REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Comfortable
Durable
REASONS TO AVOID
Bulky and heavy
Therm-a-Rest Trail Lite - Women's Review
Notable for its price and performance
Credit: Therm-a-Rest
RELATED: Best Sleeping Pad For Women of 2023
Our Verdict
The Therm-A-Rest Trail Lite is one of the warmest and most comfortable sleeping pads in our test. It also retails for a very reasonable price. This sleeping pad is very notable because it has an excellent price along with its other desirable features. Women looking for a comfortable sleeping pad with extra warmth and padding to get a good night's sleep will love this model. It's an excellent all-around sleeping pad for short backpacking trips or any kind of camping adventure. With a high R-value comes a heavy weight; while this product is not the lightest or smallest in our review by a long shot, it still offers up a great value.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Therm-a-Rest Trail Lite - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  | |||
| Price | $115 List $114.95 at Amazon | $139.95 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $135.16 at Backcountry Compare at 4 sellers | $93.69 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $110 List $69.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Inexpensive, comfortable, durable | Very light, super compact, comfortable, versatile, warmer than normal XLite | Lightweight, small packed size, included pump sack | Comfortable, warm, non-slip surface | Lightweight, compact, versatile, non-slip surface, self-inflating |
| Cons | Bulky and heavy | Noisy, expensive, delicate materials | Not as comfortable as Ether Light and same weight, thin | Heavier and bulkier than the Therm-a-Rest ProLite | Low R-value, not as comfortable as other thicker pads, bulkier and heavier than others |
| Bottom Line | Notable for its price and performance | This super light and compact sleeping pad is a great choice for someone looking to go fast, light, and warm | This lightweight sleeping pad is relatively comfortable, but a Jack-of-all-trades and master-of-none | This warm and comfortable sleeping pad is a great choice for 4-season camping, but it is on the heavy and bulky side | A lightweight and somewhat compact mattress that doesn't seem to have a particular niche these days |
| Rating Categories | Therm-a-Rest Trail... | Therm-a-Rest NeoAir... | Sea to Summit Ultra... | Therm-a-Rest ProLit... | Therm-a-Rest ProLite |
| Warmth (25%) | |||||
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Weight (25%) | |||||
| Packed Size (15%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Therm-a-Rest Trail... | Therm-a-Rest NeoAir... | Sea to Summit Ultra... | Therm-a-Rest ProLit... | Therm-a-Rest ProLite |
| Measured Weight | 25.6 oz | 12 oz | 14.6 | 22 oz | 18 oz |
| ASTM R Value | 4.5 | 5.4 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 2.7 |
| Thickness | 1.5 in | 2.5 in | 2 in | 1.5 in | 1 in |
| Width | 20 in | 20 in | 21.5 in | 20 in | 20 in |
| Packed Size | 10.5 x 6 in | 9 in x 4.1 in | 9 x 4 in | 9.84 x 6.3 in | 11 in x 5.8 in |
| Tested Length | 66 in | 66 in | 72 in | 66 in | 66 in |
| Bottom Material | 50D polyester | 30D rip HT Nylon | 40D nylon | 50D polyester | 50D mini hex rip polyester |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Trail Lite is an all-around excellent value pad that will work well for women looking for extra warmth and comfort on their camping adventures.
Performance Comparisson
The Therm-a-Rest TrailLite is a comfortable option for lounging around camp.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Warmth
With the implementation of a new testing standard in the US, the R-value of the TrailLite has decreased from 4.9 to 4.5. The Trail Lite is still one of the warmest pads in this review and could be used in spring through fall, and stretched into winter camping if paired with a foam pad. Therm-a-Rest uses fewer die-cuts (holes) in the insulating foam to create warmer spots with more padding and insulation in the torso and foot areas. This pad also has a less tapered silhouette at the feet to create a larger sleeping area for greater warmth and comfort.
Comfort
Thanks to its extra foam and wider shape, our testers found the Trail Lite to be one of the more comfortable sleeping pads. The added comfort comes from its wider cut and the cushier foam under our torso. The rectangular shape makes it easier to lay side by side with another sleeping pad for those times when you may want to cozy up to your tentmate.
The TrailLite is relatively thick and decent for side sleeping.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Durability
The Trail Lite's top and bottom are made from a durable 50 denier polyester material, making it one of the more durable sleeping pads in this review. This pad would do well somewhere you are tentative to bring a less durable pad to, such as the desert (pokey things) or somewhere with sharp rocks. We like the new grey color of the top materials but are a bit worried that it could start to show dirt over time.
The TrailLite's new Wing Lock valve system is an upgrade in ease of use and durability.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Since we last tested the Trail Lite, Therm-a-Rest has given it its new WingLock valve. This valve is wider than the previous valve and is designed to allow more airflow. The "wings" toggle the valve open in a way that allows air to move in, but not out, helping you battle that pesky loss of air while inflating. This new feature also improves the durability of this product since there have been complaints of the old valves being leaky.
Weight
With the alterations to this product, the Trail Lite's weight has dropped by a few ounces to 26 ounces. The Trail Lite is no longer the heaviest sleeping pad in this review. However, we would still be hesitant to carry it on an extended backpacking trip and would instead reach for other lighter, higher-scoring models. The saying on the trail goes: ounces equal pounds, and pounds equal pain!
You can see where Therm-a-Rest has attempted to lighten the pad up by removing strategic pieces of foam in the mattress near the head and feet; they keep the foam intact around the torso to maintain warmth. Many women's products include extra insulation around the hips and feet, as these are areas where women typically get colder.
The new valve design aids in rolling up this pad to its original size.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Packed Size
The Trail Lite is one of the bulkier pads we tested. We measured its packed size as 10.5 x 6 inches.
The TrailLite has one of the largest packed sizes of the bunch.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Value
The Women's Trail Lite provides an excellent bang for your buck. This sleeping pad is warmer, more comfortable, and only slightly heavier and bulkier than other self-inflating models that retail for more. If you would rather sacrifice a few ounces on your back for a few more pennies in your wallet, and potentially a few more winks of sleep, go with this pad.
Conclusion
The Therm-a-Rest Trail Lite is a great value for a warm and comfortable mattress. For cold sleepers, it is a good solution for 3-season camping; paired with a foam pad, it can be used all four seasons. The added padding in the torso and foot areas makes this pad slightly more comfortable than similar products. It went on a diet recently and dropped a couple of ounces, which means it is no longer the heaviest of the bunch.
Although the TrailLite is a "Self-Inflating" pad, it still needs a few breaths to get completely full.
Credit: Ian McEleney
—
Jessica Haist
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