I have used this mat all over the world in all sorts of conditions. I have never used it outside the tent but I have camped on rocky and thorny terrain. This mat made uneven rocky surfaces feel comfortable to sleep on. I chose this one because I wanted something reliable should it burst because it has an inner foam inside that expands by itself. However, it is incredibly durable and warm enough for snow hiking (though I do add an extra thin thermal sheet underneath when below -5'C). It is a little heavier because it's self-inflating by about 100-300g so not ultralight but it's ultra reliable and comfortable for the height.I have had it in the Norwegian alps, most of Australia, NZ and I camp 3-4 times a month for the past 5 years. It's still going strong!

This is an evolution of an old design that was actually revolutionary in the 1970's when Thermarest first released self-inflating pads. Before that it was closed cell foam, and before that beds of leaves and/or animal skins.In terms of weight/pack size/comfort the new inflatable pads (e.g. NeoAir) are superior. Here are some reasons you might still want to consider a good old self-inflatable Prolite:1) budget - about half the cost2) self-inflatable - OK so most of the time this isn't a big deal but if you're completely roasted climbing at altitude you just want to collapse in your tent and the last thing you want to do is blow several big breaths into a NeoAir. The Prolites just need a little bit of air to top them off.3) durability/reliability - this is the ... MoreThis is an evolution of an old design that was actually revolutionary in the 1970's when Thermarest first released self-inflating pads. Before that it was closed cell foam, and before that beds of leaves and/or animal skins.In terms of weight/pack size/comfort the new inflatable pads (e.g. NeoAir) are superior. Here are some reasons you might still want to consider a good old self-inflatable Prolite:1) budget - about half the cost2) self-inflatable - OK so most of the time this isn't a big deal but if you're completely roasted climbing at altitude you just want to collapse in your tent and the last thing you want to do is blow several big breaths into a NeoAir. The Prolites just need a little bit of air to top them off.3) durability/reliability - this is the principal advantage in my opinion and why I own and continue to use a Prolite even though I also have an XLite and XTherm. The fabric is more durable than the NeoAirs which seem like pool toys by comparison, punctures are easier to patch successfully in the field if they do happen (flat surface vs baffles), and even if you can't repair it the open cell foam inside the Prolite will still provide some minimal insulation (unlike an inflatable mattress).While this 1in pad won't provide the cushion that a 2.5in NeoAir will, it's still way, WAY more comfy than a closed cell foam pad. It's a good middle ground of comfort and durability.For casual backpacking or base camping I like the light weight/packability and comfort of the NeoAirs. But for longer, more committing trips or climbing I tend to place more value on reliability. In my opinion carrying a closed cell foam mat + a torso length Prolite for comfort is an optimal system: pretty comfy, pretty warm, durable/reliable, still reasonably light. A bit of extra weight and bulk is an acceptable compromise in some situations.FYI you can shorten these and reseal them with a household iron like the NeoAirs (ie if you want a 25in wide pad but torso length, which Thermarest doesn't offer). It's just more of a pain because you have to painstakingly clean off the foam/glue from the edges before sealing. Obviously you could mess it up and end up with an expensive paperweight that doesn't hold air; neither Thermarest nor Moosejaw recommend modifying your pad this way. Video tutorials are available on YouTube for the bold.

I really wanted to love this pad and did a lot of research before buying it. I brought it on a 30 day backpacking trip in the southern Talkeetna mountains in Alaska late June - early July. The pad seemed to fit its specs exactly and I had no issues with leaks or damage in fairly hard usage in off-trail camping spots on tundra and low brush (was in a tent). However, I am 5' 4'' and ultimately found the pad annoyingly small. Would recommend other women buy the men's version even if this seems long enough. If my height, ultimately your feet or head will hand off the end unless you lie perfectly still on your back. The tapered design is good for less weight and bulk but hard for sleeping if you toss and turn or often sleep on uneven terrain. The self-inflating isn't ... MoreI really wanted to love this pad and did a lot of research before buying it. I brought it on a 30 day backpacking trip in the southern Talkeetna mountains in Alaska late June - early July. The pad seemed to fit its specs exactly and I had no issues with leaks or damage in fairly hard usage in off-trail camping spots on tundra and low brush (was in a tent). However, I am 5' 4'' and ultimately found the pad annoyingly small. Would recommend other women buy the men's version even if this seems long enough. If my height, ultimately your feet or head will hand off the end unless you lie perfectly still on your back. The tapered design is good for less weight and bulk but hard for sleeping if you toss and turn or often sleep on uneven terrain. The self-inflating isn't helpful if you typically set up your tent and sleeping system just before getting into it, as it takes at least 10 minutes (I'm guessing this is evident for experienced backpackers, but warning to newbies wondering about the benefits of a self-inflating pad). It wasn't very many breaths to completely inflate though (~12ish) without waiting for self inflating. I was a bit cold on the coldest night of my trip (not entirely sure exact temperature, maybe about 40F) but suspect that had more to do with my synthetic 20F bag than the pad. It is hard to figure out how much to inflate the pad for optimal comfort. Completely inflating the pad removes some of the cushioning benefit, though it is easy to deflate a bit by turning knob while on it. The inflation system is pretty solid and I had no issues with leaks. The valve sounds like it is leaking (and probably is a bit) as you inflate but holds air well once closed. It isn't super small rolled up. I found it fit into my bag much more easily if I folded it once length wise and once width wise and then used it to line the bottom of bag in U shape rather than roll and put in stuff sack. I could then put my sleeping bag into the center of the U.