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Top Pros
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Reddit Reviews
Are you winter camping? An R of 3.4 is sufficient even just below freezing. Sea to Summit makes short pads.
I have a S2S (short model) and I kind of wish I got Nemo Tensor.
Mine is an older model and the R value is way off, it's definitely not appropriate for 3 seasons despite being rated at 3 something. I was freezing when it was rainy and +8 C, cold was radiating from my back. In the past I've taken another sleeping pad (self-inflating) with a similar 3.X R value and slept no problem at -2 C.
I found mine really didn't live up to the R rating. I was freezing even at +7, and I normally run hot. I wonder if the wet saturated ground had something to do with it, but I never had issues like that with my old MEC self-inflating.
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.
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.
Sea to Summit has a good range of long and wide pads. I'm 6'4, 92kg and use their long and wide insulated mat. They are a bit loud but what can you do.
Fellow side sleeper! I'm female so I have hips and I NEED good compression. My shoulder felt jammed up in the Nemo Tensor All Season. The REI Helix was the best once I was on my side, but I felt like I bottomed out when rolling over and also if it wasn't fully inflated but definitely check this one out. Currently I'm on an Sea to Summit Ether light XT (fem version) because I found it on sale and I love it! It's similar in comfort to the Big Agnes Rapide SL (my husband has the big agnes, but it's super expensive so I went with the S2S because I was getting desperate).
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.
Rankings by Use Case
Top recommendations from others in the same boat
Best for Back pain relief

Top pick
Exped - MegaMat Series
Best for Couples

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Exped - MegaMat Series
Best for Maximum comfort car camping

Top pick
Exped - MegaMat Series
Best for Side sleepers

Top pick
Exped - MegaMat Series
Best for Winter camping

Top pick
Therm-a-Rest - NeoAir Xtherm Series





