A comfort-oriented side sleeping setup that has worked well for me:
- Exped Ultra 3R LW mummy fits my height and is wide where it counts. Because the baffles run lengthwise, they “block” you into the pad and you don’t feel like you’ll fall off. (At least, I don’t. I am a tall, somewhat slender woman.)
- Put a patch of foam under the hip - prevents the feeling of bottoming out. 2 panels of switchback, a cheapo sit pad, some foam that comes with a random package - anything squishy works.
The foam is key. The only reason I ever felt uncomfortable before the foam was my hip hitting the ground. No longer!
I can sleep in any position in that setup.
My exped 3r and 5r pads are great!
They are very, very comfortable. Cannot speak for the Tensor. My REI doesn’t have the Exped Ultras on the floor, they’re a website item. If REI is a long drive, order from REI online and try it on your (very clean) floor for a night. REI has a no-questions-asked return policy.
For side sleeping I recommend sleeping on the pad slightly deflated and throwing a small piece of closed-cell foam under your hip.
I wanted to add that the older model Exped Ultra 3R in wide mummy is 441 g / 15.6 oz while the new Ultra 6.5R of the same size is spec'd at 15 oz so an estimated 17 g of weight savings. My experience is that the Ultra 3R is warm enough down to about freezing temps (32F / 0C), so if one doesn't need a warmer pad then the Ultra 3R is probably good enough if one can find one still.
The prices of the two are vastly different though. I paid $105 in August 2025 for the old model while the new one lists at $200. Another difference appears to be that the fabric of the top and bottom of the 2025 model is the same while the 2026 Ultra 6.5R has different fabrics for top and bottom. What that might mean is that if you like the valves on top, then you can just flip the 2025 model over since it really has no sidedness while the way the internal insulation of the 2026 may not function as well if the pad is "flipped on its back."
I am a fan of Exped pads, but do not have any experience with the new 6+R pads. I have 3 vintages of Exped pads including the Ultra 3R in MW you are asking about. My pad weighs 441 g and I would not use it for 20-30F as it would not provide enough warmth. From personal experience I think its limit is about 30F, so above freezing weather would be fine.
But thanks for asking this question. Maybe I will ask for the 6.5R pad as a gift for my birthday?
My exped synmat UL 7 popped a baffle after 10 years. Was sad having to go shopping right before a big hike buy I was pretty happy with my new mummy 3R LW.
I haven't found the exped pads particularly noisy, especially compared to thermorest. My favorite trick though is using a lightweight sleeping bag liner as a fitted sheet. Keeps the pillow in place, gets rid of all the noise and as a quilt user it's much nicer than sleeping on the bare mattress
holdpigeon
