Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad is an all-seasons insulated pad with 5.8 R-value and with a great price tag, suitable for camping and for short hiking tours.
Key features
- Very reasonable price.
- Open-cell foam self-inflating design.
- 3 Sizes to choose from.
- R-value 5.8.
What this is about
This sleeping pad is on Amazon under the name Therm-a-Rest Basecamp Self-Inflating Foam Camping Pad so this should indicate its best use as an item which is not supposed to be carried on the trail. Indeed, you will see in the specifications below its weight.
They build this sleeping pad in three different sizes, regular (R), long (L), and extra-large (XL), so if you still decide to carry it on the trail, this may save you from carrying unnecessary weight. If you are a short person you will want to go for the R size.
The pad is self-inflating, so you have an open-cell urethane foam inside. It will inflate by itself when you unpack it and put on the ground with the open valve, but you will have to blow some extra air by mouth. The foam implies insulation as well, so the pad is with 5.8 R-value.
Here you have a durable construction and comfortable base with its 2 inches (5 cm) thickness, the foam inside provides a consistent support. The fabric is a 75D polyester. It is advisable to keep the pad uncompressed when stored at home, and with the valve open.
They claim that every piece of their gear is designed to endure harsh conditions in the backcountry, and they offer a limited lifetime warranty on their products of this type.
Who is it for
Seasons-wise, you have seen above its R-value, and this is roughly speaking correspondent to the temperature as low as -11 F (-24 C). So it is fair to say that the pad is suitable for all seasons except for extremely low temperatures.
Weight-wise, if you are a short person like me, then R size with its 2 lb 8 oz (1.14 kg) may still be light enough to carry on the trail. For an insulated pad and such a type, this is not too much.
But indeed, there are much lighter options, see for example this Klymit Insulated V Ultralite SL Inflatable Sleeping Pad which is only 450 grams and the R-value is 4.4. On the other hand, this Exped SynMat 9 weighs 915 grams with R-value 6. Observe that both of these are inflatable pads.
Size-wise, I already mentioned its three sizes, and you will see the numbers below. Note however that even the XL version is ‘only’ 77 inches (196 cm) long.
Specifications
- Three sizes: R, L, and XL.
- R-value: 5.8.
- Weight:
– R: 2 lb 8 oz (1.14 kg).
– L: 3 lb 6 oz (1.53 kg).
– XL: 4 lb (1.82 kg). - Dimensions:
– R: 72 x 20 in (183 x 51 cm).
– L: 77 x 25 in (196 x 63 cm).
– XL: 77 x 30 in (196 x 76 cm). - Thickness: 2 in (5 cm).
- Packed size:
– R: 21 x 7 in (54 x 18 cm).
– L: 26 x 7.5 in (66 x 19 cm).
– XL: 31 x 7.5 in (79 x 19 cm). - Country of Origin USA. Built of the finest U.S. and global materials.
- Warranty: limited lifetime.
Final thoughts, rating, pros & cons
So this Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad is a very reliable and durable construction from a world-renown brand, with its all-season warmth and top-notch support and stability. I stress again that the price is more than fair for such a product, fully recommended. I have included it in my list of best cold weather sleeping pads.
The pad has collected a number of reports by Amazon customers, and the average rating is incredibly high. As of the moment of writing this text, this is an Amazon’s Choice product. This means highly rated and well-priced, and available to ship instantly. Please see how I rate it against my standard set of criteria for easy comparison with other pads presented here in the site:
Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Self-Inflating Foam Camping Pad, Regular - 20 x 72 Inches
Pros
- Great price.
- Great R-value.
- All seasons use.
- Great warranty.
Cons
- A bit heavy.
If you need more options, please visit my page with sleeping pads. Check this Big Agnes Insulated AXL Trail Boss Air Sleeping Pad which is exceptionally durable. You might need a sleeping bag as well so check here.
Note that I am not paid by the brand and this is not a sponsored text. I love to hear from you, so please use the comment box below in the case of questions or comments. I wish you a pleasant camping.
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