REASONS TO BUY
Good price
Comfortable
Warm
Well-constructed
REASONS TO AVOID
A little bulky
Not super light
Therm-a-Rest Trail Lite - Women's Review
This is a comfortable, warm, and durable pad for a fair price, though it is on the heavy side
The TrailLite isn't super thick, but we still found it decent for side sleeping.
Credit: Ian McEleney
RELATED: Best Sleeping Pad for Women of 2024
Our Verdict
The Therm-A-Rest Trail Lite is one of our test's warmest and most comfortable sleeping pads, and it retails for a very reasonable price. 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 sleeping pad for short backpacking trips or any camping adventure where weight and size aren't super critical. With a high R-value of 4.5 comes a heavier weight; while this product is not the lightest or smallest in our review by a long shot, it still offers up a great value. To see how the Trail Lite compares to its rivals, check out our full women's sleeping pad review.
Editor's Note: This review was updated after our latest testing session on December 13, 2023.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Therm-a-Rest Trail Lite - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Bang for the Buck |  Best Overall Women's Sleeping Pad | |||
| Price | $115 List $86.19 at Amazon | $159.96 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $126.69 at REI | $87.49 at Public Lands | $44.95 at Backcountry |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This warm and comfortable model should be noted for its price and performance | A great choice for your long backpacking trips, this pad is light, compact and warm | This pad scores decently well in all our metrics and has an excellent packed size | Slightly on the heavy and bulky side, this pad is a warm and comfortable choice for camping | If you want a light and durable pad that you can use as a seat and won't deflate, this could be the pad for you |
| Rating Categories | Therm-a-Rest Trail... | Therm-a-Rest NeoAir... | Sea to Summit Ultra... | Therm-a-Rest ProLit... | Nemo Switchback - S... |
| Comfort (30%) | |||||
| Weight (30%) | |||||
| Warmth (20%) | |||||
| Packed Size (10%) | |||||
| Construction Quality (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Therm-a-Rest Trail... | Therm-a-Rest NeoAir... | Sea to Summit Ultra... | Therm-a-Rest ProLit... | Nemo Switchback - S... |
| Measured Weight | 25.6 oz | 11.8 oz | 14.6 oz | 22.0 oz | 10.8oz |
| ASTM R-Value | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 2.0 |
| Insulation | Foam | Air and baffles | Thermolite insulation | Foam | Foam |
| Thickness | 1.5 in | 3.0 in | 2.0 in | 1.5 in | 0.9 in |
| Tested Length | 66 in | 66 in | 72 in | 66 in | 50 in |
| Tested Width | 20.0 in | 20.0 in | 21.5 in | 20.0 in | 20.0 in |
| Packed Size | 10.5 x 6.0 in | 9.0 x 4.1 in | 9.0 x 4.0 in | 9.8 x 6.3 in | 20.0 x 5.0 x 4.0 in |
| Bottom Material | 50D polyester | 30D rip HT nylon | 40D nylon | 50D polyester | Closed cell foam |
| Pump Sack Included? | No | Yes | Yes | No | N/A |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Trail Lite is an all-around excellent value pad that will work well if you're looking for extra warmth and comfort on your next camping adventure.
Performance Comparisson
We would be hesitant to take the Trail Lite on long backpacks. It was one of the heaviest pad we tested.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Comfort
Thanks to its extra foam and wider shape, our testers found the Trail Lite to be one of the more comfortable sleeping pads in our lineup.
The added comfort of this pad comes from its wider cut and the cushier foam under the 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 Therm-a-Rest TrailLite is a comfortable option for lounging around camp.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Weight
Older versions of the Trail Lite were heavier than the current version, which dropped by a few ounces to land at 25.6 ounces. The Trail Lite is no longer the heaviest sleeping pad in our 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. Every little bit adds up.
When compared to past versions, you can see where Therm-a-Rest lightened this pad by removing strategic pieces of foam in the mattress near the head and feet; they kept 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. Despite the reduced padding at the feet, the Trail Lite is still decently warm.
The new valve design aids in rolling up this pad to its original size.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Warmth
With the implementation of a new testing standard in the US, the R-value of the Trail Lite has decreased from 4.9 to 4.5. It's still one of the warmer 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.
Packed Size
The Trail Lite is a bit bulky at 10.5 x 6 inches, but not bad. It lands about in the middle of the pack, which is notable considering the heft and warmth it provides.
The TrailLite is on the larger size when packed up, though still reasonable, especially if you're splitting your tent with another person.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Construction Quality
The top and bottom of the Trail Lite 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.
The current version of the Trail Lite has a WingLock valve, which 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 pad's durability — something we appreciate because there were complaints of the old valves being leaky.
The Trail Lite's Wing Lock valve system is an upgrade in ease of use and durability compared to prior versions.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Should You Buy the Therm-a-Rest Trail Lite?
The women's Trail Lite is an excellent value. This sleeping pad is warmer, more comfortable, and only slightly heavier and bulkier than other self-inflating models that retail for more. For cold sleepers, it is a good solution for three-season camping and paired with a foam pad, it can be used all four seasons. The added padding in the torso and foot areas also make it slightly more comfortable than similar products. Even better, the Trail Lite went on a diet recently and dropped a couple of ounces, which means it is no longer the heaviest of the bunch. While it's still not the lightest, 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.
Although the Trail Lite is a “self-inflating” pad, it still needs a few breaths to get completely full.
Credit: Ian McEleney
What Other Sleeping Pads Should You Consider?
If you want to level up in regards to comfort and warmth, the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Extreme can't be missed, though it will cost you a chunk more cash. If ditching weight is your priority, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT is considerably warmer — and also more expensive. If you need to keep costs down in the ballpark of the Trail Lite, the Therm-a-Rest Prolite Plus is a worthy consideration as well as being a bit lighter. While not as comfortable or warm, the Nemo Switchback is a closed-cell foam pad that's super light and cheap. It can also be used as an additional layer with another pad to boost insulation when the temperatures really drop.
—
Jessica Haist
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