Sea To Summit - Ether Light XR Insulated Air Sleeping Pad

If comfort is a priority, you’ll do no better than the new Sea To Summit Ether Light XR.

I am a 181cm, 100kg side sleeper and just bought the S2S Etherlight XR. It arrived this morning and my [**first impressions are here.** ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Ultralight/comments/1isa5ot/comment/mdq8c2p/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)

Auspost delivered a new S2S Etherlight XR (regular Mummy) this morning so I set it up next to my old Thermarest Xtherm (2020 model) - Here are my first impressions. **Comfort** \- It feels more comfortable than my Xtherm. At 10cm thick it is much more plush. **Size/shape** \- The extra 4cm in width feels good. I am a 181cm, 100kg side sleeper and this feels like a better size and shape for me. It is also wider near the foot which is very welcome. **Profile** \- the Etherlight is higher at the sides than in the middle which feels a lot more stable. The Xtherm with its horizontal baffles regularly made me feel as though I was about to roll off the side. **Noise** \- They are roughly the same in volume but it is a different sound. The Xtherm sounded like a muted chip packet - still crinkly but not as noisy as the old Xlite. The Etherlight sounds more like a thick balloon - still makes a noise but a lower pitch. **Weight** \- Heavier. On my scales the Xtherm is 440g. S2S was 481g. **Warmth** \- The design looks pretty good. The new Etherlight uses reflective aluminium film - similar to the thermarest. The welds use a loop in the centre so it maintains an air gap even at the weld. Will actually take a few nights outside to really tell. I am not expecting it to be as warm as my old mat but we shall see. **Slipperyness** \- The fabric feels a little more grippy than the Xtherm so hopefully won't slip around as much. Once again - will need a few nights in the outdoors to really tell. **Packability -** Great. It folds down to same size as the Xtherm. I believe is a great improvement over the old Etherlight XT due to the new insulation. So on most points the Etherlight looks to be a winner. Size, shape and comfort is great. Weight is a bit higher and warmth is TBD but I feel like this is going to be my main mat form here on.

I just got the updated Sea to Summit Ether Light XR and can't wait to give it a proper test run next weekend. It was super comfy on my living room floor. Comes in a few 25" wide options. If you need higher R value, there's the pro version which is 4-season.

I'd give it a 9/10. Very comfy, great packed size, teeny bit heavier than I'd want (but comfort totally justified it). There were a couple cold spots but the pad had deflated as the temp dropped, so I just topped it off and all was well.

The brand new (literally new this week) Sea to Summit Etherlight XR pad looks impressive for weight to R-value ratio. Might check that out. It replaced the XT which they spent the last few months selling 50% off (I got one). So it has the same quilted/tufted/dimple style baffling as the Tensor, sorta. There's a huge difference in comfort depending on your body between the dimpled baffling of the Etherlight/Tensor and the horizontal baffling of the Xlite. I can't sleep on horizontal baffling despite all the good features of the Xlite. I've been happy with the Etherlight, which I always purchase at REI and return within the year because they can develop pinholes especially around where your elbows contact the pad when rising or laying down. I didn't buy the last one from REI because it was so cheap direct from S2S but the next time I need a new one I'm going with the new XR.

yuuuuup I use Sea to Summit Etherlight pads and it's the same. Buy from REI and just return within the year. Buy new when a new upgrade comes out. Like they just upgraded it and called it the XR, less weight, better R-value. I just put up with the pinholes and patching them on trail because I can't sleep better on any other pad.

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.

Ether light is comfortable but if I was to purchase one now I’d probably go for thermarest neoloft based on reviews I’ve seen. Just above £200 but look out for offers

Let me guess — Zoom UL? I ended up going with the Sea to Summit Ether Light XR, actually. I found out my local store was having a big sale on S2S gear, so I snagged mine for €190. The AeroCloud UL would’ve cost me €127 after VAT and import fees. Saving €63 just wasn’t enough to give up the 2-year warranty and local support. I have to say, I’m pretty impressed with the new XR mat. It’s the first ultralight mat I’ve used that doesn’t sound like a bag of chips when I move around — no annoying crinkle from the heat-reflective foil. The outer fabric is also surprisingly quiet. Comfort-wise, it’s excellent. Sure, there are more luxurious mats out there, like the Exped Megamat Ultra, but those are way heavier and bulkier. If the R-value holds up in real-world conditions, I’ll be even happier. My only real gripe so far is the thickness as it is advertised as 10 cm thick, while the reality is 9,5 cm ([https://imgur.com/a/Fgd9pHt](https://imgur.com/a/Fgd9pHt))

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.

I've been liking the new Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Insulated. Usually go for a wide, but using the regular mummy and have gotten some good nights sleep on it. It is a bit loud though.

Awesome! That's good to hear they sorted out the insulation problems of the XT. I just purchased the XR myself, but I haven't had the opportunity to use it anywhere other than my living room. It's definitely much comfier than my old thermarest !

Oh totally. It went great! I had a 25° western mountaineering bag and temps were 39° on my thermometer the first night. The pad was great. No cold spots. For reference I slept terribly and was cold in 37° on a rapide pad in December last year. It could have also been the quilt I was using. I had zero issues with the pad and it was of course very comfortable. 

I am the same weight as you so maybe can help here. Have you looked at the Sea to Summit XR or XR Pro? The R values are 4.1 and 7.4 respectively, with the Pro being heavier too. The regular is ~22" and 19.8oz vs the BA at 18oz, so if you can fit on a <6' pad, that gives you another 2"/10% of width and almost doubles your R-value for only ~2oz. I side sleep and roll a lot on mine and find it very comfy. Note I do have a large though because I'm over 6' tall and don't like my feet to hang off the end, it is 25.2" wide (6'6" long) but sadly much heavier at 25.4oz

The new **Sea to Summit Etherlite XR** Mummy Large. 10cm/4inches thick and comfy. Packs small. 580grams. other good current inflatable pads - Nemo Tensor All Season - Thermarest NeoAir NXT - Naturehike R5.8 (Budget option at $90)

Ive had the same issue with the NXT. I went with S2S, its great for me and my tosses and turns.

Ive the new one. Its slipper as most of these pads. Ive put some silicon on it so I dont have that problem.

S2S XR. It's great.

Sea to Summit Etherlite XR. 4" thick, 4.1 R value. Super comfy and no drama in getting it inflated.

Looking to upgrade my sleeping pad in a 12L 3-season overnighter kit, so optimizing for packed size. I know about therm-a-rest 3/4 pads, but I've had issues with nerve compression due to the baffle design, making it really hard to sleep. If there's nothing better out there, I can try to make it work. Its specs are hard to beat... I've been eyeballing the new S2S XR pad. Seems to pack even smaller than their shortest UltraLite pad (the orange one.) Weirdly the small and regular have the same packed size listed on the S2S site. Heavier than the x-lite but pretty packable, comparable r-value and I could actually sleep on it. Any other pads people would recommend? Really aiming for >3 R-value minimum so I can get 3 season usage. Thanks Edit: Ordered the Tensor Elite Short to couple with a torso-length GG thinlight. Technically that's two pads and not one, but being able to just throw the thinlight on the outside of the pack makes that a non-issue, plus I get the various uses it provides. We'll see if I regret my decision...

this is probably what I'm going to end up going with. ordered the tensor elite short and an S2S XR short to compare. S2S is heavier and bulkier but still pretty small with a better r value and durability. although at 12L it probably won't win out over the tensor

Etherlight XR is the same excellent comfort as the XT with a better R value.

Some mats have internal noise when you move: the crisp packet effect. Etherlights it’s the surface. It’s a much more rubber-like surface that produces a squeaking noise when you rub your skin over it. Doesn’t bother me, but it’s a different noise effect than other brands.

i have a seat to summit ether lite insulated. it is a little noisy, but the comfort is worth it

6’4”, 220, although with a back that does not require repair. Most comfortable backpacking pad I tried is S2S Comfort Insulated Plus. Weight is awful - 2.5 lb - but the double chamber system is excellent at balancing protection from the ground and support vs having a softer top to rest on. Large rectangular size provides enough space, especially if you are a back sleeper. Outside of double chamber systems like that one, basically Thermarest NeoAir are the best of the bunch. Pricy but thick and performant. The popular S2S Etherlight is thicker, but also requires being inflated firmer which makes it overall meh unless you specifically want ultra-firm.

His findings pretty much match my experiences. I have a S2S etherlight insulated. It's so cold with a quilt, It really feels like it's doing nothing, even in summer conditions. Comfortable though.

\+1 for the Ether Lite! I've got a bunch of pads, but I always end up going back to this one for comfort. The material is a little squeaky and I would trust it below freezing, but it's very comfortable. I've also seen it on sale regularly for less than $150.

I have the S2S Ether Light and it’s been great for me for side sleeping. I have not tried any of the others for comparison

So I know more about pads than back injuries (*knock on wood*). But I find pads with a dimple design to be most comfortable because you can usually avoid pressure points on them. Think the REI Helix or the Zenbivy pads or the Big Agnes Rapide or Zoom, or the Sea to Summit Ether Light or Comfort Plus. However, it may be that a firmer pad is actually better for your back?

I thought I needed a thick wide pad as a side sleeper. I got an S2S Etherlight. About half way thru a thru in ‘21 I had to try an XLite, because supply chain. Dropped about 9ozs and kicked myself the rest of the way down the trail for being so gullible. The XLite was much more comfortable for me sleeping and I could really feel those 9ozs off my back. Get that and bring a few ozs of Blue Chew and your gal will carry the rest of the gear! Ha!

They’re half off right now, about $100

I love the etherlight, I’m a side sleeper and it really helps prevent my arm from falling asleep. The only downside is the bulk. It takes up a lot of space in my pack. When I’m out for long hauls I don’t have the room for it and switch to the Tensor All-Season.

This is why I've switched to Kilos elite pads after wasting decades and £££s on Nemo, Thermarest, etc. Kilos pads are at least 1/2 the price of the 'premium', but still unreliable, pads and easily the comfiest I've ever used. They look similar to the S2S Ether lites (which started leaking after 3 nights) but are way comfier for some reason.

oh hello, followed the same route as you. Just picked up an S2S Ether Light today to test, as I'm a cold side sleeper and haven't quite found the solution yet. How have you found it for warmth? It is heavier, but sleep deprivation weights a lot as well.

The S2S Ether Light is GREAT. It is also heavy. Pick your poison, I guess.

I second the "very comfy" bit, it is probably the most comfortable sleeping pad I tried. However, nothing Ultralight about that pad. Stick with Nemo or try Thermarest.

I was referring to the Insulated version from StS. My bad (-:

I tried the Exped Ultra 3R at some point and especially for a side sleeper it is not a good choice. The outer tubes are thicker, meaning if you stick your arm out it feels weird. I owned the StS Ether Light (Insulated) and it was so far the most comfortable pads I had. Unfortunately it is not light. At the moment I use the Nemo Tensor (Insulated) and it is comfortable enough for me. No experience with the other pads.

I got the S2S this year and I sleep very well. Side sleeper, 5'10", 210 lbs.

Side sleeper here. +1 for the Ether lite. On sale right now for $100

I have a S2S ultralight insulated air and it’s very comfortable as a side sleeper. I never bottom out.

The Ether light has a layer of foamy stuff rather than metal foil, so it is a lot quieter. But in my experience not very warm

Agreed the Exped is surprisingly comfy for a side sleeper. I went with the ultra 5r but that shouldn’t make a difference. Tried and eventually got rid of: thermarest, ether light, klymit.

Agree, I had one and it was very squeaky, sometimes even like rubbing balloons together. Could also be due to pad rubbing against tent floor. Exped pads never have the same issue.

I have the sea to summit ether light insulated, they have the rectangle shape that is pretty wide and is currently on clearance. Lifetime warranty. I use it with the nemo disco, love the spoon shape. Might be worth a look at the s2s site, might still have some available

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. 

We love our Sea to Summit pads!

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.