REI Co-op - Helix Insulated Air Sleeping Pad

My 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.

Just 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

You should consider making the switch to a hammock. I'm a side sleeper and I'm way more comfortable in a good hammock setup than I am on the ground. If you're insistent on ground sleeping, maybe consider using what I do when I need to sleep on the ground. I've got an REI Helix pad, but I also have a MLD 40x80x1/8 eva foam pad that I fold up to 20x40x1/2 to put on top of the inflatable mattress. That gives you a flat, soft surface on top of the inflatable.

I've got a BA Rapide SL for my daughter to sleep on, but since I primarily hammock camp, I went the cheaper route for myself and got the REI Helix. It's a decently comfortable pad, especially when I pair it with my CCF mat, but you've got my attention with the Light Tour. Even if it doesn't sleep as warm as it should at a rated 7.5, it's probably at least as warm as my Helix, and much cheaper, and lighter.

Oh, if the Light Tour is less comfortable than the Helix, then it's not going to work out for me, lol. The Helix is the limit of my comfort. Ever since I began hammock camping, my tolerance for ground sleeping isn't great. Thanks for the info!

Megamat 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. 

With 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.

I'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.

You've tested *all* of them? You find the Nemo more comfortable than an Etherlite XT? An REI Helix? An Exped? A Rapide SL? That doesn't compute for me. The Nemo is more comfy than a Neoair but well below all of those.

REI Helix. Im a side sleeper and love it.

REI Helix is a good pad. I own both the 20” regular and the 25” wide. Reasonably priced. Also, try deflating what you have a bit. That can change the comfort

Have you tried any of them? Your local REI would at least have the Helix. I too had that on my shortlist and when I tried it I didn’t like it, 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. Again, it was fine and pretty comfy when my weight was fully distributed. My point is go and try them. I ended up going with a Nemo Tensor.

i have a couple etherlights for different seasons. My partner got the REI helix which surprised me for how good it is for the price

I’ve had good luck with the REI helix. Similar height. I’m a terrible sleeper and never sleep on my back. The helix did the trick and I was able to get it on sale. Get the long wide size if it’ll fit in your tent.

What seasons are you hiking (low temps range) … what is your height/weight … do you sleep warm or cold … belly or side sleeper or toddler and turner? I’m 6’3” runs warm hikes 3 seasons on non frozen ground above 32 (try to stay above 40), side sleeping tosser and use the either lite xt long wide. (3.5”) … quite comfortable for me. Gotten it down to 34 with mid base layer Wife is opposite and uses the REI Helix wide normal (3”) quite comfortable for her. Gotten it down to 42 with base layer

I’m a side sleeper with pretty beefy hips and shoulders, and I’ve been really impressed with the REI helix. I’ve spent a few nights on it now, and still haven’t woken up with my shoulder getting cranky like I did with my old pad (an old Nemo Astro). I usually layer it over a ccf pad that gets strapped to the outside of my pack (mine is a Nemo switchback), and that really boosts the warmth and comfort, but I’ve slept on it just by itself while staying over with friends, and it’s still comfortable. The pillow is pretty important too, and my new favorite is the [trekology aluft deluxe](https://a.co/d/5EqXvg2) with the removable cover, pad strap (that actually works) and a pocket to stuff a layer into so you get some more height and cushion. Edit: I should also add, I use packing cubes with whatever clothes I’ve brought to either put between my knees or hug, and that really helps out my alignment too.

Get the rei helix pad, I think they are having their Labor Day sale right now. If you’re a member you can return it up to a year of using it. Membership is like 30$ for lifetime. As far as being in the ultralight sub, personally I carry a little extra weight for comfort in my sleep system and drop ounces in other places.

I’m a side sleeper and I got the REI Helix. It’s not square but it’s not mummy shaped really either. It has been a game changer for keeping warm, comfy and it’s not noisy at all

I’m about your same size and side sleeper I ended up going with the REi Helix, it is very similar to the S2S Ether Light. I have taken it out a few times in summer and shoulder seasons and it has been pretty comfortable and has a decent R value (4.9).

REI helix sleep pad has done me right, r rating is good for sleeping on snow and the long wide version fits my tall ass well. I haven’t had any luck on the foam pads being comfortable or warm enough on mountains. Rolls up nice and small too

I'm hard on my gear and the Helix from REI has lasted me a few years with no signs of trouble. I use it less than I'd like, though. I got mine when the old colors were on clearance, so it was pretty affordable as I recall. The equivalent mattress is $118 with the sale right now. I do partially credit my success to being careful about not letting shoes in the tent.

I used to have 3 Nemo tensor. One of them blew up while inflated inside the car crossing the Eisenhower Tunnel in Colorado (+11,000 feet). It was my fault, just be careful. 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 but the rei helix pad is pretty good

I've taken the REI Helix into 20 degrees comfortably. Be mindful the baffles + sleeping bag are part of the R rating. It takes a nosedive if you attempt to use a quilt.

Thoughts from an REI employee: Comfort often comes from a few factors, but don't apply to everyone. Thickness can help a lot. The Thermarest NeoLoft for example is very comfortable, because it's a whopping 4.6" thick, and a great surface. Some pads have some foam in them, not just insulation. This is kind of old school, the original Thermarests were like this. This can be nice and plush because you don't have to dial in the air amount quite as specific. Plus, if it loses air, you're at least sleeping on something other than nylon. The Thermarest Trail Pro comes to mind. A little heavy around 2lbs, so not for the UL crowd. But comfy. There is a lighter version called a Trail Pro Lite. They used to sell a terrific pad called a ProLite Apex, but it was discontinued and may not be coming back. Sea to Summit and a few other brands make pads with some foam in them that are backpackable. These are also (mostly) self-inflating, which is nice. The shape of the pad can also factor in. Some people love how most Big Agnes pads are raised on the sides, to help you stay in place, and not roll off the pad. Most of their pads are thick too, not as thick as the NeoLoft, but thick. The Rapide is a great seller. Other brands do this too. I mentioned surface, some have a really nice brushed surface that also helps keep you from sliding off, and from making noise as you move. The Neoloft as mentioned, but the REI Helix is nice like this too. Baffling is also a factor. Some love "dimpled" pads (like the Helix), some like "tubes" either horizontal or vertical. The choice is yours. Closed cell foam are not comfortable. They are not thick. They are not warm at all. And they are bulky. But they are inexpensive, light, and almost indestructible. Anyone who bought a Ridgerest back in the 1990s likely still has it, and it's probably in like new condition.

Helix is good when on sale (like, now). Full price it's probably not worth it, IMO.

6'2" ~240. I have an REI Helix long/wide.

Sea To Summit Ether Light XR (XT is the old model, definitely go for the XR it's lighter, warmer and pack smaller) is a great all-rounder, one of the best actually when it comes to comfort-weigh-pack size ratio. Other good all-rounders are REI Helix and Zenbivy Ultralight Mattress, both of these has very similar comfort but are slightly heavier. If you seek ultimate comfort there would be there competitors: Zenbivy Flex Air Mattress, ThermaRest NeoLoft and Exped MegaMat Ultra. Each of these are basically best of the class, which one would be the best comes down to personal preferences as each of them using different baffle construction.

u/Wandering_Hick When I turn over, I bottom out briefly on the REI Helix -that said, I was never cold and also was comfortable once I was in position. I just picked up a Rapide, but now I am seeing all the reviews about the quality and sleeping cold. In your opinion, should I go back to the Helix and just live with the brief bottoming out? The Helix is slightly lighter and more packable it seems than the Ultra5R and possible a little more comfortable as a side sleeper.

It’s definitely subjective, but there are some design elements that contribute to a pad’s comfort. I have a bad back and I’m a side sleeper. I typically get 3-4 hours of sleeping on the trail. I’ve tried both the MSR neoair xlite and xtherm, Nemo tensor all season, Big Agnes Rapide and the klymit static V. I recently purchased the REI helix long wide pad and I’m now sleeping 6-7 hours on trail. I’ll gladly take the weight penalty for better sleep. Justin Outdoors has several sleeping pad review and comparison videos that are worth watching.

I've got the helix as well and it definitely keeps me warm. REI also has sales quite often where you can grab the helix for closer to $100.

I'm a back sleeper and find that the dimpled baffling systems on the Helix and S2S pads tend to be the most comfortable. Nemo Tensor is the next most comfy, and Thermarest horizontal baffles are the least comfortable for me. Can't comment on the Expeds as I haven't tried them.

It's best if you can visit a local outdoor retailer like REI to try out some pads. That way you know what's comfortable for you, and can make some choices on picking the lightest pad that meets those needs. For me I find the Nemo Tensor (lightest), S2S Etherlight XR, and REI Helix (heaviest) to be reasonably comfortable pads as well. Xlite/Xtherm were definitely less comfortable last I tried.

I love my REI Helix, but it's nowhere near as much cushion as that new NeoLoft. I do like mine fairly soft so typically I hike with a short length CCF pad as well so there is a little extra padding and warmth under my butt/hips. Works great for me since I grabbed the Helix during a yearly sale for like $105. But I would love to try that NeoLoft on a trip myself...

If you get the REI helix while it's still on sale, it's a phenomenal pad for the money, IMHO. We have two, and have used them comfortably down to about 28F. Very comfortable as long as you're not a side sleeper and over ~240lbs, and the thickness will start to be an issue somewhere above that point. Not the absolute lightest on the market but I've carried it over 100 miles so far and I feel like it's plenty light and warm for what you're paying, especially when on sale.

If you are just camping (and want to be good in cold weather), get an REI Helix for like $120 on sale. Ridiculously comfortable and good value

Justin outdoors just made a video about the most comfortable backpacking sleeping pads! https://youtu.be/aa-wYHCf6Q8 If you are going down to the 30s, I would not recommend the rapide and the s2s. Both have reports of being cold close to freezing. 3.5R is kinda borderline enough insulation and all of those pads are said to sleep colder than their rating. The tensorlite all season is a great pad if you are concerned about weight. If you don't care about weight as much then I recommend the thermarest neoloft or the REI Helix In summary: Most lightweight/best all arounder: Nemo Tensorlite All season Most comfortable: Thermarest neoloft Best value: REI Helix Either way all of these pads are available to try out inflated at my REI so I recommend you do that and see which is most comfortable to you :)

I suggest individual sleeping bags or quilts for colder weather. When I purchased sleep bags, I looked for a comfort rating that is the same or lower than lowest expected temperature. A 20f sleeping bag may have comfort rating of 30 or 40 degrees. To sleep well in 30 degrees, look for a 10 degree bag or quilt. A pad with R5 or better rating. The REI Helix is liked by many because it’s close to R5 and it’s lightweight. Big Agnes pads, I have 3, tend to sleep cold so I discount their R values. I have used a quilt plus an additional fiberfill blanket in colder weather. It worked well, but I first tried it car camping when I knew I had a back up system (more blankets) available. Recently I purchased a 10 degree quilt for temps down to mid-20s. It’s still in the teens at my house with lows in single digits. I like quilts but it did take some time to learn how to use mine well and stay warm. For the novice, a sleeping bag is a wise choice. Once you digest all the comments here, settle on a budget, and get a better idea of what conditions you will experience, consider making a new post over in r/backpacking with greater detail.

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!

The REI helix is extremely comfortable. It has great dimpled baffles. Its probably the comfiest pad ive ever used.

I’m guessing your pad is some semi self inflating pad based on what you’ve described and I think that’s all I need to know really. I’d recommend moving to a regular inflatable pad. The REI helix or any of the 3 big Agnes pads are a great value and in that 4-5 R range that will carry you deep into fall. Weight is reasonable and comfort is much higher than some of the chip bag ultralight pads. If you have an REI nearby check garage sale. It’s been loaded with these pads lately. I’ve bought a few just cause I couldn’t help myself at some of the deals.

I went from an OK REI inflatable to a NEMO tensor and then a Sea to Summit Etherlite XT. The waffle-looking baffles on the two latter pads were a huge improvement in comfort. I think the Etherlite is slightly more comfortable but I switched mostly for durability reasons. 3+ inch thick pad with the waffle pattern is the way to go in my book. Back feels better in the morning and I wake up way less often because some body part fell asleep.