The prolite is available in sizes down to 20"x36" at 8 oz.
http://www.rei.com/product/780988
Try making a cool cover from a durable fabric for whatever pad you choose.
I'd strongly recommend against any version of Z-lite for a young child. Think of the results of a spill or other unmentionable accident when it occurs on a Z-lite -- many many (hundreds) of little lakes. :)

@Walter
Pick your poison- I'll take dozens of little lakes on a non-absorbent pad than a big single puddle on the floor of the tent soaking into my expensive down bag... :)

The dangers of air pads and boys involve anything said young boy can poke into the air pad. Boys love poking things. A rock? Stick? Tent stake? All great!

As for Z-Lites and the "pockets"? If anything happens you take it outside and turn it over. Being non-absorbent all liquids go away quickly and it can be washed as well upon coming home.

Back when Ford was really little he had an accident first night out and thankfully he was on a Ridgerest, which I just turned over outside and then turned over to the fresh side. The sleeping bag didn't fare so well though and we shared a sleeping bag that night as a quilt.

"Boys love poking things"

This is so fraught with opportunity that the mind boggles. Indeed!

I do agree that a Z Rest or Ridge Rest would be much more practical and last for years. He'll only be two for year! (keep repeating that).

> a z-rest and put a ton of thomas the train stickers on it.
That's the best approach imho. Don't even show him the foam core.

cheers

Well, if you do go the air pad route, I'd get a custom made pad for you from Bender and give your son the BA pad. I like the z-lite idea as well. Stickers make anything cooler.

Kids are so spoiled nowadays! I didn't use a pad at all until I was in my 30's! :)

My 4 young kids sleep on a blue foam pad if it's going to be below 55 F at night. They roll off their pad at night anyway, and are usually sleeping *under* it by morning! My 7 year old (the oldest) can stay on a pad now though, and she likes the Thermarest Prolite small, which is full-length for her.

My kids (from 2 years on, now 5 and 6) sleep in summer on a Z-rest and when it's gets colder a 18mm closed cell foam mat. Haven't heared any complaints from them. they still sleep like babies. If they are gettng older and more sensible about the worth of gear I might give them short neo airs for summers and short exped downmats for colder periods. But only just then. As long as rocking and bouncing on their mats is still the favourite play they in no way get a selfinflatbale or airmat.

I have a 13 year old, but didnt overnight camp with him at that age.

I can tell you that even now my kid can sleep on a rock if he is tired. I have never seen anything like it. he will still fall asleep on the sofa in the living room and I get him up, walk him back to his room, and he never even remembers it the next morning.

I think buying an air pad especially a custom one for a two year old is a total waste.

I fully agree with a cut down ridge, or zrest, or even if you want to spend a little more one of the toros lites from GG.

I would hate to think of what our life would have been like if from two on my son demanded things, and I got them for him.

If you want to buy benders pad, I highly recommend you do so for yourself or your husband, to save some weight over the BA pads. I also recommend you dont get the non insulated ones. I use to live in VA in richmond for years and think you need at least a r2-4 pad for real 3 season use up in the shenandoah.

I happen to own one of the new trekker neo air large torso and love it for me (and I am 6' 5").

Fwiw, I think it's worthwhile to try out the z-rest, but my kid definitely does not sleep as soundly as all of your kids seem to. It's not just a matter of falling asleep, it's a matter of waking up multiple times in the middle of the night. Car camping, I can bring a couple pads to add some extra cushion and he does fine maybe waking up once in a while because of unfamiliar surroundings; in the crib he never wakes up in the middle of the night.

We all need sleep after a day of hiking, and if this will help him sleep at night and therefore keeps him from waking me up, so be it. It's not like I can tell a crying 2-year-old to suck it up in the middle of the night, when ultimately, he's going out because I want to.

I don't think I'm going to go with Bender's for the time being though, it just doesn't sound sturdy enough, although I loved the idea of using it for myself ;) But then again, the toddler is still going to be playing in the tent with my air mat even if he had his own. I will try the zrest because everyone else seems to have such good luck with it, hopefully it will work.