Background: I have been a consistent backpacker for
about 5-6 years. Most of my backpacking trips have been 3-5 days in the Appalachian
mountain range. I backpack year-round, but I especially enjoy trips during
the winter months. I have been fortunate enough to visit the Rockies, Alps,
Pyrenees and the Himalayas. My pack weight (before food) is usually just under
20 lbs (9.07 kg) for a winter trip and at most 15 lbs (6.80 kg) during the
spring or summer.
Product Information:
Comfort: Good
- It is always a nice luxury to have a nice comfortable air mattress to lie
on at the end of a long hike. The ProLite 3 is 1 in. thick when inflated,
which was the perfect thickness to cushion my body when lying down. If any
thinner, I feel like I would have been touching the ground, but any thicker
and it would not be as light or compact. I will note that I had to actually
blow air into the mattress to get it sufficiently inflated (even though it
is "self-inflating"). The only discomfort I have had with
this mattress is trying to keep it under me while sleeping inside of my hammock.
This only caused discomfort due to the lack of insulation it caused under
my body (which I cover in the Insulating Capability section). This is not
an unusual problem to have inside a Hennessy hammock, but it can still be
quite an annoyance.
Packability: Acceptable
- This is definitely the most packable full-length air mattress Therm-a-Rest
has made to date. It has such a small pack size because the mattress can be
folded in half before being rolled up. It is also smaller because it has a
tapered design (which means it is shaped like a mummy bag). I also purchased
the ProLite 3 stuff sack for this product (MSRP $12.95), which fits it perfectly
when folded in half and then rolled up (though it took me a few tries to fit
the mattress into the tight-fitting stuff sack). At 5.5x13.5 in. (14x34cm),
which is the size of the stuff sack and about the smallest you can roll the
mattress after use, the ProLite 3 is about the size of my stuffed sleeping
bag. I would still like to see a comparable product that is even smaller and
lighter. Possibly the next generation of Therm-a-Rest mattresses will be even
smaller.
Durability: Excellent
- Despite the lightweight design, this product has a very durable look and
feel. The bottom has small nubs that keep the mattress from sliding around,
and that also serve to make the bottom a bit rougher and more durable feeling.
On my last trip with this product I laid it on the ground next to the campfire.
Though there were roots and sticks underneath the mattress, I was not worried
about them puncturing (or even scratching) the bottom of the mattress. This
is a major plus in my book.
Insulating Capability: Excellent
- I should say, "excellent" for the conditions I have tested it
in. Since I have been using this mattress inside a hammock, the insulating
capability is crucial. When sleeping inside of a hammock, your sleeping
bag becomes compressed under your body and you have very poor insulation.
In fact, if temperatures are cold, it feels as if the wind is hitting your
bare back. Fortunately, the ProLite 3 provided sufficient insulation
under my body to keep me quite warm (as long as I stayed on top of the mattress).
While lying on the ground with the mattress under me, I never had any issues
with insulation. For truly adverse conditions, I would consider getting
the ProLite 4 (the thicker 4-season version).
Overview:
- I would give this product an overall grade of B+. While it is, in my opinion,
one of the best air mattresses manufactured so far, I think that it could
still be lighter and more packable. The price is not cheap, but I would not
describe the ProLite 3 as overpriced by any means. This mattress is definitely
durable, which means I never had to worry about puncturing it on sticks and
rocks (big plus).
Pros:
+ Very light and packable
+ Very durable
Cons:
- Very difficult to roll to its initial size (maybe impossible)
- Still will take up a large amount of pack space
Best wishes,
Stephen Blankenship (stephenrb@gmail.com)
