Sea To Summit - Comfort Plus Insulated Sleeping Mat

Out of the ones I would backpack with: Sea-to-Summit Comfort Plus Insulated. It uses two separate chambers, allowing you tune the top one to be softer while the bottom one more protective. It's more than 2x in weight comparing to Thermarest pads, but it is fair bit more comfortable. Out of the car camping options: Exped Megamat. As others have said, it is on par with a high quality home bed, but it is so damn large that I wouldn't use it in the backcountry if it was not transported by a truck or a pack animal.

I have both of these coincidentally. The plan was to take my Insulated on trips I’m packing light, and my Large S.I on trips where weight/size isn’t a factor. Both comfortable, but I personally enjoy the SI’s flat surface over the Insulated with their Air spring design. The SI has a R value of 4.1, and the insulated 4.0 so they’re basically the same for warmth. If size wasn’t a factor I’d go S.I if I had to choose one. Can’t go wrong with either one of these IMO

I've had a sea & summit dual-chamber pad for 8 years or so, never had a leak - my wife has a lighter, single chamber pad and also hasn't had any leaks in the same timeframe. Could just be you're getting cheap pads...

I'd go for the insulated one. That "air sprung cell" structure is pretty much the comfiest I've ever tested, and going from self-inflatable to airpad was a big upgrade in sleeping comfort for me, even with another brand.

I have the sea to summit comfort plus sleeping pad. It’s rated at an R4, while a foam pad like you’re describing is only rated R2. It’s under 3lbs, easily rolls up and is packed into a tiny bag so it’s easy to transport around, takes up very little space, auto inflates, is water proof and has a memory foam interior for comfort and warmth. On top of all of that, it’s going to last me much MUCH longer than a 20-30$ foam mattress topper will, because it’s meant to go outside and be exposed to the elements.

I’m a side sleeper as well and I stopped using my Nemo tensor so much because of the potato chip bag noise effects heh. This past winter, I’ve used the Sea to Summit comfort plus. It is easily the most comfortable pad I’ve ever used for side sleeping. And inflates and deflates easily. Highly recommend!

Plus comfort and packability. The foam pads typicially have R value of 2 and weigh about 1.4 kg/3 lbs. One could construct the equivalent of R4 by stacking 2, at a cost of about $50-60, giving a weight of 6 lbs. The Sea to Summit Comfort Plus with an R4 rating is $178 at REI. It's just under 2 lbs. You could save $120 at the cost of 4 lbs, a huge increase in bulk, and a worse night's sleep

I had the same challenge recently, as in buying my first pad. I went with Sea to Summit comfort plus in the end. Paid 70 quid with delivery. I tested it in a 2 day camp and was impressed by the quality and “warmth”. But it is to the heavy/bulky side.

I recently got a Sea to Summit comfort plus and used for the first time at 1 degree and I was nicely warm. I got it for around 70 quid. It is to the heavy side though and in the summer I intend to buy a light mat but for the price I was very impressed with the quality and warmth.

I like the sea to summit comfort plus. Though I've heard good things about their comfort delux pad and the brand Exped is mentioned a lot as well.

When I did Baker I brought a closed cell pad (Nemo switch back) and an inflatable (Sea to summit) for comfort and redundancy. You'll be hard pressed to find a new bag that's also lightweight for $200. You'll probably need to see if you can find something used or I would recommend you see if you can rent one.

Big Agnes and sea to summit checks all your boxes. Small/compact, uses vertical baffles to prevent that bouncy castle feeling and provide actual support

I personally think Sea to Summit pads are comfortable.  Nemo Tensor might interest you as well. 

Most don't last very long if you're using them more than 30 nights a year in my experience. These manufacturers are banking on most buyers using them less than that. For super avid backpackers and thru-hikers, obviously we use them way more and therefore need to replace them more frequently. I've always bought them from REI and get them replaced under their policy within the year. Or if it's little seam weld pinholes, take advantage of the warranty (I use Sea 2 Summit pads mostly). But yeah I think the companies just absorb the loss from heavy users, who are a minority of total sales they make globally. Most people just buy a pad to go camping once or twice a year and it just sits in their closet for years before it gets the same amount of camp time as we'd put it through halfway into a thru-hike. Not sure if that made sense - still pre-caffeine today edit: getting holes from pokey things is a given despite the best careful babying if you're out enough, especially in the desert. but i'm not really talking about those kind of holes (that can be patched) - i mean the phantom leaks that can't be identified or fixed easily, like seam welds, valve stuff, etc. (especially on quilted/dimpled baffles) whenever i've returned a pad it's got several patches on it - i keep the solider well bandaged until he can't fight any more

All my sea to summit pads have developed stress pinholes in the dimple welds, nothing to do with anything I could have done or prevented as a user, it's a common defect with that style of baffle.

Good for you for taking care of all your gear. I also take good care of my gear and get many miles out of it. Your response sounds quite lecture-y and finger waggy tbh, making the assumption that others don't take good care of their gear. All my sea to summit pads have developed stress pinholes in the dimple welds, nothing to do with anything I could have done or prevented as a user, it's a common defect with that style of baffle. Manufacture defects on pads are quite common and have nothing to do with user care. No matter how much you baby your sleeping pad, if it has a weak valve attachment, it's gonna develop a leak.

I have one and will only use it on the warmest of nights.  I use a sea to summit most of the time because it's pretty light and has a much higher R value.  It's also very comfy.

Tra i menzionati possiedo il Sea to Summit e posso parlarne bene. A pari caratteristiche c'è il cinese Naturhike di cui ne parlano molto bene.

Don’t go self inflating if you want that much height. Car camping, yes, any of the massive, tough, heavy self inflating mats will be fine.   Go to a camping/bushwalking shop and try a Nemo tensor insulated (wide). Fill it up then let out juuuust a bit of air. You can put a closed cell foam mat underneath if you can’t get a balance between a comfortable shape and your hips touching the ground.  Sea to summit are also comfortable but don’t insulate as well.   Also - I know you know this - it’s easier if you can lose a bit of weight. I find it much less comfortable sleeping on the ground after gaining weight. 

Love my S to S pad also. Rivals my Select Comfort bed at home. Bought a back up in case they go out of business.