Thermarest Z-Lite Sleeping Pad

Nothing flashy; but a good, comfy pad.
February 03, 2011

This pad is pretty much a basic three season ground pad. It eliminates most small nuisances but isn't going to be comfy if laid on a rock bed of course. But for a cheap ground pad that can pack small I would recommend the Z-Lite.

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Great Pad
March 20, 2013

This is a great pad for the price. It is super lightweght and very durable. I used this pad for 8 days on a pack trip in Alaska during August of 2012. It is not your sleep number mattress at home, but it gets the job done. If you need something that you can easily bend in half and stuff inside your pack, this is probably not the pad for you. Otherwise, just strap it on the outside of your pack somewhere and go have a good time.

Small and light
May 18, 2011

Very small and light. No need to go with the long version. I'm 5 foot 11 and it was fine during a cold week in the Yosemite backcountry. Despite the 6 inches of may snow I had I still felt well insulated.

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Great pad!
October 11, 2011

I have used prolite before. It was great, but I had to worry about sharp objects when I sleep. It was kind of annoying. I got this pad for size S. It was good for all my needs, A bit bulky though. And I just throw it on the ground, worry free.

Comfortable and light
May 04, 2010

The comfort and weight are great, but it just doesn't pack well; it's too bulky. I was thinking of cutting off a section, but it still would take up a lot of room.

Bought it... but sent it back
June 17, 2004

This pad is definately comfortable but, I was unhappy with its pack size. Went with the ProLite 3 instead.

Can it get any lighter?
June 03, 2011

After an exhaustive search of most of the sleeping pad options I chose the Z-Lite since my top priority was weight. I think it was a good choice. The pad can fit in my pack or ride below. No risk of leaks with this pad which can also be used as a seat cushion. I like the limon color and how it folds up nicely.

Really Nice Sleeping Pad!
April 25, 2012

I bought this sleeping pad to go backpacking, and while I have only used it outside once, it preformed wonderfully. It is really light and easy to fold up. It is the most comfortable sleeping pad I have ever used.

Light, Compact, Insulated
July 19, 2011

Well, this is a very basic foam mat so there's little to be said about it. The mat serves its purpose well, it is very lightweight, it folds into a reasonably small brick and the amount of padding is about right (not too much, but enough). Manage your expectations; this is really just a foam pad - comfort is very limited, but for a minimalist backpacker this pad is the way to go. I like that there are no valves to fail and there's no skin to puncture - no matter what, reasonable padding will be provided.

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Good for the ultralight scene
September 25, 2012

As my title states, the Z-Lite is good for those backpackers trying to shave every possible ounce. I thought that was me until I actually used this pad. You are definitely sacrificing comfort for weight. However, the reason I'm giving this product 5 stars is it does what it's deigned to do very well. The material is durable and you don't have to worry about puncturing the skin on rocks; it's easy to fold up and strap to the bottom of your backpack; it works as a chair. BTW, I'm 6'2" and the medium pad is long enough for me. I'm skinny and I tend to be a sidesleeper, so I upgraded to a sleeping pad that only weighs a few more ounces. As long as you understand this is a truly minimalist product, then you should be fine on the trail.

Excellent lite-hike solution for a mat
January 20, 2010

This is the pad for me when needing to be lite. It is very versatile. Fully extended it serves as nice pad beneath the sleeping bag. Folded up in layers, it can be used as a comfortable chair when taking a break. I strap it to the outside of my pack since the small one is plenty narrow. Finally, the price is right! I highly recommend

Multi-use Pad
April 11, 2006

This sleeping pad is great. I bought a full length one and cut off the last four sections to make it a 3/4. I use the extra section for a seat cushion when car camping. The Z-lite works great with my ULA and Golite packs since they do not have internal frames. I use the Z-lite as a frame. No worries about getting a hole it in either. I replace mine after about 600-800 miles of hiking.

Great item!!
January 08, 2010

Great Camping pad!! I like how light weight it is!! The egg carton like construction is very comfortable!! Great Sleeping pad for the price!!

Great for car camping
September 01, 2008

Like previous reviewers, this is not necessarily ideal for backpacking because it does not shrink or compact down to smaller sizes. It's extremely comfortable because of the egg carton like construction.