Hest

Market position

Hest positions its memory foam mattresses against air mattresses and conventional foam sleeping pads, and its own site names Therm-a-Rest, Exped and REI options as competing products; the company cites industry-leading R-values of 8.8 to 11.8 and favorable reviews from outdoor media including Clever Hiker, Gear Junkie, Elevation Outdoors and Field & Stream.

Hest differentiates on home-style memory foam comfort in a portable outdoor form: solid foam construction that cannot deflate or puncture, quick unroll setup without a pump, high insulation R-values, machine-washable covers, cold-resistant foam formulation, a patented mattress-plus-drop-stitch-base design, linkable mattresses for couples, custom sizes for vans and truck beds, and a five-year warranty.

Technology

The products use two layers of high-performance polyfoam of the type used in home mattresses, with a plush temperature-resilient contouring top layer and a supportive bottom layer, engineered for body alignment, pressure-point relief and temperature regulation. The Sleep System combines 7 inches of foam with an inflatable drop-stitch base using strain-locked polyester threads to reach high internal pressure and form a rigid sleeping platform, and adds a dirt- and water-resistant machine-washable cover, stretch woven nylon sleep surface, stash pocket, integrated compression straps, carry bag and pump. Foam is CertiPUR-US certified and made in California, and is specified to resist hardening in cold weather.

Go-to-market

Sales run through the company's direct e-commerce site and a Seattle showroom opened in summer 2025, through retail distribution at REI (all stores as of October 2025), through a product collaboration with Rivian, and through international market entry beginning with Japan; the company said Series A proceeds would fund new sales channels.

Car campers, tent campers, overlanders, van-lifers, truck-bed and roof-top-tent campers, road trippers, couples and dog owners, plus corporate and bulk buyers.

Geography

Headquartered in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood with US retail distribution through REI; foam is made in California and over half of cost of goods and final assembly are in the US. The company recently launched in Japan and is evaluating additional international markets.

History

Following its founding, Hest built out a line spanning mattresses, pillows, bedding, dog beds and camp furniture, secured US Patent #11,730,279 B2 covering its Sleep System, and established a collaboration with electric vehicle maker Rivian on vehicle-fit mattresses and a co-branded pillow. In summer 2025 it opened its first showroom in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood, expanded REI distribution to all stores, launched in Japan, and in October 2025 announced the initial close of a $2.7 million Series A.

Risks & controversies

Management said tariffs imposed by the Trump administration "have been a lot to navigate," though it considers the company slightly insulated because over half of its cost of goods and final assembly are in the US. The Series A was reported as an initial close still open to new investors, and the company had not yet achieved an operating profit as of October 2025.