9 in Sleeping Pads
Therm-a-Rest - Z Lite Original
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Based on 1 year's data from Feb 24, 2026 How it works
Liked most:
12
1
"If you really want to prevent these sort of punctures, you honestly need a Z-Lite or equivalent CCF pad underneath. ... durability for use as a sit pad & ground protection is probably >100 times greater than the 1/8". ... In my opinion to protect from punctures you really only need a torso length section since that is where all your weight is going when sleeping on the pad and sitting up on it."
"never leaks or pops ... never needs to be patched"
"I've been using the same one for almost twenty years and it still works great."
17
2
"The combined R value is 5.3. ... I’m often in Ventana Wilderness and the Sierra and that includes high Sierra in the winter sleeping on snow. ... It’s definitely warm enough insulation for me and comfortable so I get descent sleep."
"I've never been cold on it even in sub freezing"
"keeps us warm ... We only camp in winter, early spring and fall."
11
1
"It’s 100% packable because you keep it outside your pack (ideal for lunch breaks) and it’s folded up."
"Reason I use it is it's easy to quickly deploy and pack up."
"The Z-lite is 350 grams / 12.4 ounces. ... As far as storage, you can strap this outside your pack and don't have to worry about scraping up against rocks/branches."
8
5
"As a side sleeper and getting up in age the extra weight and space is more than worth it for me. ... And as a side sleeper it helps my lean frame get extra padding."
"I can even sleep on my side without hip pain."
"I also side sleep on it. I'm not claiming that it's as comfortable as an inflatable. I only claim that it is sufficiently comfortable."
8
0
"doubles as a luxury sit pad ... doubles as a framesheet for frameless packs ... doubles as a yoga mat for stretching out"
"Plus the ZLite is perfect for a lunch sit pad, afternoon snooze, placing gear on when it’s kind of dusty or damp, protects my air pad, etc."
"If however I might end up on rocky ground or am climbing something where a bivy isn't intended, but is a possibility I bring my z-lite as I can use it anywhere."
Disliked most:
18
3
"Both of my riding buddies were on blow up mats one Nemo and one thermarest. Both were cold and not sleeping well the whole trip."
"Different story in winter."
"the R-value is low though"
3
1
"a bit more pricey"
0
5
"I tried laying on it on the carpet in my apt and it’s so uncomfortable I couldn’t sleep on it unless it was an emergency"
"wobbled long ways (not side to side) a lot when i moved around"
"I tried laying on it on the carpet in my apt and it’s so uncomfortable I couldn’t sleep on it unless it was an emergency"
0
1
"in the end it was heavy and not worth it for me when camping"
voidelemental 1.0the Walmart one is fine unless you're trying to stay away from bright colored/reflective gear in which case the original(non SOL) Z-lite is your only real option
it's still bright blue/yellow
yeah, I'm talking about the opposite side
mas_picoso 0.8I couldn't jive with inflatables. I use the prolite XS over 6 panel switchback or CCF I also liked the 1/2" evazote from oware, cut to torso length. bulky, but really nice the key is having a big pillow, I use the big sky inflatable as a riser and then a little square of upholstery foam over it for softness. when I roll to stomach, I just use the foam.
ActiveManufacturer15 0.4—-Therm-a-Rest Z Lite camping mat —-One Tigris Down camp blanket —-Helikon Tex Swagman —-Mil Surp US GI Poncho or a British Basha is better —-Mil surp US GI bivy sack This is about as light and compact that will keep you warm and cumfy down to about 10 degrees from my experiences Edit: forgot the bivy sack !
Agerak 0.4Most closed cell foam pads will be lower R value but can easily get 2 to reach about the same. They tend to not be as comfortable though. Thermarest Z lite has been one of the better that I've seen, but most closed cell foam pads are about the same. I'd make sure to check the dimensions so that they work with you/your pack system.
Alarming-Weekend-999 0.4I used it in the military. Assuming you're talking about the brown Z-fold "Iso Mat"? It's not that heavy. We'd wrap our tarps around it so both can be laid down quickly to bivouac. The military uses these because: - Air pads simply squish down and contact the ground at the point of most force (usually your shoulder or butt). And they pop. - Z-fold because rolling foam stresses the material and damages more quickly over time. I prefer these over the "egg-carton" z-folds because of the smooth surface.
albion70 0.4Z-Lite (6 panels) with an 1/8in ccf pad from atom packs underneath. I figure this comes to an r-value of about 3, fine for me down to about 2C. I sleep in some smartwool merino leggings to keep my legs warmer as they’re off the end of the foam pads. All of this coupled with good site selection on thick grass or pine needles under some tree cover to help with trapping some heat around the tent and I’m comfortable. Different story in winter.
AliveAndThenSome 0.4We have a similar setup, but my wife and I share a double sized down quilt (EE Accomplice) on two air pads and our dog has his cut down ZLite and synthetic Kifaru woobie. Our dog (heeler) is about 40lbs. We are vigilant to keep him from getting on our uncovered air pads. Our quilt more or less covers our two pads, so it adds a layer of protection, but we insist that he stays in his ZLite as much as possible. We've gone out dozens of times and only lost a pad once when he was young and tried to bolt after a goat.
ants_taste_great 0.4Z lite. Only about $50 and works great even in wet weather.
AskYoYoMa 0.4Second this. Ridgerest or zlite closed cell foam pads are great for kids and actually pretty comfortable and sturdy.
audiophile_lurker 0.4If you have a budget limitation, see if you can find therm-a-rest z-lite sleeping pads used. They work well from insulation perspective, just are not very comfortable for larger adults often enough. If the kids are not tall yet, you can also trim these to size to manage the weight you have to carry.
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