Sea To Summit - Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Pad

I'm a side sleeper and I find the etherlight XT really comfortable. It creeks and croaks like crazy though so anyone you go with will hate you. And no, it doesn't go away. People say that but they are lying lol. I think they just got used to it.

I tried the r-3.2 model, found it too cold. Exchanged it for the womans model, which has a slightly higher 3.5 r-value, and also found it too cold. (This was during spring trips at sea level.) I have not had this problem with other pads with roughly those r-values. There’s just something about the design of the old model, down insulation plus cold spots, that makes it sleep colder than the r-value would suggest. At least for me.

I have a previous back injury. I find the Womens S2S Etherlight to be the most comfortable, though the least warm. Next for comfort is the Nemo All Season, as well as the Nemo Tensor. In comfort, they are both just slightly less comfortable than the S2S. Both are warmer than the S2S. I have used the ExPed Hyperlight pad for about 40 nights. I believe this pad has been replaced with the newer version. Mine was a 2.8R value. For me, the warmth was equal to the S2S pad. It was not an uncomfortable pad. It just wasn't as comfortable as the S2S and Nemo pads. I tried the Thermarest NeoAir Xlite. My lower back ached when I used the pad. It just didn't have the support I needed. I wish I could use it as it has great warmth to weight ratios. I used the wide versio pads for each of these, though the Exped was a mummy MW version I would assume what is comfortable for me may not translate to you as your back injury may be different than mine. My injury involved the lower back. I have slept in a hammock a few nights and never experienced back pain.

You may have to keep trying. It took me a long time to find a sleeping pad that I was good with. I eventually now use a sea to summit ether light women's pad that's long and wide. It has the extra padding in the hips and shoulders for me as I'm an active side sleeper. That's when I'm on the ground though. I prefer hammocks now because I just can't stand sleeping on the ground with a pad unless I'm camping with my wife so then I find a way to make it work for a few days

I have the summit ether light wide, started using when 300 lbs 5’5. It was the 4th pad I tried and the one I have kept using and would recommend. Haven’t tried the others though.

OT, the North American clearance price on the remaining XT mats is incredible. $59 for the women's XT.

I went with the S2S ether light XT wide. I think it is 4" / 10 cm thick whereas my previous thermarest prolite was 5cm... My hip needs 10cm. At the minimum.

I’m 6’ 180 lbs, typically a side sleeper. My favorite pad is the Sea to Summit Women’s Ether Light XT. 6’ by 25 inches and 4 inches thick… great for side sleeping. Yup, I sleep on a womens pad - the men’s large/wide pads are unnecessarily long for me as a side sleeper. Why carry weight I don’t use?

Side sleeper with a bad back here. Can highly recommend the sea 2 summit ether light xt large rectangular. Certain exped pads with vertical baffles sound promising also but I've not tried them

Side sleeper here. I have the ether light xt large wide. It's quite good for me. Id like to try out an exped mat with vertical baffles though

Also a side sleeper. +1 on the Ether Light mentioned by another commenter. For pillow, I have a stuff sack that has a layer of fleece on the inside- holds my sleeping clothes by day, at night I turn it inside out and shove my puffy inside. I find that more comfortable than a blow up pillow.

Ether light xt (sea to summit) is 4in thick and good for side sleepers. I use it for backpacking, so it should meet your size requirements.

I actually don’t have a problem with it (well not just me but my backpacking buddies)- put hiking clothes under it and it cuts down- there’s far worse

Looks like they're being discontinued? Maybe a new model is coming? Sea to Summit website * [Ether Light XT \(Regular\)](https://seatosummit.com/products/ether-light-xt-insulated-sleeping-pad?variant=19512258166887) - $119 * [Ether Light XT \(Regular Wide\)](https://seatosummit.com/products/ether-light-xt-insulated-sleeping-pad?variant=19512263278695) - $131 * [Ether Light XT \(Large\)](https://seatosummit.com/products/ether-light-xt-insulated-sleeping-pad?variant=19512258199655) - $131 * [Ether Light XT Extreme \(Regular\)](https://seatosummit.com/products/ether-light-xt-extreme-insulated-air-sleeping-pad) - $137 Amazon * [Ether Light XT \(Regular\)](https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Summit-Insulated-Sleeping-Regular/dp/B07ZYJVGMH) - $119 * [Ether Light XT \(Regular Wide\)](https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Summit-Insulated-Sleeping-Regular/dp/B084SF5MFF) - $131 * [Ether Light XT \(Large\)](https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Summit-Insulated-Sleeping-Regular/dp/B08491KSTQ) - $131 * [Ether Light XT Extreme \(Regular\)](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B093GHK11C) - $137 I love my (regular wide) Ether Light XT as a side sleeper, can't go back to my NeoAir Xlite, I'll worry about grams elsewhere.

I got you, also a side sleeper, this is what I finally settled on: * [Ether Light XT Insulated Air Sleeping Pad - Regular Wide](https://seatosummit.com/products/ether-light-xt-insulated-sleeping-pad?variant=19512263278695) - 4" thick & 25" wide - After spending most of the AT on a 2" thick & 20" wide Neoair, the thickness and extra 5" of width of this pad is heaven when side sleeping. * [Nemo Fillo Camping Pillow](https://www.nemoequipment.com/products/fillo-backpacking-and-camping-pillow) - Hybrid foam and blow up pillow, best pillow I have tried, much better than the blow up only pillows. I usually only blow this up like 50% and it cradles my head real well. I also throw some clothes in a stuff sack and throw that between my knees when sleeping.

I’ve only used mine twice (xt women’s insulated) and it was super comfortable but I tend to flop around a lot and my husband could hardly sleep with how noisy it was. It annoyed it me too. Super super comfortable though!

Ok, so for me foam makes a world of difference in comfort. Air pads feel more bouncy and I find it harder to roll over, etc, which is honestly hard enough later in pregnancy. I also found the Ether somewhat plastic feeling and crinkly sounding. The stretchy fabric on the Comfort Plus SI is super comfy and quiet. I have found the 3” enough, but I’m a back sleeper. I’ve had both the women’s version and the men’s and the women’s seemed to have denser foam, therefore a bit heavier for its size and warmer. Hope you find the perfect one for you!

The sea to summit is 10cm thick, which is amazing for it's size and weight. But it's made of a noisy fabric

Self-inflating foam mats seem like a good middle ground. I hadnt seen the nemo flyer. Looks very similar to the new sea to summit pursuit self-inflating that i just got (5cm thick, 600g). It's extremely comfortable and i cant wait to try it out, after getting zero sleep on my etherlight xt recently. Do you have the zlite for extra padding, or for extra warmth?

Ive used the sts ether light xt and the ba zoom ul, and the zoom ul is more comfortable for a side sleeper imo. Not sure if the xr is much better than the xt

I love my Ether Light highly recommend and from what I've heard there warranty is exceptional. I went with the XT Insulated req wide amazing sleeps on it.

I love my Ether Light highly recommend and from what I've heard there warranty is exceptional. I went with the XT Insulated req wide amazing sleeps on it.

Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated and Nemo Tensor are both widely regarded as The most comfortable pads. I have or tried both and they're great.

So that's why their XT pads have been on sale for the last few months. I finally snagged myself a short version after waiting over a year for a sale.

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

Sleeping bag won't do anything for comfort while laying down. A good pad is what you want. Sea to Summit Ether XT Light, followed by Nemo Tensor, are my recommendations. Pillows are more forgiving. Wife and I use the Therm-a-rest ones.

Same! I loved the feel of that pad, but I thought mine was defective!

That's so funny, I had the opposite experience. Used an XLite for a good long while and just accepted that my arms and shoulders always felt sore in the morning and/or went numb overnight. Switched to a Ether Light XT Insulated (regular mummy, not wide), took a tiny weight penalty, slept like a baby ever since. Sleeping pads are as personal as underwear. I will seriously never understand why one person thinks their preferred pad will work for someone else. You just gotta try a few till you find the one that works for your (unique, individual) body.

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.

they both kinda suck tbh try a nemo tensor, big agnes rapide, or sea to summit etherlite, or thermarest neo air

Stronger seams is promising. I loved the comfort level of etherlight xt but had multiple get air leaks in all the seams so I gave up on using it.

Trie the STS XT at REO and compared to other pads it is loud when moving around. In addition it is bulky when packed and has a lower R value. I also have the Thermorest a=x lite and prefer the Nemo All Season.

I really like the ether light!

I switched from a s2s eatherlight xt to a zenbivy ultralight and have quite enjoyed it.

I was sporting the s2s ether light and had to let so much air out. Got zenbivy ultralight fully inflated is wonderful. 200 pounds side to stomach sleeper. Seems to have a different type stretchy material.

When I was in the boy scouts, they taught us how to make a bed by cutting/scavenging pine branches. That was the most comfortable camping bed I've ever slept on. Literally better than the big ass cot my Dad used to make us lug around. I don't do it all the time as I don't want to just be cutting branches off trees because I feel like that's not cool. But the last I went camping there was a big storm that had came through this valley and I found so many small pine branches. That was the 3rd time I made a nature cot or whatever you would call that. Omfg, that shit was more comfortable than my bed at home. Those little pine needles gently poking my back, holy shit I slept like a log, no pun intended. 🤭 But as for a an actual answer to your question, mine will be like half assed. I got this air filled one from the return rack in REI, I think its made by Sea to Summit. It's been my favorite for longer hike to camp trips. It rolls up relatively small, no pillow built-in, but it really gets the job done when I need something that fits in my pack. It's in my storage unit so I can't just grab it to tell you the name of it. I googled it tho, and I believe it's the Ether Light XT. And then I just use an inflatable pillow with it. My favorite has always been the foam/air with built-in pillow ones that you were talking about, but I feel you, that thingy is so bulky! Stay safe, and have a fun trip homie! 🙏🤘

sea to summit ether light xt - sweet spot for weight and durability. I prefer my exped lw for comfort (it's wide and even more silent) but these are not as durable. 3-4r are enough for what I do, for iceland I'd personally take a warmer one. But I'm a quilt user.

I recently swapped to the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated and can definitely recommend it. I’m a side sleeper and the extra thickness is welcome but it’s not much bulkier packed than my previous pad.

Thanks - I’m fairly certain that’s the one I’ve got.

Sea to Summit EtherLight XT Insulated. I also have a NEMO Tensor Ultralight but find it too thin for side-sleeping.

etherlight xt pads never had down. they were synthetic insulated

For another option... I had a sea to summit etherlite xt for 5 years and loved it. Eventually died. Tried saving weight and got a neoair xlite nxt. Hated it and it broke within a month. Crinkly and uncomfortable. Went back to the sea to summit and it's good.

I highly rate the nemo tensor (3.5"). I used to use a sea to summit etherlite xt (4") which was really comfy but heavy and had 3 of them with plastic weld multi-failure. I've tried thermarest neoair xlight nxt (3") and i hated it, felt like sleeping on a puffy bag of chips and unstable. For the pain you're feeling though, most mats are similar and the decider is getting a mat thick enough that you can deflate it so soften the pressure. Deflating the mat a bit if i'm going to sleep on the back helps with back pain and general pressure by increasing contact area. Raising the feet also helps, usually i put spare clothes under the feet. Choosing a sufficiently large/wide mat too.

I mean, it’s not. That’s the full price. This is what a sale listing looks like on REI, the prices are in red & the percentage off is next to the price https://www.rei.com/product/250165/sea-to-summit-ether-light-xt-insulated-sleeping-pad

Well for whatever reason, it’s cheaper and worth spending a few more bucks for a high quality product

I have the Tensor and Ether Light XT. I find the latter more comfortable. There's a significant difference in packed size between the two, but iiuc the XR is significantly smaller than the XT.

Nope! I’ve used the Ether Light XT, Ether Light XT Insulated, and Ether Light XT Extreme: all three are very quiet. Honestly think a lot of people have mixed up sleeping pads, or have some other/older Sea to Summit pad, when they mention noise on the XT models.

Nope! I’ve used the Ether Light XT, Ether Light XT Insulated, and Ether Light XT Extreme: all three are very quiet. Honestly think a lot of people have mixed up sleeping pads, or have some other/older Sea to Summit pad, when they mention noise on the XT models.

Exped Dura. It has down. I have the 6R LW. You can get a slightly lighter version which is lighter due to thinner face fabrics. Avoid StS Etherlight XT at all costs, as I have had two getting pinctures where the dividers attach. Constant flats from just lying on them. And I am not the only one. This is why I bought the Exped Dura.

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.

Im not sure if I can trust S2S with another pad after my freezing XT. Comfort counts for nothing if using a quilt and you're cold.

\+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.

The new SeatoSummit XR Pro pads might be a good option. They seem to have really improved on the size/weight, and have around a 7 r-value. I have one of their older XT non-pro models and find it really comfortable.

Pad. The ul pick for high comfort is the s2s ether light xt

Some folks don't, especially if they're back sleepers. The s2s is thicker and seems more popular with side sleepers

The neoloft is about 40% heavier than the ether light xt and the megamat weight nearly twice as much. I don't think either of them are ul as even the ether light xt sacrifices quite a bit of weight compared to the neoair. UL is about sacrifices. What is the lightest pad you can sleep on? If that's the megamat then that's what it is for you, but if you could sleep on a neoair and you want a megamat because it's comfortable, you're carrying 24 oz you don't need. The ether light xt comes in at just over a lb in the women's size. There's no 4+ inch pad that can match or beat that weight AFAIK. Other pads are more comfortable but they're heavier.

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.

I also love my Etherlite rec. large. I have around 100 nights on it, and I sleep better than at home. But I am in the opposite boat now, trying to find something lighter. They are heavily discounted right now (for example at Bergfreunde, but that ships from the EU), so it might be worth picking one up to try.

I’d recommend looking at the Sea to Summit Etherlight XT insulated pads as they are currently on sale for 50% off direct from S2S. They generally are in the weight range of the pads you are looking at but right at the $100 price range right now. The R rating is only 3.2 so they won’t be as warm as some of your other options, but at the temps you mentioned it would be just fine.

They're selling off the S2S XT right now. Good deals to be had for the most comfortable sleeping pad there is.

Nemo Tensor, Kilos Gear AeroCloud Elite, Big Agnes Rapide SL, Thermarest NeoLoft. The Sea To Summit Etherlight XT is also comfortable but heavy and bulky for a backpacking pad.

Sea to summit etherlite xt has been my go to. Best nights sleep I've had as a side sleeper

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.

Love my Sea to Summit Ether Lite XT. Recently went back to tent after hammocking for years and pad was biggest issue I had before with sleeping in tents. I found the Ether Lite a great pad (light, comfortable and pretty affordable relative to others)

Yup, if it's as comfortable as the previous model and delivers on the 4.1 R-value, it would be the dream pad for me. The current XT insulated is at best a 2.5 not a 3.2.

They might have fixed that already with the XT. At least the XT insulated I bought last year is silent, not a even a hint of crinkling.

In November I went to a store and blew one up new and laid on it on the showroom floor. It was comfortable but sounded like a loud squeaky balloon. Every time I shifted weight or switched sides it was loud. Even someone walking by looked at me and said “that’s really noisy”. Because of this I bought the Nemo Tensor which is much quieter than the Sea to Summit.

I mis-read the post. I didn’t know there is an XR model coming out. I tried the XT

I had the opposite experience somehow. I had to return the etherlite after waking up with a sore back every night.

Agreed, I had to return my Etherlight XT since it was too cold to use even in summer. If these live up to their R-values this time it could be new king of comfort.

Self-inflating mats are basically 1990’s technology. Heavy and less comfortable than fully inflatable mats. Get yourselves decent comfortable inflatable mats like. Sea to Summit Etherlight XT insulated or Exped Ultra.

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.

For me, only the S2S Ether Lt XT and the Nemo Tensor work. Horizontal baffles are a nightmare with the "slipping off" feeling and movement! I sleep on my side and stomach and sometimes back, and those two work great.

For me the S2S works where others don’t work. I find horizontal baffles extremely uncomfortable … it feels as if anything closer to the edge falls down and doesn’t give any support. So for me the S2S works for longer trips and for shorter I use a short version of the Nemo Tensor.

Agree. I have Nemo tensor and S2S Ether Lt xt because I find horizontal baffles very uncomfortable.

When I do use an inflatable, my S2S Ether XT is my favourite (best baffles and system with pillow etc).

The Rapide SL is really excellent. My partner and I have both been using them for quite a while now and I think it’s the comfiest pad out there. I’m also a side sleeper. I tend to agree it’s not quite as warm as it claims but I still use it during autumn and spring. However I do tend to sleep quite cold so that’s a factor to bear in mind with my opinion. I have the Sea to Summit Etherlite XT (my mid winter mat), which has a similar construction to the XR, and it’s also a very, very comfortable pad. The XR is the newer version of it and looks like an excellent pad and will be perfect for year round use. They are extremely lightweight for that kind of warmth. The Sea to Summit pads also come with little velcro stickers that keep your pillow in place, if your pillow is covered in fuzzy fabric (they’re made to lock Sea to Summit’s own pillows specifically but any fuzzy fabric pillow would work) which is a feature I really love. Broadly speaking, the pads with a “cushioned” build like the Rapide and the Etherlights, are the most comfortable for most sleepers, but they do weigh slightly more than horizontal or vertical baffle pads. For me, as an increasingly creaky 40 something, it’s worth the extra weight for a good night’s sleep.

You can’t go wrong with them. Another feature I love about the Sea to Summit is that their storage sack is also the pump sack. I’ve often forgotten to bring my Big Agnes pump sack when I’ve had my Rapide with, whereas that never happens with the S2S one. When they brought out the XR range a few months ago, I actually seriously considered getting one but just couldn’t really justify it when I already have the XT. They really are fantastic mats.

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 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.

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.

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.

Check out the sleeping pad comparison chart I posted. It's a quick reference for pack size and weight across multiple brands. The best 2 light air pads that are still comfortable: Big Agnes Rapide SL NEMO Tensor (any version really) I personally prefer the Rapide SL but my wife really likes the Tensor. Both available in 20x72 up to 25x78, I always recommend at least a 25" wide. Both insulated and smaller packing that the other that may offer more comfort or insulation like the Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe or Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft. Maybe not as small as some cheaper Amazon pads or the infamous Klymit static V but guaranteed more comfortable. They also have lifetime warranty which I know doesn't help you in the woods, but does protect your investment in the event there's a leak you can't find. The Big Agnes zoom is too crinkly like all the Thermarest air pads are. The Sea to summit etherlight packs too big for what it is and the external material is super squeaky on a tent floor.

Ether light I found noisy and sold it.

You need a warmer sleeping pad. Or double up the S2S.

Went from Tensor to a S2S Etherlight and it is even better. The extra 1/2” of thickness makes a lot of difference if you’re a side sleeper (or heavier)

That’s what I did also. Went from crappy Amazon pad, to x-lite, to Tensor, to Etherlight. Each one was leaps and bounds improvement over the previous.

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

100% this - your Ether Light only has an R-value of 3.2 which is way too low for 0-15°F temps (you need at least 5+ for those conditions), no amount of merino will fix heat loss through the ground.

I love my sea to summit ether lite. Im also a big dude who sleeps on his side. I have the biggest one and the insulated version. Its more than $200 but goes on sale occasionally and its well worth it

I really like the Sea to Summit Etherlite. I use it for bikepacking, backpacking, music festivals...pretty much everything. I need an alarm to get up in the morning. 4 inches thick. Quiet. Mine weighed in at 20.8 oz. If you aren't super tall. I reccomend the women's version. You can get a 25"x72" "women's" pad and it is a little bit warmer in R value than the men's version. But no matter what you get for length...the 25" wide version is worth it for sure.

is that the new one that just came out? they say its a bit warmer but packs down smaller than the old one. they were selling off the old model cheap on the company website a few weeks ago. I don't know if they have any left but I got the women's wide for $60. Its my backup now! 🤣

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.

As a cold sleeper for the love of God do not get the ether light. I had it for a while and I was just dang cold all the time unless it was properly warm out. The winter version is absurdly bulky. Even worse is I can't sleep on fully inflated pads so had to let some air out which reduces the r value even further. Then it developed a slow leak. I bought the nemo all season in wide and it's night and day on warmth and noise. Tbh though if dealing with freezing temps I'd be taking a winter mat as a cold sleeper. Or be prepared to bump with a foam supplemental mat. After some absolutely freezing nights I don't push boundaries on this. ETA thermarest wasn't thick enough for me but this was the old model the newer one is 0.5 thicker so maybe it's enough.

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.

Basically the best value pad you can get right now. I have a S2S Etherlight, which is a great pad, but I'm looking to cut down the weight and pack size.

First thing is to experiment, try some ideas and figure out what combination of tricks work work best. Don't worry about having the lightest kit until you figure out what you want to do, then you can figure out how to trim weight. Here's a few cheap ideas that should work in some combination: I'm looking at your ether light and thinking that's probably too cold to be used alone, I'd start with layering a foam pad on top, ⅛in foam should do it or just try whatever is cheap. Putting the foam inside the sleeping bag can be a big warmth boost. Experiment with a VBL, you can try a Christmas tree bag for a few bucks, but beware of overheating and sweating too much. Get a lightweight blanket and trim/hem it to make a simple overquilt. Try an extra fleece sleep layer from amazon or something cheap. Bring a heat safe bottle and pour hot water in and sleep with that. Wear a beanie or pehaps a balaclava that you can roll down over your nose to your lips just enough to help pre warm the air before inhale but not too much to restrict breathing. It's tough to find a beanie that fits just right where it is bothe comfortable and functional but the right one can be very helpful at keeping warm. Try a mix of these, you probably have some of these already, see what works and what doesn't, then iterate until it's working for you.

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

It's literally not possible. The megamats are comfortable because they have several inches of foam inside of them. The foam makes the pad super soft and supportive. There is no way to make that packable. Backpacking air pads are either air with insulation or foam filled but really thin, like 1.5 inches. The most comfortable backpacking pad I've found is the sea to summit light because it has a lot of small baffles instead of long continuous tubes like most pads. That makes it a lot more supportive. But it will never compare to a megamat.

Sea to Summit has a structure they call "air sprung cell". I personally own an old NeoAir but have tested a Sea to summit pad with that structure and I must say, it was much comfier. I've been trying to justify chucking in the money for a new pad, but am not there yet.

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.

Ended up getting a couple sea to summit mats on sale for $60.

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

Rapide sl is peak. My favorite pad. Ive got a sea so summit pad that i love too but can't remember the name of it. It has like a 7 or 8 r value tho.

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

Buy once cry once. Thermarest, Nemo, Sea to Summit. They make the best small, lightweight, comfortable pads.

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.

My wife has S2S mattress - the one you are looking at or slightly colder and she likes to sleep warm. We were doing Tour du Mt Blanc this year and you want all the comfort you can get for multiple days of 1000 m up and downs even if it is worth few grams more. Nemo seems to be thicker though? And you don't have to inflate it all the way, so it will make more room for your hips but watch out, too close to the ground and it'll get cold in the middle of the night. We both use Cumulus 250 quilts and I have Thermarest NeoAir Xlite (R 4.5) - I was sweating some nights so if anything, Nemo will be too warm for the proper Summer and maybe shoulder months.

I can’t say for these specific models but I have owned three sleeping pads in my 41 years, Sea to summit, Nemo, and thermarest. The only one that has never gotten a hole in it is the thermarest and it is my oldest pad!

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. 

Samw with my sea to summit absolutely unbelievable how comfy it is.

Can't say long term but I just replace my sea to summit pad with a Tensor All season. Very comfy just about to leave on tour with it.

I just picked up a Sea to Summit sleeping pad earlier this summer after years of making do with the cheap Walmart foam pad. I've slept so much better with my new setup, especially because I also bought their inflatable pillow that attaches to the sleeping pad. Wasn't the cheapest setup but very well worth it.

I have the S2S and love it! Side/back sleeper.

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.