Zenbivy - Flex Mattress

Anything is better than 2 yoga mats. I hear lots of people talking about exped. I have a klymit, which is okay and not too expensive, a couple of self inflating (Coleman and zenbivy), which are better but heavier, and just got a sea to summit that I haven’t tried yet. But you don’t need a giant inflator, many come with an inflation sack or you can get a small rechargeable pump from flextail.

Additional co-sign! I'm also a rotisserie chicken sleeper who also starfishes, and my Zenbivy is my favourite piece of gear I own. I will note that I've noticed some draftiness once I get below 10 Celsius, but I'm also a larger person so the XL might have been a better purchase for me! I have a 2023 quilt so no smell, sorry OP. I am Canadian and did the "ship to a third party in the states and drive over to pick it up" shenanigans to avoid duties (pre-tarriffs) so it's REALLY out of range for most Canadians now :(

For 10 a degree comfort rating the concept of “ budget friendly “ will begin to be a stretch. You may want to look at a hight temp rating then add a bag liner. I have a Zenbivy 25 degree Light Bed sleep system and really like it. I use their Flex inflatable pad. On a recent trip in November the air temp dropped to below freezing (we had frozen water bottles in the morning) and I stayed warm. I had a lightweight fleece blanket also to give me an extra 10 degrees of warmth. The mattress is great, i never felt any cold from the ground.

The zenbivy flex is supposed to have a 4 way stretch top that conforms to contour better. That’s what they say at least. I lack enough experience to completely support that- I slept on one for one night and slept fine on my side.

Fair enough. Thanks for the info, especially the bit about not being too hot when it was 60. Aside from potentially comfort, any other concerns or disappointments with it? I ordered an ether light xt but ended up returning it. Mostly because the pack size (of the regular version) was slightly larger than expected, and just reading about all of the weld-point failures, etc. But from a comfort perspective it seemed pretty comfortable. I ended up ordering a zenbivy which I find extremely comfortable (I never had a chance to compare them side by side, but I believe zenbivy is more comfortable (and smaller) - however if you need high insulation (the pro version), or if you easily bottom out on a mat, then the extra width of this mat probably makes it the most comfortable on the market in that case. I can't imagine they are less comfortable than last version since it appears to be the same technology and outer fabric. So the fact that the high insulation version is now reflective film, packs down WAY smaller, supposedly stronger welds, and quieter (I didn't have an issue with the loudness, but I never took it out and put it to use in my tent). This will likely be my spare pad. I might end up doing Tour du Mont Blanc with a friend, and he doesn't hike/camp nearly as much as me. I already have an extra quilt, so if I have a comfortable extra sleeping mat then it allows me to bring friends along without them needing their own expensive gear. Then I'll probably compare the zenbivy side by side with the XR Pro. Thanks again for the quick response.

I’m 100% co-signing this review. As a rotisserie chicken sleeper who likes to be tucked in, I effing love my Zenbivy and how snuggleable it is. It really does feel like a real bed. I also recently got the Ether Light XR to pair with it! I was also considering the Zenbivy Flex, but the S2S warranty won out. I was dead set on a rectangular pad but S2S’s pricing structure is kind of nonsensical, making the large tapered cheaper than the rectangular regular/wide. The taper didn’t bother me like I thought it would since it starts past my hips, and the longer length meant I could stretch out on my stomach without my feet hanging off. I also prefer the air sprung cell construction over the vertical baffles on my previous Exped pad. I think they distribute my weight better. I do agree that it’s a bit plasticky, but my Zenbivy sheet makes that a nonissue for me.

Any of the Nemo Tensor line is great and not loud and Zen Bivy also makes really good pads as well. That will likely be the next one I buy.

If you have one nearby, REI has sleeping pads blown up you can lay on and test out. Everyones body and sleeping preferences are different. Once you figure out what kind of baffles you prefer, finding a sleeping pad will come easier as there are so many options. Especially if weight isn't an issue. I have a Nemo Tensor. It has quilted baffles. Everyone loves it, and it hurts my back and hips so bad. I also have an Exped pad and one from Zenbivy with vertical baffles. I love these. They cradle my body better. Thermarest is super popular. Most are horizontal baffles. They don't look comfy to me but it seems like people sleep well on them. Sea to Summit and Big Agnes are other popular sleeping pad brands. What kind of temps are you expecting? You'll want to choose a pad with an R value appropriate to your camping needs. Most choose a 3 season with an R value between 2-4. I would stick on the upper end if you're a cold sleeper.

I got the wide/long version of the Zenbivy (being long/wide myself) and it is a great mat in my opinion. It's got good thickness, flextail compatible and I really like the baffle system it has compared to others. I can also atest to it's R rating as I have had it out in negative temps on my tent floor without a footprint and not felt any cold spots.

So hear me out, I know that there are always trade offs with backpacking gear. You want ultimate comfort? You sacrifice with increased weight. But one thing that I’m finding as I get older is that I’m willing to sacrifice some weight (or money) to ensure I sleep well on the trail. I currently sleep on a zenbivy mat that’s fine but it’s 25 inches wide which is just barely wide enough for my frame and sometimes when on my back my arms fall off the mat. So I’ve started my search for a new comfy mat. Here’s my non negotiables: 3+ inch thickness or more 30 inch wide R-value of at least 4.5, ideally closer to 5 since I sleep with a quilt Does anyone have any mats they’ve used that tick all these boxes? I’ve had my eyes on the exped megamat but it’s like 2.6kg…which if I can’t find anything lighter I might just suck up and buy. Has anyone used any other thick, extra wide mats that were lighter? Looking for suggestions or ideas.

Believe it or not I do use the zenbivy setup and my arms still dangle enough that I’m uncomfortable. Not sure how. In theory it should hold my dumb arms up but I think it’s just not tight enough to do that? Not sure.

I guess I am equating thickness to comfort to some extent, and you’re correct that those two things don’t always lead to one another. I toss and turn as I sleep so I find with my current pad if I sleep on my side I end up with a sore hip. But when I’m on my back my arms flop off my mat and then turn into ice cubes and fall asleep. You may be right that I’m looking for a unicorn….but I need to change something with my setup. So I guess I’m just looking for recommendations on a max comfort pad.