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.

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.

It actually works. Radiates the heat back up tp your body. Paired with a nice sleeping pad, sleeping bag (liner optional) with 5+R value. I'll have no problems keeping warm.

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.

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.

The media could not be loaded. This product really grew on me. When I first strapped it to my backpack I didn’t really like the look of it, but by the first use I can say that it is a great addition to a sleep system. It is comfortable enough that you could potentially sleep on it by itself, and sometimes I do take short naps at on it. But personally, to get the best sleep, I like use an inflatable sleeping pad on top of this. It is great for cowboy camping and greatly improves comfort when camping on gravel/sticks/rocky terrain. Makes a nice yoga mat, beach towel, and sit pad.