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

This is a must have for backcountry campers and has many uses at the campsite itself. Its main use, being a sleeping pad, is phenomenal. You will want to use this pad on top of any inflatable pad you have or over any other pad you might be using that has a lower R Value, this will keep you warmer at night as the higher the R Value the more insulated you are and the R Value stacks if you use another pad. The one I use in conjunction with this is the Klymit Static V2 Sleeping Pad. Not only are you kept warmer the Z-Pad distributes your weight on the inflatable pad so you don’t have pressure points. Another use for this pad is as a place to sit around the camp, by the fire, or when in your food prep area. You can leave it fully extended to stretch out or fold it as you see fit for extra padding on your bum. I also use this pad folded in half to stoke my fire, yes, you heard that right, I use the Z-Pad to fan the flames. Just sit safely at the base of your fire and fan to get it going. Of course use your best fire safety judgement. Continuing with uses for this pad are keeping things warm such as pots and cups of warm liquids. If the vessel isn’t scalding in a manner that would burn the pad keep your pots, cups, pans on the pad to trap heat. The weight is nominal if you are not an ultralighter, even you are then just bring this pad and forgo the inflatable pad. The Z-Pad just makes it so much nicer to go camping.

This review is based on my purchased item. I did not receive a free review sample or discount for reviewing. Since there's really not much more that can be said for this pad, my review is essentially a Rain and WET condition review. Imagine the worst case scenario and your tent fails in a heavy all night downpour and your tent floor tub fills with water. That was my situation on a recent 2 night camp, where we got 7 inches of heavy rain over 3 days. National weather service issued flash flood warnings in the creek and river gorge areas, which I fortunately was not in. I have never experienced rain this heavy before.. all night, all day, non stop. I had set up my tent in wet sloshy, leafy slush and my tent floor just could not keep it out, even with a blue ground tarp. I had water percolating up through my tent floor, and at the deepest it was about 1/4". I was up all night soaking up water puddles, and wringing them out with my camp towel. I could not sleep a wink, worried all night about waking up in a swimming pool. Despite all that, the Z-lite performed like a champ. I use it in conjunction with a Thermarest Neo-Air Venture, and I deflate the Neo-air so my hips and shoulders just barely avoid bottom-ing out. The Z-lite was just enough elevation up off the soaked floor to keep me completely dry. I have the small Z-lite since I only need to have coverage down to my thighs with the Neo-air giving me sufficient comfort. The Z-lite did absorb water kind of like a sponge though, that would be a little concerning on an extended tent-fail trip. Despite that, my sleeping bag was completely dry, warm and comfy all night. I felt like I was on a raft dingy, floating in a pool of water. I was previously using a Reflect-ix sheet beneath my Neo-air, no doubt that would not have been enough thickness or elevation in this scenario. I am not exactly sure which has a higher "R" value between the reflect-ix and Z-lite, but I felt just as warm. One thing I like about the Z-lite is the increased friction I get with the neo-air. I always had a problem with reflectix sheet being too slick and slippery. My Neo-air would slide off in the middle of the night. The Z-lite is a little more grippy. I still get some slipping and sliding but its manageable. I will probably add some velcro straps though on my next camp out just to make sure the two remain stacked up. The added padding, cushion and comfort is noticeable. If you are contemplating a Z-lite to replace reflect-ix sheet beneath your air pad, go for it. Its added features, comfort and functionality is worth the $$. Its also added redundancy in the event my Neo-air leaks and my patch kit doesn't work.

I've used this mattress on several week-long backpacking trips in both the Appalachian mountains in Pennsylvania and the much more rugged Teton rocky mountain range in Jackson Wyoming. I've had it for the past few years and I haven't had one problem with it yet. Its relatively lightweight, incredibly comfortable, and it takes absolutely no time to pack unlike most other sleeping pads that you have to slowly roll and push the air out of. It helps you break down camp a little bit faster in the morning which is nice when you've got a long trek ahead of you and you want to get on the trail faster. Though I personally own both a small and a large, I usually use the small when I go hiking to cut down on the weight and size of my gear. If you get a small and you're older than 12 your feet will be sticking off the mattress, but it doesn't really make sleeping any less comfortable in my opinion. If it is to bad you can always stick some clothes under your legs to sleep on. Though a $600 dollar nano air mattress will fold up super small and might be a little bit comfier, this sleeping pad is a solid, reliable steal. It beats most 50-100$ pads out there and it comes in at only about $30. If you are just getting in to backpacking, are looking into getting a smaller, easier packing therm-a-rest than the one you have, or even if you just going car-camping, I highly recommend this product to you. If you do get it I would recommend strapping it at the bottom of your pack or under your pack's brain. I have seen people strap it to the front of their pack or to the sides as well, in the end it all comes down to how you have you things packed, what type of pack you have, and personal preference.

If you're thinking about getting this for early Spring or late Fall or Winter backpacking, don't. This will NOT work to help provide sufficient insulation from the cold ground or snow. I had this out in snow country for two nights and I definitely felt the chill from the ground snow emanating through this pad. The problem, I think, is the thinner fold lines have little barrier to the cold. Sure, it's easy to fold and compact, but this comes at a price. Those thinner areas really affect the insulation properties. I also own a Therm-A-Rest RidgeRest , which provides EXCELLENT insulation, but it doesn't fold (it rolls up) and a fair bit denser and heavier. The lighter weight and compact size of the Z Lite definitely has a trade-off. Another complaint is it's too narrow for a medium to large build man. The sides of my sleeping bag drape over the edge and catch the condensation from the tent floor (which incidentally has a tent floor protector and an additional layer of tarp!). This pad will work if you use it as an auxiliary sleeping pad to accompany another warmer sleeping pad, such as a Klymit Insulated Static V Sleeping Pad . They don't even carry this at REI (but they do carry the Ridgerest). Does that tell you something? With so much criticism, why 4 stars? Because this is a perfect lightweight sleeping pad solution for Summer, late Spring, or early Fall. It is one of the lightest, if not THE lightest, sleeping pad you can find. I like this pad for milder temps, not for colder temps. It might or might not work for you depending on the temps you use it in and on whether you're a warm sleeper. My advice to the warm sleeper (like myself): use this pad with an additional auxiliary air sleeping pad placed on top of it.

Everyone needs this. I don't care if you only sleep outside once a year, you sleep in your car, or if you nap on your workplace floor... you NEED this if you are a hardcore sleeper like me. It's incredibly light, and can be made lighter if you choose to cut it to cut base weight. It can't be popped, and there's no blowing involved. It holds warmth well. It's not flimsy. AND the grooves on the device capture the straps on the bottom of your backpacking pack to prevent sliding. This is ESSENTIAL if you partake in any outdoor activity or sleep in questionable places. Camping, climbing, backpacking, beaching, picnicking, you name it.

I recently purchased the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Camping and Backpacking Sleeping Pad to use with my Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Topo Luxe mattress and have been extremely happy with the combination. The Z Lite Sol sleeping pad is lightweight and compact, making it easy to pack and carry on backpacking trips. It's made of a closed-cell foam material that provides good insulation and support, and is durable enough to withstand rough terrain. The pad also has a reflective layer on one side, which helps to retain heat and keep you warm on colder nights. When paired with my air mattress, the Z Lite sleeping pad provides an extra layer of comfort and insulation. The air mattress is already a comfortable option on its own, but the added support and insulation of the pad makes it feel even more luxurious. I've used this combination on a few backpacking trips now and have been consistently impressed with how well it sleeps. Overall, I'm really pleased with my purchase. It's a high-quality, reliable sleeping pad and has helped to improve my sleep on the trail. I would definitely recommend it to other outdoor enthusiasts looking for a comfortable and lightweight sleeping pad option.

Got one for camping and backpacking and was surprised with how warm it feels. It’s not an air mattress, but with a nice sleeping bag it’s a nice option. It’s long enough for my feet and won’t ever deflate. As a big guy my elbows do tend to fall off the sides but making it wider wouldn’t make sense for carrying. I like how you can double or triple it up in any way. I’ve found though it doesn’t really make much of a difference in comfort when sleeping if you double it up, but your legs will get cold. It makes more sense to use it in one layer and get your whole body on it. But for sitting around heck yeah triple it up or leave it all the way folded as a chair. I may end up cutting mine down if the need arises, they’re pretty affordable so I’m not worried about destroying it. I use a zero degree XL bag and it’s totally fine, but I don’t know if you’d be as comfortable with a 20,30, or 40 degree sort of bag. You’ll probably survive but you’ll probably be wearing all your cloths. It’s just really nice to not have to worry about a puncture and you don’t have to inflate it, it’s really light weight and carry’s well on the outside of packs. Heck yeah!

Very comfortable and warm. Could be used for ultralight backpacking. I use it as a camp seat and to put under my sleeping pad for extra warmth. A little bulky to pack, but it doesn't weigh anything so totally worth it.