Reviews > Sleep Gear > Pads and Air Mattresses > Therm-a-Rest ProLite > Owner Review by Scott Wasley

Reviewer Information:

Name: Scott Wasley
Age: 45
Gender: Male
Height: 5’ 10” (178 cm)
Weight: 180 lb (82 kg)
Email address: snw61(at)yahoo(dot)com
City, State, Country: Idaho Falls, ID, U.S.A

Backpacking Background:

I am an avid backpacker, kayaker, skier, and all around outdoorsman. I began backpacking thirty-five years ago at the age of 10. I have hiked mostly in the Western part of the United States (Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana). I am generally a mid-weight hiker, mainly because I like to take a little extra gear to be comfortable. I have recently spent a good share of my time in the Yellowstone National Park area.

Product Information:

MSRP: $104.95 US

Product Description:

The ProLite 4 is a self-inflating mattress and is a member of Thermarest’s Fast and Light Series. On its website, Thermarest claims “Our Fast & Light® mattresses offer unrivaled freedom. They weigh less and pack smaller than any mattresses ever before, facilitating the kind of high-speed, low-weight experience sought by extreme alpinists, adventure racers, and long-distance backpackers. Thermarest further claims the ProLite 4 is its “lightest, most compact 4-season mattress.”Thermarest also states that this mattress is “Great for mountaineering, winter camping, backpacking, and multi-day adventures.”

The ProLite 4 large is a semi-rectangular shaped mattress with rounded corners, and a slight taper in the leg and foot area. The top and bottom fabrics are heat-fused creating a flat seam along the perimeter of the mattress. The polyester top fabric is orange in color and has a slick feel to the touch. The nylon bottom fabric is black and white speckled in color and has a dimpled texture. In addition, the bottom fabric appears to have a water-resistant coating to repel condensate and moisture. Looking from the foot of the mattress, in the upper left-hand corner, there is a company logo in white. Located in the same upper left-hand corner is the plastic valve with a captive-type cap. The inner polyurethane foam insulation is die-cut with star shaped cutouts.

Field Information:

I have taken the Thermarest ProLite 4 Mattress on numerous backpacking and cross-country skiing/yurt trips over the past year. Two of the most recent trips where I used the ProLite 4 include a kayak camping trip on Leigh Lake in Grand Teton National Park and a three-day backpacking trip into the Copper Basin, which is near Mackay Idaho.

Leigh Lake is approximately 6,877 ft (2,096 m) above sea level. On this particular trip, the air temperature was approximately 55 – 28 F (13 to -4 C). The sky was clear and sunny with no precipitation. On this October 2006 trip, I paddled my touring kayak about three miles to the campsite. The area where I pitched my tent and slept was mostly sand and gravel.

On the trip into the Copper Basin, we hiked to Goat Lake, which is approximately 10,438 ft (3,182 m) above sea level. We hiked in about 6 miles (9.7 km) with an elevation gain of approximately 3,000 ft (914 m) to where we camped below Goat Lake. The weather on this August 2006 outing was mixed from sunny and calm to thunder and lightning storms. The area where my wife, daughter, and I pitched our tent and slept was covered in pine duff. Temperatures ranged from low 80’s F to mid 40’s F (29 – 4 C).

Observations:

I am pleased with the compactibility and minimal weight of the Therm-a-Rest ProLite 4 Mattress. Another feature I like is the dimpled textured fabric on the bottom of this mattress. The dimpling affect on the fabric provides a slip-resistant footing to help keep the mattress in place during use. Also the fabric on the bottom appears to have a water-resistant coating to repel condensate and moisture during use. Although the top fabric has a slick feel to the touch, my sleeping bag stays put during the night. The inner polyurethane foam insulation is die-cut with star shaped cutouts, assuming this is for weight reduction, while still providing ample body support. When the mattress has either been compressed for a long period of time, or in cold temperatures, it takes extra time to inflate and in some cases a few breaths of air are required to reach my desired inflation thickness. The valve seems to function very well; so far I have not detected any leakage during use. I have not had any problems with punctures in the mattress though the fabric seems to be quite thin. Also, the fabric will resist some abrasion with a little care. When compacting the mattress to carry, I usually fold it in half lengthwise, roll very tightly, and wrap it with two rubber bands before putting it into the stuff sack. By adding the rubber bands it seems to stay more compact and easier to remove from the stuff sack. The mattress should never be compressed during storage, I think over time it would crush the foam and not self inflate like intended.

To date, I have not had any experience using the ProLite 4 in cold temperatures as I have slept on wooden floors in yurts on my cross-country skiing trips. Overall, I am very satisfied with this product. I would recommend this mattress to others interested in a lightweight, compact, mattress.

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Reviews > Sleep Gear > Pads and Air Mattresses > Therm-a-Rest ProLite > Owner Review by Scott Wasley