BackpackGearTest.org - Therm-a-Rest Z-Rest Owner Review by Gabriel Krieg

Owner Review: Therm-a-Rest Z-Rest sleeping pad Name: Gabriel Krieg Email: Gkrieg@gmail.com Age: 18 Gender: male Height: 5'10" (177 cm) Weight: 135 lbs (61 kg) City: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Date of Review: January 16, 2005 I started backpacking on my own six years ago. I have hiked many trails ranging from Zion National Park in Utah, to the Green Mountains in Vermont. I have also done several portions of the Appalachian Trail, Cumberland Island, most other Georgia trails, as well as a few random spots around the Southeast. I am a fan of lightweight backpacking. I like to go fast, have long days, and get in and out of camp as quickly as possible. I usually go backpacking at least once a month. Product Information: Manufacturer: Therm-a-Rest Manufactured: 1995 MSRP: US$ 34.95 Weight: 15 oz (425 g) Weight as Tested: 13 oz (370g) Manufacturers Stated Dimensions: • Folded Size: 20 x 5 x 5.5in. (51 x 13 x 14 cm) • Unfolded Size: L 6 ft x W 20 in (L 185 x W 51 cm) • Thickness: 0.75 in (2cm) Dimensions as Tested: Same as manufacturers dimensions Field Information: This pad has been used in the following locations • Zion National Park, Utah • The LaSal Mountains near Moab, Utah • The Green Mountain portion of the Vermont Long Trail/AT • Pine Mountain, Georgia • Conecuh National Forest in Andalusia, Alabama • Cumberland Island, Georgia • All of the Appalachian trail in Georgia • Various campsites around the southeast Description: The Z-Rest is a light blue (the new ones are bright orange), closed cell foam pad that folds like an accordion (hence the Z in Z-rest). It consists of fourteen W 20 x L 5 inch (W 51 x L 13 cm) sections with "egg carton" indentions so that adjacent sections fit together snugly when folded. It is designed primarily for lightweight backpacking, and is considered a three season sleeping pad (Spring, Summer, and Autumn), but I have used it year round for the past 3 years. Comfort: The main appeal of this pad is its weight. At around 13 oz (370 g), it weighs less than a pound (<450 g), making it an ideal pad for those who are trying to cut the overall weight of their pack. This pad offers significantly less padding than a self-inflating pad. Rocks, sticks and bumps in the terrain can usually be felt when lying down on the Z-Rest, however, it still is much better than sleeping on the bare ground. It also does not offer the same degree of insulation as a self-inflating pad, but once again it is huge step up from bare ground. Despite the compromise that comes with this type of pad, I strongly prefer it over self-inflating pads for several reasons. It weighs less than half as much as the average self-inflating pad, and it can be setup or folded in a matter of seconds. I usually fold several sections over each other where my head would lie in order to make a pillow. The Z-Rest can be folded in half or in thirds to make a nice camp seat, or a shorter, but more comfortable sleeping pad. Trail Experience: I purchased this pad in 2002 after flying to Utah, only to discover, in horror, that I had forgotten my self-inflating pad. I stopped into the first camping store I could find and purchased this Z-Rest for the very reasonable price of US $24.95. It was intended to be a temporary replacement for self-inflating pad, but I quickly learned to love it, and it is now the only pad I will carry. I am 5'10" (177 cm) and this pad fits me very nicely. There is plenty of extra room for me to stretch out or roll around at night. I have used it on all sorts of terrain and in a variety of climates. I have no complaints with it in below freezing weather. I have used it in conditions as cold as 5° F (-15° C). Please keep in mind that I also use a bag that is rated to (and performs at) 0° F (-18° C). In warmer climates, my backpacking partners often complain of their self-inflating pad becoming too hot at night. I have also experienced this on my self- inflating pad, but never with my Z-Rest. Another advantage that the Z-Rest has over self-inflating pads is that it has never slipped out from under me when I was sleeping (due in part to the egg-carton pattern), a problem commonly encountered by many backpackers who use self-inflating pads. The Z-Rest is waterproof, and has proven to be extremely durable with no tears, and only minor wear on the foam. An

excellent pad for lightweight backpacking! Pros: • Lightweight • Easy to fold/unfold • Can be used as a campseat or folded to make a pillow Cons: • Not as comfortable as an self-inflating pad • Not as warm as an self-inflating pad

Reviews > Sleep Gear > Pads and Air Mattresses > Therm-a-Rest Z-Rest > Owner Review by Gabriel Krieg

Reviews > Sleep Gear > Pads and Air Mattresses > Therm-a-Rest Z-Rest > Owner Review by Gabriel Krieg