Among the newly jobless were Jim Lea and Neil Anderson—both engineers, who were eager to get back to work. Turning to their mountain climbing friend, John Burroughs, he challenged them with the task of creating a better outdoor sleeping mattress. The three friends went to work creating a product that was lightweight, warm and comfortable. By 1972, they’d patented the world’s first self-inflating mattress – the Therm-a-Rest. Today, they’re fortunate to remain a private, family-owned company that has grown to be one of the most respected outdoor equipment manufacturers in the world. Get your own HERE.