exped flexmat vs thermarest z litegold necklace for teenage girl

No duplication of photos, maps, or text without permission. This observation is of limited value, I know, because 95% of the time nobody is going to carry two pads, but the next time Im sleeping on the snow and carrying two pads, Im going to make sure they are of mismatched dimple pattern. That said, the Z Lite is still a great option if youre a gram counter or if youre looking to save a few bucks. NEMO Switchback Sleeping Pad The NEMO Switchback Sleeping Pad is slightly thicker than the Z Lite SOL. Wind river part three. This is one reason we recommend this pad so heavily for individuals undertaking extremely long treks or adventures where durability is critical. It doesn't get any easier than not having to inflate anything. Is the extra .15 thickness meaningful? The Switchback wins the comfort category and is the only non-air pad that made it on to our list of the 10 Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads. An additional R-value of 1 is usually a good hedge for women and other cold sleepers. As an organization, we feel this issue is too important to remain silent and do nothing. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. NEMO doesnt list R-values - they give an estimated temperature range instead. Questions, comments, or personal experience with the Exped FlexMat? CleverHiker.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Image by: @jitterbug_art, The OR Helium Rain Jacket and Pants (updated for 2020) are among the most affordable options in the ultralight rain gear market. 2022 Man Makes Fire by Wicked Cool Words LLC. Each segment weighs one ounce, and they are effortless to cut and shorten. 15 Best Camping Stoves We've started to refer to the Z Lite SOL as Ol' Reliable. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. We were curious to see how the two matched up, so we tested them side by side to determine a winner. Your email address will not be published. L.L.Bean: Get L.L.Bean's legendary customer guarantee and free shipping on $50+ orders! The tops of the FlexMats dimples flatten out when you lie on the pad, which is much softer and more comfortable than the Switchback and Zlite Sol. Often the SAR members would take a half Z Lite SOL, which would only weigh five or six ounces but provide a critical buffer between them and the rocks. Hes written thousands of articles and gear reviews, but what he enjoys most is testing and reviewing outdoor gear where it belongs outside. The Exped FlexMat Plus is a 1.5 thick closed-cell foam sleeping pad for backpacking and camping thats substantially thicker than the NEMO Switchback and the Therm-a-Rest ZLite foam sleeping pads. But as someone who loved the Nemo Switchback but wanted to try the extra thickness for side sleeping, I was pleasantly surprised to find it weighed almost the same. Casey Handley is an avid outdoor adventurer and self-described gear nerd. First, lets talk about sleeping on it. You wouldn't want to put it inside your pack, but if you were using a frameless backpack and didn't have a ton of gear, I suppose you could use it folded open, inside, against your back to provide structure and support to your backpack. Im a side sleeper, and on most foam pads I wake up every half-hour with sore hips, our tester said after sleeping on the FlexMat Plus for five nights during our Editors Choice trip to Bears Ears. Let us know! It's a no-frills, lightweight, easy to deploy sleeping pad that can be used alone in warmer climates or in conjunction with an inflatable pad as a four-season solution. No matter the size or style, the Z Lite SOL is affordable. The Switchback (left) packs down roughly an inch smaller than the Z Lite sol. It does, however, cost a bit less. Is the weight listed in the review from weighing the mat yourself, or the boxs claimed weight? It's durable from a this pad will not stop or be easily ripped perspective (although it can rip pay attention if it's attached to the outside of your pack and you're bushwhacking), but it's not quite as durable from a this pad is just 0.7 in / 2 cm thick perspective. And because its so light, you can easily strap it to the back or bottom of most backpacking packs and carry it without unbalancing your pack. There is also a long/wide version available. UPDATED: Two New BearVault Bear Canisters. Not only is it an excellent adjuvant to other sleeping pads, but the Z Lite SOL's closed-cell foam also made it great as an instant chair or place to kneel while out on the trail. The Z Lite SOL is ill-equipped to protect your hips and other pressure points from such hard surfaces and performs exponentially better on sandy or pine bough covered ground. The Exped FlexMat Plus is a folding accordion-style closed-cell foam sleeping pad with an R-Value of 2.2 (using the new sleeping pad R-value standard). This could make a difference over time as the nodes start to lose their ability to rebound after repeated compression. You help support OutdoorGearLab's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners. These are cookies without a clear purpose or those that we are still in the process of classifying. ): 72 x 20 x .75 in. Dimensions (L x W x H, reg. . At .9 of thickness, the nodes are also slightly taller with a dual-peak and valley design. We're Dave & Annie, the outdoor adventurers behind CleverHiker. They say the Switchback is effective all the way down to 20F, but we wouldnt recommend any closed-cell foam pad for sub-freezing temperatures (below 32F). The latest gear, trips, stories, and more, beamed to your inbox every week. There are a few other options in the sub-$40 range, but some foam sleeping pads cost upwards of $60 before tax nearly twice as much at the FlexMat. Packed size (L x W x H, reg. Get FREE 2-Day Shipping on orders over 49! If you like the idea of the lightweight chair pad, you can reduce the size by choosing the Small version, which is 20 x 51 long. Whether the Exped FlexMat is for you depends on where your priorities lie. Is it a good buy? I was thinking that youd need significantly more material to make it that much more comfortable, but I did the math and it is 26% heavier than the Zlite. Exped FlexMat Plus Foam Sleeping Pad Review. Disclosure: Exped provided the author with a pad for this review. For the moment I just tried the mat for one night and it is comfortable, but it seems to break in quickly. Check out all the new cool deals in the REI Outlet! Potentially sleeping on sand, perhaps on a river trip, would be soft enough for decent side sleep. About six months of use versus a brand new Z Lite. Theres no getting around it. A tough climb up to Indian Pass on the Continental Divide provided some pretty spectacular views. I assume the same would be true of a Switchback/FlexMat combination, and even to a ZLite/Switchback combo to some extent any combo where the two mats cannot nest together. Campaign Zero Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. The Z Lites MSRP is $5 less than the Switchback, so it takes the cost category, but both pads are priced similarly. How can we improve GearLab? The Exped FlexMat is interesting as it may appeal equally to both experienced and beginner backpackers. 20 Stocking Stuffers for Hunters Compared to ultralight air sleeping pads, the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL isnt particularly comfortable. Free Shipping and Returns. Here's everything you need to know about the Exped FlexMat to decide whether you should include it as part of your next outdoor adventure. The only situation where the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL excels as a backpacking sleeping pad is when you must sleep in thorny or sharp-rock conditions. This makes it much more comfortable to sleep on, perhaps enough that you'll want to switch back to using a foam pad instead of an air mattress. It folds down to 5 x 20.5 x 6 in / 13 x 52 x 15 cm and can be easily strapped to the top, bottom, or side of a backpack. Rim to Rim to Rim in a Day Guide Grand Canyon, New Bear Canister Regulations in Desolation Wilderness. I have to second to Chris, few weeks back I bought Flexmat Plus in Germany. This obvious fact took a big chunk out of the otherwise great score for weight and packed size. Patagonia: FREE Shipping at Patagonia.com on all orders of $75 or more! The Best Car Camping Bags and Pads of 2022. We love backpacking, international travel, useful gear, and all things nature. One of our favorite uses of the Z Lite SOL is as an R-value supplement to other, more comfortable sleeping pads for winter camping. It is available in three sizes, XS (51 x 20.5 in / 130 x 52 cm), M (72 x 20.5 in / 183 x 52 cm), and LW (77.6 x 25.6 in / 197 x 65 cm); all three are 0.7 in / 2 cm thick. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Its also significantly thicker than either of those other pads and more comfortable for side and back sleepers. Late to this conversation I know but touched on something Ive found. The PHPSESSID cookie is native to PHP and allows websites to store serialised status data. Relative to inflatable pads, it takes up an excessive amount of space with no way to compress or compact it. Many people wont find closed-cell foam pads comfy enough on their own - we certainly prefer air pads. With the FlexMat Plus, Exped has created a comfier, warmer foam mat without compromising the durability and price point that make them a favorite of budget-conscious hikers. If you have a particularly rough surface you're sleeping on, then you may want to spend some extra time clearing items from your campsite before laying down as you will feel what's below you to an extent with this pad. At just .75 thick, though, theres only so much cushion the Z Lite can give you over a full night. In fact, I sometimes bring the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL Sleeping Pad when I go backpacking . A thinner pad also comes with a lower R-value, but if you're using the FlexMat in three-season conditions (and avoiding snow), then it shouldn't be an issue. Functional cookies are strictly necessary to provide the services of the shop, as well as for its proper functioning, so it is not possible to refuse their use. The easiest way to get started fly fishing is with a fly rod and reel combo outfit. Were proudly donating 100% of our revenue from today to the following organizations to address social justice and policy change. . I used the Switchback many times, including a for month when i had a bad back in my living room and it still looks like new. Learn more. This makes it much more comfortable to sleep on, perhaps enough that youll want to switch back to using a foam pad instead of an air mattress because theyre virtually indestructible and far less expensive. The guys at Exped were surprised at the difference, so not sure whats caused it. The result is a pad that doesnt tack on too much weight, and feels great. 55 Best Gifts for Hunters The tops of the FlexMat Plus dimples compress flat when you lie on top of them, but warm air heated by your body heat, can still circulate in the air channels around their base. Even compared to the largest inflatable mat we tested, the Z Lite is cumbersome. Something we dont really like about the Z Lite is that when you lay on it, the nodes compress almost completely flat and provide very little support. In our opinion, the Switchback ekes out the win thanks to its superior comfort and packability. The beauty of the Z Lite SOL was that it offered insulation and relative comfort in almost any situation. We tested the Z Lite SOL with the reflective side up and down and noticed a significant difference. The biggest Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL Sleeping Pad drawback is its packed size: Its bulky. If youre a side sleeper, your hip will likely get tired during the night. Another weight-saving trick is to utilize the Z Lite SOL as the back panel structure in frameless ultralight backpacks, such as the offerings from Hyperlight gear. (Therm-a-Rest lists the same packed dimensions even though the Switchback packs down about an inch smaller, see pics below). It allows to be isolated from the ground for more comfortable nights. If you find perfectly flat surfaces, the Z Lite SOL is survivable as a sleeping pad . Shes hiked thousands of miles on trails across America, including the Appalachian Trail, John Muir Trail, and the Long Trail. Orders placed after 3 p.m. on Friday August 5th will be shipped from Monday August 29th. No matter what your budget or backpacking style is, we can We help you find the perfect pad for your next backcountry the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews, Lightweight, warm for the weight, packs small, comfortable, versatile, Inexpensive, lightweight, great insulation adjunct, Lightweight, extremely affordable, small packed size, Expensive, edges not as stable as other pad designs, This model boasts a big weight savings, is comfortable, and provides great all around performance, This pad boasts an excellent value in a light and compact package, If sleeping on ultra-firm surfaces doesn't keep you up at night this is a solid option that won't pop, An ultra light and ultra cheap option for your next backpacking trip. To reach him, take a "firstnamelastname" guess at. Or cut just a couple of panels off to create smaller seat options that are still great for hiking and backpacking but take up less space. You can see the foam cells break down eventually losing a significant amount of padding over time. Side sleepers, who generally have a harder time with foam mats, may find this pad to be too thin if they are sensitive sleepers. Yes, it means you have an easily deployable mattress that won't get a hole in it and become useless (like an air pad), but it also means you need to cope with a large piece of gear that will not fit inside of your backpack. (As with all closed-foam pads, though, its much less packable than an air mat.) It stores information such as currency, language, customer ID, among other data necessary for the proper functioning of the shop. We use, test, and review gear including the best camping tents, best fly rod and reel combos, best fishing waders, best soft coolers, best camping stoves,SUPs, bikes, ski and snowboarding gear, and much much more. Oddly, both pads list the exact same packed dimensions on the manufacturer websites. Shop Cabela's and get free 2-day shipping on most orders over $50! Having the reflective material pointed towards our body was critical for getting the most warmth from this pad. and yet, its awesome, too. 25 Best Outdoor Gifts for Men When folded up (we had to hold the Z Lite down, because it has a habit of springing back up if you dont), the Z Lite measured 6.5 inches high and the Switchback measured 5.5 inches high (measured from the top of the tallest node to the ground). There is no worrying about popping it and spending the night flat on the ground; with the Z Lite SOL, you know exactly how uncomfortable you will be each night no matter what.