Therm-a-Rest Prolite Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad for Camping, Backpacking & Hiking - Lightweight & Compact for Outdoor Adventures

This weighs more than an air pad but the extra weight is worth it for a good night's sleep. I can't stand the air pads with no foam. They feel like a balloon if you pump them up hard but too soft and squishy if you let a little air out. The Prolite provides the right combination of firmness and give. I tried the Thermarest Prolite Apex and it performs too much like an air pad - bouncy AF when firmly inflated but your shoulders and butt sink into it, arching your back, when you let a little air out. At least that is my experience which is why I went with the Prolite which is lighter and packs smaller than the Prolite Apex. I've used it a few times backpacking and it's been the most comfortable pad I've owned.Love this pad. Well worth the money spent. The first one I ordered would slowly leak out some air during the night but didn't totally go flat. I contacted Amazon and returned it with no hassle and they promptly sent a new one which is awesome. I am a side sleeper most of the time but can sleep in most any position. This makes it hard to find a good pad that will work with my size. I am 6' 2" tall and weight approx. 250 lbs so no pad is going to be perfect but this one is close. I ordered the large and it fits fine. Have yet to use this in my hammock but have already ground slept with it approx. 12 times. I would recommend using something under it to protect from puncture. The best way to sleep comfortably on this is to use an old blanket below it maybe doubled over and your sleep system on top. If you need more padding then double over a blanket and lay on top of the pad before you sleep on it. The surface of the pad is not slick so it doesn't seem to shift when you sleep. It does self inflate a little but requires a few puffs of breath to finish the job for me anyway. I like the pad a little more firm. Follow the instructions and open the valve to the pad, unroll it and lay it out for awhile. It will self inflate over time. Don't expect it to inflate all at one right before your eyes. I unroll mine at least a half hour before use. I do like the fact this pad is foam filled and has cell pockets of air. Very lightweight and not very big when compacted. Easy to pack with. This should work great in my hammock with my MSS sleep system. Well worth the investment!Yes, I'm that guy... I am not a gram-counter, but I do weigh all my gear. Advertised weight is one of the main reasons I buy things for backpacking. In the description, the claimed weight for the small pad is .72 lbs, or 11.52oz. The actual weight of the small pad I received is .825 lbs or 13.2oz. The storage bag weighs half an ounce, so its not due to that weight, and yes all packaging and instructions were removed prior to weighing on a highly accurate food scale (that's a different issue altogether). So this is a little upsetting.As for the product quality, it looks lighter in construction than my old Therm-a-Rest ProLite that went missing. This product is also orange, instead of red, and has circle bumps instead of diamond ones. None of this matters to me, and matches the picture. Just some differences to note.If this mattress holds up, I will be satisfied with my purchase, but I want that 1.68 oz back... That's the weight of a wool beanie... Trust me... I carry a wool beanie...This is a very comfortable sleeping pad and light enough for backpacking.It is comfortable and lightweight. However I have the hardest time putting it back into the compression bag. I’ve just given up and slapped a rubber band around it. Takes up more space but I’m fine with that.So comfortable and easy to use! Fits in container easy after roll up without too much hassleGranted this is the only mattress pad I have ever tried, but it's pretty cool. Camped with only this and a Jungle Blanket (one of the best purchases I've ever made by the way) in low 40 degree rainy ass weather and I was not cold even though the POS tent leaked like a hemophiliac with a nose bleed. It packs small, light weight for the size and although it's thin (I'd guess about an inch before you lay on it) it really does provide a great barrier between you and the ground.This was brought as my last matures for camping gave out after 15 years (from Mountain Equipment). It's very compact and lightweight. I've given it 4 stars as it doesn't fully self inflate, you do need to give it some help by blowing into it. Also, I do think ithis type of equipment is all overpriced but that's the way it is when buying named brand stuffSleeping on it was warm and comfortable. It was spacious enough for me (a 6'1 broad man!).For the price this is an exceptionally comfortable mat. I've been using it through the winter when frost is on the ground which is well outside of its r-value but I've stil been comfortable.I've used it in a tent, in a hammock and directly on the ground for a bivi and in all situations it's been very comfortable and I've slept well. Most surprising is how well it works in a hammock, I have the large version of the prolite and I don't inflate it fully so it is more flexible and moulds around me in the hammock as I sleep.The one negative is the stuff sack which is preposterously large and thus no use for storing the mat, I use a simple clip to keep it together (see pic) and find this a much better option.I thoroughly recommend this product and the seller for getting it to me so quickly.Yes the mat is heavier than the neoair mats and it's definitely bulkier but it's also self inflating (mostly) and has a solid reliable feel to it, it's also a lot cheaper than most neoair mats too hahaBought this for my daughter for duke of edinburgh trips and activities.. she initially had a foam one but mentioned a friend had one of these and seemed better.. if you look on various review sites the manufacturer has excellent feedback and the item arrived promptly.. it folds up really small something like 25 cm x 10 cm x10cm .. you have to blow it up for first use as it's really tightly packed in the factory but after that it self inflates just by opening the valve..Apparently it is excellent.. both comfortable and really warm..Please be aware of the lengths of these.. they are all a lot shorter than the average person and designed to support the torso with the lower legs not being suppored. . This doesn't seem to be a problem..So far thoroughly.recccomendKeep you warm, good quality as expected, regular size is more than enough to fit an adult.Please note, this is a self-inflating mat, so you don't have to blow it up by mouth. To inflate it, all you have to do is open it up and leave it aside for 5 minutes.Very happy with this.Still going strong a year later. This really is large, I'm ~5'11" 85kg, and can comfortably spoon on it. Very comfortable compared to alternatives I've tried. It doesn't roll up as small as some, but for its sturdiness and comfort it's my first choice.Good for trekking as it folds up small and probably good thermal insulation but not comfortable at all and sleeping bag kept sliding off it. A lot of money for something I probably won’t use again.