Hiking that looming mountain is a lot easier with a good night’s sleep. There is a vast array of sleeping pads on the market, but most of them fall short of ideal. Air mattresses sink in the middle and require a pump, traditional foam pads absorb every drop of condensation in your tent, and closed-cell foam pads are just not that comfortable. Your aching back has hope however: Therm-a-Rest pads are self-inflating, thin air mattresses that place a soft cushion of air between you and the rocks/roots under your tent floor. For example, this Therm-a-Rest Trail Lite pad is 1.5 inches thick when inflated. Easy enough for packing into your backpack.
Its urethane foam keeps this pad lightweight (only 2 lbs for the regular size), and its 150 denier polyester construction makes it rugged and water resistant. No pump is needed for these pads; just open the valve and let it fill with air! The trade-off with these pads is that they can fill more slowly with age (but storing them unrolled helps), and sleeping bags can slip off of them easily if you are tenting on any kind of slope. All told however, Therm-a-Rest sleeping pads are the best portable pads you’ll find without sacrificing comfort.
How Thin Is It And How Light Is It?
- Lightweight, comfortable camping mattress ideal for the trail.
- 150-denier polyester material stands the test of time.
- Measures 1.5 inches thick and rolls up compactly.
- Ideal for light backpackers, car campers, and travelers.
- Urethane foam fill and comes in regular and large sizes.
What Are The Shortcomings Of This Thermarest Sleeping Pad?
- A reviewer commented that it was slippery and his sleeping bag slipped off.
- Lightweight, so not very thick and sleep comfort is lessened.
Get The Scoop On Thermarest Sleeping Pads
Customer reviews are a great way to research a product and find out if it truly delivers. Here are a few reviews from owners of the Therm-a-Rest Trail Lite.
I just got back from a 6 day trip to the MN boundry waters. The outfitter we used supplies these pads. Years ago while in scouts we used the cheap blue roll out pads. These are so much better. The insultating value is fairly low but dont let the number fool you. While sleeping in lows in the middle 40′s my borhter and I used our 30 degree bags as blankets and slept right on the pads. Don’t rely on the pad to fully self inflate it will only inflate to the current atompheric pressure.
This one (Large size) I use for car camping or an overnight hike. It would be fine for overnight hiking – still less bulky than a blue foam pad, and a similar weight. It’s a little large to strap onto a backpack for a full-blown backpacking trip though – at least for my taste. It’s considerably longer, wider, and thicker than my other therm-a-rest; which makes for great comfort. My smaller one is much lighter weight and packs in half the space, but it leaves my legs dangling off the end. This one has plenty of space all the way around.
So Where Is It Available And Is It On Sale Anywhere?
The best sales price I could find for this product was here which included free shipping.
