Therm-a-Rest - ProLite (Small)

This is subjective. For me, yes, an inflatable pad is worth it for better sleep quality. Foam pads just don't work for me. In your case, you report that you already sleep fine on a foam pad so why not just stick with it? Regarding durability of an inflatable, yes it's likely lower but you may be able to patch it and still worth it for sleep quality. I did get a leak in my NeoAir but I set up camp in a reasonable spot and was able to put my pack under it and it was ok. Patched it when I got home. The hot ticket item for me is actually the short Prolite. Very similar weight to my old NeoAir, bit more durable, adequate ground insulation, and still has a bit of foam. Takes up more space but still fits in my packs with usual loadouts.

This happened to me and as far as I know the pads have been discontinued. Was a pretty nice thing while it lasted but I think your better off with thermarest.

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.

I’ve had a ton of success with the thermarest prolite. I used the regular length for the pct, short version for the cdt, azt, and at. No issues on the pct or cdt, did get a hole on the azt. But I set up in the dark right on a pokey plant so my bad on that one. On the at a baffle popped but it didn’t make the pad unusable, just a little annoying. Slept with it like that for the last few weeks of trail.

I use a thermarest prolite short with 6 panels of a switchback.

Thermarest pro lite short with six panels of a foam pad. Perfect balance between inflatable and durability. I’ve used this set up for the cdt, azt, and at. Used the full length version of the prolite for the pct. Only leak I ever had was on the azt when I accidentally set up on a prickly plant so no pad would survive that.

I’ve done multiple thru hikes with the pro lite short, and six panels of a foam pad. Perfect combo of inflatable and durability imo.

How many nights have you used it? Wanted to get one but saw reports of delamination that created a huge bubble at the center of the pad. Got lucky and found a prolite xs so I didn’t buy it myself. 

Nice mod. I got lucky and found a XS prolite like a month ago. 267g. Like new. It’s really so much more comfortable than the ccf pads and even a neoair (for me). 

Yeah it’s the discontinued xs version. Not the plus like you have. 

Yeah thermarest should definitely bring them back. I actually prefer the thinner version. I sleep on my side and it’s just thick enough to no hurt my hips but not too thick that it creates a big gab when for example a leg goes outside of the pad and rests on the floor. Had this issue with my xs uberlite. 

After trying pretty much everything, I tried the thermarest prolite XS for fun. For some very strange reasons I sleep very well on such a minimalist pad. And that’s the thinner discontinued version not the prolite plus. I only sleep on my side. Other pad that I really like is an exped 3r size S. The rectangular one. 

shoots, I have an OG prolite short and my LP lists it at 13.2. I might need to re-weigh to verify and possibly make myself a new one if you got yours down to 10.5. the self-inflating torso pads have been one of the few things I can catch some Z's on.

yes. mine is 1". it's wild that your's is thicker and lighter. I also use 6 panels of z-lite under mine as well. it's a heavy setup, but it's the only thing I've found that gives me relatively comfortable sleep. I can't do inflatables.

I couldn't jive with inflatables. I use the prolite XS over 6 panel switchback or CCF I also liked the 1/2" evazote from oware, cut to torso length. bulky, but really nice the key is having a big pillow, I use the big sky inflatable as a riser and then a little square of upholstery foam over it for softness. when I roll to stomach, I just use the foam.

My thermarest Prolite 4 is almost 20 years old. Has hundreds of nights on it at least 50 nights a year for 10 years but maybe a dozen a year (Avg)the last 10. It has only been loaned out for the last 5. So probably 600 nights or so. Self inflating are pretty durable if you take care of them. My Prolite has even survived 3 generations of dogs. Which isn't saying much, people assume dogs nails are like razors. I've never lost a tent, bag, inflatable boat or anything from a dog nail. We finally after 30 years of dog ownership got a rip in a couch cushion. That's it.

Klymit isn't insulated at all. Even the insulated one. It is labeled R4 which should keep it warm enough into the 40s but you'll be cold on it in 50s. So as long as you understand that, it's a fine durable pad. I cannot imagine the ampex being heavier. Best case, fall temps, you need to add that military thermarest under it. Actually, I recommend this in anything but summer temps. I didn't find it comfortable at first but it was my first airpad. I had been using a thermarest prolite 4 since probably 2005 which I found fine, but as I noted I usually double pad in cooler weather so often it was the prolite over a ridge rest or Z-Rest. It turns out, you need to blow it up much less than you think. Now I find it noisy but comfortable. However, it's my summer beater pad now. Anything below freezing (or really below 40F) I take my Rab R7.3 pad, which I actually feel heat radiate off. It's crazy... And yes, for cold weather I still put a thermarest close cell foamy under it. That makes it R9

I personally prefer a more durable sleeping pad for the weight penalty. Self inflating pads make the perfect frame for frameless packs. I’ve had great success with the old prolite that wasn’t as warm or thick.

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.

If you want more comfort than ccf but more durability than an inflatable, a self inflating is the way to go. Something like the thermarest prolight or similar. They aren’t the lightest, but if you avoid the super huge car camping style ones they aren’t too bad. They can still technically be popped but the outer material is much beefier than an inflatable. Often they’ll feel more like vinyl. I still have my original thermarest trail. It’s not as cushy as modern ones but it’s a tank and still hasn’t gotten a leak after 17 or 18 years. Got it sometime as a teenager. I think it was my first mat I had when I upgraded from a crappy blue Walmart ccf.

I went with the S2S ether light XT wide. I think it is 4" / 10 cm thick whereas my previous thermarest prolite was 5cm... My hip needs 10cm. At the minimum.