Therm-a-Rest Prolite 3 Sleeping Pad

AS good as I thought.

The Prolite 3 is lightweight and comfortable, exactly what hikers need when staying in the backcountry. It's only downside is one that it shares with all air mattresses. Although durable, it can't work miracles, and an unnoticed mesquite thorn can ruin your evening. Check the ground on your hands and knees before putting down your tent floor or ground cloth, and don't forget a repair kit. Fortunately, the latter works quickly and efficiently, even in the field.

Therm-a-rest got it right with this pad. It's light, packable, and comfortable. I haven't come across another pad that comes close to this one in any way. I've used mine on probably over 100 nights and it hasn't gotten a hole in it or anything else. The only bad thing about it is that the stuff sack doesn't come with it but besides that its perfect. Defiantly the best pad on the market.

This pad is the best option for 3 season ultralight backpacking - very light and compact(I believe the best specs on the market). It seems durable too(excellent condition after 15-20 uses). The only drawback is the price, but if you can afford it go for it!

Does take a half dozen extra blows to get it nice and firm but it works great. I had no problems with my tender hips hitting the ground while sleeping on my side during six days in the Sawtooth Wilderness. The only challenge I found was waking up in the mornings after a night of solid rest. I'm 6' 4" and the regular is a little short. Which I don't mind because I sleep on my stomach sometimes and like to have the toes hang over.

This pad is amazing at keeping you warm and off the ground at night. Just leave it to inflate and when you come back just add a few puffs of air as you wish. It rolls down to about twice the size of the original when it arrives brand new. If you sleep on your back this pad will keep you comfy all night.

After years of carrying around a foam pad strapped to the outside of my pack, I will never go back now that I have my pro-lite air mattress. Combined with the stuff sack, this pad folds down to the size of a nalgene, meaning it can fit *inside* your pack. That means you never have to worry about it getting knocked off your pack if you're bushwacking or getting wet in the rain (a common worry with air mattresses).

Great product- therm-a-rest never fails - have had their products for years. Only improvement I would be looking for in the future is: how to make them "cut resistable" to dog nails/teeth sharing the same pad while camping, hah!!

I finally gave in and got myself a sleeping pad - the Therm-a-Rest Prolite 3. Depsite all my friends making fun of me carrying it around because I don't "sleep on the ground like a man", this thing weighs less than a pound, and packs very well with the stuff sack. I suppose sleeping on the ground can be soft, but I get the last laugh when we wake up in the morning after a night in a shelter and I got a great night sleep and my buddies are still achy from the ground. The Prolite 3 Sleeping Pad is worth its weight in gold.

This is an awesome pad! I bought the short version that only provides up to the waist. Im 6 foot and the pad provided enough support for my body for a wonderful "Restless" sleep. Not only it is great for many nights, but it works fantastic for a one nighter because this can fit right into a day pack! If one is looking for "THE PAD" this is the one!

I love this pad. It provides just enough comfort and warmth, but what really makes it great is that it packs so small. The small size packs down to less than a nalgene and just disappears in my pack. Highly recommended for the golite crowd.

I bought the short pad (I'm just under 5'4") and it worked very well for a recent 4-night camping trip. The first two nights were very hot, the second two were rather chilly, but I slept well through all four. I do tend to sleep on my side, and was not achy or bruised at all in the mornings. I was amazed that such a thin pad was as comfortable as it was. As for inflation, I let it self inflate while I was setting up camp, then finished it off with only two quick puffs of air. It stayed inflated through the whole trip. I got this as a lightweight backpacking pad, and for car camping I might just have to get something a little more lush (the Trail Pro, for example), but that's just for luxury, not due to any shortcomings of this pad.

A very good sleeping pad. Please follow the instructions regarding storing it inflated. Makes it inflate faster when you are in the woods. I put 6 self stick gum rubber pads on mine to stop sleeping bag from sliding. they are the rubber bumbers used for kitchen cabinets,2 bucksfor a pack of ten or twenty. packs up small and if you use a stuff sack - theirs or any other your pill should fit in it too. I have 3 Prolite 3's for my kids/wife I have the prolite 4 but then again I am over 6 foot and weigh 250. but all of above applies to both.

Small, light, comfy, & warm.

Pros: Light weight and compact. Cons: A little cold, NOT for side sleepers. I like it, but I wake up every hour or so to achy shoulders and hips. Honestly, to me it's worth the extra weight and bulk for a better night's sleep.

I have owned this pad for several years now and have been overall impressed. It was designed to shed weight yet still be comfortable. No, it is not as comfy as other pads but it is lighter and saves space for other stuff. I do have to inflate it a bit more than some other pads I have owned in order not to hit the ground and I'm not a fat ass. If you want to save some weight and have some room for other crucial equipment, then this pad is the way to go. For a bit more padding with minimal weight get the Prolite 4.

This pad is rad. It packs nice and small. Also, it takes me about 8-10 big breaths to fill it up. That takes about a 2 minutes or less. I got the regular length and it gets the job done. As expected for a super light pad, it is not the thickest pad around. But it will make for a comfortable place to sleep, even on rocky terrain. Also, it is very durable. Overall, a quality product.

I purchased this pad a few years ago to reduce weight which it did very well. The only drawback was the 1" thickness. After a hard day of backpacking/climbing, I wanted a more comfortable sleep. I found that a 1.5" thick pad worked better for me so I purchased the ProLite 4 & never looked back. (BTW, the 4 weighs only four ounces more & has a higher R value.)

With everyone oohing and ahhing about the Thermarest, i decided to invest in the women's prolite 3. I'm just back from a trip to southern utah and have to report that i am VERY disappointed! I woke with sore hips each morning and would frequently wake in the middle of the night in pain unless sleeping on my back. I was also disappointed with how bulky it was. It took up A LOT of room in my pack and it was a struggle to get it into the stuff sack no matter how much air i tried to squeeze out of it. a Nalgene bottle??? double that size and more!... Definitely, not impressed...at all

I am 5'1" and I got the regular sized sleeping pad. The women's is just narrower. I am pretty small and I wouldn't want it any narrower. I would suggest for anyone who is looking to buy a mattress to get this pad. It inflates and deflates super easy and rolls up to a pretty compact size. This is light and perfect. Get one now! Also get the stuff sack to keep it in. You are spending the money on a good pad might as well keep it nice.

It is what it says. Durable, lightweight, comfortable. When ounces count, this is the choice. I used it on a Grand Canyon trek and couldn't have been happier.

The ProLite series is the creme of the crop when it comes to compact sleeping pads. What's not to love about an ultra-light, super-packable sleeping pad that self-inflates and has a lifetime warranty? It's the size of a Nalgene when rolled up. If your are obsessed with packing as small as possible, I'd recommend getting the stuff sack for the short length ProLite 3 rather than the regular length as Therm-a-Rest's stuff sacks tend to run a bit large. It is a tight fit, but with careful rolling it works great to keep the pad rolled as tightly as possible. I should also mention that while this pad is the ultimate for those of us who are weight and size conscious, it may not be thick enough for individuals who sleep on their side, set up camp on particularly hard ground, or just plain prefer luxurious sleeping conditions. Spend the money on this pad - as a 1-time purchase, you won't be sorry!

stop shopping around. this is the one.

Much better than the cheap foam pads we had to get starting out, this actually felt good to sleep on. The only issue is you have to pay extra for the stuff sack. Self-inflating is also a bit misleading, but blowing in 2-3 breaths of air isn't enough of an issue. Buy this with the Trekker Chair!

This pad is small, lightweight, packs into a super tiny size, and still is more comfortable than most sleeping pads I've used. I love the 3/4 length pad for spring through fall; I use a Big Agnes sleeping pad for the winter. Ultimately though, I love that this pad makes me fall asleep super easily and I can even manage to sleep in now. A must-have for any backpacker.

Tried many sleeping pads over the years. Many that are MUCH heavier and larger. NOTHING touches this pad! I am 6'3" and 270 lbs and do not bottom out on this pad. It really is remarkable. It rolls down to nothing, is super light weight and easy to use. I will own one forever. It obviously works like a cloud for my 120 lb wife. We constantly kid and joke in wonder at the functioning of this pad. May just be the finest backpacking item that we both own. I looked at 100 pads before purchasing my ProLite prior to purchasing it at the begining of this season. This one was for my wife. This is one piece of gear that you will know is the simple best in it's and probably other categories as well.

Simply put, this Thermarest is the best yet. Light weight, compact, and comfy...

i've been subject to a vast array of substandard pads in my life. i'm happy to say this is not one of them. it stays put under my sleeping bag and provides enough padding that i don't feel anything bumpy from the ground underneath. it also provided a nice barrier from the cold ground. it's light and once all the air has been squeezed out of it, you're left with a tightly packed roll that tucks nicely into your bag. i would recommend it.

It is easy to roll up or unroll to inflate. The self inflate feature is great. I am 5Ft 7 inches and the smallest one fits 3/4 of my body. It is a little narrow, but most bags are narrow so this shouldn't be a problem. It is perfect for those looking for lightweight comfort, just make sure to get that stuff sack.

When this pad holds air it is great. Putting it in a tub and sitting on it is great at finding pin hole leaks. Packs up small. I like using it with a z folding pad as well.

This is my first self inflating sleeping pad and Therm-a-Rest’s Prolite 3 Sleeping Pad is worth every penny. All my friends have Therm-a-Rest sleeping pads and have always loved them, so I decided it was time for an upgrade. I have used the Prolite 3 many times this fall, and it has not failed me yet at keeping me comfortable and warm. I never knew how much a good sleeping pad helped at keeping you warm on those cold nights till I used the Prolite 3. I also move around a lot in my sleep and usually find myself on the ground because the pad would slide out, but not with the Prolite 3. The sticky-dot non-slip surface keeps the pad right where it needs to be. The best part is how small and light the pad is. At a pound and some change, I could not say I even noticed it and the small size made packing that much smoother. All and all this has got to be one of my best investments.

Better pad than I expected. When I first inflated it I had it too full because I thought I needed to compensate for its thinness. I found by letting the air out a little at a time I could adjust the comfort range perfectly.

This pad was designed to allow you to travel fast and light. It does exactly that. It's quick and easy to inflate and deflate. It's not as comfortable as a bigger mat would be, but I slept just fine on my recent trip across the US (NYC to San Francisco). My one recommendation would be to DEFINITELY buy the stuff-bag to go with it. The bag is a good way to keep your mat rolled and (when turned inside out and stuffed with some clothes or a towel) Doubles as a comfortable pillow.

This pad is almost weightless which counts for a lot. It is also quite comfy. However, one day out on a five night trip, I managed to get a little tear in it; I have no idea how. So don't leave home without your repair kit.

I just got the shorty version of this, but I have been surprised about how comfy this is. I have never fussed about a sleeping pad but it has been nice to not wake up with numb extremities, I can even sleep on my side with this baby.

Compared to the 1/4in foam pad I started with years ago, this pad is amazing--it's lightweight, compresses down very small, and is far superior to any other lightweight pad in comfort. I'm male, but at 5' 8" and 150 lbs, the "men's" version is longer (and ounces heavier) than I need. I saw a post from another guy pointing out that the design focused on supporting a female's body provides more support under your hips--which is great for a person who sleeps on their side like me. I can actually sleep on my side without the point of my hip hitting the ground. I can't speak for durability yet, but if you're a mid-size male or female, this pad is awesome for comfortable backpacking!

This pad is awesome!!!! Like most of the "self-inflating" pads, I'd go ahead and blow in a couple lungfulls to get the pad nice and cushy, but once the valve is locked up tight, you will sleep warm and comfy. I bought one of these for my wife and on our first trip, we actually slept until 10:00am--on hard and uneven ground. That should tell you everything you need to know.

I went to a school in Leadville CO for four months, and on the 3 trips we had I had this pad. WOW is all I have to sat, comfortable, lightweight, and very durable. It did spring one leak, but that was easily patched and I had no other problems. This is the BEST pad I have seen and, trust me, it works.

Although it does self-inflate, it did not offer me much insulation on the night that I spent up in the Beartooth Wilderness. It snowed, and the temps got down to about freezing, but this pad offered no insulation from the ground. Besides that, I blew up the pad till it was almost drum tight, and it offered no support. I am not sure what kind of foam Thermarest is using, but it couldn't support a child. I guess the only positive thing that happened was that the pad did not pop. I slid around my tent all night on the ball bearings that they say "grip the tent floor," I guess they had trouble gripping the sil fabric. Anyway, I am going to upgrade and by a Thermolite from Pacific Outdoor. They are from Montana, and I guess I should have bought from the home town heroes first. That is what you get when you don't do your research. Disappointed.

Sounds like an ad during daytime TV, but the Prolite 3 is well worth the price. I formally used a 5/8-inch blue foam pad that only weighed 5oz. The extra 8oz of the Prolite are a bargain to carry considering the wakeless nights it affords. I have used it on compacted campground soil and under forest canopy covered in duff and the one-inch thickness provided comfort in both situations. Buy this; pack with this; sleep on this. You won't regret it.

I purchased a ProLite 3 regular (for my wife) and a short for myself. My wife didn't want to give up the full-length padding, and I wanted to reduce my pack weight without suffering directly on the ground. We use them with our Big Agnes StormKing 0°F sleeping bags which require the use of a pad, since the bottom of the bag consist of only an empty pocket intended to hold a pad. The pad is classified as "self inflating" pad, but even after unrolling it and leaving it to loft on it's own with the valve open, you still need to blow it up the rest of the way with a few breaths. The comfort is excellent if you really force the last of the air into it. The short pad that I use works well. I'm 5'6" and the pad supports me down to my knees. If I'm on rocky ground I'll lay my fleece jacket down under the end of my bag. The Short rolls up to about 2/3 the volume of the full length. I highly recommend either pad for anyone looking for a comfortable light-weight sleeping pad. Works well with Big Agnes sleeping bags that require rectangular pads.

This pad is just plain great. Even if you have to make camp in a hurry and don’t have time to properly clear the ground, this pad will protect you from rocks, roots, and sticks. The only problem is that the self-inflating feature doesn’t inflate the mattress very full. No real problem though, because you can manually inflate it with ease. This is a must for weight and packing-size conscious hikers and backpackers.

My husband and I both purchased Prolite 3's (mine was the women's version, of course). We have already taken them on a two-night backpacking trip. We were extremely pleased with the pads! Compared to what we were using before (a cheap foam pad and a cheap air pad) these pads were like sleeping on air!

I bought this pad to help trim down on some weight and bulk in my backpack during mountaineering and climbing trips. After a 4-day trip to the Cirque of the Towers and 3 day climb in the Grand Tetons, the pad worked nicely! Every bit as comfy as my older Ultralight. I was a bit hesitant to lay it directly on the ground because the material seems a little fragile.

If you are someone that sleeps on your side (like me) this pad will almost do the trick. I still had a bit of a problem with my hip in the morning. I'd go with the pro light 4 just for the extra padding. As for keeping me warm, it did the job.