A close look at two sleeping pads buyers cross-shop. They score within a hair of each other, so it comes down to the details below.
| Exped FlexMat 1.5R | Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 79✓ | 78 |
| Warmth (R-value) | 1.7 R | 2.0 R✓ |
| Weight | 11.5 oz✓ | 14.5 oz |
| Warmth-to-weight | 0.52 R/100g✓ | 0.49 R/100g |
| Packed size | 6.60 L✓ | 7.85 L |
| Thickness | 0.7 in | 0.8 in✓ |
| Durability | 100 /100 | 100 /100 |
| Price | $44.95✓ | $49.95 |
| Features | 0 | 0 |
| Type | Closed-cell foam | Closed-cell foam |
| Shape | Rectangular | n/s |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: FlexMat 1.5R in blue, Z Lite Sol in amber. A blank spec is never counted as a win. GearScore is the rating for the Overall use-case (0 to 100). Pick another above to re-score. Prices are current MSRP.
Put the Exped FlexMat 1.5R next to the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol and the trade-offs are clear. They are close enough that this really is about which handful of specs you weight most.
The FlexMat 1.5R is 3 oz lighter, stronger on warmth-to-weight, and more packable (6.6 L vs 7.9 L). The Z Lite Sol is warmer (R 2 vs R 1.7) and thicker for more cushion. Their GearScores land within a couple of points (79 vs 78), so neither runs away with it.
Pick the FlexMat 1.5R if you care most about low weight and warmth-to-weight, which makes it the better call for counting grams on long miles. Pick the Z Lite Sol if warmth and cushion matter more to you, or you are focused on colder nights and shoulder-season trips.
The Exped FlexMat 1.5R. It is 3 oz lighter than the Z Lite Sol.
The Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol. It is warmer (R 2 vs R 1.7) than the FlexMat 1.5R.
They are nearly tied at 79 and 78 on the default algorithm, so re-weight the score to your own priorities to break the tie.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the FlexMat 1.5R for low weight, or the Z Lite Sol for warmth. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.