Exped - Dura 3R

My exact setup atm is a Dura 3R and Nemo Switchback. I feel like a king after coming from a old school thermarest and ground tarp

I have the Dura 3r and used it this fall about 10x, temps from 50° down to 32°f. I never felt the cold coming through the pad, so I think the synthetic insulation does a great job. In fact when I stepped off my pad onto the tent floor I was always surprised how cold the floor was, because I never felt it. That said, in my opinion it’s not the most comfortable for stomach or side sleeping because of the non-stretch top fabric, but it’s been durable so far. Throw a closed cell foam pad underneath and you’ll have an extra layer of protection and insulation.

I have an Exped Dura 3R and love it for side sleeping. I actually wish I’d gotten the 5R but oh well.

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 have the r3 exped pad. I really like it. It’s been the most comfortable of I’ve ever had.

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

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

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

Or the exped dura-series. They are heavier but more comfortable. God tur!

As others have mentioned, your requirements are unrealistic. You can't get light and durable or warm and cheap. Comfortable is also sadly somewhat tied to R-value since the thicker more comfortable pads also tend to have higher R-values and thus cost more. But with the exped duro series you can get quite durable and relatively warm and if you're willing to pay for it.

Exped dura/ultra. Good european quality, not comparable to all the US trash

Exped Ultra or if you will be in a bit rougher terrain the exped dura. I use a dura5r and its mor comfortable than my bed at home

To reiterate what I said in the comments, I got the Exped Dura for that same reason, I wanted a durable pad since I'm a bigger guy and the Dura is made with a stronger material

I have the Exped Dura, I was going to get the Ultra but I'm a bigger guy and wanted the extra durability, I like it a lot so far

I’m a sidesleeper that also uses an Exped pad (3R). I find it very comfortable and it’s light and warm enough for my purposes. I have the standard mummy shape.

+1 on this, I tried several pads (foam and inflatable) as a side sleeper and the Expeds are AMAZING. I actually get good nights sleep on trail with them and they’re pretty good in terms of weight. I’ve got the 3R, 5R, and 7R versions now. The inflating part takes some getting used to (“schnozzle bag”) but is kinda fun. At least they don’t advertise themselves as “self-inflating” like some other pads that don’t actually self inflate.

I like my Exped 3R. Doesn’t sound like a potato chip bag when you move around.

I have slept my Exped 3r to bits and have bought another one. It is comfortable but most of all: it is quiet. 5R should be the same

I have a tensor, xlite, and exped 3r -- I think they're all reasonably comfortable, although tensor probably at least 10% more comfy than both. Expeds can be bought cheap (sometimes $100), but if that's not the main concern it's between the tensor and xlite: tensor has 40d bottom and 20d top, xlite is 30d/30d; tensor is 5.5r / xlite is 4.5r; tensor (r/w) is 18oz, xlite max is 19oz. Historically the xlite has been considered more durable + repairable, but with the new fabric changeup recently, not sure that'll still be the case. Tensor is probably what I'd recommend to you. Also, trial version exists that is lighter but less warm (~3r) which could be warm enough for you.

And I would snag that 5R in a heartbeat. I bought a 3R that I haven't even taken out yet (need a ground setup for skyline this year) and I've already got buyers remorse. Out this way, the extra grams are def worth the extra insultation.

Exped 3r is very comfortable. I have like 10 sleeping pads, and the 3R has been the best I've tried. I'd say the uberlight is also up there, but it has been discontinued. It was more comfthan the regular neo air, which I alao have.

Not on your list, but the Exped 3R is a solid option if you find it comfortable. I find it quite comfortable. Otherwise, I'd consider the ZoomUL for the temps you're going out in instead of the rapide.

I do like to sleep comfortably when backpacking, and have spent a lot of time trying to figure out what works best for me. I've tried many pads over the past decades, including these two, along with similar Exped sleeping pads like the Ultra, Versa, and Dura. I am primarily a side sleeper, so that informs some of my sleeping experience on these, and am 190cm and 95kg. Personally I was not able to sleep comfortably on the Exped MegaMat Lite, or its siblings (Dura/Versa/Ultra). A through-line in my testing of these is the vertical baffling: I regularly wake up and find my arm is numb. I think these might work better for me if I was primarily a back or chest sleeper; lots of people like them and recommend them. But in my adulthood I've probably maximum only got about two hours of sleep at a time on a design like these. I have only had to contact Exped for warranty once, and they ended up shipping me a new unit before I even had to send the old one back: top marks here in support. I just picked up the Therm-a-rest NeoLoft before the holidays and took it on two trips in Mt Hood National Forest. Maybe the most comfortable backpacking pad I've personally used recently, even if the large (long wide, 78x26) weighs 2lbs! When fully inflated it is 4.6" thick. One of the few pads I've slept more than six straight hours on, which is kind of how I prioritize pads. Not only comfortable, but has a soft-touch stretchy fabric which feels good against the skin (I tend to sleep with quilts rather than bags). The first night I did wake up to find my arm was numb, so curious if that was a one-off with a weird sleeping position... R-value is 4.7, so I haven't used it at all in the past 45 days because of the cold where I am. It looks like the REI exclusivity is now over in early 2025, and this can be picked up lots of different places. Honestly the thing I dislike the most is the valves; I just don't care for the old-style Therm-a-rest valves. Realizing your question was specifically about those two, I also wanted to recommend what I have found to be my most comfortable pads in recent years: 1. Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Extreme Insulated. This specific pad and its sibling, Ether Light XT Insulated, have been my primary pads the past four-ish years. They are 4" thick and the most comfortable pads I've used, probably tied with the NeoLoft. Never woken with my arm numb, and the only pad I've ever slept seven-plus hours straight-through. In the PNW I use the non-Extreme-variant in the warmer half of the year, and the Extreme-variant in the colder half. The stuff sack with the inflation aid built-in is the smartest I've seen. Extreme version has an r-value of 6.2, and the non-Extreme version r-value is 3.2. The Extreme has that spider-web looking Thermolite insulation, which in my mind is the most reliable winter/cold insulation; it doesn't crinkle and potentially fail like newer thin reflective films in other lighter pads (NEMO Tensor, Big Agnes Rapide, etc). On the flip side that makes the Extreme very heavy, more than 2lbs, and also packs down the biggest of any backpacking pad I've owned. 2. REI Helix. Been using this on-and-off for the past few seasons. One of the few pads that has me sleeping through the night. It is only 3" thick, but I have found the trick is to fully inflate: the dimples do a good jump of evening out my weight and not experiencing any arm numbness. The long wide is 1lb 13oz, and seems pretty sturdy compared to other REI-brand pads I've used in the past; no leaks yet... R-value of 4.9. I always wake up refreshed and feeling good on those mats, baring any environmental issues outside of the pad. I cannot recommend the NeoLoft in that way yet, but will continue to use and test it out in the near future with an additional foam pad underneath to make it safe for snow conditions (as the r-value stacks). And I don't think I will ever recommend an Exped pad for backpacking. Exped does make fantastic foam inflating car-camping pads though!