Therm-a-Rest Z Seat Review

Overview

The Therm-a-Rest Z Seat is a six-panel, accordion-folding sit pad made from the same cross-linked polyethylene closed-cell foam as Therm-a-Rest’s popular Z Lite SOL sleeping pad — just cut down to butt-sized dimensions. It’s a pared-down version of the popular Z Lite pad. At 57g (2 oz) with an R-value of 2.2, it’s aimed squarely at the ultralight crowd who want a thermal barrier between their backside and cold, wet, or jagged ground without taking a meaningful weight hit. It’s designed with ultralight backpackers, budget-conscious hikers, and minimalists in mind — its basic design, compact profile, meager 2-ounce weight, and many possible uses make it a top choice for those looking for a backpacking seat without the weight, complications, or price tag of a tent-style chair.

Key Specs

Spec	Value
Weight	57 g (2 oz)
Dimensions (flat)	13” x 16” x 0.75” (33 x 41 x 2 cm)
Packed Size	12” x 2.5” x 2.75” (30 x 6 x 7 cm)
R-Value	2.2
Material	Cross-linked Polyethylene closed-cell foam
Closure	Bungee cord
Made In	USA
Comparison	See how the Z Seat compares to similar gear

Performance

Insulation and Weather Protection

An R-value of 2.2 is real — enough to make a noticeable difference on cold granite or a snow-covered log. The silver side is Therm-a-Rest’s ThermaCapture coating, designed to reflect radiant heat back to you. Therm-a-Rest says it can increase warmth by 15%. I don’t obsess over which side faces up, but on a cold morning at elevation, having it silver-side down into the snow does feel meaningfully warmer than bare foam. The closed-cell construction also means it’s completely waterproof — wet logs, muddy rock slabs, and snowfields are all fair game without soaking through to your pants.

Packability and Carry

This is where the Z Seat earns its reputation. Therm-a-Rest has designed the Z Seat to be extremely packable for a closed-cell foam pad. There are six panels that nest inside each other when not in use to take up minimal space. Most competitors have fewer but larger panels, so when folded, the overall dimensions are larger. The Z Seat is a bit thicker but narrower when folded up, which makes it easy to store in a side pouch, with your sleeping pad, or inside the pack. It fits in a water bottle pocket on most packs and straps cleanly to the outside if you prefer quick access on trail. Comparing packed volume to something like a Helinox Chair Zero (1 lb 2 oz and the size of a Nalgene), the Z Seat is essentially a non-issue in your kit.

Stability

On uneven terrain, the Z Seat wins outright. Foam gets good purchase on sloped terrain and rocks. Where a smooth material might slide, the Z Seat conforms under pressure to the surface it’s on and allows you to find comfort in the myriad uneven places that we sit outdoors. An elevated chair becomes unstable on sloped or uneven terrain, but this pad makes a stable, padded seat out of almost any location, even jagged flows of volcanic rock.

Comfort

Let’s be honest about what this is. The Z Seat ranks high for weight, packability, stability, and ease of use — but not comfort. You’re getting 0.75” of foam between you and the ground, zero back support, and a slightly nubbly texture from the egg-carton dimple pattern. It’s made from the same nubbly material as the Z Lite sleeping pad, which isn’t the most comfortable material. When sore and tired, this bumpy pad is actually a little uncomfortable for some users. That said, compared to sitting on a sharp wet rock at mile 18, it’s a revelation.

Size

The unfolded size of 13” x 16” will offer enough coverage for many hikers, but larger folks may find that when sitting on wet ground, the width is not quite enough to prevent moisture from wetting their hips where they hang over the edge.

Some users also

note that it’s truly just a sitting pad and you’re only ever going to get your butt to fit on it, wishing it were just a little bit bigger to rest their thighs on it and keep their legs out of the dirt.

Versatility and Durability

Users deploy it as a seat, back rest, clean surface for food prep, foot pad when changing shoes, extra sleeping pad layer under the hips, and as a wrap around wet sandals when attaching them to the outside of a pack.

This size also works well for ultralight backpackers who carry a short sleeping pad and want to add the Z Seat as an extension under their knees or feet. Because it’s closed-cell foam, a puncture won’t hurt it, so you can even rig up an attachment system to connect it to your short Z Lite SOL for added length.

On longevity: after four years of use, the egg-carton bumps have slightly flattened on older pads, but they are still offering plenty of insulation and padding. The one weak point is the bungee closure — Therm-a-Rest uses elastic to keep the pad folded, but it’s likely going to break at some point. It’s made of a simple shock cord and will succumb to the elements before too long. That said, it’s not critical and can be replaced easily. I’d consider threading a small loop of Dyneema cord through the existing hole as a more permanent solution.

One practical note: the brown color version matches the color of every log and pile of duff on the trail — worth avoiding if you tend to leave gear behind at camp. Go for blue or yellow if absent-mindedness is a known personal trait.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Exceptional weight-to-function ratio at just 57g
• Genuinely effective insulation from cold and wet surfaces (R-2.2 plus ThermaCapture coating)
• Virtually indestructible closed-cell foam — no air valves to puncture, no poles to snap
• Highly stable on uneven, rocky, or sloped terrain
• Packs smaller than most competitors thanks to the six-panel accordion fold
• Instant deployment — unfold and sit
• Multi-use across camp tasks, sleeping pad extension, knee pad, and more
• Made in the USA

Cons

• No back support whatsoever — it’s a pad, not a chair
• Cushioning is modest; the nubbly texture can feel rough after a long day
• 13” x 16” coverage is snug for larger hikers — hips may overhang on wet ground
• Bungee closure is prone to wear and eventual failure
• Priced notably higher than generic foam knock-offs that work nearly as well
• Dark color options blend into trailside debris — easy to accidentally leave behind

Who Should Buy This

It’s a low-risk, low-reward seat cushion for thru-hikers and other gram counters who don’t want to carry a 1–2 pound backpacking chair. If you’re the type of backpacker who files down your toothbrush to save weight and space, you’ll probably like this highly packable sit pad for rest stops, summit photos, and campsite meals.

It’s also a smart add-on for anyone running a short torso-length sleeping pad who needs a lightweight knee or foot extension at camp. If you have mobility issues that make getting up and down from the floor difficult, or genuinely need back support after a long day, step up to something like the Helinox Chair Zero — you’ll thank yourself.

Verdict

The Z Seat does one thing exceptionally well: it puts a meaningful thermal and physical barrier between you and the ground for essentially no weight or packability cost. There’s no framing it as something more comfortable or supportive than it is, but within those honest constraints, it’s hard to argue against it. At 57g, the question isn’t really whether the comfort trade-off is worth it — it’s whether you’ll actually remember to pack it. I give it an 8/10: loses two points solely for the limited coverage size and the uninspiring bungee cord, and gains them all back the moment you sit on cold granite and your hiking partner doesn’t.