AdventureXpert Evazote EV50 Review

Overview

AdventureXpert’s Evazote EV50 3mm is not a finished sleeping pad. It is a raw 1x2 m sheet of Zotefoam’s cross-linked, closed-cell EVA, sold for €30 and meant to be cut with scissors into whatever the buyer needs. Ultralighters use it as a torso-length summer pad, a puncture shield under an inflatable, a sit pad, or backpack framesheet material. The trade-off is simple: almost no weight and almost no failure modes, in exchange for almost no cushioning or insulation.

Key Specs

Spec	Value
Material	Closed-cell, cross-linked EVA copolymer (Zotefoam Evazote)
Density	50 kg/m³ (EV50)
Thickness	3 mm
Sheet size	1 x 2 m (listed as “not less than” 1x2 m)
Weight	300 g
Cell size	0.35 mm
Thermal conductivity	0.0404 W/m·K
Operating temperature	-70 °C to 65 °C
Tear strength	1,055 N/m
Price	€30

Performance

Weight and cut-to-fit economics. The 300 g figure is for the whole sheet, and the math is the appeal. AdventureXpert’s own pre-cut 0.5 x 2 m version of this foam weighs 135 g. Another vendor of EV50 in the same thickness reports 125 g for a 72 x 20 inch pad and 95 g for a 60 x 20 inch torso pad. One long-time UK gear blogger trimmed a 3 mm EV50 offcut to 910 x 400 mm with rounded corners and weighed it at 35 g. That is enough to cover shoulders to well below the hips. A single sheet makes several of these, which is why the 1x2 m format suits tinkerers better than people who want one pad.

Insulation. This is the limiting factor. Thermal conductivity of 0.0404 W/m·K on Zotefoam’s data sheet works out to roughly R-0.4 for a 3 mm layer. That is a rough on-paper figure, not a lab-measured R-value. Owners treat the foam accordingly: as a modest boost under an inflatable, not as a ground insulator for cold nights. Used alone, it is a summer pad for people who run warm and sleep on forgiving surfaces.

Comfort. At 3 mm, the foam provides a thin buffer against roots and gravel and little more. Zotefoam’s data sheet lists a compression force of about 51 kPa at 25% deflection and a Shore OO hardness of 47, which is firm for the thickness. Side sleepers will feel the ground at the hip and shoulder. Hikers who accept that, or who pair a short torso piece with a three-quarter-length inflatable, report no complaints.

Durability. Here Evazote earns its reputation. Tear strength is 1,055 N/m, and the compression set data shows the foam recovering to within 3% after 24 hours following a 25% squeeze. Vendors selling the same foam describe it as notably more tear-resistant than other closed-cell brands they have tried. Foam-pad advocates on r/Ultralight cite the other big advantage: no punctures, nothing to patch, and a pad that unrolls instantly. A Zotefoam-focused gear blogger notes that Evazote is a bit tougher and more resilient than the older Plastazote used in the first Karrimats, which were reformulated for durability. At 3 mm, the foam is thin enough that cracking along fold lines is rarely a concern.

Packability. Closed-cell foam does not compress. A 1x2 m sheet rolls into a tube roughly the size of a small water bottle, but a full-length 0.5 m wide pad will ride on the outside of a pack. Cutting down to a torso piece fixes the problem. AdventureXpert notes that when shipped with other bulky items, the sheet may be folded lengthwise, leaving a crease along the fold.

Quality grades. The 0.5 x 2 m pads sold by AdventureXpert come in normal, B and C grades, with B-grade flaws including creases, small holes and uneven thickness near one edge. Buyers of the sheet should inspect it on arrival and plan cuts around any blemishes.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 300 g for a full 2 m sheet, with cut-down pads of 35 to 135 g reported
• Cannot puncture or leak, and needs no inflation or repair kit
• High tear strength and strong recovery from compression
• Cheap at €30, and one sheet yields multiple pieces
• Useful for DIY work: framesheets, sit pads, pack padding

Cons

• Very low insulation at 3 mm, with an on-paper figure of roughly R-0.4
• Minimal cushioning, so a poor choice for side sleepers on hard ground
• Does not compress, so a full-length pad is awkward to carry
• Not a ready-made product; it requires cutting and shaping
• Shipping can leave a fold crease, and lower grades of Evazote can have flaws

Who Should Buy This

Gram-counters who already own an inflatable pad and want a puncture shield, a sit pad or a 100 g torso piece will get the most out of it. So will DIY gear makers working on framesheets, strap padding or custom pad shapes. Backpackers who want a single, ready-to-use pad for shoulder-season or cold camping should look elsewhere, to a thicker closed-cell pad or an insulated inflatable. Side sleepers who need real comfort should do the same.

Verdict

Evazote EV50 3mm is a well-regarded foam at a fair price, and it does the small jobs very well: backstop, torso pad, sit pad, framesheet. It is a poor primary mattress for anyone who sleeps cold or on their side. Buy it as a component, not as a complete sleep system.