[pct-l] Sleeping mats

[enyapjr at adelphia.net]

Craig's inquiry:
"I'm looking at buying a sleeping mat while I have someone in America  
to pick it up for me, I only have a couple off days to decide or it  
won't get to the store before my dad has to get on the plane to come  
back. So I'm looking for some quick advice. I thought I had  
previously heard of Z-Rest sleeping mats, but checking out REI.com I  
only see Therm-a-rest Z-Lites, I assume I just misread the notes  
before. Anyway, what are people thoughts on those. The egg-carton  
pattern looks like it makes sense, getting more lift from the same  
amount of foam/weight, packing in to a similar space as a roll-up  
mat. Are there other ones to consider? I currently have a "self- 
inflating" one, but the lining came away from the foam, so a big  
bubble has appeared on one side. Now solid foam seems like the way to  
go, how can that break?"

The Z-Rest was renamed 'Z-Lite' (probably just a marketing ploy in the lightweight 'revolution')...  it's one in the same...  weighs about 11 ounces...  Some say the Z-Rest is more versatile than a roll-up pad due to its folded nature...
Another possibility is the RidgeRest...  weighs about 9 ounces...  slightly thinner than Z-Lite, but I think it lasts a little longer...
Both of these pads "flatten out' with use, so would need to be replaced during a thruhike (if you need some padding like I do for 'some' comfort)...
Then there's also ensolite or evazote, or similar, pads (closed cell foam) which are fairly inexpensive...
It's your choice...
Happy trails!!!