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Therm-a-Rest ProLite Plus - Women's Review

This warm and comfortable sleeping pad is a great choice for 4-season camping, but it is on the heavy and bulky side.
Therm-a-Rest ProLite Plus Women's
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Price:  $100 List | $99.95 at Amazon
Compare prices at 2 resellers
Pros:  Comfortable, warm, non-slip surface
Cons:  Heavier and bulkier than the Therm-a-Rest ProLite
Manufacturer:   Therm-a-rest
By Jessica Haist ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  May 23, 2019
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67
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#7 of 11
  • Warmth - 25% 8
  • Comfort - 25% 8
  • Durability - 10% 8
  • Weight - 25% 4
  • Packed Size - 15% 6

Our Verdict

The Therm-A-Rest ProLite Plus - Women's is the Jill of all trades, but master of none. It is warm and comfortable, but heavy and bulky. We are not quite sure how the ProLite Plus fits into Therm-A-Rest's product line because there are other sleeping pads that they make that can do each thing the ProLite Plus does better, and in most cases for better value. That being said, it is significantly warmer than its male counterpart and could be a good choice for shorter guys. It is also very durable with a sticky bottom material that helps prevent it from sliding around.


Compare to Similar Products

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Awards  Editors' Choice Award Top Pick Award  Best Buy Award 
Price $99.95 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers		$190 List$159.95 at REI
Compare at 3 sellers		$129.95 at REI
Compare at 3 sellers		$99.95 at REI
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Pros Comfortable, warm, non-slip surfaceComfortable, quiet, lightweightVery light, super compact, comfortable, versatile, warmer than normal XLiteLightweight, small packed size, included pump sackComfortable, good valve system, warm
Cons Heavier and bulkier than the Therm-a-Rest ProLiteExpensive, heavier than the NeoAir XLiteEdges collapse when weighted, noisy, expensive, delicate materialsNot as comfortable as Ether Light and same weight, thinHeavy and bulky
Bottom Line This warm and comfortable sleeping pad is a great choice for 4-season camping, but it is on the heavy and bulky side.This versatile sleeping mat is super comfortable and a great choice for all your backpacking needs.This super light and compact sleeping pad is a great choice for someone looking to got fast and light.This lightweight sleeping pad is relatively comfortable, but we think it's a Jack-of-all-trades and master-of-none.This comfortable and warm sleeping pad with unique "rails" that will cradle you when you sleep is a great value.
Rating Categories Therm-a-Rest ProLite Plus Ether Light XT Insulated NeoAir XLite Ultralight Insulated Co-op AirRail Plus
Warmth (25%)
10
0
8
10
0
8
10
0
7
10
0
6
10
0
10
Comfort (25%)
10
0
8
10
0
9
10
0
7
10
0
7
10
0
8
Durability (10%)
10
0
8
10
0
7
10
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6
10
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7
10
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9
Weight (25%)
10
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4
10
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8
10
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10
10
0
8
10
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3
Packed Size (15%)
10
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6
10
0
8
10
0
10
10
0
9
10
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6
Specs Therm-a-Rest... Ether Light XT... NeoAir XLite Ultralight Insulated Co-op AirRail Plus
Measured Weight 22.4 oz 15 oz 11.8 oz 14.6 25 oz
Thickness 1.5 in 4 in 2.5 in 2 in 1.5 in
Width 20 in 21.5 in 20 in 21.5 in 23 in
Type 4 season 3.5 season 3 season 2.5 season 3 season
R Value 4.2 4.2 3.9 3.3 5.2
Packed Size 9.84 x 6.3 in 11 x 4.5 in 8.27 x 3.94 in 4 x 9 in 9.84 x 5.51 in
Tested Length 66 in 66 in 66 in 72 in 66 in
Bottom Material 50D Polyester 40D nylon 30D High Tenacity Nylon 40D nylon 75D Polyester

Our Analysis and Test Results

A warm and cushy sleeping pad, the Therm-a-Rest Prolite Plus - Women's is the four-season version of the ProLite - Women's, and as a result is a little bulkier, heavier, and slightly more expensive.

Performance Comparison


The Women's ProLite Plus is a great winter camping option especially when paired with a foam pad for extra insulation.
The Women's ProLite Plus is a great winter camping option, especially when paired with a foam pad for extra insulation.

Warmth


The ProLite Plus is a warm sleeping pad, but no longer near the top of this bunch in terms of R-Value, it does have more insulation in the torso and foot areas than the men's version. It has an R-value of 4.2 while the men's regular ProLite Plus only has an R-value of 3.8. This model could be a good choice for men who are 5'8 or shorter, or who are willing to sacrifice a bit of length to their sleeping pad for more warmth. This sleeping pad would be a decent choice for winter expeditions, especially ones that are base camp oriented, or for winter camping in general. It is warm enough on its own, but add a foam pad like the Therm-A-Rest Ridge Rest SOLite underneath for extra warmth on especially cold trips.

The ProLite Plus is a comfortable choice for cold weather camping.
The ProLite Plus is a comfortable choice for cold weather camping.

Comfort


Therm-A-Rest uses a lot of foam in the ProLite Plus model, making this mattress quite cushy. While the Plus is a comfortable pad, its shape is not cut quite as wide as the Trail Lite or the super comfortable Sea to Summit Ether Light which is wider in the hip area than the shoulders. The ProLite Plus has a stickier bottom material intended to prevent it from sliding around; this is clever, but it tends to pick up dirt more easily.

Durability


The ProLite Plus has lightened up its materials and has less durable 50 Denier materials that are still abrasion resistant, but less so than the old 70D version. We like that its darker red/orange color hides dirt and stains more easily than the lighter colored REI AirRail and Trekker.

Our furry friend helped us test the ProLite Plus' durability.
Our furry friend helped us test the ProLite Plus' durability.

Weight


This category is the reason why we have not selected the Therm-A-Rest ProLite Plus as one of our favorites. Although it is a warm and durable sleeping pad, the ProLite Plus is heavy. Weighing in at 22.4 ounces, we would hesitate to bring this pad with us on longer backpacking trips when we have to carry it. Instead, we would reach for the much smaller and lighter Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XLite - Women's and pair it with a standard foam pad to make up for the lower R-Value. If you plan on car camping and weight is not an issue, this pad may be of significant interest to you.

You can see the die-cut holes in the ProLite Plus' foam for weight savings.
You can see the die-cut holes in the ProLite Plus' foam for weight savings.

Packed Size


The ProLite Plus is also quite bulky and hard to roll up. Its packed size is 10 x 5.75", significantly larger than the NeoAir or the ProLite. Getting it back in the stuff sack is a challenge.

The ProLite Plus is about middle of the pack in terms of packed size. Shown here with a Nalgene for reference.
The ProLite Plus is about middle of the pack in terms of packed size. Shown here with a Nalgene for reference.

Best Application


The ProLite Plus is a great choice for any kind of base camping activities like mountaineering and winter camping. It is comfortable and warm but heavy. It's not the best choice for trips where you will be carrying it around, such as long backpacking trips. It is very durable, so if you feel like you are hard on your sleeping pads, it could be a good alternative to the NeoAir, but you would sacrifice on weight and packed size.

Value


At $100, the ProLite Plus isn't the best value. The Therm-a-Rest Trail Lite is slightly heavier and bulkier, but just as durable and has a warmer R-Value, and it retails for only $70. The Trail Lite also makes a great option for any base camping activity. If you want an exceptionally lightweight option, we recommend splurging for the Therm-A-Rest NeoAir.

Conclusion


The Therm-a-Rest ProLite Plus is warm and comfortable and would be a decent choice for winter expeditions and car camping trips, especially for cold sleepers or for men who are willing to sacrifice a bit of length. That being said, for these uses, you may be better off going with the much cheaper Therm-A-Rest Trail Lite. It is durable, so if you're looking for a mattress you can be a bit rough with, it would be a good solution. Otherwise, if you're going to carry it around on your back frequently, we recommend the much lighter Therm-A-Rest NeoAir.

The ProLite and the ProLite Plus' packed size.
The ProLite and the ProLite Plus' packed size.


— Jessica Haist