Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Original Camping and Backpacking Sleeping Pad

The pad is very light and surprisingly comfortable for how thin it is. I am not a young thin athlete either 48 and 235lbs. Like I said it surprised me .

I didn't think they could improve on the original therma-a-rest I've had since college, but they did. A cold hike across the Sierra's convinced me that I needed more insulation, but necessarily inflation.At first I looked into inflatable models, but the best are expensive and I also like camping gear that's rugged, unlike cactus prone inflatable models. I tossed my multi-patched inflatable a few years back.PROS:1. Size: The egg carton shaped surface interlocks to make it fold thinner than you would think.2. Packing: It folds quickly, and I didn't have a problem bending it or stuffing it if needed. It is a bit wide for stuffing horizontally, but I prefer to tie it to the outside for easy access as a break chair.3. Insulation: The new surface creates air pockets and better ground insulation. The foam also seems better than my original black therm-a-rest.4. Look: I got basic green, and I like that. I don't like rests that double as rescue flags and despoil the campsite with a space camp look.5. Durability: So far, it seems durable. I will look after the folding points, but expect them to wear well.CONS:1. No real cons. Some may want wider, some may want thicker, but I found it just right. Get an inflatable for extreme cold, but this is great for most people's cold ground needs.BOTTOMLINE:A great pad that keeps me warmer on cold ground, packs quickly, and make a great chair when needed!

As far as sleeping pads go, I find this design superior to ones that roll up for a number of reasons. Sometimes i use this pad to sit or kneel on and it is easy to use the folds to get the exact thickness between me and the ground where i want it. The R-value is pretty high for a pad this cheap.Comparing this to an inflatable mattress, I find this thing simply irreplaceable. It is tougher and more durable than any air mattress, you don't have to blow it up or carry a patch kit just incase it gets a hole. I know people that won't get their mattresses anywhere near a fire for fear that a flying ember will burn a big hole in their $100+ mattress. I plop this thing down in various configurations and sit or lay near fires with no worry. I frequently lean it up against trees so I'm sitting up but still have padding under my whole body, and one section doubled over at the top for extra padding for my head. I kneel on it to protect my knees when i'm cooking or building fires, i would never do this with an inflatable mattress. If we stop hiking to take a break it is easy to undo the straps on pack, throw this down and sit, kneel, or lay, then simply accordion it back up and strap it back on the pack and continue down the trail. If i ever get an inflatable mattress for backpacking i will still probably cut off and bring a small section of this for some of the above purposes. At 14oz it is also lighter by far than any similar r-value inflatable mattress by quite a bit. Even air mattresses that have very low r-value are heavier or the same weight.

Kept me warm from the cold ground. I slept well on this pad. I did roll off of it at some point but got back on it. It is easy to use. It folds. It doesn’t roll up in a tight compressed bundle. Thus, It can be bulky when you try to travel around with it. But the weight is light.

Perfect addition for any sleep system. Light weight but very durable compared to other similar products. Hasn't ripped or started to tear after several uses out in the woods. Ideal for use under inflatable sleep pads. Great product

Well priced and pretty insulated . Slept on the ground at around 4° F and was fairly comfortable

Very light and handy for fair weather trips where you want a multi-use pad. You can sit or kneel on this without worrying about punctures or it absorbing water. Not as comfortable as an inflatable pad, but for some applications it is just what is needed.

Used one of these for years all four seasons in Alaska in temperatures down to -40. I never go out the door without it. Perfect to sit, stand, rest on during the day for warmth from the ground, cushioning from rocky ground and will not wet out in rain or heavy set snow. To be honest, I used in conjunction with Thermarest UL 3/4 air pad for sleeping for one of the lightest most efficient for the weight warmth from the cold frozen ground I could find to -40. Always remained pliable, cant say that about other foam pads in the cold. The Z folds allow the pad to fold into a smaller profile on a pack, easier to fold up and lay out Vs a rolled pad. Using in true alpine conditions, the cups trap moisture, after long hard day in wet snow and rain, can shake the pad and the water is gone plus the cups keeps water or liquids from dispersing over a wider area, like all over the floor of the tent. Seen many stoves spilled. The only hit against it is the price. Shy of $40 for foam. Great product though for weight to warmth ratio.