Cascade Designs cleverly put a reflective lining in the Neo Air to increase its R rating.

I'd like to see them do the same for the inside bottom skin of the self-inflating Pro-Lite mattress, their next lightest air mattress.

Anyone else think this is a good idea?

Are you listening Cascade Designs? Don't make me call you. ;)

Edited by Danepacker on 06/26/2010 14:44:16 MDT.

Hi Eric

I doubt that putting a reflective lining inside the ProLite mat would achieve anything much. A reflective lining only works when there is nothing else in the way, but with the ProLite mats there is a lot of foam there. OK, the coring on the foam goes right through, but I reckon a thin layer of foam on one face would be much better.

Improved lighter and stronger foams on the other hand ... would be wonderful.

Cheers

Roger, yes, "improved foam" is probably Cascade Designs' Holy grail. Something etherial in weight (and compressed space) but durable and resiliant.

But since about 50% of the Theremarest's area is open I figured that a reflective layer on the inside of the bottom skin sould help, if only by 5%, without much of a weight penalty, if any.

Hey, it's worth a try to see if it works. Reflecting heat BACK to the user is the object, that's why it needs to be on the inside of the bottom skin. That keeps down the convective heat loss in the "unfoamed" air columns.

Edited by Danepacker on 06/26/2010 20:18:14 MDT.

I recall reading (can't recall where), that the foam in the new Prolites was lighter and softer than previous foams. Mine certainly doesn't seem to self-inflate as quickly or completely as older Therm-a-rests I've used...

Eric
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