The Therm-a-Rest Trail Lite is an excellent value, offering warmth, comfort, and durability at a fair price. While it’s not the lightest option available, it performs well for those seeking extra comfort and warmth on camping trips.
Performance Overview
Although the Trail Lite is a great option for comfort and warmth, we would hesitate to take it on long backpacking trips due to its weight. It’s one of the heavier pads we tested.
Comfort
The Trail Lite stands out for its comfort, thanks to its extra foam and wider shape. Testers found it to be one of the most comfortable sleeping pads in our review. The rectangular shape also makes it easy to pair with another pad for those wanting to share space with a tentmate.
Weight
The Trail Lite’s weight has been reduced from previous models, now weighing 25.6 ounces. While lighter than its past versions, it’s still on the heavier side compared to other pads in this category. For longer backpacking trips, we’d recommend lighter options, as every ounce counts on the trail.
Warmth
Despite a slight decrease in R-value from 4.9 to 4.5, the Trail Lite remains one of the warmer pads we tested. Suitable for spring through fall, it can even handle winter camping if paired with a foam pad. The design includes more insulation in the torso and foot areas, where warmth is most needed. Its less tapered foot design offers a larger sleeping area for improved warmth and comfort.
Packed Size
At 10.5 x 6 inches, the Trail Lite is somewhat bulky when packed, but still reasonably sized compared to its warmth and weight.
Construction Quality
Made from durable 50-denier polyester, the Trail Lite is one of the most robust pads in our review. It’s ideal for areas where durability is important, such as the desert or rocky terrain. The updated WingLock valve system improves airflow and durability, addressing previous concerns about leaks with older valves.
Should You Buy the Therm-a-Rest Trail Lite?
The women’s Therm-a-Rest Trail Lite is a great value, offering warmth and comfort that rivals more expensive self-inflating pads. It’s perfect for cold sleepers and three-season camping, and can even be used year-round when paired with a foam pad. Although it’s slightly heavier than some other models, it’s still lighter than older versions, making it a solid choice for those prioritizing comfort and warmth on a budget.
Other Sleeping Pads to Consider
If comfort and warmth are your top priorities, the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Extreme is a top-tier option, though it’s more expensive. If weight savings are crucial, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT is a lighter and warmer option, but it’s pricier as well. For a more affordable, lighter alternative to the Trail Lite, the Therm-a-Rest Prolite Plus is worth considering. If cost is your main concern, the Nemo Switchback is a budget-friendly, lightweight foam pad that can be used alongside another pad for added insulation in cold weather.
