Therm-a-Relaxation Z Lite Sol Sleeping Pad Evaluate

Backside Line

The Therm-a-Relaxation Z Lite Sol is an effective selection for minimalist backpackers and thru-hikers who need a no-brainer, rolls-with-the-punches, low-weight sleeping pad. Its closed-cell foam design makes the Sol practically indestructible, and it’s decently comfy for being underneath an inch thick. 

CleverHiker founder, Dave Collins, used this pad on his PCT thru-hike, the place he discovered its sturdiness and ease of use to be massive wins on the path. Whether or not you’re utilizing the Z Lite Sol as a main sleeping pad, a sit pad, an additional insulation layer for winter tenting, and even as a canine mattress, it’s one of the crucial versatile sleeping pads on the market. 

The Z Lite Sol excels in weight, price, and comfort, nevertheless it does have limitations. The skinny foam might be uncomfortable on rocky or uneven terrain, particularly for facet sleepers. And with common use, the froth nodes are inclined to compress increasingly, lowering total consolation. It additionally has a low R-value, making it finest for gentle climate and summer season use. 

However in the event you don’t thoughts sleeping on agency surfaces and need one of the crucial sturdy, easy-to-use, and reasonably priced sleeping pad choices available on the market, the Z Lite Sol is a good selection.

Consolation

Like with most closed-cell foam sleeping pads, consolation shouldn’t be the Z Lite Sol’s robust go well with. The pad’s 0.75-inch thickness isn’t very plush, particularly in comparison with inflatable choices which can be three to 5 occasions thicker. However it does supply sufficient insulation and padding to really feel pretty comfy on most surfaces, particularly for sleepers who’re okay with agency pads. The fabric is dense however versatile and is supportive, particularly for again and stomach sleepers on well-chosen campsites. 

Nevertheless, this pad’s consolation received’t be ideally suited for everybody. Aspect sleepers might wrestle to get night time’s relaxation because the Sol’s minimal cushioning doesn’t present help for hips and shoulders. On rocky and uneven terrain, you’ll really feel each bump beneath you, so selecting campsites rigorously is vital. Moreover, foam pads compress over time, reducing the Sol’s consolation the extra you utilize it.

If you happen to’re after plush, smooth consolation, we’d advocate trying out one among our air pad suggestions. However in the event you’re a heavy sleeper that’s okay with agency surfaces, this pad will do the job nicely. If you happen to’re headed for an extended thru-hike, additionally, you will get used to sleeping on the Sol Z, and finally, the agency sleep floor will go unnoticed (until you need to sleep on a scree discipline).

Weight & Packability

The Therm-a-Relaxation Z Lite Sol is among the many lighter sleeping pads we’ve examined over a few years, making it a favourite for ultralight backpackers and thru-hikers. 14 Ounces is an effective weight for a sleeping pad, and it’s essential to maintain weight down on lengthy journeys with massive mileage and hard ascents. 

The closed-cell foam design of the Z Lite folds up accordion-style, so it solely takes seconds to deploy and pack up. And it simply straps to the skin of a backpack with out the concern of punctures or harm. 

Regardless of its low weight, the Z Lite Sol is sort of cumbersome. At 5 x 5.5 x 20 inches when folded, this mannequin is many occasions bigger than an inflatable backpacking pad. It takes up a significant quantity of house on the skin of a pack, which might be inconvenient for folk with smaller backpacks or minimalist kits. For hikers trying to reduce quantity, this pad shouldn’t be probably the most space-efficient possibility, and also you would possibly think about an air pad that packs up smaller.

Heat

The Therm-a-Relaxation Z Lite Sol has a comparatively low R-value of two, so it’s finest for summer season and fair-weather adventures. Its closed-cell foam development successfully traps physique warmth, and the silver heat-reflective coating bounces heat again to the sleeper to assist retain heat. The froth construction gives dependable insulation from the bottom to forestall warmth loss and create an environment friendly barrier. And for backpackers heading into freezing situations like excessive alpine terrain, shoulder season situations, or winter adventures, the Sol is a vital piece of substances to make use of underneath an air pad to spice up heat. 

The Z Lite Sol’s skinny foam can really feel inadequate when temps dip beneath 40°F. In comparison with thicker, insulated air pads, it lacks the loft, insulation, and depth that traps extra heat air. Additionally, as the froth compresses over time, its insulating properties would possibly diminish barely, lowering its total heat. 

This pad shouldn’t be ideally suited by itself for cold-weather treks the place thicker, extra superior insulation is important. The reflective coating will put on off after heavy use, reducing its means to retain warmth. Aspect sleepers particularly might discover chilly spots because of the minimal cushioning.

Ease of Setup

Organising a sleeping pad doesn’t get any simpler than the Therm-A-Relaxation Z Lite Sol. Its accordion-style design unfolds in seconds – excellent for hikers who worth effectivity and ease. Because it’s a foam pad, there’s no want for inflation, it may well’t be punctured, and also you’ll save each time and your lungs. 

The Sol’s simplicity is very good when arriving at camp late or in unhealthy climate, the place a fast setup is handy. Its inflexible form means it may be positioned immediately on the bottom with out a lot adjustment and there’s no danger of it shedding form or firmness. Plus, the Z Lite Sol is senseless to pack up: merely fold it and strap it to your bag.

Sturdiness

The Therm-A-Relaxation Z Lite Sol could be very sturdy, particularly in comparison with an air pad. The closed-cell foam development is almost indestructible: it’s extremely immune to punctures, tears, and abrasions, making it extremely dependable in rugged terrain the place inflatable pads would possibly fail. 

Its accordion design holds up nicely to numerous occasions folding and unfolding with out exhibiting indicators of damage, even after years of tough use. The pad’s foam is agency and dense, and resists compression higher than softer options. Its moisture resistance additionally provides longevity since it may well’t be broken by water or condensation and dries rapidly. Whether or not put immediately on dust, rocks, or in a tent, the Sol performs with minimal upkeep. 

That mentioned, after many makes use of, the froth will finally start to compress and collapse. This occurs principally in areas that bear extra weight, like sleeping in the identical place each night time on a thru-hike, and it’ll start to really feel much less soft and protecting over time. Thur-hikers on the path for 5 or 6 months would possibly count on to exchange their foam pads a few times throughout their journeys.

If sturdiness is your prime concern, a foam pad just like the Z Lite is a good selection – and when it does finally put on out, it’ll be reasonably priced to exchange.

Ought to You Purchase the Therm-a-Relaxation Z Lite Sol Sleeping Pad?

The Therm-A-Relaxation Z Lite Sol is a stable selection for hikers and backpackers who worth simplicity, sturdiness, and affordability of their sleeping pads. It’s finest for sound sleepers who don’t thoughts a agency sleeping floor and don’t really feel they want an inflatable pad’s consolation. 

Chilly-weather hikers who need an additional insulation layer for his or her air pad may even discover the Sol an amazing possibility. Its closed-cell foam development could be very sturdy and received’t fail in tough environments. And its multi-use design – whether or not as a sleeping pad, sit pad, or insulation layer – makes it versatile. The Z Lite Sol’s weight and ease of use are handy on lengthy treks and chilly adventures.

Alternatively, this pad shouldn’t be for folk who need cushioning and coziness out of their sleeping pads. Aspect sleepers might discover the Z Lite Sol too skinny and uncomfortable for prolonged use, and it falls brief on rocky or uneven surfaces. Its insulation worth can be minimal, making it finest for summer season adventures. And if you’d like a small, packable possibility, an inflatable pad shall be a more sensible choice. 

Foam pads just like the Z Lite Sol received’t be the very best match for each hiker’s fashion, and a lot of the CleverHiker crew prefers the consolation of air pads. Nevertheless, the Z Lite continues to be a superb possibility for some backpacking kinds and gives further safety and insulation when winter tenting. Many of the CleverHiker crew have a closed-cell foam pad for when the journey inevitably requires it.

What Different Sleeping Pads Ought to You Contemplate?

Our Greatest Backpacking Sleeping Pads gear information has prime suggestions for each sleep fashion and journey. Listed here are a couple of comparable pads that give the Z Lite Sol a run for his or her cash: 

NEMO Switchback Evaluate: The NEMO Switchback is almost an identical to the Therm-A-Relaxation Z Lite Sol: it’s additionally a closed-cell foam pad with an egg carton sample, excellent sturdiness, and an accordion-style folding design. Nevertheless, it’s a tad thicker and barely heavier, probably including extra consolation, however each fashions really feel fairly just like us. 

Klymit Static V2 Evaluate: If you happen to’re attempting to maintain prices to an absolute minimal, the Klymit Static V2 shares the budget-friendly enchantment of the Z Lite Sol. In contrast to the Z Lite, it’s an inflatable pad with extra consolation – it’s double the thickness, wider, and packs down smaller – although it’s much less sturdy and trickier to arrange. This is among the least expensive air pads on our record, however its decrease high quality is noticeable in comparison with higher-end sleeping pads.

NEMO Tensor Path Ultralight Evaluate: The inflatable NEMO Tensor Path is a high-quality inflatable pad for summer season use. We additionally actually just like the better-insulated Tensor All-Season. These pads supply the identical low weight because the Z Lite Sol however are far more comfy. And due to their wonderful pump sacks and valve designs, they’re additionally very straightforward to make use of. Air pads are additionally fairly sturdy when dealt with with a bit extra care, however they price considerably greater than the Z Lite Sol.