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Owner Review - Therm-a-Rest Trail Comfort Sleeping Pad
Reviewer Profile
| Name: | Ben Mansfield |
| Age: | 29 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 6'0" (1.8 m) |
| Weight: | 180 lbs (82 kg) |
| E-mail Address: | benmansfield27 AT gmail DOT com |
| City, State, Country: | North Ridgeville, OH, USA |
| Date: | 26 July 2006 |
Backpacking Background
Over the past 15 years or so, I've tried to average at least one weekend trip per month year round, primarily in PA, WV, and VA. During the last 8 years, I've tried to take a weeklong trip somewhere further, but still usually in the eastern US. I have hiked many sections of the AT, and am planning to backpack the 100 Mile Wilderness in Maine next year. I consider myself a mid-weight hiker, preferring some luxury over an ultralight load. I am also an avid fly fisherman, mountain biker, and snow skier, and enjoy sailing my homemade dinghy.
Product Information
| Manufacturer: | Therm-a-Rest |
| Model: | Trail Comfort Regular |
| Manufacturer URL: | http://www.thermarest.com |
| Listed Weight: | 2 lb 6 oz (1.1 kg) (as listed on pad) |
| Measured Weight: | 2 lb 2 oz (1.0 kg) (per my 6 lb/3 kg analog scale) |
| Product Description: | Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad |
| MSRP: | $69.95 (website) |
Detailed Product Description
The Therm-a-Rest Trail Comfort sleeping pad is a mid-weight self-inflating sleeping pad. I purchased the pad three years ago. My pad is regular size; a wider and somewhat longer pad is available in the same product line. According to the manufacturer, the pad has an insulating R-value of 5. In comparison, a typical single pane glass window has an R-value of 1.
The sleeping pad is rectangular, with an air valve in one corner. The valve turns the traditional counterclockwise to open and clockwise to close. The valve itself is made of a rigid plastic, with the valve body extending slightly inside the pad.
Therm-a-Rest states that the pad is covered with 150D ripstop polyester, and is filled with open-cell foam. Though there is no indication of different materials being used on the top and bottom of the pad, the material on the top is a green color and is slightly less slippery than the grey bottom side. The top of the pad is marked with the manufacturer's logo. Deflated and unrolled, the pad measures 72" L x 20" W (183 cm x 51 cm), and is approximately 3/8" (1 cm) thick. Rolled, the pad is 21" x 5.25" (53 cm x 13 cm). Allowed to inflate on its own for 20 minutes, the pad reaches approximately 1" (2.5 cm). Adding a little air through the air valve inflates the pad to 1.5" (3.8 cm). This thickness comes up a bit short of the manufacturer's stated 2" (5 cm) thickness.
Pad Fit and Function
I tend to sleep on my side or back, turning frequently through the night. I do not have any method of fastening my sleeping bags to the pad, nor is there any connection point or method for fastening a sleeping bag or bivy to the pad. As such, I do tend to roll off of the pad quite often. When I do manage to stay on the pad, sleeping on my side on the inflated pad does not cause any more discomfort for me than sleeping in the same position on a firm mattress.
I am 6' (1.8 m) tall, and I do fit on the pad without hanging off the ends, though it is somewhat close. I typically use a stuff sack full of clothes or a rolled fleece as a pillow, which I do not put on top of the pad but rather just past the end.
To inflate, the pad is unrolled, the valve is opened, and the pad is allowed to self-inflate for several minutes. When hiking, I typically unroll the pad and open the valve upon reaching camp. Just before going to bed, I blow the pad up the rest of the way, and then close the air valve.
To deflate the pad, I open the valve and lay on the pad to get most of the air out. I then start rolling the pad from the end without the valve, forcing the remaining air toward the valve end. As I get near the end, I typically pause and give the roll a good squeeze, then continue to roll until the pad is completely rolled. Once complete, the valve is closed so that the pad stays rolled and deflated.
Personal Use & Impression
Use Locations
My usage of this pad has been exclusively in the Eastern US, including several weeks in the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania, many weekends in West Virginia and Virginia, lots of nights on the AT, and countless car camping trips in the same general region. Terrain in these areas is generally rolling foothills and small mountains, with elevations ranging from around 1000 ft (300 m) occasionally up to around 6000 ft (1800 m). The forests are generally second growth, though there are some areas that have never been logged. Another common feature is a lush, moist forest floor with plentiful ferns and moss. Temperature can have just as wide a range as elevation. I have used the pad on below freezing nights as well as nights where the high was above 70 F (21 C). I have slept on this pad during the season's first snow, the season's last snow, springtime downpours, and hot summer nights.
Comfort
For a relatively thin sleeping pad, the Therm-a-Rest is quite comfortable. It minimizes or eliminates the discomfort that can be caused by small rocks and roots. In addition, staying off the ground in cold or damp weather provides an additional layer of warmth.
Insulating Qualities
I have used this sleeping pad in temperatures ranging from below freezing to the heat of summer, exceeding 80 F (26.7 C). On cold nights, the pad insulates from the ground quite well, allowing me to go a few degrees beyond a sleeping bag's comfort rating. In warm weather, the pad provides a barrier between my sleeping bag and the ground, preventing damage to or dirt collection in sleeping bags.
Durability
This pad is about 3 years old, and I have used it for approximately 25 nights. On dry nights, I tend to sleep outside rather than inside a tent. I have not incurred any major damage to the shell of the pad, despite sleeping on roots, rocks, and other potentially damaging material. Though I don't have any evident leaks, the pad does lose some air throughout the course of the night. Typically, no more than 0.5" (1.3 cm) of thickness will be lost during one night, and the pad is still sufficiently thick in the morning. I strap the sleeping pad, rolled with the bottom side out, to the outside of my backpack. In this location, it is susceptible to snagging on rocks and briars. I don't have any major tears or scratches on the pad from transport, though a storage sack would probably provide an additional level of protection.
Care & Cleaning
The manufacturer recommends that the pad is stored unrolled with the air valve open. I store the pad rolled and completely deflated, with the valve closed. This may have led to the sub-optimal performance, though the pad is still more than sufficient for my needs. For cleaning, I simply shake or brush the dirt off, and occasionally wipe it with a damp cloth. I do not have a patch kit, and one was not included with the sleeping pad. However, if I were to puncture the sleeping pad in the field, I would probably try a duct tape patch (in my opinion, every backpacker needs some duct tape on his or her equipment). The manufacturer also recommends a bike tube patch or ripstop nylon repair tape as better alternatives to duct tape.
Summary
I originally purchased this sleeping pad for my wife as an alternative to the traditional closed-cell foam pad that I had used for years. I opted for a full-length pad, because for her, sleeping comfort is paramount over weight. Since she doesn't always accompany me, I started taking it in lieu of my old pad. My old closed-cell pad has since sat in the corner of my gear room, collecting dust.
What I like
- Keeps my whole body off the ground
- Relatively comfortable for a thin pad
- Durable
What I dislike
- No included repair kit
- No way to fasten sleeping bag and sleeping pad
- No included storage sack
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