my parents and i used self inflating mats for camping as well (back when they were still a novelty) the trick is: store them inflated. Only fold and roll them when actually transporting them in a backpack or on a bike or whatever. But when at home: leave them out of the bag and have them inflated, maybe with the valve open. That way the foam will retain its springiness. Metal springs also deteriorate when left maximally wound/compressed for a long time. The whole concept of s springy thing is that it is 'used to' a certain form, and you force it into a different form so it will absorb the energy you use to do that, and re release it when it tries to return to the original shape it had. So, it must be in the 'original shape' as much as possible. if its gets 'used to' the compressed shape, its function will be lost over time.. Our self inflating mats always sprung into shape in 2 minutes, just 1 or 2 breaths into them, if even that, and they were good to go. Same basically goes for sleeping bags. The insulation is the 'springy' contents that hold lots of air among them. If you compress them for longer, they tend to not come back to full fluff as quickly (or not at all) So always store stuff as loose as possible. We even used to do it with tents to prevent heavy crease forming or zippers/grommets-pressing on other parts of the fabirckthat might lead to leakage or damage. Just loosely fold and pile up in a box. up up up the stairs she goes... and into.. the attic. :-)

I have to thank you for taking time to truly test the items in more than one round. So many items have problems after several uses and the testing you do is something that attracted me to this channel. And I am so grateful you show the con's as well as the pros. And the little things too. Has made shopping for gear so much more easier and we go in knowing what we are getting. Be blessed and thank you for all you do on this channel. And I love the ones that are in the rain. Definitelsy some of my all time favorites because of the scenery.

I've dealt with their warranty department. They were wonderful! My 4 year old X-Therm with hundreds of hours of use started to leak in a side seem. They wanted me to send it in and I debated that I felt I could save myself shipping if I sent them a video to prove it. I put in water and showed where the leak was. She agreed but made me send and picture of proof of cutting the value of to show I destroyed it. After that...they shipped me a new one! They're great to work with and have amazing products....this coming from a professional outfitter 😉

Tested for 30 nights!!Excellent

I have owned 3. I bought the original 1" self-inflating Thermarest when they first came out decades ago. That mattress developed a leak. I sent it to Thermarest for repair along with a $20 check. A couple of weeks later I rec'd a package which contained a brand new replacement & my $20.00 check & a thank you note thanking me for giving them an opportunity to make things "RIGHT". On the basis of that experience years later I bought a Thermarest Luxury 3" thick & 25" wide Luxury self-inflating mattress that I have in the back of my insulated & converted to a camper E250 Cargo van. Most recently I bought Thermarest Women's Neoair XLite for its lightweight of just 12oz & highest 5.4 R rating of any air mattress commercially available that I carry on overnight hikes. I, too, am 5'4" so it is long enough to keep me off the ground & as well insulated as they come. Using my lungs to inflate an air mattress has never concerned MEeee. NOT Sleeping on cold ground is what really counts to MEeee. Some people complain about NeoAir air mattresses being too noisy/crinkly which I don't understand. I've never heard an air mattress that bothers me because it's supposedly "too noisy".

Great review. Only true self inflating object is me in quarantine. Eating too much....

I bought my thermarest pad back in 1990 at the military clothing sales I paid $99 back then and it still works just fine and it has been around the the world more than once .I own two full size and two three quarter pads

I try to remain as light as possible and this mattress would not fit the bill for several reasons. Self inflating pads do not pack as small as others so one who uses this would have to use a bigger pack , ergo more weight. I have a neo air xlight that I fold over flat to stash it against my back. It is also thicker, thus I am higher off the ground. Packing a cylinder wastes space in the pack. The nozzle of this mattress is the same as the Xlight’s so you can use the Thermarest inflation bag which I like because it serves triple duty as a pack liner and a stool when you roll up the mattress inside and blow it just enough to fill the bag. Thanks for an honest review as always! 👍

Excellent simple review without a bunch of “Fluff” and time filling material. I’m a fan of the “Dragnet” approach to reviews. Give me “Just The Facts”.

Luke congrats on the channel's success! I started watching and subscribed about 7 years ago :)

I also use a closed cell pad to provide protection for the air pad and comfort.

I've been using a Therm-A-Rest Venture WV for a couple of years now and I love it. No experience of customer services etc though, as it hasn't gone wrong. :)

Luke I have 8! Yes Eight Therm-a-rest. Some I've had since the 90's, my first is the Staytek UltraLite 3/4 used for Bivouaking on climbing trips it still works. Guide-Lite, Explorer, Standard long and Regular (tags say on the stuff sack) 3 Camp-LE XL (one 2.5 in thick the other 2 are 3 in thick) Plus an REI Base Camp LE 4inch thick with 2 valves and A Cabela's Outfitter XL (size 38 x 83 x 2.5). Guess what, the only ones' that are falling apart are the Cablea's (separating inside from the outer skin)The REI seam around the valve leaks (repaired), No trauma to any of them. I can attest to 40 years of camping. Prior to thermarest gear I tried some others(mostly failed after a few years). LE is the Luxury Edition. For me it was Buy Once, Cry Once! Stored under the bed valves open. Stay Safe.

I'm going on my 6th season with my Klymit Static V Luxe Insulated sleep pad. I love it!!! I got it because I hate a skinny mat. It is 30" W and 76" Long. Perfect for my 6'3" Height. Best part of it is it was only $75.00 when I bought it. Don't underestimate the importance of a good night's sleep when out on the trail... whatever brand you choose 😎 Thanks for your videos Luke. Appreciate them 👍👍👍

Thermarest is the best product I've bought while hiking,it's top of the line

Hey Luke! Thanks for helping me get through this whole quarantine thing. Your videos inspire me more than you know. Hope you and Susie are well!

Luke just want you to know how much I enjoy your reviews and your adventures in the woods .

A very excellent presentation; very detailed and particularly thorough, all aspects addressed. Thank you. Well done Luke.

A very professional and comprehensive presentation! I just bought it!

Just purchased a proline apex and I am eager to try it out. I’m replacing a 20 plus year old 3/4 Thermarest that is still giving great service. I’m certain of being happy and even more comfortable than on the previous sleep mattress. I believe in quality and the lasting performance of these products. As we deal with climate issues I struggle to justify inexpensive gear that gets tossed into landfill. Buy once, enjoy for a lifetime. Really like your Chanel

The Prolite Apex is by far the most comfortable sleeping pad I have ever used and it’s not close. Worth every extra oz over the Xlite I used before

I have a thermarest for over 20 years with no issues. A true 4 season design.

Besides the great review, I have to say, the camera shots look incredible! Very crispy and clear, with a nice blurred background! Nice job, brother!

Glad to see this review as I have recently been looking for a new sleeping pad.

Greetings from Northern California. I have a little battery powered pump from Therm-A-Rest that I use to blow up my X-Therm (which is not self inflating) that works very well. It takes 2xAAA, is surprisingly light and the batteries last a long time. I have had it about 6 years and it has never failed.

I have a 25 year old Therm-a-rest pad that still works as well as the day I bought it. It has hundreds of nights of use on it and I never babied it. I have tried the ultralight air mattresses with no foam in them, and they just aren't as comfortable. If you are just starting out in backpacking or camping, get a Therm-a-rest, they are one of those quintessential pieces of gear that just works.

Amazon currently has this pad for $53.25 if anyone is interested. Another great review Luke! Thanks!

I have a Thermarest 48" length self inflating mattress bought about 30 year ago but now seldom use. It is still functional when I retrieved from storage last year.

Oh man...saw those keys and was waiting for that reaction!

I use aTherm A Rest military surplus pad I store it unfolded and valve open I will roll it up when going out.

nice review Luke. I have been using a neo air Venture for a few years, absolutely no problems at all. I use it with a thermarest inflate sack to avoid moisture from my breath. The inflate sack doubles as a clothing stuff sack and a pillow. I use a z lite pad underneath for added comfort and puncture protection. I also pack carry a repair patch kit just incase. Thermarest is an awesome brand... no complaints at all.

I have one of the original Thermarest Neo Air pads that I bought in 2007. It has been used a lot and there have been no problems.

best pad i ever had. my wife also has it. we've done 300 nights and 6000 miles between the two and no leaks or even hints of issues

Best pads on the market and still made in the USA. I have 4 that I still use that are between 11-27 years old and only one have I even had to patch.

Loving the two that we have. They inflate faster if you store them like the instructions say, not in their storage bag but in the open. Fold it back up (in the storage bag) when you're ready to go.

My advice from past experience of dealing with things to anyone being confronted with bills of any kind is dont hide from them , that is what will cause them to come after you and incure additional charges .if you communicate and stay open to negotiations you have options but of you cut off from them you lose your opportunity to negotiate . The way that the law is geared in this country is that if you show a willingness to communicate and try to pay something of a bill even just a small amount then they do have to work with you .whilst you might ultimately have to fill out income and expenditure forms that some companies send to you they have to accept what your able to offer them even if that is no more than for example £1 amonth if thats all that you can afford . You see there is a real risk for them that if you a making an effort to pay a bill and they tried to make a court matter our of it that a judge can or might throw there argument out or reject it leaving them out of pocket , so dont hide from your bills or run away from them negotiating terms is always your best option .the other thing is . Dont be afraid of scare tactics or vieled threats from a company ,that just demonstrates desperation on their part when in reality if you demonstrate a willingness to communicate then they actualy cant bypass you .keep a cool head and dont lose it or over react to any demand letters .

Hi Luke, hi everyone! I got NeoAir XLite Sleeping Mat and I'm happy with that. Worth to pay little bit more over cheeper options. I had couple self inflated mats and have to say-no more.That one I'm using as basic part of my gear. Pack is small( light, take couple of seconds to pump up with big storage bag. Packed size it's about 1/3 smaller as Luke's(double fist long)Really light and taking almost no space in a bagpack. After long day walk in the mountains you want proper rest. And this is it. Stay safe, S&H, Tom.

Great review, Luke. For a self inflating pad the price is reasonable for a Thermarest. Another pro, due to the color, you can hang it from a tree or place out in the open for rescue reasons. That color will attract anyone searching for you. BTW I washed my Tyvek in "luke" warm water (twice) and dried it in the dryer on low heat and it is quiet as a whisper. It also folds very easily as opposed to being noisy and hard to fold when it was new. Why Thermarest does not include a patch kit is puzzling. Both of my Klymit mattresses included a patch kit in each stuff sack attached to the inner lining.

Great review Luke. I have a self mostly inflating Thermorest pad from the early 80s that has been on mountains all over the world and through many balmy winters in Canada. Never had an issue with it or its much younger (10+) sibling, a folding closed-cell pad. Great company.

Great video as always Luke..Just a tip someone shared with me that I’ll share: I have several of these type pads and I was told they don’t like to be stored in the rolled up position for long periods of time. So, when mine are in storage I unroll them and hang them across the clothes rod in one of my closets. They seem to inflate easier as a result.

Hey Luke hope y'all are well much love your way be safe have a wonderful coming in week

5'4" ?! I would have bet substantial money you were 5' 8". No less than 5-6. The stature of strength an honor must add. I too am hobbit sized so no neg here. Thanks for all your hard work brother

I have an original thermarest neoair from over 10 years ago. Still going strong. I just don’t get self inflating any more. With air bed technology coming along so far they feel a bit redundant.

I hope you review the new Thermarest Trail Pro 3 in thick r value 4.4.Love your vids!

I always go with my egg crate foam pad from my grandpas hospic bed, love its and it no where near as heavy as memory, bit on the bulky side but always worth it. i hate those pads they always pop or deflate in the cold.

This is a great pad. My only problem is that it takes up a lot of room in your pack. I need something smaller, but the reliable brands want $200+ for a large pad.

Excellent, very thorough review.

I've always had trouble staying on a Therm-A-Rest mattress due to the material. Not problem with the comfort aspect and like the size when packed. Easy to fill to, couple of breaths.

I have a thermarest self inflating mat that's well over 30 years old. Just picked up this one for my son, expect it to be just as durable.

Thanks Luke👍👍 I need one 8ft x 4ft x 6" thick...🙄 Seriously, nice pad there. $$$ no issue when it comes to comfort😉 Stay safe bro. Enjoy!

I foubd an early model ThermoRest 3/4 length self inflating pad in a thrift store last year. Dob't know the true age of it but my initial use of it was good, had it in top of another pad and it did nit fail. Only paid $3 for it

Thermorest is part of the cascade designs and they have been rolling back lifetime warranty’s. Msr rolled back lifetime to 2 years. At this time thermorest says limited lifetime still. I have 3-4 sleeping pads and had one start leaking form the internal baffle connections to the outside. Seems to be a very common problem has to ship to cascade designs and they replaced it. But I did have to pay for shipping

Thermarest along with its sister companies such as msr have great customer service under cascade designs. I've had a neo air replaced completely after sending it in for repair.

I have that pad and really like it, but mine has the better (newer?) winglock valve. It's skinny, but it's enough. I'm a side sleeper, too, about 6' and 200lbs and I can't compress it to the ground on my side even with it softened up a little bit. I wouldn't be doubling it over to try to make a pillow out of it, though. That's a good way to blow a baffle and create a bulge that will render the pad unusable. If you need a pillow, just bring a pillow. Trekology makes a great one for like $15 and it takes up zero pack space if deflated and packed flat instead of rolled up in the stuff sack. I also pack the sleeping pad folded flat rather than rolled up and it compresses down to almost nothing.

The advantage of the Apex is the 2 inch thickness, which may make a difference for those of you side sleepers on the heavy side who find it too hard to sleep on a 1 or 1.5 incher since you have to inflate the mattress hard enough so that your shoulders and hips won't hit bottom. Disadvantage? A Regular is 22 ounces. At that price there are other older products this manufacturer offers which can be obtained at a good discount. There is a particularly famous one that weighs 12 ounces although is not as sturdy and may be annoying due to the 'potato bag' crinkly sound when you turn to the other side or even when you are breathing (depends).

I have the thermarest neoair xtherm, it comes with both a stuff sack and a inflation bag that you simply connect to the inflation valve and scoop air and inflate. Benefit being you don't introduce moisture that can build up mould after a while

I'm a Klymit guy. For quality and price you can't beat them.

Whats the tent that makes an appearance in the video? Looks breezy. I do think at the very least a repair kit should be included with any sleeping pad.

Yay! I just bought this a few months ago at a great price direct from Thermarest. I love it, its the perfect 4 season pad for me. Im @200lbs and I can side sleep on it.

Love my therm a rest. Have 2. Comfortable and durable. Just wish they made a short wide as I’m a side sleeper.

I have a couple Therm-A-Rest mattresses (Xlite and Xtherm) and they're great, but it seems a little cheap of Therm-A-Rest not to include a basic patch kit. Especially for a mattress like this that might be someone's first. A lot of folks don't know know they should carry a patch kit, so throwing one in with the package is a good way to teach people when they're starting out.

I have been using an older version of this pad and its awesome! a great investment

At 5'4 you can get a 3/4 length pad and it would feel like an extra long pad

I had a polite for three seasons and it developed a hump. I was told it delaminated. Probably from inflating moisture that gets in there. Oh well time for a new pad.

The first pad I bought was a Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XLite. Turns out I flip-flop too much so that pad isn't wide enough. I ended up buying a Nemo Tensor Regular Wide. I like it, except for the potato chip bag sound effect. Works pretty well with my EE Convert.

i have used my old Therm-a-rest for years but I had to buy a new last fall so I got a Klymit Insulated Static V Luxe and damn it a workout even with the Klymit Rapid air pump

I've had a Neo Air Trekkar for almost 10 years and not a single issue.

Dude. I love your reviews. But can you tell me where did you get a plain sheet of tyvek ground sheet. All I can get here is some construction site sheet with store logo on it. 😁

Would love to see you review the REI FLASH Air 1 tent

enjoyed this review,,,thank you for sharing.

About twice the size of a insulated Klymit pad rolled up and 1/2 lb heavier.

I have this pad and have slept 2 nights on the hard floor one tile and the other wood and had a great nights sleep. The only down fall that i have with mine is that i got the medium at 20” wide wish i would have got the wider one. I sleep on my belly and move around a lot some times finding the edge of the pad. Holly cow I didn’t buy it for that much i think i payed 60 from basspro. But i do agree with you cons

You should never blow into a self inflating pad! The moisture in your breath contaminates the foam, and causes it to stick together when you deflate it and roll it up. That sticking together increases self inflation time later, and eventually causes the inner foam to break down and tear, making the pad less comfortable. Us a hand pump, or some other inflation device to fill it with dry air! Never store it for any long period rolled up! Keep them inflated but not firm, best way to do that is to just leave the valve open. Hang them in a dark corner out of the sun, avoid bending them as well for long term storage. I have a Thermarest self inflating pad that is over 20 years old. Still self inflates, holds air, and works great after all these years. Cheers from Winnipeg.

Third video in less than a week revolving around Therm-A-Rest products. Must be a trend.

I HATE the Thermarest nozzles. I do prefer the Sea To Summit ones.

You should check out the multimat 38 as used by the British Army

I would pay the price for MADE IN USA...why pay a little less for one that is poor quality and replaced often. Thanks for the review. Everyone stay well/safe TOGR COMMUNITY ROCKS!!!

One thing I still don't really know about self inflating pads. Because they rely on foam to provide cushion, are they also less susceptible to holes in them? If I have a hole in an inflatable pad, it's basically useless

I'll bet that I'm not the only one that cringed when he rolled onto the keys hanging from his waist.

Thanks for the great video. Headed out to shoot one myself. Hope you are well!

Big + and thx for specification in metric system! The only good one :P

Would yoube willing to show metric vallues on the screen in te future? Question from a viewer from Holland who views your video's a lot. Thanks for all your info and effort!

Hi Luke good Review 👍🏻 Have you ever used or tried NeoAir as that is an air mat that I’ve bought

Very nice pad! Thermarest is the best still imo. Even if it pops, it should still work to an extent bc of the foam. I still wouldn't use my mouth on it bc of the condensation. Isn't there a bag that can be used on those type of valves?

You showed a clip of a tarp and tent, was wondering what kind of mesh tent that was?

is it is recommended that you do not store those pads and a rolled-up condition, when you get ready to use them then you deflate them and roll them up but keeping them semi inflated while being stored is the key. Mine have never taken more than 10 minutes to inflate ever

Hey Luke, do you have a preference between an air mattress and a ultralight cot? Thanks for the review, cheers.

No repair kit? That tells me all I need to know

Brilliant!!

Thanks L !

Looks like a good one.

I know it’s hard to compere, but would you recommend this Apex over the Thermarest Trail Pro?

Just curious, you mentioned it is approx 2" thick blown up, & You can roll on your side not feel the ground etc. But what about the average persons weight, did you have anyone else lay on it who is heavier than you? No disrespect meant but are you smaller than average person weight wise? I myself am bigger than average, at 6' 1" 232 lbs of rock hard fat. lol. I know you said they make a larger one. Curious if it would hold me....

is it same Seatosummit comfort light S.I. self inflat mat?

How would this compare to the Sea to Summit Ether Lite XT?

Luke, will that pad work in a double layer hammock?

I got a nice 3/4 length and

Right now, I’m old school, I use the classic blue pad I got from Walmart.

I have 2 original style thermarest self inflating pads NSN: 8465-01-393-6515 circa 1986 which is when I acquired them at an army surplus center still use them.

I made my own air puff sack