I have the Tensor All Season, my brother has the Rapide and I’ve had the Dura 3R in the past so I have a decent idea of what they’re like. For one thing those specs are off, the Nemo packs the smallest and it’s definitely lighter than the Rapide at the same length and width. I use 25in wide pads though. As for comfort, these are all comfortable pads, it’s really going to come down to preference. The Exped and BA have more of a vertical baffle feel while the Nemo is more dimpled. If I had to rank them I’d go BA, Nemo, Exped. But it’s close, they are all good. For durability only the Nemo and Exped list the denier, w Nemo being 20 top, 40 bottom nylon. The Exped is 20d poly which is not only the thinnest but Poly isn’t as strong as Nylon. The BA doesn’t say the material but it seems durable. All of them should sleep true to their R value, so Nemo would be the warmest, and I’ve heard the Rapide has complaints of cold spots but my brother never experienced that, though he hasn’t tested it when it’s been cold enough. I really like that Exped uses synthetic fill rather than reflective film as it will be more comfortable in summer. So maybe go w the Exped if you’ll do a lot of summer camping and either the Nemo or BA depending upon what’s more important, comfort & durability -Rapide or weight & warmth - Nemo. Also look into warranty terms, being in Germany the Warranty won’t be the same buying from either US company.
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.
Exped Dura 5R Duo LW and sleeping bags that zip together. We've tethered single mats together in the past but they were a pain.
We're also in a 6p tent which gives lots of room for the bigger pad, gear, elbow room, and general couples camp smoothing.
I have the Dura 5R Duo and I think it's darn quiet for a pad that still at least somewhat prioritizes packed size and lightness. It's certainly much quieter (and warmer) than my Big Agnes Q Core Deluxe single pad.
People recommending self inflating pads like the MegaMat are off their rocker. Incredibly comfortable, yes. Packs small? Absolutely not. Plus they should be stored unrolled.
I find my Exped Dura 5R to be comfortable and it packs very small for a double sized pad (it comes in a single that's even smaller). I have a Big Agnes Boundary Deluxe that's fairly comfortable but doesn't pack as small.
If you can go to REI or another camping store they usually have a whole bunch of pads out for you to try for comfort. Keep in mind re-packed size will be ~10% larger than boxed for air pads and ~25%+ larger for self inflating.
This would be my recommendation too.
75 denier interwoven with 170 denier.
Definitely not an ultralight, but feels bullet proof, warm as anything, still super comfortable when dialed in.
NOTE: if you have a sleeping bag with pad pocket or are using any sort of fitted cover, this pad is quite thick and large. Make sure your dimensions work.
The rule I've always heard is 1R for every 10 degrees below 70 as a \*minimum\* for survival, similar to how a sleeping bag rated at 0 means you'll be comfortable-ish around 10-20.
Following this you'd be looking at a R5-6 at 15-50 so you're right on the edge of that. Applying the same 'comfort' rule you'd want a 6-8 depending on if you like sleeping cooler (6-7) or warmer (7-8)
Exped Dura 8 (or DeepSleep \[R9\] if car camping) would be a strong contender for me in those temps. My philosophy is you can always vent heat if you're too hot in the cold, but if you're cold in the cold, you're cold.
The thing is built like a frikken tank, and I love it. Sure I could go lighter with the Ultra but I just love how strong the Dura line feels. I also have the DeepSleep for car camping and it's in the same vein. Very comfortable both, but I do love the added cushion in the foam mats.
I am the OPs size and the Expeds do very well. I have several, a shared Exped Megamat Duo, Solo Deep Sleep, and a Dura 8. All perform well and are very warm even in the cold. I've taken some down to 20°F (-6°C) and was fine.
R Value is cumulative so having 2 stacked pads will increase the total insulation. With that 2.2 + 4.x you'd be in the range you'd want to be for those temps. I use an Exped Dura 8 which is 3.5in thick (8.89cm) and works well for backpacking. When car camping I use a Deep Sleep (R9) that is 3in thick (7.62cm). Since both pads in question are about the same insulation value, I'd lean towards the thicker as long as it doesn't compromise your pack size or weight.
Exped Dura is solid as a rock and makes some very warm options at 5R and 8R.
It is a bit heavier but also a much thicker denier of fabric.
The Ultra series is a lighter version with thinner, more standard denier of material.
That bag will not hold up, it’s a rectangular and won’t seal well and temps are below what it’s rated for. Even with layers and extra blankets it’ll be an uncomfortable at best night. The pads are also borderline and I’d recommend a couple more Rs to get to a better insulation value. You can either upgrade one of the pads (maybe a 5R Exped) or add another pad to your setup. I don’t like stacking too many pads as they tend to slide and you lose insulation. Tie wrapping them together can help.
Exped is good, several models depending on what kind of camping. For reference I’m 6’ 330lbs.
MegaMat/DeepSleep used for car camping.
Dura used for backpacking.
You may also be able to use furniture foam which would be cheaper and can be cut to different sizes.
I have an Exped Dura 3R and it’s very warm and so far, has proven to be durable. I’ve taken it down to 30°f with no extra foam pad beneath and slept warm. Never had any air leak out.
I’m not a huge fan of the vertical baffles, but I must say that the edge baffles being slightly thicker does help keep me centered. Exped uses a microfiber insulation on these pads instead of reflective film, and I’m sold on it. I intended to swap the Exped for the new Sea to Summit Etherlite XR that has reflective insulation, but I shivered my way through a 42°f night on it.
Yes, I could feel the cold coming through the XR with the ccf under it. I’d never had that issue with my 3R Exped, in fact, I have taken that down to 32°f with no ccf under it and never felt the cold. They have different insulation types, but I didn’t think that would matter based on the R ratings.
The XR is more comfortable though, so I’ll probably keep it for warmer temps.
99trey
