How to Choose the Best Sleeping Pad for Camping and Backpacking

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A warm and comfortable, self-inflating, trail-friendly pad, the 2 in. thick Therm-a-Rest Trail Pro sleeping pad uses ultralight foam to save weight and space in your pack.
Shop newer versionBest Use | Backpacking |
---|---|
Sleeping Pad Type | Self-inflating |
Sleeping Pad Shape | Semirectangular |
Insulation Type | Open-cell Foam |
R-Value | 4.0 |
Stuff Sack Included | Yes |
Sleeping Capacity | 1-person |
Pad Thickness (in.) | 2 |
Gender | Unisex |
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I bought this as a cold weather pad, and it hasn't disappointed at all. On a recent trip to the Trinity Alps, I only needed to use my thirty degree bag as a blanket, while my brother needed a zero degree bag to make it through the night. It is a bit bulky, but I knew that going into the purchase. I've found the best way to combat this is to get as much air out as possible, cap it off, then essentially line the bottom of the pack with the pad and fill in the middle with my tent, cook set, et cetera.
I have such a hard time sleeping in the backcountry, especially since I'm a heavy side sleeper and can never find anything to support me- until now! I love this pad. I wish I had the updated version (the older version is rectangle, squared edges) and the newer one would fit much better in my sleeping pad, but its not the end of the world as I can still make it work! The stuff sack (if you could even call it that) is kind of a joke, and it is pretty bulky when rolled up, but I'm willing to sacrifice a few things to sleep comfortably. It's been in Alaska, The Yukon, B.C., Utah, Nevada, and multiple other states and has not failed me yet.
THE SHORT: - fits me perfectly - plenty comfortable - durable, so far THE LONG: At 5'8" with broad shoulders, the regular wide Trail Pro is perfect for my size. Its semi-rectangular design will make it easier to fit in smaller tents or when trying to cram with other people. I decided to get this sleeping pad in place of the the large REI Trekker sleeping pad I tried before, which was longer than necessary. I got that one because it was comfortably wide but it overlapped with my friends sleeping pad when sharing a two-man backpackers tent, due to it's length and shape. As for comfort, sleeping on this with my sleeping bag was just as comfortable as sleeping on a mattress—while being only an eighth the thickness. Matter-of-fact, I've actually slept on mattresses less comfortable than one of these sleeping pads. I was also very pleased that it withstood five consecutive days of use while I was out in Oregon without inflation issues, a common problem with air mattresses. I did add a few puffs after letting it self-inflate to add a little more cushion, but was careful to not do it too much knowing that it could create too much pressure for it when you lay or sit on it.
I just bought the regular-size TrailPro pad, and I like it a lot. For years I used a Thermarest Classic pad in hip length. I just put a stuff sack of clothes or something under my knees to raise my legs, and the smaller pad was perfectly adequate. This new pad has muych thicker foam and promises to be much more comfortable, but why is there no hip-length version available? I neither need nor want a full-length pad, and the hip length would save weight without sacrificing comfort. It would also be nice if there were a field repair kid for this pad. Not sure why they can't provide one- the old Thermarest Classic was also a knit fabric, and it came with a repair kit.
I had an older Thermarest sleeping mat that wouldn't hold air. I was in Seattle checking my gear with Mountain Madness for an Aconcagua trek, and they recommended I go to the Cascade Designs warehouse repairs window. They tested the mat and it was pretty much shot. They replaced mine with this mat. It is my ""go-to"" mat now. Good all around weight, I didn't use this on Aconcagua, but I used it in the Sierras on bedrock in near-freezing last year and it kept me well insulated from the cold, and is comfy with the average air displacement from weight on the cells. I anticipate I will use this for years to come.
This is my winter pad. I use it from November-April or for shorter trips when I can handle the weight. In the coldest conditions I throw my ridgerest underneath and am toasty down to 10 degrees in my 15 degree bag & liner. The two inch thick foam provides for great comfort. I have been using therm a rests for years and have yet to be disappointed. Keep doing what you're doing.
I've had this mat for almost 2 years now and taken it on numerous trips and I can tell you with a certainty, this is the best camping pad I've ever used!! It's well worth the extra weight to get a decent night's sleep while on the trail. My only gripe is that I wish they had a Large/Wide version. I'm 6'4" 275lbs and I'm edge to edge on this thing. I would gladly carry the extra weight if there was a 30 inch wide version for us bigger people, so please please please take that into consideration for the next iteration of the Trail Pro, other than that this thing is perfect for my needs!!
Cons: Super load (for me)! It crinkles way too much. The outside baffles do not inflate unless you put air in. The outside baffles have no insulation which causes these to be too cold. I was hoping the outside baffles had insulation when I purchased it which these did not. I was really disappointed. I purchased the long version which I was hoping the end of the pad would be wider; however the width of the bottom is the same size as the regular width which my feet fall off quickly unless I'm right in the center of the pad. Pros: My hip stays off the ground. The pad is easy to roll up. The pad fits in the storage sack easily. Inflates quickly, except you have to put several puffs in to inflate the outside baffles. Overall, I don't like it. I will be returning this pad.
This pad is awesome, a lot of pads are noisy this thing is quiet, and the comfort is great, does requiring some inflation, but not too much, only downside is the bulk, I refuse to use an inflatable without solid foam underneath so it takes up some space if backpacking, however it’s worth it to sleep comfortably
If It Ain't Broke Don't Fix It--- The 1st generation Trail Pro (left in pic) was pretty good. 2nd Generation is GREAT. Why do we need this 3rd??