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.
63 yr old M with bony hips. Just a few years ago I could honestly sleep all night on a 1" foam, but something changed when I hit 60.
I tried various 4 inch inflatables. Best comfort I have found is Sea to Summit etherlite. Few extra ounces weight penalty but worth it, good sleep is everything.
Also slept great on a fat Big Agnes but had bad luck 2 different outings with slow leaks.
Actually slept best with a hammock rig, still use it occasionally - but the hammock, skeeter net, tarp, under quilt, and not having a tent to hang out in during poor weather kinda gets old.
Hi! Are you planning to use it on Kilimanjaro?
Many tour operators already include sleeping mats in their packages, and they’re usually about 2–3 inches thick, which is comfortable enough for most hikers.
An R-value of 3.6 is basically the minimum for Kilimanjaro - it can work, but you’re definitely taking a risk, especially if you get cold easily. If you haven’t tested it in similar conditions with your sleeping bag setup and still prefer to bring your own, it might be safer to go with the Ether Light XR or even the XR Pro if you tend to get cold easily.
Hi! Are you planning to use it on Kilimanjaro?
Many tour operators already include sleeping mats in their packages, and they’re usually about 2–3 inches thick, which is comfortable enough for most hikers.
An R-value of 3.6 is basically the minimum for Kilimanjaro - it can work, but you’re definitely taking a risk, especially if you get cold easily. If you haven’t tested it in similar conditions with your sleeping bag setup and still prefer to bring your own, it might be safer to go with the Ether Light XR or even the XR Pro if you tend to get cold easily.
I have the ether light xr and it’s been amazing so far. It’s so comfortable. I was on a two and a half week climbing trip so comfortable sleep was a priority. It’s not the lightest but I wasn’t moving every day. I decided I could cut weight elsewhere if I really wanted and went for comfort. It is smaller and lighter than my old pad anyway.
What’s your expected night time temperature? How important is comfort vs a few 100g weight difference? How important is price? I often buy cheaper gear but my sleep is an exception
I’ll second the XR. It’s pretty comfy for stomach/side sleeping. But also, I tried out the NeoLoft at REI this weekend and holy crap is it a comfy cradle of air.
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.
So I bought the ether light XR in the spring and was happy with it until October. My backside was constantly chilled on a 38°f night with a z lite sol under it and 10° down quilt. I was wearing wool socks, beanie, and baselayers.
The second night was 45°f and I was more comfortable, but I was pretty disappointed given that it slept colder than the 3R Exped it was meant to replace. The old XT had reports of sleeping cold, but I was hoping that S2S had fixed that with the new iteration. If I were you, I’d get the Exped.
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.
I wasn’t pleased with the XR’s performance around 40°, it slept cold even with a foam pad under it. I wish I’d gotten the cold weather version. I’ve read that the Rapide also has underperformance issues related to R-value. There are a lot of good thread on this topic in r/ultralight.
Top Sleeping Pads on Reddit
1
Exped
MegaMat Series
92% positive of 454 users
Car camping comfort champ, but some side sleepers find it thin.
Accomplished-Way1575
