Changed my mind about those cheap foam sleeping pads

I used to think spending $150 on a sleeping pad was just paying for a label. Took a cheap foam pad on a 3 night trip in the Smokies last fall and woke up every morning with my hips aching. Finally gave in and bought a Therm-a-Rest Z Lite for like $40 and it's way better than I expected. The trick is it's not just foam, it has those little egg crate bumps that actually trap warmth. I still don't get the people spending $200 on air pads though. Has anyone else been surprised by a budget friendly piece of gear that actually worked well?

2 comments

2 Comments

samjohnson15d agoMost Upvoted

Air pads are worth it for side sleepers like me.

rubyk8615d ago

i read somewhere that the foam pads actually have a higher R-value than people give them credit for... it's more about the air gap between you and the ground than just the thickness of the foam. the z lite is a solid choice for the money, i've seen a few overnighters swear by them for summer trips where you don't need as much cushion.