Thermarest Vs Foam Mat

A guide to the best ultralight backpacking sleeping pads.

Thermarest vs foam mat. Air pads are the luxurious ultralight option with thicknesses reaching up to 4 inches. 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. Care of your thermarest. Offering a better night under the stars we ve been responsibly crafting the best camp gear since 1972.

Air foam and self inflating. Fortunately the neoair range was redesigned in 2020 and the newer model. 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. By combining open cell foam and a space for the pad to expand and fill with air it brought convenience decent durability and comfort.

We take 4 highly reviewed and purchased camping pads and put them through our four element testing process. Foam pads and inflatable pads models compared for klymit sea to summit nemo exped big agnes rei therma rest and gossamer gear. Self inflating mats the self inflating mattress was a revolutionary idea when the therm a rest was invented in 1972. Our award winning sleeping pads sleeping bags and pillows offer the comfort portability and quality you need for your camping and backpacking adventures.

Air and foam pads take up the top 30 spots on our chart. Always use it with a plastic sheet underneath to protect it from stick and stone punctures. Classic closed cell foam pads aren t as comfortable and don t pack. 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.

Considerations include ease of inflation weight compactness insulation and r values length and shape of your pad. As sleeping pads go there s little to debate in terms of the lightest types. The foam is denser at the bottom and softer at the top for better comfort level. I camped in australia over 30 years and recommend the thermarest hands down.