Thermarest’s Women’s ProLite Plus ($90; cascadedesigns.com/Therm-A-Rest) lets you have it both ways: The diagonal-cut foam provides warm and efficient insulation everywhere–including added warmth in the torso and feet, which are traditional cold spots for women–while the light, compact 1.8-pound, tapered design shaves off all excess. The 20-inch-thick pad is a great choice for cold-weather endeavors like mountaineering or ski touring.
Big Agnes’s Recycled Insulated Air Core ($89; bigagnes.com), at 1.7 pounds and 2.5 inches thick, may not be your traditional pad, but it will make you feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud. Plus, it’s super light and super durable.