How to Choose the Best Sleeping Pad for Camping and Backpacking

With 700-fill-power down insulation and a 7.1 R-value, the Exped Ultra 7R sleeping pad offers warmth for the coldest conditions, and at 1 lb. 6 oz. in size Medium, it carries easily to remote locales.
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Imported.
View all Exped Air PadsBest Use | Backpacking |
---|---|
Sleeping Pad Type | Air |
Sleeping Pad Shape | Rectangular |
Insulated | Yes |
Insulation Type | Down |
R-Value | 7.1 |
Repair Kit Included | Yes |
Stuff Sack Included | Yes |
Packed Size | Medium: 5.5 x 9.1 inches Medium Wide: 5.5 x 10.6 inches Long Wide: 5.9 x 10.6 inches |
Sleeping Capacity | 1-person |
Ultralight | Yes |
Pad Thickness (in.) | 3.5 inches |
Dimensions | Medium: 72 x 20.5 x 3.5 inches Medium Wide: 72 x 25.6 x 3.5 inches Long Wide: 77.6 x 25.6 x 3.5 inches |
Weight | Medium: 1 lb. 6 oz. Medium Wide: 1 lb. 12 oz. Long Wide: 1 lb. 14 oz. |
Gender | Unisex |
Sustainability | Contains recycled materials |
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I really like this pad. It kept me warm in 50 degree weather. It was lightweight and packs nicely in my bag. I will soon be trying it out in 30 and below. It wraps up easily, and the pump sack can be used as a dry bag which came in handy. It takes about 5 full bags to fill up. The material is a tad lighter. It you put too much weight in one area like with your hand you can feel the ground, but when laying in your side or back you can’t feel the ground. I am an active sleeper and this worked really well for me.
You have to get the wide version. When you lay on it you instantly understand you made the right choice. So far I have used it twice the temps were varying between 0-6C. I havent really put them on the ground I have camped on a flat wooden surface thats why cant comment on slipping and warmth of the pad. But god it was comfy, the best ever sleep I have ever had in a tent. I am a side sleeper and normally with thinner pads I thouch the ground and I turn from side to side every couple of hours because of sore sides. But this was really really comfy. Schnozzel pump is easy to use, 4-5 sloppy pump is enough to fill the pad. I will update about the warmth during winter.
I used this sleeping pad recently on a 77 mile hike on the AT through Shenandoah NP. The first 2 nights were in the 30s and the remainder in low 40s. I am a slide sleeper with some low back issues and this air mattress was great to sleep on. It was quiet and comfortable and IMO, worth the money if you want a good nights sleep. It is a bit heavy, but for me the weight is worth it. The nozzle fits and seals well, it just takes about 5 minutes to inflate once you get the hang of it. It folds back easy and fits back into its stuff sack. It fit nicely in my one man tent with room to spare at the head, food, and sides.
Very comfy pad. I wanted to upgrade my Thermarest Neoair to something wider and not as noisy and this was great not noisy at all, easy to blow up with the pump sack also tried a mini air pump and that worked too. I was able to try it out car camping and some back packing down into the 40s I'm a cold sleeper and I was getting a little clammy with this pad using a 55 degree sleeping bag so can't wait to try it in colder weather. The cons it is hard to get back into the stuff sack, every time I had to roll it a couple times before it finally went in properly and it's heavier than my last pad but that's a trade off for the extra width and I'm short wish they would make a short wide pad for us petite people.
I purchased two of these, one for myself, and one for my wife. My initial thoughts were that they were well-made, comfortable and packed up quite small. Unfortunately after about 3 or 4 uses, both of them developed leaks and we ended sleeping on airless pads
I have not pushed the limits of this mat, having used it only down to 40 degrees, but it is very comfortable, easy to inflate, and kept me toasty warm. I am an active sleeper and this mat kept me comfortable in every position without the noise of some other inflatable, high R value mats.
I am so happy I gave this pad a try! I have gone through countless different sleeping pads, and have woken up from horrible body pain or numb limbs. This pad is a game changer for me! I am a side sleeper and I tend to move a lot in my sleep. I was absolutely comfortable in every position on this pad! 10/10 Recommend!
I bought this for a winter campout in a 3-sided shelter and it kept me warm at 20 degrees in my sleeping bag. I could tell if I rolled over and was hanging over the edge as I instantly felt the cold.
my only complaint is that it's so comfortable, i don't want to get out of my tent in the morning.
These pads keep you warm and are very comfortable, but my first one had a pin leak that just progressed even when i tried to intervene on a backpack, and then a catastrophic failure while summiting Kilimanjaro. The pad exploded while doing the Lemosho route on Kilimanjaro. The feathers went everywhere in the tent. it was impossible to clean up the feathers. When we opened the tent, our guide said we looked like chickens from the feathers sticking to us, LOL. I don't make any reviews, but I felt this one was needed.