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Owner Review: Therm-a-Rest Z-Rest 3/4
Personal Biographical Info:
Name:
Stephanie Martin
Age:
28
Gender:
Female
Height:
5'5"
Weight:
145 lbs.
Email Address: syoong "at" alum "dot" mit "dot" edu
Location: Phoenix, AZ USA
Date:
October 14, 2002]
Background: Actively enjoying the outdoors regularly since 1996 starting in the Pacific Northwest. Enjoyed day hiking excursions in the Columbia River Gorge area, followed by some backpacking along the Pacific Crest Trail. Moved to the desert southwest in 1997 and have been actively day hiking most weekends (anywhere from low desert to mountain territory (7000+ ft)). Generally take a couple week long trips to the Grand Canyon annually. Backpacking philosophy has been rapidly moving towards ultra-light gear. Have also been participating in canyoneering since 1997. See
http://www.ToddsHikingGuide.com for trip reports.
Other sleeping pads used: Therm-a-Rest UltraLite 3/4, Therm-a-Rest Luxury LE
Product Information:
Manufacturer:
Cascade Designs [http://www.cascadedesigns.com]
Year of Manufacture: 2000
Listed Weight:
11 ounces (2002 model as listed on manufacturer's website)
Weight as Delivered: 10.5 ounces
Size:
20x51x3/4 inches
Style of Product: Compact closed cell foam pad
Field and Test Information:
Location(s) of test: Various locations including Grand Canyon, Arizona, Zion National Park, Utah and Yosemite National Park, California
Terrain:
From Canyon Bottom to Mountainside - elevations up to 8000 feet.
Weather Conditions: Mild evening temperatures down to 40 degrees F to hot sweltering nights.
Description of Experience and Comments on Product Performance:
During my continued endeavors to make my pack-weight as small as possible in the name of ultra-light backpacking, my husband and I stumbled across a unique backpack design that made use of a Therm-a-Rest Z-Rest as the pack's backpad and structural support. Having gear that serves multiple purposes made sense, especially if it enabled me to continue to decrease pack weight. Intrigued, I made the jump, purchased a Z-Rest and have been quite happy with the results.
The Z-Rest 3/4 is a closed cell foam pad that has sections that fold accordion-like for quick, compact and simple storage. It lies flat immediately, unlike rolled closed-cell foam pads, and doesn't require any additional fuss or adjustment as self-inflated mattresses do. In addition, because it is made of closed cell foam, it is puncture-proof - a definite added bonus to those who camp in the desert and commune with prickly things. The Z-Rest's closed cell foam is imprinted with a knobby pattern, not unlike that of an egg crate, though much smaller in dimension.
While I find this pad quite comfortable to sleep on, it probably is better suited to warmer weather due to the fact that your lower legs extend past the sleeping pad. I do tend to sleep cold, so when I am out in cooler weather, I usually take my empty backpack and stick it under my feet along with anything else that might provide some insulation from the ground. I've found that if I am adequately prepared with clothes, I haven't had much of an issue with the thickness (or thinness depending on how you look at it) of this pad. For those who like to sleep on their side, as I am prone to doing, the pad provides adequate cushioning of the hips, though I sometimes wish it provided more - especially if I'm camped out on a hard surface rather than on grass, duff or sand. While the Z-Rest provides a little less cushion than a self-inflating mattress, I haven't lost any rest due to discomfort.
Overall, I've been quite happy with this sleeping pad. It's quick and easy to set up and pack away and it's puncture proof! The Z-Rest has formed a permanent place in my backpacking gear and is an excellent option for those who are seeking a lighter weight sleeping pad option at a small cost in comfort (compared to the Therm-a-Rest UltraLite family of sleeping pads).
Read more reviews of Therm-A-Rest gear
Read more gear reviews by Stephanie Martin
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