ProLite Plus

I had the exact same thought also brought on by Extra and I have purchased one. It should be here tomorrow. Thanks for the write up. Looks like you did it right. The width, the lack of height and the r value are all I need to know. The durability is a total bonus.

Don't do it. Bought a cheap pad with air cells like that for my first backpacking trip, absolutely miserable sleeping experience and I have a very high tolerance to sleeping in uncomfortable situations. Laying directly on the ground was better, and whatever r rating was claimed was absolute bs. We were in a small canyon next to running water and an absolutely wicked wind storm kicked up, I froze my ass off that night, spent most of awake trying to get warm and willing the sun to come up. Second pad was a Klymit with an allegedly good r rating, same air cell style shown in the photo you attached. Did three days at 8000 feet in early March in Southwest Utah, froze my absolute ass off. I had Bought a 15 degree Big Agnes bad to match my fancy new Klymit pad in an attempt to avoid being cold again. was in a two person ultralight tent less than a foot away from one of my companions, and still woke up COLD. I'm talking laying in your bag scared to move and hit a cold spot, praying for the sun to rise, dreading going to sleep the following night cold Finally forked over the cash for a quality Thermarest Prolite Plus and I'm here to tell you for 150 bucks the difference in sleep quality but more importantly WARMTH is insane. Did three days at 9,500-10,000 feet also in Southwest Utah and slept like a baby every night. Spent a week in star valley Wyoming sleeping on a cot in a field about 15 feet away from the very cold Flat Creek with the Thermarest pad and a 15 Degree Big Agnes bag. would wake up in the morning with my bag completely iced over with frozen morning dew as well as the entire field, I was warm as could be in that bag, like I was in bed at home. Sleeping on a wack pad is something I would never wish on anybody. I would be more willing to roll the dice on my bag than my pad. If temperature isn't a concern whatsoever then go for it I guess but that air cell style is more uncomfortable than sleeping on the ground, I'd rather have a fourteen dollar foam pad than that air cell dogshit. Spend the money, sleep comfortably, enjoy your time. There are corners that can be cut to save you money, but your sleep system is absolutely not the place to do it. At best you could be uncomfortable when you're trying to recover so you can go have fun and walk a bunch with your friends, at worst your life could be in danger.

I have an Exped Synmat and it's quite comfortable. It's more "air mattress" than my Thermarest Prolite Plus but more comfortable. So much so I'm insisting my wife use my Synmat mattress instead of her existing Thermarest on our next trip. I can handle the lesser one (I hope). I think basically if you're spending some money it's always going to be more complicated than "air mattress". I think OP means a classic vinyl sack filled with air. They tend to have poor support, zero vapor management, and are cold (because air convection inside the mattress takes all your heat and moves it to the ground).

Hi everybody, my trusted Thermarest Prolite Plus has given up the ghost after 10 years due to delamination. So now I am looking for a new sleeping pad. I am looking for a something with following requirements (descending priority): \- **length:** min. 195 cm (6'4") \- **no/minimal crinkle sound:** I have spent a night on a Thermarest NeoAir Xtherm NXT and its not for me. Even if it's quieter than the previous version, its too loud for me **- packed size**: max 5L, ideally similar to a Thermarest NeoAir Xtherm NXT, max 5 L \- **durability:** i prefer durability over low weight, ideally 70D fabric both top and bottom \- **baffles:** horizontal \- **R-value:** min. 4, ideally higher \- **weight:** max. 800 g (28 oz) \- **thickness:** max. 10 cm (4 inches). Thermarest NeoLoft is too thick for example. To be honest, I'd just buy a Prolite Plus (Apex) again if the packed size was smaller. I have been extremely satisfied with ThermaRests lifelong guarantee but it seems like they don't make anything that fits what I am looking for. My biggest issue during research is finding out how much crinkle noise a sleeping pad makes. Most "professional" reviews dont even mention it and opinions on reddit seem to differ wildly. Currently I have on my shortlist: \- Exped Dura 6.5R LW: fits all requirements except that it has vertical baffles \- Big Agnes Rapide SL: looks promising, have read some reports that it might be a bit cold \- Rab Ultrasphere 5: crinkle sound is minimal and packed size is great. Read that R-value doesnt quite match expectations. I am unsure about any Nemo and Sea to Summit pads. Open for suggestions. Are there any other sleeping pads you can recommend? Appreciate all input!

Concerning durability: I've had issues in the past with punctures with thermarest mats with more durable materials. So I'd prefer something that is a bit more reliable. I have read good things about the Thermarest NeoAir Xtherm for example while still having a good warm/weight ratio. R value: I live in Sweden and spend most nights outside during spring and fall (night temps below 0 C (32 F). I also do one or two winter camping trips per year with temps below -20 C (-4 F) where I use CCF mat underneath. Therefore I'd like a decent R-value. I should have added the requirement: inflatable. Call me spoiled but I prefer it over foam. I posted on the ultralight forum as most of the sleeping pads that I have considered are being discussed here. I suppose I have a much higher max weight than what is considered ultralight. And I of course dont mind it being as light as possible.

the prolite is my favorite sleeping pad, just so damn comfortable. gets left behind a lot though, heavy, as you point out