests. By sacrificing a bit of convenience, the Ether more than makes up for it with compact, lightweight, comfortable, thermally efficient, and comparatively inexpensive design features.

The tech specs (as tested):

Dimensions (inflated) : 20"x 78" x 2.5"

Dimensions (stowed) : approx. 11" x 5.5"

Weight: 24 oz.