I am looking to purchase this pad for the upcoming summer season in Alaska. I am sold on all the specs of this womens pad, EXCEPT the length. I am 5'9" and seeing as the pad is 5'5" anyone with helpful tips? Does it come in a long, or is it worth me sacrificing the inches? Should I go with a longer men's pad and give up the extra heat a womens provides? I have never purchased a sleeping pad before, so any tips would be helpful!

Position the pad so that the "head" end is an inch or so above your shoulders. You don't need to sleep with your head and neck on the pad, just put your down jacket inside your sleeping bag stuff sack and use it as a pillow. That way there is plenty of length for a person 5'9" tall. I'm 6' tall and this pad is long enough for me shoulders to feet.

If you're backpacking - throw your backpack at your feet for the extra distance. If weight's not an issue, I would just look for a different women's pad. Besides the color, I believe there is some difference in how the insulation is distributed - similar to a women's sleeping bag. Good luck finding something!

I did a little digging for you, but didn't find too much. None of thermarest's ladies specific pads come in any size other than 5'6". Now according to the specs at thermarest.com the pads are the same thickness and made of the same material as the men's pads, but apparently the color purple scores the women's a few extra decimal points of insulation. One suggestion is to take into consideration the use of a pillow or something to make up those extra 3 inches difference, otherwise just rock the "men's" prolite. Good luck!