Therm-a-Rest has received this year’s Popular Science what’s new award for its new TwinLock and WingLock valve systems. The valves, new for spring 2020, are featured on its current Therm-a-Rest mattresses.
The valves are a product of two years, hundreds of prototypes and approximately 500 nights in the field. The team of engineers, designers, mountaineers, and explorers at Therm-a-Rest wanted to create valves that would eliminate the need for more output and allow easier and faster inflation for users.
“We’re beyond excited to see the attention the WingLock and TwinLock valves are receiving,” said Brandon Bowers, mattress category manager, Therm-a-Rest. “Our team put an incredible amount of work into these new products, and it’s an honor to have them recognized by a publication like Popular Science.”
The WingLock uses a large one-way valve for three times faster inflation while the deflation ‘wings’ open the one-way valve to deflate a pad twice as fast as Therm-a-Rest’s classic valve. The intuitive, easy-to-use design is built for the backcountry. The TwinLock valve, for Therm-a-Rest’s larger pads, uses two one-way valves, a one-way inflation valve and a one-way deflation valve that allows for five times faster deflation.
“Even in a year like 2020, innovation has helped us glimpse a future that’s safer, smarter and more enjoyable than we might have thought possible,” said Corrine Iozzio, editor-in-chief, Popular Science. “This collection, which includes everything from a new generation of Mars explorers to ultra-hygienic print-to-order eyeshadows, is full of items we’re proud to call the Best of What’s New.”
This innovative design is unique to Therm-a-Rest products and debuted during a season when more people were camping outdoors as an alternative to other forms of leisure and travel.
The WingLock and TwinLock valves can be found on Therm-a-Rest mattresses including the NeoAir XLite, NeoAir Topo Luxe and MondoKing 3D.
For more information, go here.
