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Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad

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Product Description,
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The Therm-a-Rest Basecamp is an all-purpose, self-inflating camp mattress that provides excellent comfort—now with 25% less material for compact storage and transport!

Basecamp series is created for campers whose greatest interest is sleeping comfort; perfect for car campers, family campers and base campers
New use of expanded and die-cut foams maintains the Basecamp's standard of exceptional comfort but reduces the material used by up to 25%
Thick and warm 2 in. solid-foam core provides dependable insulation and cushioning from the cold, hard ground
Stuff sack included

Please note: Therm-a-Rest products can only be shipped to U.S. addresses.

Made in USA.

Item 797485

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Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad

4.3

(based on 13 reviews)

92%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Comfortable (12)
Easy to inflate (12)
Durable (9)
Lightweight (9)
Warm (8)

Cons

Best Uses

Car camping (10)
4 season camping (8)
Backpacking (7)
3 season use (5)
Cold conditions (5)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Casual/ recreational (6), Avid adventurer (3)
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Comfort driven (7), Survivalist / minimalist (4)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (11)

Reviewed by 13 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-10

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Apr

2013

5.0

any day every day

By Rifleman68

from Gilberts, Illinois

About Me Environmentalist

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Durable
Easy To Inflate
Lightweight
Non Slip
Packs Easily
Small / Compact
Warm

Cons

Best Uses

4 Season Camping
Car Camping
Cold Conditions
Winter Camping

Comments about Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad:

i use this when i camp with the Boy Scouts, had it over a year and still love it.

Comment on this review

Nov

2012

5.0

Pleasantly Surprised

By NWDoc

from Seattle area

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Inflate
Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

Car Camping

Comments about Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad:

Took this out for some October tenting on its first use. Wasn't too sure about it when I first unrolled it. It just sat there, flat. Hmmm. But it eventually inflated - I gave it a few extra puffs before lying down. It was a cold night and the ground was not soft. I expected to wake up sore (I don't do real well with hard sleeping surfaces.)

I felt fine in the morning! I got up and was ready to hike the hills right off. Slept on it four nights without a single complaint (and I'm known for my ability to complain!)

This is my first experience with this sort of sleeping pad. I didn't have high expectations for it - I was just hoping it would be 'sufficient'. I was pleasantly surprised.

Comment on this review

Oct

2012

4.0

This thing is great

By Canoe First

from Lincoln RI

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Durable
Easy To Inflate
Lightweight
Packs Easily

Cons

Best Uses

3 Season Camping

Comments about Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad:

I am a first time user. We camp in a trailer. I am a very picky sleeper. When my husband and I decided to go with friends on a 4 day canoe trip in Sept to the Adirondacs my first question was what am I sleeping on. My friend showed me her Thermarest mattress and I was not convinced but we bought some anyway. This new style (hers was older) was easy to use and comfortable to sleep on. I DID NOT feel the ground at all. No bumps or lumps, not even the cold (it was about 40 at night). In the morning it rolled up and we moved on to the next site. It is a bit large when rolled, about the same as our 3 person tent but we were able to pack it into our canoe and that's what was important to us. It seems very durable, something that will last a long time. The mud washed right off. We did inflate it and store it from time of purchase til use unrolled as suggested. We are already planning another trip.

Comment on this review

Jul

2012

(5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Unhappy with January 2012 re-design

By Travel Buggy

from Seattle, WA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy company to contact
History of good products
Made in USA

Cons

Noisy

Best Uses

Comments about Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad:

I've been a loyal (and happy) Thermarest customer for over two decades, and have had great performance from three different Thermarest pads - from the original rust-colored one, to a Camp Rest and then a (2011 model) Base Camp L (25" wide), which I bought from REI in January 2012, and which I have used a lot and love.

Two days ago, I bought Thermarest #4, a Base Camp XL (30" wide), and REI promptly delivered it (local stores didn't have it in stock).

I noticed when I unrolled it that it looked a bit different than I remembered from my other Base Camp - this one had "pock marks" (cutouts in the interior foam). But I didn't think much of it and inflated it for a good night's sleep. But, unlike my previous Base Camp, this one feels stiff and is noisy/crinkly. Every time I moved it made "crumpling" noises and I had a rotten night's sleep.

I called Thermarest this morning and they confirmed that the Base Camp had been redesigned in January 2012, to lighten it. Bits of foam were removed (the "pock marks") and then to keep the R-value some sort of aluminum (?) or foil type layer was added, which the Thermarest person said was probably making the crinkling noises. He mentioned that other people had referred to it like crumpling an empty potato-chip bag - yes that's it exactly. He did mention that in time it would reduce (but not go away entirely), but I have no interest in suffering through any more nights with it, especially if it will never really go away.

Personally, this change doesn't make sense to me, because if I want a light backpacking pad, I'll buy one of Thermarest's other models which are meant for that. If I'm using a 30" wide Base Camp, I'm not trying to save a half ounce (or whatever) -- I'm car-camping and I want comfort and not crinkling every time I move a muscle! I sure hope they change it back, but unless and until then I'll be returning it and seeking another product (sadly).

(I did try to find a "leftover" older model from prior to 2012 but was not successful, although REI Customer Service was very helpful in trying to find one for me.)

Comment on this review

Mar

2012

5.0

Great Sleeping Pad, Super Comfy

By Chad512

from Austin, TX

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Easy To Inflate
Non Slip

Cons

Packs Too Large

Best Uses

3 Season Camping
Car Camping

Comments about Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad:

So far I have only taken this pad car camping, but I'm planning on getting into backpacking a little further down the road. I got this pad because of other reviews which list it as large, but worth the weight for a good night's sleep. So far so good, in that regard. After the first initial inflation it inflates very well all on its own. It's super comfy and doesn't slip on the floor of my tent and only a little on back of my sleeping bag.

Comment on this review

Jan

2012

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Great Value

By Mountain Man Sam

from Greenville, SC

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Durable
Easy To Inflate
Packs Easily
Warm

Cons

Slips Easily

Best Uses

4 Season Camping
Backpacking
Car Camping

Comments about Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad:

Overall this pad is exceptional. I am just getting started into the world of backpacking, and I consider myself a minimalist who chooses his battles, and one area that I didn't go minimalist was my pad. This pad's weight and size aren't too much greater than the more minimalist options, but it provides a lot more comfort. I ended up just strapping mine to the outside of my pack and it worked quite well. I did find myself slipping around on it a bit at night, but not so much that it hindered my sleep. I highly recommend this pad if you don't mind a little bit of extra bulk, and you like getting a good night's rest.

Comment on this review

Aug

2011

(5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Great thermal barrier.

By The Nomad

from Colorado Springs, CO

About Me Military/Law Enforcement

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Durable
Easy To Inflate
Lightweight
Warm

Cons

Packs Too Large

Best Uses

3 Season Camping
4 Season Camping
Backpacking
Cold Conditions
Winter Camping

Comments about Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad:

I was issued this exact pad by the U.S. Army. It works. I have used the pad directly on snow, concrete, carpet, dirt, sand and mud. It creates a great thermal barrier. I have noticed a difference in the temperature in my sleeping bag when using this and when stuck without it. The only issue that this pad has is that it is very large. The self inflating air cells inside obviously don't allow it to roll up paper thin but I do think the extra space that this WILL take up is worth the advantages of a sleeping pad. I have not had the privilege of using another brand of sleeping mat so I am unsure how it stacks up against other manufacturers.

Comment on this review

Jun

2011

(5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Comfortable and warm

By lawahine

from Los Angeles, CA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Durable
Easy To Inflate
Lightweight
Packs Easily
Small / Compact
Warm

Cons

Best Uses

Car Camping

Comments about Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad:

We went car camping for a week and these were perfect. Kept us warm and comfy. We had some cold rainy nights and didn't feel any of the cold ground under our pads. Inflate on their own but require a few good puffs to really fill them up. It's work to deflate them and takes a bit of time. I would think these are too heavy for backpacking, but were perfect for car camping when you want to still feel like you are roughing it. They slid around a little while we slept but over all no complaints from anyone.

Comment on this review

Mar

2011

(7 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

WOW!

By sn0rt0

from Fargo, ND

About Me Military/Law Enforcement

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Durable
Easy To Inflate
Lightweight
Packs Easily
Warm

Cons

Best Uses

3 Season Camping
4 Season Camping
Backpacking
Car Camping

Comments about Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad:

I purchased this in town at [...], I was really struggling between a few pads. The NeoAir was loud and crunchy, some of the ultra lights felt like they would pop. This mat is perfect! I travel a lot with the Marine Corps, and needed something that would hold up, and let me sleep tight when sleeping in places where there is no beds. I also wanted something for backpacking, and this baby is nice. I consider it light only 2 1/2 pounds about, for extra comfy nights rest. I would carry another pound any day so that my back does not hurt the next morning. Don't think about it just buy it!

Comment on this review

Feb

2011

(7 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Lightweight and works in cold weather

By joshuajm

from High Point, NC

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Durable
Easy To Inflate
Lightweight
Packs Easily

Cons

Best Uses

4 Season Camping
Backpacking
Car Camping
Cold Conditions

Comments about Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad:

I've had the pad now for over 4 years and it's been a workhorse for me. I've used it in warm weather as well as cold weather and it easily inflates every time and packs down rather well considering it's size.

I would recommend following the directions and keeping the pad inflated when not in use (it inflates much easier).