Cascade Designs Therm-a-Rest ProLite 4 Review

"I have the long version. The pad is great. Though I did get a pin hole leak, and once that happened my ass slept cold all night (literally). I went and got the Thermarest patch kit and was able to locate the leak and apply the patch but it is not something I am so sure I could do out in the field because to find the leak it involved submerging my prolite under water in the bathtub. I have only used it 4 times and it got a leak. It may be just coincidence but if the puncture resistant thermarest was on the market when I got the prolite I would have probably opted for the puncture resistant version, even with the extra weight because I hate sleeping even a little bit cold. I gave it a 3 for durability; the performance is great."

"I have used mine on several trips now. It is supposed to be used for 4-season, but I usually backpack spring - fall, so I opted for the short version and will never be sorry for the 1.5" of pure comfort! I also opted for the lite chair and additional seat (for shorter trips). Foot rest, added under my pilow - you name it - the lounging possibilities are endless! And still under weighing my old performance series 3/4."

"I finally took the plunge and retired my old blaze orange standard pad that has served me well for almost 20 years. I waffled back and forth between the "Expedition" and the Prolite 4 but in the end the weight and packability won me over. Just got back from a week long trip in the Wind River Mts and have to say it is just as cushy as my old pad and 1lb 4oz lighter! The no slip top and bottom are especially appreciated over the old pad. I have to admit that the pad still doesn't allow me to sleep comfortably on my side without aching hips in the morning, but I have learned to cope in the 30 years I have been long distance backpacking and though I may eventually have to carry the dreaded 3lb pad to get a decent nights sleep, I am not there yet."

"I've just gotten to use my ProLite 4 short on a couple of trips after upgrading from the ProLite 3, which I did not sleep comfortably on. The 4 has proven to be much better, I'm very pleased. Now if their was just some way to attach my pillow to keep it from getting away."

"I had this pad for awhile and it got 4 leaks in 8 trips, which was really annoying. It was pretty comfortable when it was inflated. Not nearly as comfortable as my new Big Agnes Air Core pad though."

"I bought this about two mountain trips ago. The last trip, I was at 10,000 feet in snow, and the ProLite4 kept me toasty at, we figure, zero degrees. If my feet came off of the Prolite, they would get mighty cold. So that was convincing enough for me, not to mention, I slept comfortably, to boot!"