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REI Co-op Trekker - Women's Review

This comfortable rectangle shaped pad is heavy and bulky but a decent choice for short trips or car camping
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REI Co-op Trekker - Women's Review (REI Co-op Trekker)
REI Co-op Trekker
Credit: REI Co-op
Price:  $70 List
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Manufacturer:   REI Co-op
By Jessica Haist ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  May 8, 2020
55
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Warmth - 25% 7.0
  • Comfort - 25% 8.0
  • Durability - 10% 8.0
  • Weight - 25% 2.0
  • Packed Size - 15% 3.0

Our Verdict

REI no longer produces this pad as of Summer 2020.
REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable
Warm
Inexpensive
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy and bulky
The REI Trekker is a standard camping pad and is trapped somewhere between a backpacking and car camping sleeping pad. It is not quite luxurious to be a go-to basecamping and car camping pad, but it too large for us to recommend taking backpacking. However, it is a great price and is quite comfortable so maybe an economical choice for activities like boating or sleepovers that you don't need to carry it far.

Our Analysis and Test Results

This comfortable, economical women's sleeping pad is bulky and heavy. It seems to be relatively durable and could be a good choice for sleepovers in the backyard and adventures close to home.

Performance Comparison


rei co-op trekker for women - the comfort plus insulated and trekker are two comfortable pads. we...
The Comfort Plus Insulated and Trekker are two comfortable pads. We prefer the Comfort Plus but the Trekker is a great economical choice.
Credit: Ian McEleney

Warmth


The Trekker has a decently warm R-Value of 4.2, which is around the middle of the pack in terms of warmth. It will keep you warm on cool spring nights all the way through to fall evenings. We like its rectangular shape for extra warmth as well, especially around the foot area.

rei co-op trekker for women - the trekker and the trail lite holding it down at base camp.
The Trekker and the Trail Lite holding it down at base camp.
Credit: Jessica Haist

Comfort


The Trekker has a rectangle shape that allows for more comfort and room to move around compared to a tapered “mummy” cut of some of the other pads in this review. We measured the width; even though REI says it is 20 inches wide, it is closer to 21 inches. It is relatively thick at 1.75", which allows for a little extra cushioning, but it's not the thickest of the bunch. Pads in this review are up to 4.5 inches thick, the thicker the pad, often the better for side sleepers, so their shoulders don't touch the ground. We think the Trekker's soft brushed material on top feels nice and helps stop you from sliding around. Overall the Trekker is a very comfortable choice.

rei co-op trekker for women - the big agnes q-core slc and the trekker are the two rectangle...
The Big Agnes Q-Core SLC and the Trekker are the two rectangle shaped pads we tested.
Credit: Jessica Haist

Durability


We could not find the denier rating for this pad's materials online, but it seems to be a similar weight to pads that have a hefty 75 Denier (some of the least durable products in this review are around 30D). Our one durability concern is the Trekker's odd valve. It feels disconcertingly easy to open and close by pushing it down and screwing it just a quarter turn; it is not comforting because it doesn't really click into place or screw down significantly. We haven't had any issues with the valve opening, just thought it would be worth mentioning.

rei co-op trekker for women - the trekker is made of a durable polyester material.
The Trekker is made of a durable polyester material.
Credit: Ian McEleney

Weight


Weighing 30.7 ounces, this is one of the heaviest pads in our fleet. The weight of this pad is a significant drawback, and we would hesitate to take it on a backpacking trip. The lightest products in this review are less than one pound; a considerable weight savings.

rei co-op trekker for women - sleeping pad packed sizes from smallest to largest, with a nalgene...
Sleeping pad packed sizes from smallest to largest, with a Nalgene bottle for comparison.
Credit: Jessica Haist

Packed Size


Similarly to the weight category, the Trekker has the largest packed size of the bunch. It does not fold in half like the other pads in this review; instead, it is just one 21 inch tube, which does not equate to a great fit inside your backpack. The smallest products we tested are not much larger than a one-liter Nalgene bottle.

rei co-op trekker for women - the trekker's packed size is the largest of the bunch, but you may...
The Trekker's packed size is the largest of the bunch, but you may be able to get it smaller by folding it.
Credit: Jessica Haist

Value


The Trekker is the cheapest of all the products in this review. This is a good value if you're looking for a comfortable option to bring car camping or to sleepovers, but it's not a high-end option.

rei co-op trekker for women - the trekker is one of the few rectangle pads we tested.
The Trekker is one of the few rectangle pads we tested.
Credit: Jessica Haist

Conclusion


One of the heaviest and bulkiest of the pads we've tested, the REI Trekker is also very comfortable and affordable. The Trekker is a decent choice for camping activities that you don't have to carry it far, like boating or very short mileage, family backpacking trips. It's a good value for someone who doesn't want to spend a lot of money on a higher-end car camping pad.

— Jessica Haist
 
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