Pros:

• Ultralight (11.22 oz)
• Great value
• Fast & easy to set up & break down
• Durable (won’t puncture or pop) & can be used as a sit-pad

Cons:

• Not comfortable, especially for side-sleepers
• Bulky

Review of Therm-A-Rest Z Lite (Small)

Weighing in at just 11.22 oz and costing a fraction of other ultralight sleeping pads, the Therm-A-Rest Z Lite (small) is the best option we’ve found for backpackers wanting to minimize weight and cost.

With its folding design, it also is incredibly easy to set up and break down in the morning–an important consideration for backpackers on the move with lots of miles to cover each day. Unlike inflatable pads that either take time and energy to blow up in the evenings, or time to compress and roll in the mornings, the Z Lite can be ready to use or pack within a few easy seconds.

The downside? It’s not comfortable, especially for people (like me) who typically sleep on their sides. I slept on a Z Lite for 20 nights in the High Sierras last summer, and to be completely honest the first week was rough. I felt like I wasn’t able to get enough sleep due to waking up every time I rolled over, and in the mornings my shoulders and hips felt like I’d been sleeping on little foam balls–which I basically had. However, by the second week I started to adapt and found it easier to sleep on my side and stomach. I also started laying any extra clothing, maps, etc. under my shoulders and hips to cushion them.

The only other downside is that it’s somewhat bulky. We saw lots of people with inflatable sleeping pads that were about the size of a soda can and could be easily packed inside their backpack. This wasn’t a major issue for me, though, as it was easy to strap it to the outside of my pack. Since it was so light I hardly even knew it was there, unless I was navigating through a narrow section on the trail and had to do a little side maneuver to get through.

Regarding the size (small)–since my trip was in the July and I knew I wouldn’t be camping on any snowfields, I was fine with the small size. It extended from my shoulders to about halfway down my calf (I’m about 5’4″). My legs and feet below the pad were definitely colder than the rest of my body that was on the pad, but I found that putting my pack or my rain gear/any extra clothing under my feet helped keep them warm enough, even at 11,000+ feet elevation. I also slept in tights which kept my feet warmer, and on really cold nights I added a layer of mid-weight long underwear. To me, the extra weight savings were worth the smaller size.

Conclusion

The Therm-A-Rest Z Lite is a great option for ultralight backpackers on a budget. In terms of weight saved per dollar, the Z Lite is pretty impossible to beat. Plus, its 5-second set-up and break-down time frees up valuable time on the trail for hiking or relaxing.

However, if money isn’t a limiting factor–or if you’re going to be on the trail for longer than a few weeks–I’d recommend splurging on an ultralight inflatable pad like the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad, which is about 3 oz lighter than the Z Lite (if you get the size small), less bulky, and by all reports pretty darn comfortable. (It’s also about $100 more expensive.)