Therm-A-Rest Trail Scout Long Sleeping Mat

I found myself planning to sleep in a tent for the first time in about 40 years. At 6'5, and not used to roughing it, I was looking for an extra long mattress or pad that would be both comfortable and easy to transport. This pad did a perfect job for me.

I'm only looking at getting another one because of how long I've owned it. It is the most comfortable pad I've ever slept on. Leading me to believe it contains one inch of miracle foam. I would ask how has it survived me, I am amazed. Sign me, Happy Ole Guy

I got my 'Trail Scout' pad and called "Therm-a-rest," when it would not 'self-inflate,' not even after several hours. The person I spoke with told me "You don't understand the functioning of the wing lock." (para-phrase) I went to the video just in case I misread the printed instructions. No dice. The video CONFIRMED that the pad was N O T 'self-inflating.' ("Breath inflation" is the term used in the video.) The foam in the pad does not create an inflation vacuum, to be topped-off, like a self-inflating pad. I have a "Cabela's" and N O W, a "Sea-to-Summit" pad that A R E both 'self-inflating.' Both require 3-5 breaths to achieve desired firmness, but they do the majority of the inflation themselves when the valve is opened and the foam expands to draw air into the pad. The "Thermarest" pad is N O T 'self-inflating.' It is not one of those with a foot-pump or stuff sack bladder inflation method either. This product is M I S L A B E L E D. (I hope they correct it; if not , be advised accordingly.

This pad is a great value from Therm-a-Rest, who makes nothing but high quality products, and it's no exception. It's not a thick pad, only about 1", but it's surprisingly comfortable on most terrain due to its dense foam insulation, which also gives it some warmth. There are certainly lighter pads. There are more comfortable pads. There are warmer pads. But this entry into the Therm-a-rest family of self-inflating pads gets the job done. if you aren't interested in air-only, or close cell foam pads, and want something durable with real insulation and don't have deep pockets, for the price this pad may be for you.

It's the lowest price of Therma-a-rest sleeping pads--other than closed-cell foam models, which I used for decades, primarily because they were light, cheap, and bullet-proof. (You could literally shoot a bullet through one, and it simply wouldn't matter.) But then this thing happened to me out of the blue. I got old...and my scoliosis of the spine finally caught up with me. So I emulated my clever wife, who had been happily sleeping on a TAR Trail Scout model for several years. This thing is only an inch think, pretty light, and compact when rolled up, and I could't believe how comfortable it was. I started awaking in my tent in the morning backache-free. Due to my back issues, I had to give up sleeping on my stomach, and this pad was still comfortable for side-sleeping. Upon unrolling the pad, It only takes a few breaths to fill it to one's preferred firmness. Recently, we returned from a week-long canoe trip in Utah. My wife and I slept well, while our friends kept slipping off the new ultra-light blow-up pads they had purchased for the trip. A few years ago, another friend purchased a fancy new pad for a canoe trip, and it sprung a leak on the first or second night out. She didn't sleep well for the remainder of the trip, while our basic Trail Scouts just continued to do their job and do it admirably.. Today I took a nap in an underground parking garage while my wife was upstairs in the hospital having eye surgery. I slept on a plywood platform in our Subie Outback.. Once again, no issues with side sleeping on this hard wooden surface. Okay...so maybe my experience is limited. In 50+ years of car-camping, river-camping, and backpacking, I've only experienced sleeping on closed-cell foam sleeping pads and the TAR Trail Scout pad. (I'm 74 next month.) So it's quite possible that TAR and other manufacturers produce even more comfortable pads. Maybe so. But I have no reason to look for a different pad when I already own a reliable pad that is light, packable, and provides a good night's sleep on Mother Earth. Tip: The Trail Scout comes with a stuff sack that requires you to fold the pad in half before rolling it up. I didn't like this configuration--not good for packing in my situations. so I purchased a separate, full-width stuff sack from Thermarest (longer but skinnier). It's slightly roomier than the full-width stuff sack that came with my wife's pad, so it's easier to pull over the rolled-up pad.

I used this with a 20 degree topquilt in the UP during a 30 degree night, in my hammock. I have to say it worked, however that was pushing the limit; it felt as though the heat was just trying to stay inside. If I moved too much, the topquilt would untuck itself from the pad and a cold spot would appear. But, later in the trip during 40-50 degree nights, it was perfect! But, as perhaps to be expected, I would wake with condensation at the lowest point of the pad. The colder it is, the worse this is because it contributes to cold. In the warmer 50-60 degree nights, I went without that 20 degree topquilt because I would have boiled. This was regrettable as I was on the brink of cold, with only my insulated jacket on my lower legs/feet, and a wool shirt for my torso. And I felt a little sticky because I wasn't totally dry from the day's hiking. If you're on a tight budget and wanting to get started, this isn't a bad option! Just make sure you have a good topquilt or insulation on top. The key pros are affordability, weight, and packability. It doesn't weigh much and doesn't take up a lot of space. However, it can be a workout to roll up to get it into the stuffsack! I usually have to deflate it once as a preliminary, then fold it, open the valve, and roll it up again to get the rest of the air out. It can be quite a squeeze, but it works! I haven't noticed any leaks.

Warranty is unbelievable. Have had this camp pad for 6 years and then it started to leak. Sent it in for free repair and instead got a free replacement.

I really like this pad, it is the best one I have owned. I find that I do not slip off the pad in the middle of the night compared to something like NeoAirÂ:registered: XLite:tm: Sleeping Pad which is slick. Even though NeoAir pads are much lighter and more compact, I would choose this one. This pad is perfect if you backpack or camp, but don't need something extremely light or something high off the ground for super cold nights. I also find that this pad is more durable and I am less worried about puncturing it. Overall, it is an awesome pad for the price.