Top Quality Camping Gear (Therm-a-Rest ProLite 3)

Member Name: arrnoosa

Product:	Therm-a-Rest ProLite 3
Date:	02/06/09 (21 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Light, Compact, Quick to Inflate, Comfortable

Disadvantages: Expensive

I first slept on one of these a few years ago at a friends house and I didn't even know what I had slept on until I woke up the next day after a very comfortable sleep and looked underneath the sheets to discover this thin inflateable mattress!

They have become more and more popular since then and more widely available. They are expensive but if you go camping a lot or go travellling or just end up sleeping on floors a lot, then this is the best "roll mat" that you can get. There are cheaper versions but I haven't tried them so I don'tknow what they are like.

This version of the Therm-a-rest range is 2.5cm thick which some websites say is good enough for 4 seasons use. However, I would question if that was thick enough for a Canadian type winter to be honest.

Therma-a-rests come in a full length (regular) or a 3/4 length (small). We bought a 3/4 length one each when we went travelling around the world as it obviosuly rolls up smaller and is lighter than the full length version. When rolled out, the regular is 183cm which is big enough for the majority of people and the 3/4 size is 120cm long. If you think that when you're sleeping, your weight is from the bum upwards then the 3/4 size is perfectly fine.

They claim that they are self-inflating, but you would be waiting hours before it had inflated enough! However, a few puffs of your best breath will inflate them in seconds. They are easy enough to de-inflate as well and with a small amount of practice you will have this flat, rolled and inserted back into its pouch extremely quickly.

Prices range from £45-£55 for 3/4 size and £50-£70 for the regular size.

These are really decent pieces of equipment and if you are into camping or travelling then this would be well worth the investment. Comfort wise, then you won't get anything better than this that is so portable and compact. You will never, ever accept to sleep on those awful foam roll mats after you have experienced these!

Summary: Simply the best nights sleep you can have on the floor!