Exped - Dura 3R

I have the Tensor All Season, my brother has the Rapide and I’ve had the Dura 3R in the past so I have a decent idea of what they’re like. For one thing those specs are off, the Nemo packs the smallest and it’s definitely lighter than the Rapide at the same length and width. I use 25in wide pads though. As for comfort, these are all comfortable pads, it’s really going to come down to preference. The Exped and BA have more of a vertical baffle feel while the Nemo is more dimpled. If I had to rank them I’d go BA, Nemo, Exped. But it’s close, they are all good. For durability only the Nemo and Exped list the denier, w Nemo being 20 top, 40 bottom nylon. The Exped is 20d poly which is not only the thinnest but Poly isn’t as strong as Nylon. The BA doesn’t say the material but it seems durable. All of them should sleep true to their R value, so Nemo would be the warmest, and I’ve heard the Rapide has complaints of cold spots but my brother never experienced that, though he hasn’t tested it when it’s been cold enough. I really like that Exped uses synthetic fill rather than reflective film as it will be more comfortable in summer. So maybe go w the Exped if you’ll do a lot of summer camping and either the Nemo or BA depending upon what’s more important, comfort & durability -Rapide or weight & warmth - Nemo. Also look into warranty terms, being in Germany the Warranty won’t be the same buying from either US company.

I have an Exped Dura 3R and it’s very warm and so far, has proven to be durable. I’ve taken it down to 30°f with no extra foam pad beneath and slept warm. Never had any air leak out. I’m not a huge fan of the vertical baffles, but I must say that the edge baffles being slightly thicker does help keep me centered. Exped uses a microfiber insulation on these pads instead of reflective film, and I’m sold on it. I intended to swap the Exped for the new Sea to Summit Etherlite XR that has reflective insulation, but I shivered my way through a 42°f night on it.

Yes, I could feel the cold coming through the XR with the ccf under it. I’d never had that issue with my 3R Exped, in fact, I have taken that down to 32°f with no ccf under it and never felt the cold. They have different insulation types, but I didn’t think that would matter based on the R ratings. The XR is more comfortable though, so I’ll probably keep it for warmer temps.

Thanks:) I ended up going with the Exped Dura. Heavy but should stand up to a dog paw! I’ll let everyone know how it works out!

Omagosh! That always is a red flag to me when I see nothing but positive reviews. Even the thermarest doesn’t have all glowing reviews! It always intrigued me how loyal the Kilos gear peeps seemed to be! Now I know why!! Thankfully, I went with an Exped Dura. Heavier? Yes. But at 170 denier, I’m confident in its ability to withstand doggy paws!

I did decide to go with the Exped Dura 3.0

I’ll second the exped. I had 3 different pads pop on me in 2 years so I decided to go with something a bit tougher. Exped Dura 3R has been solid for me. Comfortable and durable, if a bit heavier than some others

The Dura line works fine for backpacking. My 3R is about 2lbs and doesn’t pack down as small as some ultralight pads but packs to a bit bigger than a Nalgene in size.

I’ve got the dura 3r and it’s worked perfectly fine for me in the sierras usually backpacking between late June to early/mid September. If you’re getting into winter camping though youll probably want something warmer or a foam pad beneath it or something.

I have an Exped Dura 3R and it is great.

I have an Exped Dura 3R that is comfortable and packable.

I went from a Klymit Static V to an Exped Dura 3R long wide. It’s a big difference. The Exped Dura is a little heavy for backpacking but I sleep well on it. If it’s really cold I put a Nemo Switchback under it.

I used my Exped 3R LW in the Lakes for the first time the other night. Taller, similar weight, side-sleeper... slept lovely. Think it was down to about 4 degrees (Alpkit Pipedream 400 and merino base layers). I bought it after seeing it recommended for comfort and side-sleepers.

[Exped Dura](https://www.expedusa.com/products/dura-3r) is light, compact, easy to inflate and gives a great night's sleep as a side sleeper

I use the small rectangular version of the 3r. Plenty warm enough down to freezing. It feels warmer than only 3 of r vallue. I can sleep on my side just fine with the rectangular version and I chose the small one since it’s long enough for me at 175cm since I ralrely sleep with my legs straight.  If I don’t inflate it to the max it’s quite comfortable and I’ve had the same issues that you describe with many other brands including thermarest and Nemo.  Edit :  I was able to get it cheaper than the xlite where I live. I’m in eu.  Also the pump sack is awesome and doubles as a good pack liner when I store my clothes and sleeping bag. 

This may not help in the short term, but I highly recommend looking into hammock camping. I genuinely prefer it to my bed at home. I also have a 3” exped mattress that I find very comfortable as well, although I would prefer the thicker model.

Try the Nemo Tensor, the Exped pads, and the Big Agnes Rapide (heaviest, but thickest). You should be able to lay on all of these at an REI if you have one nearby. They should have all the most popular ones blown up and ready to try.

It’s tough to make a pad recommendation, bc sleep is so personal. I like the Nemo tensor all-season. I have the wide, which is 19 oz. There are lighter pads out there (check out thermorest and the Nemo elite), but this is what works best for me. I think it’s a good balance between comfort, warmth and weight. But it’s pricey. The Rapide is several ounces heavier and sleeps colder. I’m not sure you’re going to find the lightest pads out there at your price point, however. You may need to decide to save money on a slightly heavier pad or spend more for the lightest models. The Exped Ultra 5R is 20 oz and is under 150 euros. Or the R3 is only 16 oz and should be warm enough for summer, but maybe not spring/fall at higher elevations. They are both on sale right now at REI, but I know that’s not going to help you. Hopefully a european chimes in which some good options and more local sales.