Question 1

This item seems similar to therm-a-rest ridgerest solite (which costs less) - any thoughts about which sleeping pad is better for light use?  thanks

Accepted Answer

The Thermarest Ridgerest Solite has R value 2.8 (better) but rolls up into a cylinder while the Thermarest Z-Lite Solite has R value 2.6 but folds up into a rectangular box (easier or more compact). To save about $10 get the Ridgerest. If carrying it outside your backpack consider getting a nylon carry bag to protect it from getting torn up on branches and tree limbs and bushes.

Question 2

Hello, does this come with the tie down straps?

Accepted Answer

no,it folds like a accordion,I use compression straps on my pack to hold it while hiking in.it is very light and comfortable and reflects heat back towards your sleeping bag. i use this every time i camp or hunt.This year alone i probably have slept on it 30 times,this is my second one i have bought once they get to tore up to use cut the old one up and use it for a camp seat or a glassing pad.....two words "Get One"

Question 3

Does this pad also insulate from heat?

Accepted Answer

A very curious question.  I'll give a guarded yes, but it is best to read the explanation below to understand better.
   A thermal insulator restricts heat flow from one heat source at a temperature to another at another temperature. The 'ground' might be a cold 50F, and the objective is to restrict the flow of heat from your body, wanting to stay 98.6F.    Your clothing acts as insulation, your sleeping bag adds even more  with its down or synthetic fill, and your sleeping pad acts to insulate you a bit more. All of these 'restrict' loss of heat from your body. If the total of the 'R' values is too great, your body, acting as a heat source, gets 'hot' and wants to shed heat, first by sweating, then by forcing you to unzip the bag and vent heat. If the total of these 'R' values is too small, your skin temperature drops as body heat flows away to the ground (or cold air), and you first begin to feel cold, then shiver to generate more body heat.  
   Now if the outside temp or air temp is HOT, that's a more usual situation to be concerned about. Let's say were out doors or indoors and the temperature is over 110F. In the context of a sleeping pad and camping, it would mean we have shed the sleeping bag, we have minimal clothing on, we're still sweating, and we're hoping for a breeze to evaporate sweat from our skin to cool our body from the oppressive heat.  With respect to a pad like this, we definitely DON'T want to sleep on the reflective side, since that silvered side does reflect some of our body infrared heat back to us, but instead lay on the other side, the yellow pad - that side only acts as a foam cushion for our body. Unfortunately, it does not absorb our sweat, so it feels uncomfortable, not allowing our sweaty body to evaporate the sweat to cool us in any way. So, for example, if we were laying on our pad, yellow side up on a surface at 110F, it would help keep us cooler (at our 98.6F), but we'd still be very uncomfortable laying on that pad, and in that hot air all around.  Unfortunately, in a situation where the air temperature is 110F, the best use of this pad  to keep your body cooler would be to have someone fan you with the pad to evaporate the sweat on your skin to cool you down.
   Now if we were hiking in a thermally active area, and we found the ground temperature to be like 150F - really HOT, but not hot enough to 'melt' the pad - we could sit on an insulating pad like this, maybe only opening it to double its folded accordion size to use as a seat, and then the R value would be much higher that way, maybe 5X greater, and you'd find you could sit on that pad setting on the 150F 'ground', and not 'burn' your bottom. If you just laid the pad out normally, you'd find it helped, but not enough not to feel the heat - in that case the 'R' value is just too low to help enough to restrict the heat from the super hot ground to your bottom. 
   You could also cut up this pad or any closed cell pad of 1/2" to 1", and use it as a 'hot pad' to help you pick up a pot of boiling water without burning your hands... in a similar way, you could wrap that pot of boiling water with the pad to keep it hot longer (acting like a Kozy) or with an ice cold drink to keep it cold longer. Remember, however, that the 'R' value isn't that high, and that the pad is only 'restricting' the flow of heat to some degree, so little by little your hands would begin to feel the heat of the hot water. It's about temperature differences and flow: Boiling 212F-98.6F=114F difference; Ice 32F-98.6F=-66F; you'd feel the affect of heat flowing from the boiling water before the chilling flowing from a block of ice using the same thickness of foam to hold (or sit on) these, and how hot or cold your hands (or bottom) would get would depend on how high an 'R' value the pad had to restrict heat flow.

Question 4

Does it come with a carrying bag?

Accepted Answer

it comes in a thin plastic bag; not a carrying bag, but it could last for a couple trips if you're very careful with it.

ASIN	B005I6R0WC
ASIN	B00BP651QQ
Best Sellers Rank	22,819 in Sports & Outdoors ( See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors ) 32 in Foam Sleeping Mats for Camping
Brand Name	Therm-a-Rest
Colour	Blue
Customer Reviews	4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (6,182)
Customer reviews	4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (6,182)
Date First Available	30 Dec. 2011
Department	Men's
Global Trade Identification Number	00040818066706
Included Components	Sleeping Pad
Item Dimensions L x W x Thickness	182.9L x 50.8W x 1.9Th centimetres
Item Type Name	Camping and Backpacking Sleeping Pad
Item Weight	0.41 Kilograms
Item model number	Therm-a-Rest
Manufacturer	Therm-a-Rest
Manufacturer	Therm-a-Rest
Manufacturer Part Number	040818066706
Material Type	ThermaCapture foam
Model Number	040818066706
Product Dimensions	53.34 x 15.24 x 17.78 cm; 453.59 g
Release date	1 Jan. 2012
UPC	040818066706
Unit Count	1.0 Count
Variety	Closed Cell Foam Mattress
Water Resistance Level	Water Resistant

Therm-a-Rest Z-Lite SOL Mattress: Closed-Cell Foam Sleeping Mat, Limon/Silver, One Size, Foam with Aluminum Reflective Barrier

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