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

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.

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.