How to Choose the Best Sleeping Pad for Camping and Backpacking
REI Co-op Helix Insulated Air Sleeping Pad
$169.00
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Light, plush and warm, the 3 in. thick REI Co-op Helix Insulated air sleeping pad will make you happy twice every trip—first when you carry it on your back and again when you hit it at bedtime.
Key Details
Insulated
Yes
Pad Thickness (in.)
3 inches
Weight
Regular: 1 lb. 5 oz.
Regular Wide: 1 lb. 10 oz.
Long Wide: 1 lb. 13 oz.
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- 3 in. thickness and an even, gridded weld pattern gives you a flat, mattresslike surface thick enough to keep you from touching the ground
- 2-layer reflective insulation (aluminum-coated PET film) gives you a warm night's sleep without adding weight to the pad
- Dual custom valves make inflation and deflation quick and easy, and work seamlessly with the included pump sack
- Interior baffle design and weld shape reduce internal stresses, which improves pad durability and longevity
- Softly tapered shape provides maximum sleeping surface while fitting easily in trapezoidal tents
- Regular size tapers to approximately 14 in. wide at footbox; wide size tapers to approximately 17 in. wide at footbox
- This pad has an R-value of 4.9, which makes it best for adventures in cold weather; it provides considerable insulation from ground temperature
- Also a good choice for those who just prefer a warm night's sleep no matter what
- Most sleeping pads we sell range from 1.0 (good for warm weather) to 5.5+ (for use in extreme cold); the higher the R-value, the more insulated the pad
- Made with 30-denier ripstop polyester with TPU lamination; included pump sack is made of 30-denier ripstop nylon with a polyurethane coating
- Includes inflation pump sack, field repair kit and stuff sack
- R-value tested according to the ASTM F3340 standard
- REI Co-op brand is certified to The Climate Label; we actively fund efforts to reduce carbon emissions across our business and support climate projects around the world
Imported.
View all REI Co-op Air Pads| Best Use | Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Sleeping Pad Type | Air |
| Sleeping Pad Shape | Mummy |
| Insulated | Yes |
| Insulation Type | Synthetic |
| R-Value | 4.9 |
| Repair Kit Included | Yes |
| Stuff Sack Included | Yes |
| Packed Size | Regular: 5 x 9.5 inches Regular Wide: 5 x 10 inches Long Wide: 5.5 x 10 inches |
| Sleeping Capacity | 1-person |
| Pad Thickness (in.) | 3 inches |
| Dimensions | Regular: 72 x 20 x 3 inches Regular Wide: 72 x 24 x 3 inches Long Wide: 78 x 24 x 3 inches |
| Weight | Regular: 1 lb. 5 oz. Regular Wide: 1 lb. 10 oz. Long Wide: 1 lb. 13 oz. |
| Gender | Unisex |
| Sustainability | From a Climate Label Certified brand |
Buying Advice
Better gear is built together
From feedback to field testing, all of our gear is dialed-in by REI Co-op members. Their adventures informed every stitch and detail—making for better, longer-lasting gear.
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Most Helpful Favorable Review
comfy, light weight
Andrew2 years ago
I notice all the bad reviews because it 'didn't last.'... Yeah, you poked a hole in a pad. If you wanted a pad that is harder to puncture then don't get a light weight pad. You have to treat them so so carefully. I can't stand those types of reviews, boo hoo. The one that mentions that it's hard to patch because of the egg carton type design is a legitimate concern. That's why it's not 5 stars for me.
Andrew
SLC
79 people found this review helpful
Most Helpful Critical Review
Measurements not accurate
Edward2 years ago
Website says the pad is 25 inches wide. Stuff sack states 24 inches wide. I verified with tape measure it is only 24 inches wide. Will return. Do not buy if looking for 25 inch wide pad.
Edward
43 people found this review helpful
Customer Images
Millerhoo
Austin, Texas
Great pad
1 year ago
I have a lot of sleeping pads. This is my favorite. It is warm, relatively light but most important of all, comfortable. The valve system is not my favorite but very functional. Wish it was a single system vs two like my sea to summits. I ***think*** the air valves are on the bottom which would make them hard to adjust unless you sleep on it upside down which I do :) Ounces are worth investing when it comes to good sleep.
Age:45–54
Weight:175–200 lbs.
Height:6'0"
Yes , I recommend this product
OKDM
New York, NY
Finally, a good night's sleep!
2 years ago
I love camping and backpacking, but I historically sleep very poorly. My first sleeping pad, the Stratus Air from the backpacking bundle, is too narrow and uncomfortable, not to mention big and heavy. I like a closed cell foam pad for summer, but I had a winter trip coming up and needed to add some warmth. I found this pad on sale and splurged on a wide version. Game changer!!!! It's really small and light, comes with a stuff sack. And the width makes it so much more comfortable to sleep in that flamingo pose or on my side without falling off. The baffling is better than the vertical style as well. I'm so relieved to have a better sleep system!
Age:25–34
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Height:5'3"
Yes , I recommend this product
CryCon
Utah
Fits my needs exactly
2 years ago
The number 1 thing I look for in a pad: will I wake up less than 3 times during the night? And sure enough, this puppy has kept me sleeping soundly. It's plenty warm, especially when paired with my "0" degree sleeping bag (comfort is actually 20 degrees), it's not too noisy, and getting the wide version was DEFINITELY worth it. I don't know how some people sleep on a 20" wide, but that just doesn't cut it for me. The added width of the "wide" has added negligible bulk and weight, and still fits in my pack just fine. Got this on sale for 50%, too, and boy howdy, what an absolute steal that was. I would purchase this again at full price if I had to.
Age:25–34
Weight:125–150 lbs.
Height:5'7"
Yes , I recommend this product
ENJ39
Knoxville , TN
Comfortable, Quiet, Warm
2 years ago
Used this on 2 separate trips so far and LOVE it! The first trip it got down to high 30s and I was so comfortable and warm on my back side. It is also quiet if you move around a lot in night so you don't bother your partner as much. I bought the long wide because that's what they had in stock even though I'm a petite woman. The wide seems like it should be a regular size option as it's not that wide but it fits my needs great! (128 lbs, 5'3 ). Fits in the latest Flash 2 backpacking tent with a little room at top or bottom for nighttime essentialls. Highly recommend ! The bag blow up option saves my cheek muscles and feels more sanitary( no spit in bag).
Age:35–44
Weight:125–150 lbs.
Yes , I recommend this product
Jane Ann
New Mexico
SO COMFY!
2 years ago
This is sooooo comfy! I have resisted an inflatable for years, having heard horror stories of leaks and bare cold ground. Well, I used this five times, and I'm loving it. BUT.....the 6th night (thankfully in the summer) it had a tiny tiny leak. I thought that I had not sufficiently inflated it. I found the leak and am waiting for a good polyurethane sealer to patch. I have also bought a second one as backup in case the repair doesn't hold or another (or more) pinpoint defects show up. I understand this product is going away, but nothing else at REI comes close to the waffle texture that is so comfy.
Age:65–74
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Height:5'4"
Yes , I recommend this product
JKM
Virginia
Best pad I’ve tried
1 year ago
I got this for myself and recently took it backpacking in Olympic National Park. It packs smaller than my thermorest and is WAY more comfortable. I used to sleep with a thermorest in my sleeping bag sleeve and on top of a z-pad, and was always uncomfortable. Not anymore. This pad is a game changer. Not noisy at all. It’s a little awkward to inflate, and not the best for sitting on (like while getting ready for bed, getting dressed, playing cards in the tent) but it’s great when my weight is spread out by lying down. I have only slept on it 4 nights so far, but as long as it holds up, it’s golden.
Age:55–64
Weight:125–150 lbs.
Height:5'4"
Yes , I recommend this product
Will
Nashville, TN
A real review from a real guy
2 years ago
I’m in the Army. Our sleeping pads, let’s face it fellas, they’re not very good. So I ordered this bad boy to toss on my cot to help me not feel like I slept on stone every night and zoo wee mama. This thing rules. I’m a side sleeper and my hip bone is still floating not rubbing cot. It’s so comfortable. But more importantly when I took it out of the tiny bag I thought well enjoy this it’ll never be this tightly packed again. Nope. It folds so small and weighs like maybe 2 pounds. Fits inside the sustainment pouch on a ruck with room to spare. I love this thing and would recommend to all who spend a lot of time on cots.
Age:25–34
Weight:175–200 lbs.
Height:5'11"
Yes , I recommend this product
PNW
Washington
Light and comfortable!
1 year ago
I’ve slept on this pad for a total of 6 nights on three different backpacking or camping trips. I was skeptical after reading reviews of this pad leaking but I haven’t had an issues so far. I have to say, I’ve slept better than ever on this thing! Feels like a mattress with all the baffles. It’s warm an thick enough for me to sleep on my side without hitting the ground. It’s easy to inflate/deflate/pack. It’s lightweight and packs small. My only complaint is that it’s a little noisy when I move around but my tent mates haven’t complained and it’s just a trade off for this type of pad so it’s not a deal breaker for me!
Age:25–34
Weight:125–150 lbs.
Height:5'7"
Yes , I recommend this product
BigJoeG
Denver
Lasted One Night
3 years ago
Took this on a three day backpacking expedition to Canyonlands National Park. Packs nicely, light weight, easy to inflate. Comfortable enough for backpacking - basically you are sleeping on a balloon. Second night it developed a slow leak and I slept on the hard ground. Makes you appreciate how comfortable the pad was when it worked. To be fair, I’m 230 pounds and think I am still 170 so I may have exceeded it’s weight limit but I don’t know for sure. My take away is this sort of pad is what I need for the lightweight packability, but one that works and is fault tolerant would be better.
Age:45–54
Height:5'9"
No, I do not recommend this product
Andrea
New York, NY
Great for car camping
3 years ago
This was my first sleeping pad and, for a novice solo camper, it is very easy to use. I practiced inflating it prior to using it while camping and had no trouble afterwards; once connected to the inflation pump sac I was able to inflate it in about 1-2 min. I used it while car camping and was able to sleep on it on by back and side. While it does sink down a bit on the hip side when sleeping on the side I was slept well. Temperature outside the car was about 25-35F at night. (Used this pad with the REI Co-op Trailbreak 30 Sleeping Bag - Women's)
Age:25–34
Weight:125–150 lbs.
Height:5'3"
Yes , I recommend this product
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