Christmas time usually means some new backpacking gear for me. In this case, I bought myself a little something. I have been looking to upgrade my bulky, heavy sleeping mat for something lighter and more pack-friendly. Since I am not very tall, I was also looking for something more size-appropriate. Six feet of length was translating to me carrying unnecessary material and weight. This, coupled with a huge sale at Sports Chalet resulted in a brand new Thermarest Women's Trail Pro Sleeping Mat.
Want the short version: BUY IT. Buy it now and here's why...
For you backpacking fanatics out there, reason number one is its weight. It's light and compact and comes with its own stuff sack. On short trips, it's small enough to stuff in my bag instead of strapping on the bottom. For you technically oriented people, the inflatable sleeping mats are a go-to because of the added warmth. You will really benefit from the layer of air between you and the cold ground. From my experience so far, it has done an excellent job of maintaining the air volume in the mattress and I haven't noticed significant deflation in the mornings.
All of this aside, my favorite part is that I can sleep on my side for short periods during the night. I'm a natural side sleeper and have always found my backpacking mats unwilling to let me sleep on my side for more than a few minutes. This one by no means provides a full night of side sleeping, but it will definitely allow you a little bit.
My only word of advice is to pay attention to the sizing. When they say 5'6" they really mean 5'5." If you don't buy the right size, you're going to have a bad time.
It's proven itself in Joshua Tree in the winter and I am headed to San Jacinto in a few weeks where I expect it to perform just as well in the cold. I love this mat and I couldn't be any happier.
No comments:
Post a Comment