2026 Thermarest Sleeping Pad Weight Comparison

When you ask which thermarest sleeping pad to carry, the numbers draw a clear line between weight and the stated r_value. The lightest on the shelf at 10.0 oz is the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite™ SOL Sleeping Pad - Blue / Silver / Small, which costs $50 and provides an r_value of 2. The shelf median is heavier at 14.5 oz and more expensive at $200. Going lighter on this shelf means giving up the warmth rating of the median models, which reach an r_value of 4.5.

RidgeNote ranks 11 models from this brand based on published weight. We measure the weight, the price, and the stated r_value to show exactly what you gain and what you give up when you choose one model over another.

Every figure here comes directly from the maker and the retailers. We do not test the gear, and we do not estimate any numbers. This guide tells you what the numbers say so you can decide where to put your money.

The picks, with their figures

1. Lightest under $150.00

   Therm-a-Rest Z Lite™ SOL Sleeping Pad - Blue / Silver / Small

   10.0 oz · #1 of 11 · lighter than 100% of the shelf · $49.95 · $5.00/oz

   The Therm-a-Rest Z Lite™ SOL Sleeping Pad - Blue / Silver / Small is the lightest on the shelf at 10.0 oz. It costs $50 and provides an r_value of 2. By choosing the absolute lowest weight, you accept an r_value below the median and pay less than the median price of $200.

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2. Lightest with an r_value of 3.1 or higher

   Therm-a-Rest NeoAir® XLite™ NXT Sleeping Pad - Regular Short

   11.5 oz · #2 of 11 · lighter than 90% of the shelf · $199.95 · $17.39/oz

   The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir® XLite™ NXT Sleeping Pad - Regular Short weighs 11.5 oz and costs $200. It is the lightest on the shelf to provide an r_value of 4.5 at 11.5 oz. By moving up to this model, you accept a weight heavier than the absolute lightest pad at 10.0 oz but gain a higher r_value for exactly the median price.

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3. Lightest with an r_value of 4.7 or higher

   Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT

   15.5 oz · #7 of 11 · lighter than 40% of the shelf · $208.49 · $13.43/oz

   The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT weighs 15.5 oz and costs $208. It is the lightest pad on the shelf to provide an r_value of 7.3 at 15.5 oz. It is heavier than the median, but it delivers an increase in the stated r_value for just above the median price.

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4. Cheapest on the shelf

   Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest® Classic Sleeping Pad - Regular

   14.0 oz · #5 of 11 · lighter than 60% of the shelf · $34.95 · $2.50/oz

   The Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest® Classic Sleeping Pad - Regular is the cheapest with a listed price at $35. It weighs 14.0 oz, which is lighter than 60% of the shelf. It provides an r_value of 2 and costs less than the median price of $200.

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How to read this shelf

RidgeNote ranks this shelf of 11 models purely by weight, starting with the lightest model at 10.0 oz. When a model is labeled lighter than a certain percentage of the shelf, that figure tells you exactly where it sits in the pack. A pad lighter than 50% of the shelf sits precisely at the median. The median weight here is 14.5 oz, and the median price is $200. The entire ranking relies strictly on the published figures.

The spread from the lightest model at 10.0 oz to the heaviest at 70.4 oz is 60.4 oz. The lightest on the shelf at 10.0 oz is the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite™ SOL Sleeping Pad - Blue / Silver / Small, which is lighter than 100% of the shelf. At the far end, the heaviest model on the shelf at 70.4 oz is the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing™ 3D Sleeping Pad - Large, which is lighter than 0% of the shelf. This gap of 60.4 oz shows exactly how much the weight varies depending on the r_value and price you select on this 11-model shelf.

The median price per ounce across the 11 models is $5.00/oz. The median gives you a baseline to judge every other pad against. When a pad is lighter and more expensive than the median, RidgeNote computes the price per ounce saved versus the median to show exactly what the weight reduction costs. For example, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT sits at 12.9 oz and $209, and asks $6.29 per ounce saved vs the median.

By reading the rank, the weight, the price, and the stated r_value, you can see the precise trade every model makes. A lower weight almost always means either a higher price or a lower r_value, and the rank shows you exactly how steep that trade is. We read these figures daily and present them without interpretation. You can trust that every percentage and every dollar amount listed comes directly from the comparison of the 11 models on this shelf.

The weight-for-money trade

The lightest pad under $150.00 at 10.0 oz is the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite™ SOL Sleeping Pad - Blue / Silver / Small, costing $50. This model has an r_value of 2 and a price per ounce of $5.00/oz. It is the lightest on the shelf at 10.0 oz, showing that the absolute lowest weight here at 10.0 oz does not require the median price of $200. It is lighter than 100% of the shelf.

However, if you want a higher r_value, the cost of weight reduction changes rapidly. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir® XLite™ NXT Sleeping Pad - Regular Short weighs 11.5 oz and costs $200, giving an r_value of 4.5. Its price per ounce is $17.39/oz, and it is lighter than 90% of the shelf. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT weighs 12.9 oz and costs $209, bringing an r_value of 4.5 and a price per ounce of $16.18/oz. It is lighter than 80% of the shelf. Comparing the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir® XLite™ NXT Sleeping Pad - Regular Short at 11.5 oz and $200 against the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT at 12.9 oz and $209, the lighter model costs less, while both models share the exact same r_value of 4.5. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT asks $6.29 per ounce saved vs the median.

The cheapest with a listed price at $35 is the Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest® Classic Sleeping Pad - Regular. It weighs 14.0 oz, giving a price per ounce of $2.50/oz and an r_value of 2. Comparing the Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest® Classic Sleeping Pad - Regular at 14.0 oz and $35 against the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite™ SOL Sleeping Pad - Blue / Silver / Small at 10.0 oz and $50, the heavier pad costs less.

The Therm-a-Rest Original Z Lite™ Sleeping Pad costs $50 and weighs 14.0 oz, the exact same weight as the $35 model, but has an r_value of 1.7. The price per ounce is $3.57/oz, and it is lighter than 70% of the shelf. As the weight goes up on this shelf, the price does not strictly rise or fall; instead, it tracks closely with the stated r_value. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT weighs 15.5 oz and costs $208, providing a higher r_value of 7.3 and a price per ounce of $13.43/oz.

Moving to the heavier end of the shelf, the trades become even more pronounced. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir® XTherm™ NXT MAX Sleeping Pad - Regular Wide weighs 22.4 oz for $250, with an r_value of 7.3 and a price per ounce of $11.16/oz. It is lighter than 30% of the shelf. The Therm-a-Rest Trail Scout™ Sleeping Pad - Regular weighs 23.6 oz and costs $90, offering an r_value of 3.1 and a price per ounce of $3.81/oz. It is lighter than 20% of the shelf.

The Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft™ Sleeping Pad - Regular weighs 25.0 oz and costs $250, with an r_value of 4.7 and a price per ounce of $9.99/oz. It is lighter than 10% of the shelf. Finally, the heaviest model on the shelf at 70.4 oz is the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing™ 3D Sleeping Pad - Large, which sits at $260. It offers an r_value of 7 and a price per ounce of $3.69/oz, and is lighter than 0% of the shelf. Comparing the Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft™ Sleeping Pad - Regular at 25.0 oz and $250 against the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing™ 3D Sleeping Pad - Large at 70.4 oz and $260, the lighter model costs less.

The middle of the shelf

The middle of this shelf is anchored at a weight of 14.5 oz and a price of $200. The model sitting precisely at the 50% mark is the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol, which weighs exactly 14.5 oz and costs $60. It offers an r_value of 2 and has a price per ounce of $4.15/oz. Because it is lighter than 50% of the shelf, it defines the median weight precisely, even though its price falls far below the $200 median.

Moving one rank lighter brings you to the Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest® Classic Sleeping Pad - Regular, which weighs 14.0 oz and costs $35. It is lighter than 60% of the shelf and has an r_value of 2. Comparing the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol at 14.5 oz and $60 against the Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest® Classic Sleeping Pad - Regular at 14.0 oz and $35, the lighter model costs less. Both models share an identical r_value of 2.

Moving one rank heavier from the median brings you to the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT. This model weighs 15.5 oz and costs $208. It is lighter than 40% of the shelf and provides a higher r_value of 7.3. Comparing the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol at 14.5 oz and $60 against the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT at 15.5 oz and $208, the heavier pad costs more and increases the r_value from 2 to 7.3.

Moving lighter again to the model lighter than 70% of the shelf, the Therm-a-Rest Original Z Lite™ Sleeping Pad weighs 14.0 oz and costs $50, with an r_value of 1.7. Above that, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT is lighter than 80% of the shelf at 12.9 oz and $209, offering an r_value of 4.5. Comparing the Therm-a-Rest Original Z Lite™ Sleeping Pad at 14.0 oz and $50 against the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT at 12.9 oz and $209, the lighter pad costs more and provides a higher r_value of 4.5.

Above that sits the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir® XLite™ NXT Sleeping Pad - Regular Short, which is lighter than 90% of the shelf at 11.5 oz and $200. It shares the same r_value of 4.5. Comparing the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT at 12.9 oz and $209 against the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir® XLite™ NXT Sleeping Pad - Regular Short at 11.5 oz and $200, the lighter model costs less.

Moving heavier again to the model lighter than 30% of the shelf, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir® XTherm™ NXT MAX Sleeping Pad - Regular Wide weighs 22.4 oz and costs $250, with an r_value of 7.3. Comparing the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT at 15.5 oz and $208 against the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir® XTherm™ NXT MAX Sleeping Pad - Regular Wide at 22.4 oz and $250, the heavier pad costs more while keeping the r_value identical at 7.3.

Continuing down the shelf, the Therm-a-Rest Trail Scout™ Sleeping Pad - Regular weighs 23.6 oz and costs $90. It is lighter than 20% of the shelf and provides an r_value of 3.1. Comparing the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir® XTherm™ NXT MAX Sleeping Pad - Regular Wide at 22.4 oz and $250 against the Therm-a-Rest Trail Scout™ Sleeping Pad - Regular at 23.6 oz and $90, the heavier pad costs less and drops the r_value from 7.3 to 3.1.

Who should not buy the lightest

The lightest on the shelf at 10.0 oz is the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite™ SOL Sleeping Pad - Blue / Silver / Small, but the scale cannot measure every reason you might leave it behind. RidgeNote measures only the published weight, the price, and the numeric r_value. We do not evaluate durability, comfort, warmth, or weather resistance. The figures alone can never promise that a model will suit your specific needs in the field.

A pad with the lowest weight at 10.0 oz may not offer the dimensions or the fit you require. The register does not record how much space a model takes up in your pack, how loud it is when you shift during the night, or how easily it smooths out rocks and roots on the ground. We do not measure the materials, the construction methods, or how long the model will remain functional under heavy use.

The lightest models on this shelf at 10.0 oz also happen to have a lower r_value of 2. If you require a higher r_value for the temperatures you face, the 10.0 oz model will not suffice, regardless of the weight advantage it provides. The reader must judge their own requirements for fit, livability, and warmth against the stark numeric trade between weight and the stated r_value. Do not buy the absolute lightest model at 10.0 oz if the numbers ask you to give up a dimension that you rely on to sleep well.

Every model on this shelf, lightest first

11 Therm-a-Rest sleeping pads. Median 14.5 oz, median price $199.95, median $5.00 per ounce.

The whole category, every model placed: the sleeping pads measured.

What we did not measure

The scale cannot measure every reason you might leave a sleeping pad behind. RidgeNote measures only the published weight, the price, and the numeric r_value. We do not evaluate durability, comfort, warmth, or weather resistance. A pad with the lowest weight at 10.0 oz may not offer the dimensions or the fit you require.

The register does not record how much space a model takes up in your pack, how loud it is when you shift during the night, or how easily it smooths out rocks and roots on the ground. We do not measure the materials, the construction methods, or how long the model will remain functional under heavy use.

If you require a higher r_value for the temperatures you face, the absolute lightest models at 10.0 oz will not suffice, regardless of the weight advantage they provide. The reader must judge their own requirements for fit, livability, and warmth against the stark numeric trade between weight and the stated r_value. You must weigh the published figures against your own expectations for durability and comfort.

Questions people ask

What is the lightest thermarest sleeping pad?

The lightest on the shelf at 10.0 oz is the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite™ SOL Sleeping Pad - Blue / Silver / Small. It costs $50 and is lighter than 100% of the shelf. It offers an r_value of 2 and has a price per ounce of $5.00/oz.

Which model is the lightest with an r_value of 4.5?

The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir® XLite™ NXT Sleeping Pad - Regular Short is the lightest pad with an r_value of 4.5 at 11.5 oz. It costs $200 and is lighter than 90% of the shelf. It represents an increase in weight over the absolute lightest model at 10.0 oz, but raises the r_value.

What is the heaviest model on this shelf?

The heaviest model on this shelf at 70.4 oz is the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing™ 3D Sleeping Pad - Large. It costs $260 and offers an r_value of 7. It is lighter than 0% of the shelf, providing the heaviest weight on the shelf at 70.4 oz.

What is the median cost for a pad on this shelf?

The median price across the 11 models on this shelf is $200. The median weight sits at 14.5 oz, and the median price per ounce is $5.00/oz. This median provides a baseline to judge the trades made by every other pad.

How much does the cheapest model weigh?

The cheapest with a listed price at $35 is the Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest® Classic Sleeping Pad - Regular. It weighs 14.0 oz and offers an r_value of 2. It is lighter than 60% of the shelf.

The picks, head to head

• NeoAir® XLite™ NXT Sleeping Pad - Regular Short vs Z Lite™ SOL Sleeping Pad - Blue / Silver / Small