Honorable Mentions
Photograph: GettyImages
There are dozens of sleeping pads on the market and we’ve tested most of them over the years. While none of these made our top picks, here are some more pads we’ve used and enjoyed.
Sea to Summit Ether Light XT for $150: At just 17.3 ounces for the regular, the Ether Light XT is only marginally heavier than our top pick ultralight pad, and those extra 4 ounces get you quite a bit more cushion. This is a 4-inch thick pad, compared to the 3 inches of the Therm-a-rest X-Lite, which makes it a better ultralight option for side sleepers. I also happen to like the baffle design better and it seems to be a little more durable, making this an excellent alternative ultralight pad. This is also one of the best budget pads around.
Sea to Summit Women’s UltraLight Insulated Air Sleeping Mat for $169: We debated for some time whether women need different air mattresses. After some long conversations with our female testers, we decided there just isn’t much difference. That said, this is a fine sleeping pad for anyone. It’s very close to the Sea to Summit Ultralight above.
Exped Ultra 7R for $220: Our previous top pick for winter use, Exped’s Utra 7R has down insulation side it to achieve the high R-rating. At under 2 pounds for the wide version it’s not that heavy for a four season pad, but it is quite bulky, taking up considerable pack space due to the down. I have used this pad down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit and was very comfortable (in a 10-degree bag). Exped rates it to -20 degrees Fahrenheit. Exped’s widget pump ($55) is excellent, tiny, doubles as a light around camp, and is necessary, as you don’t want the moisture from your breath inside an insulated mat.
Sea to Summit Comfort Plus SI for $125: The self-inflating Comfort Plus inhabits an interesting borderland between car camping pad and backpacking pads. At 3 pounds it’s definitely not light, but if you don’t mind the weight it’s definitely a comfortable option. The open-cell interior offers a nicely cushy sleeping experience. WIRED’s Martin Cizmar says, “I’m a large-bodied side sleeper and my hips didn’t bottom out. In fact, I found it was about 80 percent as comfy as our top pick car camping pad, MondoKing 3D.”
REI Helix Insulated Air Sleeping Pad for $169: This REI pad is comparable to the other ultralight pads in this guide, but it’s noisier and heavier. There’s nothing wrong with this pad; it’s plenty comfy and great for three-season use, but you can get the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT for $20 less and it’s lighter.
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