ANATOLY IVANOV / PROSE / 2008-08-04

OUTDOOR 2008: THERM-A-REST PROLITE SLEEPING PAD PREVIEW

by Anatoly IVANOV

BACKPACKING / CLIMBING / CYCLING / TRAVEL / PREVIEWS


WHAT’S NEW AND INTERESTING?

For spring 2009, Cascade Designs renames their 3-season lightweight Therm-a-Rest, the current “ProLite 3” self-inflating sleeping pad, to just “Prolite”, and updates the mattress to reduce its weight.

Therm-a-Rest ProLite

Photo: Therm-a-Rest ProLite / Used with permission from Cascade Designs / Author: Mustafa BILAL

// The changes:

// The result:

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

AVAILABILITY

Should be in stores worldwide in spring 2009.

THERM-A-REST PROLITE (2009) VS THERM-A-REST PROLITE 3 (2008) COMPARISON

Naturally, my first reaction is to compare the redesigned ProLite (2009) to the current ProLite 3 (2008):

  Therm-a-Rest ProLite 3
Therm-a-Rest ProLite 3 (2008)
Therm-a-Rest ProLite
Therm-a-Rest ProLite (2009)
Size: regular (full-length) regular (full-length)
Dimensions: 51 x 183 cm (20 x 72 in) 51 x 183 cm (20 x 72 in)
Thickness: 2,5 cm (1 in) 2,5 cm (1 in)
Weight: 570 g (20 oz) 460 g (1 lb)
R-value: 2,3 2,2

THERM-A-REST PROLITE VS THERM-A-REST NEOAIR COMPARISON

And then, to compare the updated ProLite to the upcoming NeoAir:

  Therm-a-Rest ProLite
Therm-a-Rest ProLite
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir
Size: regular (full-length) regular (full-length)
Dimensions: 51 x 183 cm (20 x 72 in) 51 x 183 cm (20 x 72 in)
Thickness: 2,5 cm (1 in) 6,3 cm (2.5 in)
Weight: 460 g (1 lb) 410 g (14 oz)
R-value: 2,2 2,5

MY QUESTIONS AND DOUBTS

The weight reduction is very welcome!

However, I wonder if I’ll feel that -0,1 R-value decrease… and how that rounded shape will affect my turning and tossing?

 

Photo: Therm-a-Rest ProLite / Used with permission from Cascade Designs / Author: Mustafa BILAL

If you are choosing between the updated ProLite and the new NeoAir, the choice is not as obvious as it may seem. The NeoAir does pack smaller, but the difference in weight is not that huge. The NeoAir is indeed warmer by specs, but what about sleep quality?

ALTERNATIVES

CHANGE LOG

2008-08-04 Added pictures of the Therm-a-Rest ProLite pad (2009).
2008-08-03 First publication.

2 COMMENTS

Thomas Matica / 2008-11-02 20:21

I was considering a Montbell UL 120 pad to replace my old Thermarest, 22 oz, 3/4. Now I think I will wait until 2009 and take a closer look at the new 3/4 Thermarest Prolite at REI and use my upcoming 20% off coupon.

Thanks for the sneak preview!

ANATOLY IVANOV / 2008-11-06 20:44

Thomas,

Now I think I will wait until 2009 and take a closer look at the new 3/4 Thermarest Prolite at REI and use my upcoming 20% off coupon.

Cascade Designs should start producing the new Thermarest ProLite and Thermarest NeoAir in early spring 2009.

Thanks for the sneak preview!

Thanks for the thanks! I plan to extend my current preview into a full-blown, real-life tested review as soon as the first production samples become available… and the weather cooperates. Use the RSS feeds to stay tuned.

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