REI Co-op - Helix Insulated Air Sleeping Pad
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Based on 1 year's data from Feb 15, 2026 How it works
Liked most:
15
3
"Im a side sleeper and love it."
"I recently purchased the REI helix long wide pad and I’m now sleeping 6-7 hours on trail."
"My wife preferred the REI Helix. ... We both preferred the tensor/helix over the Exped Ultra 5r. ... We brought one of our Klymits with us, and it was a night and day difference."
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4
"The Helix is slightly lighter"
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0
"I'm hard on my gear and the Helix from REI has lasted me a few years with no signs of trouble."
7
1
"a ‘true’ 4.9r"
"I was never cold"
"r rating is good for sleeping on snow"
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0
"My partner got the REI helix which surprised me for how good it is for the price"
"Reasonably priced."
Disliked most:
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2
"I found I bottomed out too easily when moving and side sleeping. ... Like when I laid flat I’d be a couple mm off the ground, but then shifting too much weight to my hips would have me touch the ground."
"When I turn over, I bottom out briefly on the REI Helix"
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4
"Got the REI Helix after that, which is much more bulky but comfortable to sleep (wider and greater R value). ... Bottomline: Nemo Tensor is more packable but delicate, Helix is more comfortable and warm but less packable."
"its not the lightest"
"both of these has very similar comfort but are slightly heavier."
a_hale_photo 1.0I’m going to be so real, the REI Helix pad is pretty damn great for a fraction of the cost. You get a 4.9 value, and holds air all night. Bought two recently and it’s been great. Anything else you’ll just get lighter weight
Beneficial-Side-4201 1.0I actually love the REI Helix, especially with a closed-cell foam under it.
_Bourbon 1.0My Rapide SL insulated is very comfortable but nowhere close 4r. It might be 2r. Maybe. I just replaced it with the REI helix. 1oz heavier, but even more comfortable and a “true” 4.9r. They retail for $160. Exped 5r is also comfortable, warm, and has a great pump sack - although I suspect they’re getting ready to revamp them in the spring and they’ll be a decent amount more compact and lighter then. But you’ll probably find good Black Friday deals on the current one.
BrainDamage2029 1.0Rei helix. Wait for REIs 2-3x a year 20% off sale.
butters091 1.0Just used my Helix last night and would recommend. To me it’s much comfier than than the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT I had before
colinjo3 1.0Megamat is wonderful but it's not fitting in a backpack, you'll have to take a second trip for it. It takes up a lot of space in the car even. I think you should check out the nemo quasar or (only during an REI sale) the REI helix. Something about the honeycomb pattern is really comfortable.
ContentGardenRake 1.0With the upcoming REI sale on REI and Nemo sleeping pads, I am considering upgrading. I have a klymit static V, and have never once slept well on it (2 trips). I don’t go backpacking much, but want to go more. Better sleep would make it more appealing. Obviously a sleeping pad can only get so comfortable. How much better do they get though? UPDATE: Went to REI to try all the different options. I personally found the Nemo tensor to be the most comfortable. My wife preferred the REI Helix. We both preferred the tensor/helix over the Exped Ultra 5r. We brought one of our Klymits with us, and it was a night and day difference. We ended up buying both the REI Helix, and the Nemo Tensor. We will try both over a trip this weekend, and exchange as needed afterwards (at the REI staff members recommendation). We can apply the price match policy once the sale hits to get the better prices.
cosmokenney 1.0As a side sleeper I can vouch for the REI Helix.
dadmantalking 1.0I've had a lot of different ones over the years, bought a REI Helix in the spring last year and it's the best one I've ever had. It packs really small too.
Dazzling-South-3743 1.0REI Helix. Im a side sleeper and love it.
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