Thermarest Vs Foam Mat

Considerations include ease of inflation weight compactness insulation and r values length and shape of your pad.

Thermarest vs foam mat. The foam is denser at the bottom and softer at the top for better comfort level. The therm a rest z lite sol sleeping pad has an r value of 2 6 which is indeed good for a foam sleeping pad. Self inflating mats the self inflating mattress was a revolutionary idea when the therm a rest was invented in 1972. A guide to the best ultralight backpacking sleeping pads.

I used a foam mat to start but after it broke up i swapped to a thermarest and used the same one for at least 25 years. Always use it with a plastic sheet underneath to protect it from stick and stone punctures. By combining open cell foam and a space for the pad to expand and fill with air it brought convenience decent durability and comfort. As sleeping pads go there s little to debate in terms of the lightest types.

Care of your thermarest. As mentioned in our review of the xlite above if you want to get around the tiring task of having to inflate your neoair using your own lung power then you will want to carry a neoair pump sack. Air and foam pads take up the top 30 spots on our chart. We wanted to know the breaking point of each pad.

We take 4 highly reviewed and purchased camping pads and put them through our four element testing process. Classic closed cell foam pads aren t as comfortable and don t pack. Our award winning sleeping pads sleeping bags and pillows offer the comfort portability and quality you need for your camping and backpacking adventures. Offering a better night under the stars we ve been responsibly crafting the best camp gear since 1972.

Air pads are the luxurious ultralight option with thicknesses reaching up to 4 inches. Foam pads and inflatable pads models compared for klymit sea to summit nemo exped big agnes rei therma rest and gossamer gear. This backpacking sleeping pad also has a reflective coating thermacapture technology which reflects the body heat and thus makes the sleeping pad warmer. I camped in australia over 30 years and recommend the thermarest hands down.