Exped

Ultra Series

TL;DR: Quiet, comfy for side sleepers; good warmth-to-weight.

Overall

#4 in

Sleeping Pads

according to Reddit Icon Reddit

Sentiment score88% positive
91
6
6

Top Pros

Top Cons

Last updated: May 3, 2026

Reddit Reviews

Reddit IconAdeptNebula
11 months ago

I got one years ago to try as a couples mat and it was way too small for us, but felt like a very nice one person mat. Great option if you really want to sprawl out in luxury and not have a car camping heavy mattress

7 months ago

Exped Ultra is comfortable and ultralight. Pretty affordable, too. Give it a try

3 months ago

I’d get the 3R and supplement with a CCF pad for the occasional sub freezing trips. That’s my personal setup.

Reddit IconAdmirable-Strike-311
9 months ago

I had a Tensor and it was uncomfortable for me as well. I’ve found Exped inflatable pads comfortable. My favorite right now though is the Neoloft.

Reddit IconAdPresent9414
8 months ago

I second this. Love my exped 3R and 5R. The UL 5R is ~$160 and sleeps better than thicker pads I've used

8 months ago

I second this. Love my exped 3R and 5R. The UL 5R is ~$160 and sleeps better than thicker pads I've used

Reddit IconAgerak
11 months ago

Any Exped Med-Wide pads fit the bill. Incredibly comfy to boot. They are more expensive but a good nights sleep it worth it imo. Best investment I made for camping. I got my Deep Sleep for just over $100 on sale.

8 months ago

Ahh ok then yea low or no R-value would be fine in those cases. Klymit also makes a good lightweight low R-value pad, it's what I used in Texas and worked quite well in warmer weather. Not as heavy or thick as the one you linked, but much lighter and packs down smaller. Great if you're backpacking but there are better options if car camping imo. Exped Ultra 1R is also a good pad, the more insulated 3 and 5 are also popular for colder temps. I've used the Dura versions which are a heavier/more insulated version and it was comfortable. I've also heard good things about Nemo Tensor but have no experience with it.

3 months ago

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.

Reddit IconAhrithul
7 months ago

I've got an Exped 5R in a long/wide size. It's listed as 77.6" x 25.6" x 3". I had a 7R a couple of years ago in the same size. It was a 3.5" thick mattress though. Honestly they've been some of the comfiest sleeping pads I've owned. I'm pretty much the same size as you are as well. I'm 6'2" and 215. I've never found the size of the pad to be too short or narrow. And I toss and turn like I'm clothes in a dryer. There's plenty of thickness to keep you from sinking in even if you're a side sleeper. The only downside to the pad is it's packed size. Which is bulkier than the traditional suggested sleeping pads, but it's really not that bad for what you get. Also I just looked at the Megamat. The 5R has a higher r-value, is still 3" vs 4", but that megamat packed size isn't worth the extra space at all in my opinion. I think the bulk of the megamat will cause more problems than it solves in the long run.

Reddit Iconangryjew
9 months ago

Agree 100%. I actually got the 5r because I was waking up every 20 min with pain in my arm from my thermarest. Figured out the side baffles were killing me. The exped is so nice I sleep so much better now.

9 months ago

If you liked the Dura why not get the 5r? I just got one, the mummy version which saves a few ounces, to replace my thermarest and I love it.

8 months ago

I have the 5r and love it. Exped rules.

9 months ago

You should go to REI if you can and try out different pads. I had a very hard time sleeping on the neoair, the horizontal baffles killed my shoulders (Im a side sleeper). I recently got an exped 5r mummy which is still under a lb depending on size. I love it. Its so comfortable, it feels sturdy, doesnt slide around. I sleep better than I ever got on the trail I love it. I think its a nice balance between very light & obscenely heavy (like the neoloft).

Reddit Iconartdecodisaster
4 months ago

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.

Reddit Iconatribecalledjake
10 months ago

I am a 220lb chunk side sleeper and the Exped 3R has been good to me for a long time at this point. Just have to deflate it a little bit so that it cradles you and it is pretty supportive. Its not like sleeping on my Megamat or anything but not too bad in the backcountry. The Xlite kept me up all night, the Exped does not, at all.

Rankings by Use Case

Top recommendations from others in the same boat

Other Reddit Recommendations: