Therm-a-Rest - Z Lite Original

We have a similar setup, but my wife and I share a double sized down quilt (EE Accomplice) on two air pads and our dog has his cut down ZLite and synthetic Kifaru woobie. Our dog (heeler) is about 40lbs. We are vigilant to keep him from getting on our uncovered air pads. Our quilt more or less covers our two pads, so it adds a layer of protection, but we insist that he stays in his ZLite as much as possible. We've gone out dozens of times and only lost a pad once when he was young and tried to bolt after a goat.

Z lite. Only about $50 and works great even in wet weather.

Have you considered a camping cot? There are a lot of ultralight options now which are about the same price as a good sleeping pad for side sleepers. The only difference being is the weight, you’re looking at around 1.5kg for a cot bed which would be double the weight of a sleeping pad. For me, the extra weight is worth it for the comfort. For context I’ve tried Therm-a-Rest, Big Agnes and Nemo mats. If I’m going for comfort, the cot bed wins every time.

Second this. Ridgerest or zlite closed cell foam pads are great for kids and actually pretty comfortable and sturdy. 

For one year trip I would use something cheaper, more sturdy than ultralight. Thermarest often listed is great but £50 decathlon air mat is more sustainable, you'll have less stress. To increase R factor, you can add some CCF pad.

Most closed cell foam pads will be lower R value but can easily get 2 to reach about the same. They tend to not be as comfortable though. Thermarest Z lite has been one of the better that I've seen, but most closed cell foam pads are about the same. I'd make sure to check the dimensions so that they work with you/your pack system.

I have been using my thermarest ccf pad for 20 years. Warm, durable, light weight.

I exclusively sleep on CCF mats. the best budget, packable and easily available option is the Decathlon MT500. The warmest is the Thermarest Ridgerest but it's bulky. The epxed flexmat, Thermarest Z lite and Nemo Switchback are all good but a bit more pricey. Don't get hung up on R values like you would with an inflatable pad. for some reason CCF mats always feel warmer, i think due to the density of the material. I've slept on ice in the alps with CCF mats. As always though it will depend on the person and you'd need to exercise caution with a young en.

Op zolder liggen 2 thermarest matten waar ik als kind nog op geslapen heb toen ik met m'n ouders kampeerde, 20-25 jaar geleden. Basic matjes, niet enorm dik maar tot ik m'n huidige (totaal niet compacte) tweepersoons van Redwood kocht altijd goed op geslapen.

I'm just saying all the ccf pads are essentially the same. Yes the decathlon one is better value than the thermarest or Exped or nemo.

agree with first paragraph but you don't always need extra gear to protect, just be careful (something-something skills and all). if you can get past that, the small pack size is a big draw for me i do miss the simplicity of my zlite. maybe i should call her

Careful about buying used zlites/switchbacks. Eggcrate style CCF pads do have a lifespan, will lose their supportiveness over time, and it's hard to tell via pics. The seller might not even realize that it's lost its supportiveness, since it happens slowly over time. Personally, I wouldn't buy a used eggcrate style CCF pad I can't touch and feel, even from a reputable, standup seller.

I havepunctured 2 thermarests on rocks pr thorns. I won’t be using them again.

the z lite and nemo tensor combo has never failed me

Big Agnes build quality and warranty are both poor. I've had two pads and a tent give up the ghost. They took my tent poles for months and sent them back without having fixed any of the numerous cracks.  Buy gear from a company who cares more than BA. Sea to Summit and therm a rest are much better pads.

I did the PCT with just the thermarest and it was fine. I did the AZT with Thermarest and 1/8" foam pad and it was awesome. I slept much warmer and it was very nice to have the foam pad for breaks.

we each have a folding cot with a thermarest and a sleeping bag. we go car camping so it all fits in the back seat and the trunk. We also have (what they call) a seven person tent, but it fits our cots and a folding table comfortably, and we can stand up in it.

I just Sept on the rei campwell for 7 nights. Best sleep I've ever gotten camping. I've had the klymit static v, and a foam thermarest. This thing is pretty big and not heavy but not light. Had it strapped to my Ibex 450 for the the entire week riding the lower half of the MABDR. I use 2 rok straps and it never moved. Absolutely love this thing. Both of my riding buddies were on blow up mats one Nemo and one thermarest. Both were cold and not sleeping well the whole trip. I'm a stomach and side sleeper.

There's another viable option you didn't mention; get a Switchback or Zlite. Inflatables are one of the biggest unquestioned dogmas of backpacking, and people don't realize that this is a genuine choice that they're free to make. Choosing to carry such a critical item that can also fail so spectacularly makes little sense to me. CCF doesn't need to be inflated, doesn't need to be deflated, doesn't need to be protected, never leaks or pops, never needs to be patched, can be deployed and put away in seconds, doubles as a luxury sit pad, doubles as a framesheet for frameless packs, doubles as a yoga mat for stretching out, etc. Switching from an inflatable to 6 panels of Switchback for 5.5 oz enlightened me, and I haven't carried an inflatable since. If it was cold, I would. But CCF works for the PCT. Regarding your lighter pack, there are a lot of little changes you could make, but here are the main ones: - your clothing is quite heavy. I'd replace the R1 with an alpha direct hoody. Your puffy is very heavy, and I'd replace it with an EE Torrid, or a cheap Decathtlon MT100, for less than half the weight. Your rain jacket can also be replaced with a cheap frog toggs for again half the weight. - ditch the sleep shirt and sleep pants, just sleep in your midlayers. Alpha direct is very comfy. I hike in shorts, and carry alpha direct pants (for cold mornings, cold passes, camp, sleeping) as well as an alpha direct hoody. I add <2 oz wind pants as needed - you could consider hiking stoveless. Simpler, easier, faster, just as tasty. If not, you can still lighten your cook kit. Replace Toaks 750 with Toaks 550 no handle. Replace the lid with the thin one made by Verkstan on Etsy. Get the world's lightest pot grabber by Grimwood Gear on Etsy. Replace the Pocket Rocket with a BRS3000T - getting a CCF sleeping pad allows you to ditch the sit pad - ditch the crocs - I'd replace the heavy cnoc bag with a platypus or Evernew bag - 1 oz of soap is a ton. You could carry 0.5 oz or less of a concentrated soap like this for the whole trail. I'd ditch the hand sanitizer.

What's your budget? From the lowest to the highest cost, here are some options: - layers of cardboard - plarn mat (requires time, grocery bags, plus skill in hand or hook crochet. I whittled my hook and tbh still have it). There are YouTube tutorials if you wish to make one. - second hand yoga mats plus a piece of mylar/survival blanket - second hand closed cell foam camping pads - second hand insulated inflatable camping pads - Walmart closed cell foam pads - new closed cell foam pads like a thermorest z lite - new insulated inflatable sleeping pads Have your tarp go under the mat and leave enough to drape over yourself as well. If you're not interested in buying a low profile bivy, duct tape and a tarp work well. Good luck friend. I've been there.

Yup. Those thick air mattresses are horrible to share with another person. I go with a good, solid cot with a thermarest for some padding and will never look back. For excursions where the cot is too bulky to bring along, the thermarest works fine.

I'd never talk you out of that, maybe only to upgrade the 1/8 to a torso length z-lite (my 1/8 shredded just looking at it). I only have my inflatable shipped out tome in the colder months. I love it. I love plopping down for a nap anywhere!

I use 6 panels of z-lite(shoulders to mid-thigh) with my pack under my legs when temps are above freezing. In colder weather I'll bring an additional full length 1/8" pad to go underneath.

My partner and I used to have the same problem where every time one of us moved, it felt like the other was on a trampoline ??. Switching to a foam pad (we went with a double Thermarest, but I've tested an Exped before and it was great) made such a huge difference for our sleep.