Which Thermarest?

imported
#1

My query regards sleeping pads. I hiked the AT last year with a 3/4 length Z-Rest and it worked fine, however, by Virginia I was becoming somewhat envious of my comrades who had brought along self-inflating Thermarests. I rationalized that I was “saving weight” and stayed with the Z-Rest but I think I paid for it towards the end. So now it comes time to buy one of those fancy orange Thermarest things for the PCT next year. My question is quite simple but borders on nit-picky: ProLite 3 or ProLite 4? I’m wondering if the 0.5 inch more insulation that the 4 provides is worth the extra 4 oz. in weight. (The 3 offers an inch of thickness while the 4 offers 1.5) Whatever I choose, it’ll be in the 3/4 length again. Just wanting some thoughts.

Thanks!
Wildcat

Wildcat

#2

i didn’t go look it up, so i’m not sure, but how big is the weight diff between the 3/4 length prolite 4 and the full length prolite 3? wouldn’t having your lower legs and feet on an insulated surface (a) provide as much, if not more, extra insulation as the 3/4 length prolite 4 and (b) be more comfortable than the angle your hips are set at with your knees 1.5" higher than your ankles?

i rock the full length because although the pack size is not as nice as the 3/4 length, it is just more comfortable to lay on.

and, to actually give some input that’s relevant to your specific question, i would say that no, a half inch is not worth 4 oz. that’s almost an extra night’s worth of liquor.

john

#3

I have the 1.5" thick 3/4 length and it is great. I am now on the other side of 50 and like the extra padding after a long day. In the 70s I hiked with the old blue foam pads and saw the thermarest pads eventually and could’nt resist.

roadrunner

#4

Started way back when with z-rests and froze our bottoms off because they didn’t insulate us well. Replaced them with 3/4 length, and hated the feeling of the legs going off the end. Used part of z-rest to solve that problem, but in the end that was almost the same as a full length 3. Finally got the full length prolite 3 and have used them every since, including our thru in '05.

So, personally, I think that the prolite 3 full length is all you need. The extra padding of the 4 is good for thermal insulation, but as far as I am concerned it doesn’t offer much more in the way of comfort. I just blow up my thermarest to the right level and I don’t touch the ground.

Gravity (and Danger)

Gravity

#5

I use the ProLite 3 full length and find it comfortable enough for most situations. If you read Yogi’s book, she states that inflatable mattreses will get holes in them on the PCT because of the cacti and stickers. Not maybe, but guarenteed. I tend to believe her, so you might need to reconsider the whole prolite option. I use Tyvek under my tarptent to protect my thermarest and so far it seems to work allright, but I have never been in the desert to test it out.

Doc Holiday

Doc Holiday

#6

I’m getting ready for my planned 2007 thru-hike. I have a full length Ridge Rest. I’ve had it on several shakedown hikes and I like it a lot. Do you think a ProLite would be better, and, if so, why?

Early Bird

#7

This is a reply to Doc’s comment about the desert prickles beating up your t-rest.

I don’t think holes are gauranteed with an inflatable pad in the desert.

Jeff and I each carried Prolites, and had no problems with holes in our sleeping pads from the desert flora. I will say, though, that we carried them inside our packs for the desert because we had extra space, and we also slept in a tent (which meant both tyvek and silnylon between the sleeping pad and ground). Our gear might not have gotten as much abuse as other folks’.

One cool thing about the Prolites, though, if the hole is on the bottom side, you can patch it very effectively with duct tape! We did get a 1/4 " slice (not a puncture) from something in our pack at one point. Our duct tape repair lasted for weeks until we had some down time at KM to do a definitive repair. It’s not that the repair was hard or time-consuming, but the duct tape worked so well we debated replacing it at all.

I don’t want to be an ounce heretic or anything, but if you choose to carry an inflatable sleeping pad, it really won’t break you to bring along a patch kit. That way, you wouldn’t need to worry so much about getting a puncture. The little pouch of HotBond sealant and fabric patch aren’t heavy, and they’re really easy to use. I just weighed my little kit and it came in at 3 grams, so I think it’s doable. :wink:

As for choosing a pad, you should carry whatever you are comfortable with and that allows you to get a good night’s sleep on the trail. So Early Bird, if you like your Ridge Rest, then carry it, by all means! It doesn’t matter a bit what anyone else is doing. HYOH.

-Jenn

Chipper

#8

Whenever you can get a thicker pad, whether closed cell foam or an air mattress, for a relatively small amount of additional weight, do it.

Simmer

Simmer

#9

WalMarts blue pad is so inexpensive, I bought two and cut it down to my dimentions. A longer mummy shaped pad on the bottom and a shorter torso sized piece for extra insulation and comfort. I use them in tandem in winter (14 oz), just the bottom in spring/fall (9 oz)and the torso size piece in summer (5 oz) for those fastpacks. Cheap, effective and comfortable… and I use the short piece for a seat at lunch or around the fire.

CitySlicker

#10

thank you all, very kindly!!!

Wildcat