Thermarest Prolite 3 (Regular) Review

Overview

After two weeks of sleeping comfortably in a tent I became a convert to the whole Thermarest concept. I would not have believed that such a thin mattress would offer so much comfort.

However, in comparison to the rest of my gear the classic thermarest is heavy. I didn't want to go back to a Karrimat and I didn't want to not use it. In the end I bought a Thermarest Prolite 3 (Regular) specifically for backpacking.

I guess Thermarest must have listened to their customers and tried to respond accordingly. This is not a simple tweak to their classic product but a fundamental redesign - different fabrics, different foam and a different shape.

The result is a matress which weighs a lot less at 570g than any of its predecessors and also has a much smaller pack size.

The images above show the new slightly contoured shape and the pack size (compared with a Lifeventure mug).

The big change over the classic mats is the use of star-cut foam for the internal foam layer. This saves weight and helps to produce a smaller pack size.

The taper is not actually that much, it maybe makes the foot end narrow than the body by 5cm - but it does save some weight.

The Regular size is the full 183cm/6ft which is big enough for me. The short version is only 119cm but I prefer the weight penalty in return for the extra warmth that this gives.

Outdoor Testing

This matress has been on every backpacking trip that I have taken this year. I have used it on just about any surface that you are likely to meet - gravel, rock, grass, peat bog, forest floor, pine needles. It is always comfortable - but it does vary depending on what it is pitched on.

If you are camping on very rough ground then it is essential that the groundsheet is something sensible otherwise it will puncture.

The mat does self-inflate but very slowly. In practice it will need a few puffs of air after being unfurled and rested.

Early Conclusions

The weight saving is not cost-free. The Prolite 3 is a little less comfortable than the classic Thermarest and it is also a little less warm than the classic Thermarest.

Last night (2 Oct 06) I was testing a prototype tent in my back garden and slept on my classic Thermarest. Although the night temperatures were colder than I have seen recently the classic was noticably warmer than the Prolite 3.

These things are of course all relative. Both mats are a lot more comfortable than a piece of closed cell foam.

The Prolite 3 is only rated as a 3-season mat. For an extra 110g the Prolite 4 will give you that 4-season rating.

My personal choice for winter is to use a 5-season/expedition foam mat (400g) with a Thermarest on top (unless I have to carry it). You can lose a huge amount of heat through the ground and in winter this is most pronounced.