Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sleeping Pad Review

The Therm-a-Rest Z-lite sleeping pad (long and short) is a top-rated non-inflatable foam sleeping pad you can buy from a mainstream manufacturer. With an R-value of 2, it doesn’t absorb rainwater and folds up like an accordion so it can be easily strapped to the outside of your pack.

The eggshell pattern is fairly comfortable and will support your hips if you are a side sleeper. I prefer the short pad which is 51″ long because it only weighs 10.20 oz. The longer 72″ pad weighs in around 15 oz. The pad itself is 3/4 inch thick and is covered on one side with an aluminum coating that reflects your body heat back at you like an emergency blanket.

Being made of foam, the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite has many uses. I often carry one as an emergency sleeping pad when I lead cold weather trips to insulate an injured hiked from the cold ground, as extra insulation in the bottom of a packraft when paddling a cold river or pond, as a sit pad to keep my bum dry, water bottle insulation, or as protection under an inflatable sleeping pad. Being relatively inexpensive, you can also cut them up for a wide variety of different uses or when you want to trim off excess gear weight.

The Therm-a-Rest Z-Lite is particularly popular with thru-hikers who want a sleeping pad that is light and puncture-proof.

Disclosure: The author owns this product and purchased it using their own funds.