Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL vs NEMO Switchback (2026)
Two official Regular closed-cell foam pads with the same official R-value and the same official 72 × 20 in outline. The documented trade is a slightly lighter, thinner, less expensive Regular Z Lite versus a slightly thicker Regular Switchback.
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How this page was made: this is a research-based guide built from manufacturer spec and pricing pages and the findings of the reviewers we name and link. We haven’t field-tested these products ourselves, and we don’t give scores. How we pick.
Quick answer
Choose Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL ($59.95) if you want the official 14 oz Regular weight and 0.75 in profile at $59.95. Choose NEMO Switchback ($59.95) if you want the official 0.9 in Regular thickness at the same $59.95 official Regular price or you will accept the official 14.5 oz Regular weight, which OutdoorGearLab also measured at 14.5 oz.
Last updated Prices checked Nov 2026
Check Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL price (opens in a new tab)Check NEMO Switchback price (opens in a new tab)
Key facts at a glance
| Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL | NEMO Switchback | |
|---|---|---|
| Official price (fetched Nov 10, 2026) | $59.95 for Regular (official Small is $49.95). OutdoorGearLab, May 12, 2026, listed $60. CleverHiker, September 17, 2026, listed $60 | $59.95 for Regular (official Short is $54.95). OutdoorGearLab, March 23, 2026, listed $60. CleverHiker listed $60. The official page hero can default to the Short $54.95 price — confirm the Regular variant |
| Official Regular weight | 14 oz / 0.41 kg. OutdoorGearLab described the full-length pad as just over 14 ounces. CleverHiker listed 14 oz, Regular | 14.5 oz / 415 g. OutdoorGearLab weighed only 14.5 ounces on its scale. CleverHiker listed 14.5 oz, Regular |
| Official R-value / thickness / size | R-value 2; 0.75 in / 2 cm thick; 72 × 20 in / 183 × 51 cm. Official copy also says the ThermaCapture surface reflects radiant heat and that the dimples plus coating yield an R-value of 2.0 | R-value 2; 0.9 in thick; 72 × 20 in / 183 × 51 cm. OutdoorGearLab cited a claimed R-value of two. CleverHiker listed R-value 2.0 and 0.9 in |
| Official packed size | 20 × 5 × 5.5 in / 51 × 13 × 14 cm. OutdoorGearLab also listed 20-by-5-by-5.5 inches. CleverHiker listed 5 × 5.5 × 20 in | 20.0 × 5.0 × 5.5 in / 51 × 13 × 14 cm. CleverHiker listed the same 5 × 5.5 × 20 in packed size. Official Regular packed sizes are the same numbers; we did not re-measure packed volume |
| Official construction / other sizes | Molded closed-cell crosslinked polyethylene foam; ThermaCapture surface, use reflective side up per official copy; made in USA. Official Small is 10 oz, 51 in long, packed 20 × 4 × 5.5 in, $49.95 | Hexagonal dual-density Axiotomic foam with a metallized thermal film layer, per official copy. Official Short is 10.5 oz / 300 g, 51 × 20 in, packed 20.0 × 5.0 × 4.0 in, $54.95 |
We compared these pads using Therm-a-Rest’s official Z Lite SOL page and NEMO’s official Switchback page, both fetched November 10, 2026, plus OutdoorGearLab’s Switchback review dated March 23, 2026, OutdoorGearLab’s Z Lite SOL review dated May 12, 2026, and CleverHiker’s Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads guide, last updated September 17, 2026. This is a Regular-to-Regular foam-versus-foam comparison, not a remake of our foam-versus-inflatable guide and not an XLite or Tensor page. Official Regular R-values are both 2. Official packed sizes are also the same number: 20 × 5 × 5.5 in. The official difference that is actually on the spec sheets is thickness and half an ounce. We have not slept on either pad. We do not republish numeric scores. Official Z Lite copy also says you can layer the pad under another pad to add 2.0 R-value; that is the maker’s claim, and we have not measured a stacked R-value.
Choose the Z Lite SOL if you want the official lighter Regular foam pad at $59.95: official Regular weight 14 oz / 0.41 kg, ASTM R-value 2, 0.75 in thick, 72 × 20 in, packed 20 × 5 × 5.5 in, molded closed-cell polyethylene foam with a ThermaCapture surface, made in the USA. Official Small is a different SKU at $49.95, 10 oz, and 51 in long — this page compares Regular to Regular. Choose the Switchback if you want the official thicker Regular foam pad: official Regular price $59.95, official Regular weight 14.5 oz / 415 g, official R-value 2, 0.9 in thick, 72 × 20 in, packed 20.0 × 5.0 × 5.5 in, with dual-density Axiotomic foam and a metallized thermal film. Official Short Switchback is $54.95 and 10.5 oz — do not treat that as the Regular price or weight. We have not slept on these pads, and we don’t give scores. OutdoorGearLab reviewed the Switchback on March 23, 2026, and the Z Lite SOL on May 12, 2026, listing both at $60 and describing the Switchback as slightly more comfortable than similar foam pads. CleverHiker’s sleeping-pad guide, last updated September 17, 2026, also listed both at $60, 14 oz / 14.5 oz, R-value 2.0, and 0.75 in / 0.9 in. We cite the official Regular prices of $59.95 and report those $60 list figures as a disagreement.
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL vs NEMO Switchback: side-by-side
| Z Lite SOL Regular | Switchback Regular | |
|---|---|---|
| Official price (fetched Nov 10, 2026) | $59.95 for Regular (official Small is $49.95). OutdoorGearLab, May 12, 2026, listed $60. CleverHiker, September 17, 2026, listed $60 | $59.95 for Regular (official Short is $54.95). OutdoorGearLab, March 23, 2026, listed $60. CleverHiker listed $60. The official page hero can default to the Short $54.95 price — confirm the Regular variant |
| Official Regular weight | 14 oz / 0.41 kg. OutdoorGearLab described the full-length pad as just over 14 ounces. CleverHiker listed 14 oz, Regular | 14.5 oz / 415 g. OutdoorGearLab weighed only 14.5 ounces on its scale. CleverHiker listed 14.5 oz, Regular |
| Official R-value / thickness / size | R-value 2; 0.75 in / 2 cm thick; 72 × 20 in / 183 × 51 cm. Official copy also says the ThermaCapture surface reflects radiant heat and that the dimples plus coating yield an R-value of 2.0 | R-value 2; 0.9 in thick; 72 × 20 in / 183 × 51 cm. OutdoorGearLab cited a claimed R-value of two. CleverHiker listed R-value 2.0 and 0.9 in |
| Official packed size | 20 × 5 × 5.5 in / 51 × 13 × 14 cm. OutdoorGearLab also listed 20-by-5-by-5.5 inches. CleverHiker listed 5 × 5.5 × 20 in | 20.0 × 5.0 × 5.5 in / 51 × 13 × 14 cm. CleverHiker listed the same 5 × 5.5 × 20 in packed size. Official Regular packed sizes are the same numbers; we did not re-measure packed volume |
| Official construction / other sizes | Molded closed-cell crosslinked polyethylene foam; ThermaCapture surface, use reflective side up per official copy; made in USA. Official Small is 10 oz, 51 in long, packed 20 × 4 × 5.5 in, $49.95 | Hexagonal dual-density Axiotomic foam with a metallized thermal film layer, per official copy. Official Short is 10.5 oz / 300 g, 51 × 20 in, packed 20.0 × 5.0 × 4.0 in, $54.95 |
What are the pros and cons?
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL: pros
- Official Regular weight is 0.5 oz lighter (14 oz vs 14.5 oz) at the same official Regular price of $59.95
- Official Regular outline, R-value 2, and packed size match the Switchback’s official numbers, with a thinner official 0.75 in profile
- OutdoorGearLab, May 12, 2026, and CleverHiker, September 17, 2026, both still treat it as a reliable, puncture-proof foam pad and sit pad
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL: cons
- Thinner official Regular profile (0.75 in vs 0.9 in). OutdoorGearLab called it especially uncomfortable for side sleepers and only slightly more comfortable than sleeping on the ground
- OutdoorGearLab and CleverHiker both listed $60, $0.05 above the official Regular $59.95 we fetched
- Official R-2 is standalone mild-weather insulation, not a substitute for a thicker inflatable
NEMO Switchback: pros
- Thicker official Regular profile (0.9 in) at the same official Regular price of $59.95 and official R-value 2
- OutdoorGearLab, March 23, 2026, measured 14.5 oz and described it as slightly more comfortable than similar closed-cell foam pads because of taller, more spread-out nodes
- CleverHiker, September 17, 2026, named it Best Foam Sleeping Pad and listed the same 14.5 oz Regular / 0.9 in / R-2.0 figures
NEMO Switchback: cons
- Heavier official Regular weight (14.5 oz) and the same official packed-size numbers as the Z Lite, so it is not a packed-bulk win on the official table
- Official Short $54.95 is easy to confuse with the Regular $59.95 — confirm the size before you treat $54.95 as the Regular price
- OutdoorGearLab still described it as less than an inch thick, bulky on a pack, and not in the same comfort class as inflatable pads
Which should you choose: Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL or NEMO Switchback?
On the official Regular pages we fetched November 10, 2026, both pads are $59.95, R-value 2, 72 × 20 in, and packed 20 × 5 × 5.5 in. The Z Lite SOL Regular is the official lighter, thinner pad (14 oz, 0.75 in). The Switchback Regular is the official thicker pad (14.5 oz, 0.9 in). OutdoorGearLab’s 2026 reviews and CleverHiker’s September 17, 2026 guide both listed $60 and described the Switchback as the slightly more comfortable foam option. We have not slept on either pad. Do not mix official Small or Short prices and weights into this Regular comparison, and do not treat either foam pad as a 3-inch inflatable substitute.
Choose Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL if…
- You want the official 14 oz Regular weight and 0.75 in profile at $59.95
- You want the official made-in-USA Z Lite with a ThermaCapture surface, or you already use one as a sit pad or under-pad
- You are comparing Regular to Regular, not shopping the official $49.95 Small
Choose NEMO Switchback if…
- You want the official 0.9 in Regular thickness at the same $59.95 official Regular price
- You will accept the official 14.5 oz Regular weight, which OutdoorGearLab also measured at 14.5 oz
- You want the foam pad OutdoorGearLab and CleverHiker described as slightly more comfortable than similar closed-cell pads, without treating that as a score
Official R-2 is the same number on both Regular pads
Both official Regular tables we fetched November 10, 2026, list an R-value of 2. CleverHiker, last updated September 17, 2026, also listed R-value 2.0 for both pads and said R-value is additive if you put a foam pad under an inflatable. Therm-a-Rest’s official Z Lite page says you can layer the pad under another pad to add 2.0 R-value and puncture protection. That stacking language is the maker’s, and CleverHiker’s additive statement is the reviewer’s; we have not measured a stacked R-value and we do not invent a temperature rating from R-2. OutdoorGearLab’s Switchback review, dated March 23, 2026, cited a claimed R-value of two and found the pad warm enough as a standalone pad for mild conditions, including higher-elevation summer camps, while still describing it as much less insulation than the inflatable pads in that test. Official R-2 is not in the same class as the official XLite NXT Regular (R-4.5) or Tensor All-Season (R-5.4) figures on our other sleep pages.
Who should skip both of these Regular foam pads?
- Shoppers who want a 3-inch inflatable backpacking pad. That is a different official product class; see our foam-versus-inflatable guide and the XLite and Tensor pages.
- Anyone mixing official Small, Short, and Regular figures in one table. Official Z Lite Small is $49.95 and 10 oz. Official Switchback Short is $54.95 and 10.5 oz. This page is Regular to Regular.
- Side sleepers who already know they need thicker cushioning. OutdoorGearLab described both foam pads as poor for side sleeping compared with inflatable pads.
- People who want us to invent a “good to X degrees” rating from an R-value. We will not do that.
Frequently asked questions
Which Regular foam pad is lighter on paper?
Do they cost the same?
What are the official R-values?
Are the official Regular sizes the same?
Is this the same as foam vs inflatable?
Sources
Prices, specs and land-unit rules were checked on the pages below as of Nov 2026. Brands and land units change prices and rules often, so confirm them on the seller’s or official land-unit page before you buy or go.
- Cascade Designs / Therm-a-Rest: Z Lite SOL official product page (Regular $59.95, Small $49.95; Regular 14 oz / 0.41 kg; R-value 2; 0.75 in thick; 72 × 20 in; packed 20 × 5 × 5.5 in; ThermaCapture; official “add 2.0 R-Value” layering language; made in USA; fetched Nov 10, 2026) (cascadedesigns.com)
- NEMO: Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad official product page (Regular $59.95, Short $54.95; Regular 14.5 oz / 415 g, R-value 2, 0.9 in thick, 72 × 20 in, packed 20.0 × 5.0 × 5.5 in; Short 10.5 oz / 51 × 20 in; fetched Nov 10, 2026) (nemoequipment.com)
- OutdoorGearLab: NEMO Switchback review (March 23, 2026; $60 list, which disagrees with official Regular $59.95; scale weight 14.5 oz; claimed R-value of two; Regular 72 in vs Short 51 in; we do not republish numeric scores; fetched Nov 10, 2026) (outdoorgearlab.com)
- OutdoorGearLab: Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL review (May 12, 2026; $60 list, which disagrees with official Regular $59.95; full-length pad described as just over 14 ounces; 0.75 in thick; packed 20-by-5-by-5.5 inches; Switchback described as ever so slightly more comfortable; we do not republish numeric scores; fetched Nov 10, 2026) (outdoorgearlab.com)
- CleverHiker: Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads of 2026 (last updated September 17, 2026; Switchback $60 / 14.5 oz Regular / 0.9 in / R-value 2.0; Z Lite Sol $60 / 14 oz Regular / 0.75 in / R-value 2.0; both packed 5 × 5.5 × 20 in; additive R-value statement is the reviewer’s; we do not republish numeric scores; fetched Nov 10, 2026) (cleverhiker.com)
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