Stuff We Like: Therm-a-Rest

Sleeping pads provide cushioning to help you get a good night’s sleep.

Most are either inflatable, like the Therm-a-Rest Trail Scout ($60, thermarest.com), or are made with closed-cell foam, like the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL ($40, thermarest.com).

Closed-cell foam pads are usually more durable, but they’re bulkier. The Z Lite SOL’s foam is softer on top for comfort and denser on the bottom for durability. Inflatable pads roll down to fit snugly inside your backpack. The Trail Scout packs down to less than a foot long.

There’s no rule saying you can use only one pad. By layering multiple pads, you get more padding and raise your R-value, which basically measures how warm a pad is.

With the Z Lite SOL’s 2.0 R-value rating combined with the Trail Scout’s 3.1, together they should provide enough insulation for all-season camping.