Two sleeping pads worth lining up side by side. They score within a hair of each other, so it comes down to the details below.
| Therm-a-Rest ProLite Apex | REI Co-op Traverse Insulated Air Pad | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 77✓ | 76 |
| Warmth (R-value) | 3.8 R | 4.3 R✓ |
| Weight | 22.0 oz | 21.0 oz✓ |
| Warmth-to-weight | 0.61 R/100g | 0.72 R/100g✓ |
| Packed size | 6.56 L | 4.65 L✓ |
| Thickness | 2.0 in | 3.5 in✓ |
| Durability | 52 /100 | n/s |
| Price | $135✓ | $139 |
| Features | 1Two-way valve | 2Pump sack included, Repair kit included✓ |
| Type | Self-inflating | Inflatable |
| Shape | Mummy | Rectangular |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: ProLite Apex in blue, Traverse Insulated Air Pad in amber. A blank spec is never counted as a win. GearScore is the rating for the Overall use-case (0 to 100). Pick another above to re-score. Prices are current MSRP.
The Therm-a-Rest ProLite Apex and REI Co-op Traverse Insulated Air Pad take different routes to the same job. They are close enough that this really is about which handful of specs you weight most.
The ProLite Apex is a little cheaper. The Traverse Insulated Air Pad is warmer (R 4.3 vs R 3.8), 1 oz lighter, and stronger on warmth-to-weight. Their GearScores land within a couple of points (77 vs 76), so neither runs away with it.
Pick the ProLite Apex if you care most about price, which makes it the better call for getting the most for your money. Pick the Traverse Insulated Air Pad if warmth and low weight matter more to you, or you are focused on colder nights and shoulder-season trips.
The REI Co-op Traverse Insulated Air Pad. It is warmer (R 4.3 vs R 3.8) than the ProLite Apex.
The REI Co-op Traverse Insulated Air Pad. It is 1 oz lighter than the ProLite Apex.
They are nearly tied at 77 and 76 on the default algorithm, so re-weight the score to your own priorities to break the tie.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the ProLite Apex for price, or the Traverse Insulated Air Pad for warmth. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.