Price: $104.95

Type: Self-Inflating

Claimed R-value: 3.2

Weight: 23oz (652g)

Packed Volume:3.25L

Thickness: 1.5″ (3.8cm)

LxW: 72″x20″ (1.8m x 0.5m)

Breaths to Inflate: 2-3 (after self-inflating)

What We Like: Decent price, Warm

What We Don’t: Large packed size, Long inflation time

If you’re not a fan of bouncy air pads but don’t want to strap a large foam pad to the outside of your bag, there is a third option. At only $104.95, the Therm-a-Rest ProLite Plus bridges this gap at an easy-to-swallow price. The ProLite Plus is the only self-inflating pad on our 2021 but is a valuable inclusion. It’s a bit of an outlier since it has both the strengths of both air pads and foam pads while also sharing their drawbacks. Although its weight and packed size won’t turn any heads, it manages to deliver quite a bit of value and may just be the ideal choice for those who want the best of both worlds.

Compare to Similar Products

See Our Best Backpacking Sleeping Pad Review HERE!

If you’re not a fan of bouncy air pads but don’t want to strap a large foam pad to the outside of your bag, there is a third option. At only $104.95, the Therm-a-Rest ProLite Plus bridges this gap at an easy-to-swallow price. The ProLite Plus is the only self-inflating pad on our 2021 list but is a valuable inclusion. Although its weight and packed size won’t turn any heads, it manages to deliver quite a bit of value and may just be the ideal choice for those who want the best of both worlds.

Warmth

The ProLite Plus’ R-value of 3.2 makes it more than capable of handling three-season temperatures, but it’s not the warmest sleeping pad for its price point. The Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Ultra is $5 cheaper and boasts a 4.5 R-value, while the Klymit Static V Lite has an R-value of 4.4 and will only set you back $95. Both are also slightly lighter and pack up significantly smaller since they are pure air pads.

Comfort

Although it’s only 1.5″ (3.8cm) thick, the lightweight foam interior boosts the overall comfort of the ProLite Plus. It provides more cushioning than you’ll get from an air pad. In addition, many hikers have stated that they appreciated the flat surface of this pad compared to the bumpy or ridged exteriors of many air pads. The outer fabric is sufficiently grippy, which means you won’t find yourself or your pad sliding to your side in the middle of the night. Dimensions for the standard-sized pad are 72″x20″ (1.8m x 0.5m); there is also a small version that’s $10 cheaper with dimensions of 47”x20” as well as a large version that’s a very roomy 77”x25” for $124.95.

Weight & Packed Size

While far from heavy, the 23oz (652g) ProLite Plus is a few ounces heavier and has a much larger compressed volume (3.25L) than comparable air pads since it’s self-inflating (we’ll discuss that in greater detail later on). The NEMO Tensor Insulated delivers a similar degree of warmth and twice the thickness at the same basic weight and less than half the compressed volume. At the same time, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite can do it at half the weight and slightly more than half the compressed volume. However, the NEMO will set you back an extra $55, while the Therm-a-Rest costs an additional $85. For the more casual hikers who don’t necessarily need to worry about finding a little extra space in their bag but would like to keep down their costs, the ProLite Plus still wins out.

Inflation

Although the inflation process will take longer for a self-inflating pad than an air pad, it is not nearly as exhaustive, even with an included pump sack. Unless you often find yourself in a huge rush to get your backcountry bed situated, a self-inflating air pad is an excellent option since it’s easier on your lungs than an air pad as well as more packable than a foam pad. The only real issue is that the foam interior makes this inferior to an air pad when it comes to packability.

Durability

We were pleased to find the same chunky WingLock valve on the ProLite Plus found on Therm-a-Rest’s NeoAir series, which speaks to the durability of this pad. Its 50D mini hex rip polyester exterior is highly rugged and will stack up with air pads at much higher price points. Although it doesn’t sport the invincibility of a foam pad, it can be easily patched with the included repair kit or even a bit of Seam Grip. One of our testers noted that after around five years of using this pad, he noticed that the seams had begun to leak where it would roll-up. Although it’s more of a long-term problem, he also noted that he had not used this pad heavily.

The Bottom Line

The Therm-a-Rest ProLite Plus has several excellent qualities, with just a few that hold it back. As a self-inflating pad, it’s a bit of an outlier since it shares the strengths of both air pads and foam pads while also sharing their drawbacks. For those hikers who have room for a couple extra liters in their backpack and lean more toward the casual descriptor than ultralight, this pad can deliver excellent value given its reasonable price.

^ Back to Top ^