Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol vs NEMO Switchback
In short: The Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol saves 0.5 oz; the NEMO Switchback is 0.9 inches thick against 0.75.
| Spec | Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol | NEMO Switchback |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$60 | ~$60 |
| R-value | R 2 | R 2 |
| Season band | Three-season | Three-season |
| R-value standard | ASTM F3340 | ASTM F3340 |
| Weight | 14 oz | 14.5 oz |
| R per ounce | 0.14 R/oz | 0.14 R/oz |
| Thickness | 0.75 in | 0.9 in |
| Pad type | closed-cell foam | closed-cell foam |
| Inflation | none | none |
| Dimensions | 72 × 20 in | 72 × 20 in |
| Packed size | 20 × 5 × 5.5 in folded | 20 × 5 × 5.5 in folded |
| Insulation | Moulded crosslinked polyethylene foam with a reflective ThermaCapture face | Dual-density closed-cell foam with a low-emissivity reflective film |
| Top fabric | not published | not published |
Shaded cells mark the row where one has a measurable advantage. Weight, thickness, girth and shape are left unshaded on purpose: heavier is sometimes tougher, wider is sometimes warmer, and calling a winner on those would be an opinion dressed as a measurement.
What each one does well, and costs you
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol
- Zero failure modes: no valve, no seams, no baffles, nothing that can leak at 2 a.m. in the rain.
- Stacks under an inflatable in winter for roughly two extra points of R-value and a layer of puncture protection.
- Unfolds in one motion and packs in another — no pump sack, no waiting, no breath.
- $60 for the Regular, a quarter of what an ultralight air pad costs, and it will outlast three of them.
- Doubles as a sit pad, a pack frame sheet and a windbreak for a stove, which is why it survives gear culls.
- R-value 2 is summer-only on its own; on frozen or even cold damp ground it will not keep up with a 20 °F bag.
- Three-quarters of an inch of foam means side sleepers feel every root, and there is no adjusting it.
- It does not pack down — it straps to the outside of the pack and catches on branches.
- The dimples compress permanently over a season or two of heavy use and the pad loses some of its already-modest warmth.
NEMO Switchback
- 0.9-inch nodes are the deepest of the accordion foam pads, which is where its small comfort edge comes from.
- R-value 2 with nothing to leak, nothing to inflate and nothing to carry a repair kit for.
- Stacks under an inflatable to add roughly two points of R-value and protect the fabric.
- $60 and effectively permanent — the cheapest sleeping system insurance there is.
- R 2 alone is summer-only, exactly like every other closed-cell pad.
- Straps to the outside of the pack and snags on brush; it does not compress.
- 0.9 inches of foam still lets a side sleeper feel the ground.
- Half an ounce heavier than the Z Lite Sol for a very small comfort gain.