Cascade Designs® was founded 30 years ago by two ex-Boeing engineers driven by their desire for comfort. Comfort in this case took the form of a self-inflating camping mattress, suitable for sleeping on all terrain and in all weathers. They called it the Therm-a-Rest®, a brand which is now synonymous with high quality comfort worldwide.

This innovative technology has spawned a number of different disciplines since then. The two most notable are the JetRest® range of aircraft seat cushioning products and the Varilite® range of wheelchair pressure reduction cushions. The combination of knowledge and technology between these disciplines has resulted in unique products in each field.

For instance, by integrating the technology from their pressure reduction cushions, used in the Varilite® range, into the seat base of an aircraft seat, they provide a unique product that is not only extremely comfortable to sit on, but has all the medically proven advantages that a pressure reduction cushion provides. This helps to address the very serious health problems which are associated with conventional cushioning, namely Economy Class Syndrome (ECS), and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). This innovation has gained them the accreditation of the UK Aviation Health Institute, Oxford, England. In the seven years that the Jet Rest Division has been producing the JetRest® range of seat cushioning, approximately 40,000 units have been sold and are flying on some of the worlds most prestigious airlines.

In January 2004 Cascade Designs appointed Thompson Solutions as their exclusive, world-wide distributor.