Therm-a-Rest  Trail Scout Sleeping Pad

Descent R-Value.. I haven't really tested it in very low temperatures (maybe 20-40 F) but its held up in that regard. Its very easy to inflate and deflate/pack up, virtually silent, slides a bit but good grip overall. The lift off the ground is not great and tough for side sleepers like myself. I found myself sleeping on my back more but overall harder to sleep comfortably. Weight is average to lighter.. Packed size is great for exterior backpacking but could be smaller. If you need a last minute pad or for a lighter person/child, grab this. Else I'd recommend "Klymit Insulated Static V Sleeping Pad with Pillow" from Costco which is a monopoly value.

Solid sleeping pad for an affordable price. I have used this sleeping bad during the winter, spring, and summer with no issues. It self inflates and with a few extra breaths it can be made more firm. I've also thrown this into my double hammock, an awkward fit, but prevented my backside from being cold. Doesn't pack down as small as I would like for backpacking, but that wasn't a surprise given the product description. Comes with stuff sac, but no compression. I tend to not use the sac b/c I end up rolling up the sleeping pad smaller than the stuff sac.

This is my first expereince with a sleeping pad (gasp!), and I have been missing out. I wanted something entry-level (cost-wise) because I didn't know how much I wanted to carry, etc. And this pad is GREAT! Excellent value. I got the small (I'm 5'1") and it extends long enough for my torso and legs (my head rests on a pillow), which is perfect. Provided enough cushion and some insulation from the cold ground. This pad rolls up pretty easily and tightly -- no need for the bag it came with. Definitely recommend, especially for someone like me that's looking for something affordable and still good quality.

I have two 20 year old, blue and red Thermarests which are fantastic. Used them a lot and still look like new, made of quality materials. Now having a family, I bought another one trusting the quality is still there. This Trail Scout, which I bought online is a disappointment, seemingly made of cheap materials and can't see it last 20+ years like the old ones. Lucky if I get a couple of seasons out of it. Yes I know it is not the most expensive of the line, but still a Therm-a-rest, and more expensive that the competition. The outer shell is made of thin cheap plastic and brand new out of the box is already deformed from the the way it was packaged, no matter how hard I inflate it. Ii will send it back if I could.

I have recently gotten back into backpacking and was looking to upgrade from the standard "roll of foam" I used as a sleeping pad in high school. Wow can you spend a lot of money on a sleeping pad! I ended up trying the Trail Scout because it was cost effective. I ended up keeping it because it was so comfortable! I first tried it on my concrete basement floor. Very nice ... I didn't "bottom out" in an places. On a recent two night trip I used the "L"ong version. Setup is easy ... open the air valve and lay it out. After a few minutes I added a few breaths to top it off and closed the air valve. The pad kept its full pressure all night. Very comfortable. The second night I ended up at a site that had a lot of roots that couldn't be avoided. Again the Trail Scout was very comfortable and it hid the roots and bumps. I slept very well all night long. I am 6'5" and the "L" size was perfectly long. No feet hanging over the edge. The pad rolled up and packed down nice. It doesn't seem very heavy in weight. Packed and traveled well. I was very impressed with this product. If you haven't tried an air pad yet ... look no further!

First of all, unpack when you get it, inflate, and let sit overnight. Then store it unrolled. Now, on to performance. The trail scout is one of the basic Thermarest sleeping pads, and it's well worth your money at around $50. It's comfortable, adjustable, and minimalists if not eliminates pressure points on my body. It provides good insulation from the ground, and is easy to use. It's easy to pack, and strap to just about any pack, as it rolls up pretty small. If you're camping on a budget, you can't go wrong.

I used a 3/4 length trail scout for about 15 years of 2 or three backpacking trips a year. Sadly, on a Long Trail trip last year, the valve gave up the ghost, and rather than repair it, I decided to "upgrade" to a fluffier, more expensive, fancy pad. Which lasted about 4 weekends until the valve gave on it. So, just before a two week trip to New Mexico, I bought another 3/4 length Trail Scout. And wondered why I hadn't gone back in the first place. Things I love: - The outside isn't sticky, and it isn't slippery - it's just right, which means that if you're sleeping on an incline, you won't end up in the corner of your tent. - Packs up small. Not so small as an inflatable-only pad, but pretty darn small. - Actually has something inside. So, 10 years from now when this one gives up the ghost, I'll still be on some open-cell foam instead of on two sheets of mylar. - Comes in 3/4 length. I'm 5'8", so having to buy a 72" pad means that there's a whole lot more seam to possibly fail, and that more stuff to roll up. 3/4 length pads are great for the summer, because who needs padding for their feet? - Made in Seattle. USA! USA! USA! Things that are "Meh": - Another olive-colored bit of kit.

Considering the price, this is a good buy. It is relatively thin but packs down really small which is great for backpacking. It also comes with a stuff sack. I am a side sleeper however, so at times this pad was not quite thick enough for me. But, for a few days on a backpacking trip, I was able to deal with that and feel ok.

I purchased this sleeping bag about 3 years ago and I have been dissatisfied with it since the day I bought it. As a Scoutmaster for a local Troop, I have seen the entire gambit of sleeping pads and this one is simply one of the worst. While it did "self-inflate" during it's first few uses it's efficacy in doing so degrades rapidly. It seems to stretch with each use making the internal structure that is supposed to self inflate it ineffective. I have to spend 5-10 minutes literally blowing it up to get any sort of comfort. The last time I used it I woke up twice in the middle of the night just to add more air. The only positive I can think of is that it's easy to pack and clean.

I picked this pad up for cheap since I was just getting into car camping. It worked alright the first few times I used it, but on my last spring mountain biking trip to Moab it provided a horrible nights sleep. When I laid on it I sank right through, I had to inflate it to the max to make it noticeable but then it was rock hard! 2 nights into the trip I was fortunate enough to stop by an REI and pick up a 3.5 Camp Bed. Although it's double the price it's much more comfortable. All in all, this pad is small, light, and affordable but offers almost no performance.