Therm-a-Rest - ProLite Plus

I understand. I personally think it's more fear based than reality - but I understand. Look into the Therm-a-Rest ProLite line. They are the backpacking version of their self-inflating pads. I carried one for years when I was younger. They are only 1.5 inches thick though... so maybe not good enough for your needs. [https://cascadedesigns.com/products/prolite-plus-sleeping-pad](https://cascadedesigns.com/products/prolite-plus-sleeping-pad) I know nothing about the brand new NeoLoft - but it does sound like what you want. Not self-inflating, but thick and soft top. [https://cascadedesigns.com/products/neoloft-sleeping-pad](https://cascadedesigns.com/products/neoloft-sleeping-pad)

Honestly, I have "regressed" since 2021. Tried many brands, size, length, baffle style iterations of inflatables out there at huge expense and disliked every one.  In 2021, I started exclusively using CCF (Exped, GG thinlight, but my fave Nemo Switchback).  Doing some more winter trips this coming season- southern hemisphere- and stacking pads takes too much space.  I just bought a short size Thermarest Prolite Plus on sale. I am such a gram counter in many ways, but can live with the 450g plus a CCF for Winter trips.

Personally not comfy on NeoAir style pads. Had various models from Thermarest, Nemo, Exped. The low-tech Gossamer Air Beam almost passed the test. So went back to self-inflating. For summer I use a torso sized Prolite Plus with lower legs on pack; for winter a full length of the same on ½" CCF. I find the 3.2 Prolite subjectively warmer than a 4.5 Xlite. YMMV

Personally not comfy on NeoAir style pads. Had various models from Thermarest, Nemo, Exped. The low-tech Gossamer Air Beam almost passed the test. So went back to self-inflating. For summer I use a torso sized Prolite Plus with lower legs on pack; for winter a full length of the same on ½" CCF. I find the 3.2 Prolite subjectively warmer than a 4.5 Xlite. YMMV

I side sleep and roll around all night and don’t hit the ground with my hips. I am 6’4” and was weighing 250 for most of my use of that mat. Hence why I don’t mind an extra pound for a comfortable sleep at night. I am weighing 220 now and don’t touch the ground at all with the mat partially deflated. I had the thermarest prolite plus before this one and it is slightly thinner and I would hit the ground when not fully inflated with that one, thus why I upgraded. Edit to add I used that prolite plus with a bad back for many years of backpacking and it worked well enough but I finally upgraded when I got into my 30s and realized the little things you can do to improve your quality of life on adventures will make them more enjoyable.

I like the feel of the self-inflating mats (POE InsulMat and ProLite Plus) when testing at home, but I get much better sleep on the air mat (Exped Ultra LW) when camping - more hours and my shoulders aren’t so tight in the morning.

100%. Personally, I'm looking into using a trimmed Pro-lite this season. I just bought a used one off of ULGearTrade for $25. Planning to trim it down to torso size which I think I can get ~10oz. My hope is that the OCF in there will give me enough comfort, but also more stability than a 3" inflatable, which although less plush I think could translate to a more comfortable sleep.

Yeah I'm stoked about it! It's supposed to arrive from r/ULGearTrade today, so planning (unless I fuck it up) to document and post on r/myog in the next few weeks and review here in the spring once I get a few nights on it.

I recently cut down a ProLite Plus to torso size, about 36in. Rolled up in stuff sack it weighs 11oz, and initial review is that it’s more comfortable inch for inch than a xlite for me. At 1.5” height, it’s not too bad of a drop off to the legs and packs about the same size volume as a regular xlite. Quite a bit more durable too with both foam inside so I would expect a bad leak to be less devastating, and also 50d fabric. 

Not foam but the Thermarest prolite + self inflating is tougher than the blow up kind and warm enough for our winters.

That's also my experience with the thermarest prolite- I've had mine for a decade and fixed one hole. I take the weight penalty to not hate the inflation process but to my mind that makes it a luxury item.

But it’s logical and functional. I can’t recall exactly if I had a foam pad on the pct, but I’ve done the cdt, azt, and at all with a thermarest prolite(far more durable) and six panels of an accordion pad.

The comfiest pad I’ve used is the old school thermarest prolite. Thicker isn’t always better. It’s heavy though. Great for short hikes or boat/car based stuff

I’ve been using my prolite for over 20 years and love it. It’s holding up super well and barely looks used. I pair it with a thermarest foam pad in early spring and mid- to late fall (and bring a thermarest chair kit to use the foam as a chair during shoulder seasons). This system keeps me very comfortable, even in temps going below 0C at night here in Canada. The prolite is perfectly fine on its own during summer/early fall.

I just switched from expensive Thermarests over to these crazy cheap Night Cat hand pump pads and I am never going back to thermarest/self inflation. My arm goes dead without fail sleeping on the Thermarests and they take up nearly twice the room in my gear. The only benefit of the Thermarests I can see is that they are really tough, which could be great for some hardy adventures maybe. But nothing a couple patches can't fix IMO... So Choo choo I'm on the air pad train. These newer cheap designs are legitimately very good, they roll out crazy long and then shrink up. I probably can't share amazon links but "Night Cat Inflatable Sleeping Pads". There's a bunch of brands making this style now too, I'm not trying to spruik any particular brand, this was just the one that was affordable where I live.

The Xtherm is reasonably durable, but not enough so that I've ever trusted my life to it in remote extreme conditions. Like most people, I pair it with a foam pad. The foam pad is great to have anyway. You can put it right on the ground or snow to sit or stand on at camp, and you can cut off a piece if you are building a splint. It also serves as an emergency backup if the Xtherm develops a leak that can't be patched. The classic self-inflating Thermarest pads that they have been making for 30+ years are less warm and less comfortable than the Xtherm, but far more durable. Those have some foam in them, so they don't roll up as small, but they will still provide a little warmth if they spring a leak (though they also have bomber construction and almost never fail). They are issued out to troops by the US Army (I take it from your photo that you are one of those types of people to whom that endorsement matters). However, for the temperatures you are talking about, you will still want to pair that pad with a foam pad. The best combination is a modern lightweight inflatable foamless pad with a high R value like the Xtherm, combined with a foam pad like a Z-rest or a RidgeRest. If you're very concerned about bulk, you can of course trim the foam pad down to a 3/4 length. I prefer the folding Z-rest style over any pad that needs to be rolled, but that's your preference.