Therm-a-Rest ProLite 4 Sleeping Pad

I have used my new pad (ThermaRest) 2 times now, and the comfort level is great! Because it is thin compared to a blow up mattress, there is a lot of support and yet it is still soft and I slept like a baby. When you consider what a good night's sleep will do for you, this thing was one of the best gear purchases I have ever decided to make. I also sent this along with my son to his Philmont Scout trip and he used it for 10 days hiking in New Mexico and other than a little dirt, the pad is no worse for the use. He also said "The pad was really comfortable and kept him warm in the cool desert evenings.

This is a good choice for backpacking, very lightweight. For packing, I fold it in half before rolling, and it takes up very little room in the pack.

After 6 trips the pad is like new, it is comfortable, isolating from cold, easy to fold and quickly blown, once you made the magic to fold it into its bag, it doesn't take any space at all. the only no no is the stuffing bag.

fix holes with seam grip it works great. Even with the treat of holes this has been a comfy pad and takes up little space when deflated.

just did a first test run of my new woman's reg. after reading the instructions i've been keeping it unrolled, but with the valve open and out of the sun for storage, so when i took it to yosemite last weekend it reinflated quickly and was ridiculously comfortable to sleep on. my boyfriend has an older model which he'd kept rolled up between trips for years, so it needed some more help on the inflation and wasn't able to achieve the same level of blissful poofiness

The item was somewhat expensive, but continues to perform flawlessly. I sleep better on the ProLite 4 than I do on my own bed. Seriously. I use it with a cheap sleeping bag in a thin-floored tent with no footprint or any other padding. Cleaning it is also really easy, just warm water and a little soap. Overall, one of the best things I've ever bought.

I love my thermarest! I had the short one, and was happy with it for years,until my legs froze in Danali (legs hanging off the end of the short pad). My man bought me the large womens for Christmas, and Ive used it twice and am oh-so-greateful! Yes, It is a bit more weight than the shortie, but worth it. Thanks Thermarest, and Joseph!

This thing... oh this thing. If I had to choose between this and my tent on backpacking or climbing trips I would for sure choose this. If you've never used a Thermarest they are well worth the money. Not only are they so much softer than normal foam pads the air works as an excellent insulator so you stay much warmer at night. Also, it stays flat while foam pads roll up under you occasionally. The fabric on this is grippy ( the only way i know to describe it) it just keeps you on the pad all night rather than slipping off of it. mostly because you sink into it to a degree. Not only does this pad have all of these great benefits, its also comfy. I wouldn't go with anything else.

After a long desert haul, it was great to set up the tent and make the pad into the chair. After dinner and drinks, it was time to hit the tent for some sleep, taking the pad out of the chair was easy. This pad allows for a great night's rest with plenty of support and comfort. I was ready to go the next day. That is worth a lot to a 43 year old guy that works in a cubical all week. I retired my older Thermarest and saved a pound or two, making it an easier load overall. Get the stuff sack and the chair, they are worth it. A little pricey but this stuff is made to last you many years to come. An investment but it pays off. Happy backs make for much nicer backpacking trips.

This is a good pad. It will add comfort in many conditions. It requires about two lung fulls after self inflating for 30 minutes. It bundles nicely and is light weight.

All I can do is add to all of the glowing reviews that this pad has already recieved... The ProLite 4 is very well designed, and functions perfectly in every imaginable condition. I have used mine all year round in every condition. It is very durable, light, compact, comfortable, and warm. Inflates easily and doesn't slip around on your tent floor. A great product that has my vote!

I've used one of these for 4 years now, around 30 nights a year. Never had a hole, always keeps me warm (even in -25F). I do carry a patch kit though, just in case. I really like to pack everything on the inside of my pack, and this compresses small enough to get it inside with everything else.

I used this pad in patagonia and also in Peru. It was excellent. Kept me warm and also let me get a good nights sleep even though I was in rock field on the side of a mountain. Well worth the money. Get the stuff sack for it too.

I took this pad winter backpacking, and froze my ass off. I could feel the warmth being sucked out beneath me. Luckily I also took my crazy creek and was able to put it underneath it the next night to insulate my body. In contrast, I also have the older Therm-a-rest Luxury LE - which insulates 2 times better, probably because of how the chambers are constructed. In the summer, it is a bit overkill, and I would recommend either a shorter model or the 3s version to save space and weight.

I'm generally impressed by this pad. For winter travel, I use a short length, in conjunction with a full length non-inflating pad. This pad packs quite small and light, and has, to date, been pretty reliable. The only ding I'd give this thing is that it's VERY spendy..

The best sleeping pad on the market. Great combination of comfort, weight, and size. You can't go wrong with a ProLite 4

By far the best pad i have ever used. Well worth the 100 dollars. From sleeping on beaches to parking lots, to mountain slopes, i have never not gotten a great nights sleep due to objects sticking into me. Like zen_greg says, "How much for a good nights sleep?" it is well worth trying this pad. As long as this model is in production, i will only use it!

First of all, I'm 6'3 175. I'm a big time backpacker. I got the 4 short to shed so I could save the precious space in my pack. This pad does exactly what I need it to do. It goes down 4 to 5 inches below my butt so for anyone taller, you know how it will fit. It will keep you nice and warm throughout the night. Good luck out there!

I purchased my first Therm-a-rest in 1980. There were two models available, long & 3/4 lengths. I still have it & it works great. After 18 years, I upgraded to the Luxury Edition model. Following my ultralight quest, I purchased a ProLite 4 last year. At 24 ounces, long version, it is as comfortable as my LE & weighs a pound less, not to mention how it folds in half & packs down to half the size. Without a doubt, the finest 4 season sleeping pad on the Market. Also superb for 3 season use.

OK, so I read the other reviews on this pad and thought, yeah sure, it can't be that good. Well, I was wrong. It is not only as good as it has been reviewed, it is even better! It is GREAT! I got the short one because I was concerned about weight, oh and the price. But it works fantastic. I have support and comfort right where I need it. I never even felt the ground and there was some sticks and stones under the leaves (I was praticing "Leave No Trace"). But I didn't feel them. They didn't break my bones! A remarkable product and a resonable price! Don't even think twice about buying a Prolite 4 Sleeping Pad, just DO IT! Any size will do if you want the best night's sleep under the stars. If comfort is important to you so that you are rested up for the rest of the trip, get this pad! Oh, and don't forget the stuff sack, really worth every penny too.

I own an older Therm-a-rest which, having a hole, needs to be retired. I debated back and forth about the extra cost for this one and it is honestly worth it. So comfortable, I actually slept well on the trail for the first time since I was a kid. Honestly amazing.

This review is likely redundant at this point, but a few observations: I have always suffered from hip pain when camping and the 1.5" thickness of the pad eliminated this entirely. I’m 6.5' and the regular is more than long enough to sleep comfortably. Non-slip really means non-slip. The trekker chair works great, but doesn't get to stay on when it’s time to sleep (the regular is too long). It does roll up to its original packaged size, but you need to roll it up twice to remove all that air and in the exact same fashion as when you pulled it out of the package the first time. It's only a true 4-season south of the 36th parallel.

Good sleep is vital on any backpacking trip. Nothing sucks more than losing sleep and waking up with a sore back, when you have to hike for 9 hours the next day. This pad is great!!! I sleep better in the backcountry than I do at home. Plus it is wicked light! I suggest also picking up the stuff sack.

This is an awesome product! I am a 5'11" guy, and this 6' pad works out great. I took it with me on a week long hike through Yellowstone and was very happy I did. I tried to go as light as possible because of the amount of ground that I was going to be covering, so I came close to leaving it behind. The pad roles up to almost nothing, if you consider how big it is after it inflates, and it is most defiantly the most comfortable pad I have ever owned. You are literally sleeping on air.

Self-inflates fast, sticky, thick and comfy (like a pool mattress!). However, there is room for improvement (Cascade Designs reading this?): (1) the extra material around the edge seems excessive, ~1/2 inch wide. Could be cut down to save weight. (2) air-plug seems large, enough to be annoying if you roll head on it. Could be moved to the smaller feet end. (3) deflating bit of a hassle, more than my UltraLite. (4) Stuff Sack is too roomy or am I really that good at rolling? Will probably stick to my UltraLite for most trips (rolls smaller, weighs about same), and only use the ProLite 4 on RARE occasions when I really need it, i.e. lying on snow-pack, temp dip below 10F with a nasty wind!

If you are considering buying these pads, don't hesitate. They are worth every penny. If you will spend a significant amount of time sleeping on hard surfaces, these pads will make you feel better in the morning. They pack up small, are light, easy to use/inflate, and are very comfortable. Well worth it!

The Men's ProLite 4 Sleeping Pad is warm enough for camping. It provided good insulation and padding comfort with minimum weight."

I had never used an air mattress until I purchased a Thermarest and I must say it makes a huge difference. I am not an expert on air mattresses by any means but it sure is nice to have a soft sleeping surface. This mattress even though it is quite thin does a great job of smoothing out the bumbs and sharp features that you inevitably find at any campsite. This mattress also serves as an layer of insulation from the ground keeping you toasty on the colder nights. I am really impressed and would recommend this to anyone. It is very easy to inflate and deflate and so far seems very durable. This is definitely worth the extra weight on your pack.

packs smaller than anything else on the market of comparable quality. super light and the slight non slip is much appreciated. don't buy the optional stuff sack, it will rip... pad is awesome!

I bought this pad just before this winter season and have been very impressed. This pad is just the right size for me and packs so small that I can hook it on a carabiner on my chest and hike all day without it bothering me or getting in the way. Now that I have a bigger backpack, it's not as much of an issue but the light weight and small size is always good. The stuff sack is a must have if you get this. I can't say that I've seen a Prolite 3 up close but I imagine it would be suitable for most people in most situations and packs a little smaller if you're really into saving space and weight.

I am 6' 4" 260lbs and i get a great night sleep on this pad. Not to mention how light and easy it is to pack. Very satisfied.

I used this last weekend snow camping North Lake outside of Bishop. Although the weather conditions were pleasant (20’s at night, 60’s during the day) we were camped on snow. I put a full length closed cell foam pad down first then doubled up my upper body with the Therm-a-rest. In the past I’ve used a InsulMat as my sleeping pad as I like the extra cushion, so I was a little worried about how this system would stack up. It worked great; I was warm and extremely comfortable for the whole trip. The 3/4 design is nice for keeping the weight down and the loft gave me enough cushion that I didn’t miss my InsulMat.

The ProLite 4 is a comfy, warm, easy to use, and small sized sleeping pad. A great product! Pros: Warm, comfortable, and very small. Cons: High price tag and has a possibility of getting a puncture.

I have used this sleeping pad about 5 times. It's very comfortable and light. I inflates somehow slow but it holds air pretty well. I really haven't tried in cold places yet, but maybe in a month we are going to a glacier.

As you age, this stuff gets more important. From nothing, to foam, ensolite, thermarest foam, UL thermarest 3/4 lentgh,...at 46 years old, I want the thickest pad with a reasonable weight, otherwise you don't sleep well and your trip sucks. I got a reg pro lite 4 and it works great. No complaints. My wife also uses and loves the womens version. If your 18, buck up and sleep on the ground, 35 plus...get this pad!

If you are going to telemark hard day after day you are going to need a good night's sleep in order to restore your energy. The Prolite 4 is absolutely perfect for snow camping, especially when laid over a very thin closed-cell foam mat as well. The bright orange color is fantastic - I used it last season as a beacon for some friends trying to find their way back to the base camp in the Australian Snowy Mountains. It was seen from about two kilometers away! Although expensive, this mat is absolutely worth it for winter snow camping.

If you don't believe after everyone else.. you probably won't believe after me either.. Prolite 4 - FANTASTIC. I enjoy the outdoors as much as anyone else here - and I've got a bad history of chronic back problems.... and require a lot of support. The Prolite 4 is definitely firm and supportive. GREAT INVESTMENT.. that's what it is. I'm taking this thing everywhere with me now.

I love this sleeping pad! It's good for three seasons, and quite comfy. Did I mention the cute pink color for the women's specific one? It's a great buy!

This is a great sleeping pad, I expected nothing less. It is very light weight and packs easily. I have only used it for one overnight trip but it seems to do well in all backcountry circumstances. No regrets.

I'm a long-time user of Therm-A-Rest sleeping pads with my all-time favorite being their LE (Luxury Edition) version of the old Classic pad. The closest match I can find to this pad in Therm-A-Rest's current line of products is their Trails Comfort line of pads. Because I was looking to add another pad to my collection for use when joined on overnight hikes by friends who didn't have camping gear I decided to try the ProLite 4 sleeping pad. I've just come back from a four night backpacking trip with the ProLite 4 and want to report the pros and cons of this pad: 1. It weighs nearly a pound less than the Trails Comport pad. 2. It sleeps much firmer than my old LE pad. I found it somewhat uncomfortably firm. I'm 5'11" and 175 lbs, age 53 with lots of backcountry overnight experience. If you value comfort over saving a pound of load in your pack then I suggest you choose the Trails Comfort pad instead of the ProLite 4.

I have always been very tolerant to hard ground and bad sleep camping out, but finally I splurged and bought this pad in the short. My wife got the full length. I can even sleep on my side and be pretty comfortable. The back of my head doesn't go numb anymore. I kind of wish now I would have gotten the full lenth pad.

The Women's ProLite 4 is just the right size. I camped without a sleeping bag in NM one night and stayed very warm with just that and a blanket. Not to mention I almost fell asleep on it trying it out at home. I really recommend it. And it's very cool that it's pink. Nice!!

Great pad. Have gone through several pads through the years, closed cell, open cell, straight air, and my first Thermarest that I got back in 97 (lasted until it was stolen) This one is definitely the best. I've got a bum shoulder that causes problems sleeping at home, let alone when hiking. 3days/2nights in Nicolet national forest, I slept like a log. Laid down, curled up, and crashed. Only woke up because a chipmunk was yelling at me that he wanted my macadamia nuts. The fact that I can't say any more about it just shows that I slept that well. If there were any problems, oh well, I was asleep.

Light, easy, durable, compact, and above and beyond all else: comfy. 3 days 2 nights in Nicolet National Forest, slept like a rock. Rolled it up inside my sleeping bag and lost no space in my pack. Lousy ground to sleep on and I felt nothing but rested in the morning. The weight is negligable, and the price well worth it. Another guy on the trip had a "Trail lite" Thermarest, and yet annother had a "Swiss Gear" Both offered to trade on more than one occasion. Nope, don't think so guys.

I have bought about 5 other pads over the last two years. They are all at the Goodwill waiting for a new home. The Prolite Self-Inflating pad is very comfortable and provides good insulation in cooler temps. I have not used it in less than 35* yet... so I am not sure if it's as good on frozen ground. I am very hard on gear... so if I haven't punctured it yet... it is pretty tough.