Thermarest z lite?

**heescha** · 02-20-2009, 13:48

any of you guys use this

what do you think of it? i just thought it would be a good substitute for the cheap walmart foam pads. with the blue wally world ones, it never seams to flatten out after you unroll it, but this should flatten out pretty well don't you think?

**angrysparrow** · 02-20-2009, 14:03

They flatten out well, and are warm, but are not very wide for hammock use.

**Hetairoi** · 02-20-2009, 14:09

I use the small one and can confirm the narrowness. It does slide around, but that's probably because I move around a lot and don't have a pad pocket.

I've also run into a problem where the sections will fold up, almost as frustrating as the blue pads not flattening out, but easier to remedy. The wider pads work much better in a hammock, but I still use the z rest because I'm stubborn.

**Spock** · 02-20-2009, 15:11

The egg-crate structure will compress in a hammock, reducing the r-value significnatly. Pieces of Z-pads are good as shoulder/knee protection to make a narrow pad lighter.

**deadeye** · 02-20-2009, 21:07

I carry 6 sections of a z-rest.

Very handy for a quick sit pad, goes under my knees in a hammock (I use a short BA inflatable or a short Thermarest for my torso, the z-rest keeps my knees from hyper-extending allnight), goes under my inflatable pad when I'm sleeping on the ground, and if all else fails, I can actually get a fair night's sleep on the z-rest alone. Way more durable than the blue foam

**Ekul** · 02-20-2009, 21:25

zrest is not so fun in a HH. folds up and then I have lump under my butt and lots of rolling left and right kicking with my feet to pull the **** thing straight. I love how it packs! got it for 10bucks at REI so I will not complain anymore.

**Nest** · 02-21-2009, 00:56

I think the thermarest ridgerest would flatten out pretty well. Haven't used one but from looking that them they seem to have more give and not fight you like the blue foam pads. I used a z-rest once in my hammock and I had the same problem as a few others. When you move around it slowly folds itself up and yuo get these ridges poking you and you have to re-flatten it. Kinda annoying.

**guySmiley** · 02-21-2009, 09:03

I've got one and although it can be made to work, it's nowhere near the best solution for keeping your backside warm enough to sleep.

Right now it's the only bottom insulation that I own for my Hennessy rig, which has me seriously lusting after the Speer SnugFit.

**RevoRunner** · 02-22-2009, 16:50

I tried one and sold it right after the trip. I didn't like the egg crate feel and it does tend to fold in inopportune moments (struggling around to get settled)

**DGrav** · 02-22-2009, 19:19

I carry one cut down to 5 sections as a sit pad and backup insulation if needed in the hammock. It works great in the sleeve of my JRB BMB but in my HH it was not so great.