I have been sold on Therm-a-Rest products since 1980 when the only product they had was the original orange, metal valve, self-inflating pad. In twenty nine years the only thing I've had to do was replace the metal valves with the black plastic ones. In other words, I've never had a problem. I currently own six Therm-a-Rest sleeping pads & one Lite Seat which, BTW, goes with me on every outing.

It depends upon your needs. There are many pads available, far more than ever! I would list what you want in a pad, or what's more important to you. In my opinion, the best all-around Thermarest pad is the Trail Pro. It's thick at 2 inches (for a self-inflatable, this is the thickest available for a true backpacking mattress), it's durable, it's light (2lbs for the men's regular), and it's a Thermarest! The thing that separates Thermarest from everyone else is quality. They've been making pads by hand for 35 years and have perfected the process. They are the original and will last a lifetime. If you want an ultra-light pad, the NeoAir is the best available (although it isn't self-inflatable). If you want the most comfortable, the DreamTime is the best. There are many things to consider, but the Trail Pro is your best bet for all-around performance.