Sea to Summit  Ether Light XR Insulated ASC Sleeping Pad

Phenominal Sleeping Pad for All My Needs, Except..

TL;DR: Pro- New king of backpacking pads; Con- Hilariously bad pricing structure. This pad is fantastic! My primary purpose for getting this pad is to bring it out backpacking, but I'll also be using it for car camping and staying at a friend or relative's place too when necessary. I'm upgrading from the Klymit Static V Luxe, which I bought from Costco many years ago, so I'm very excited to finally get a 'premium' sleeping pad. During my research phase, which, let's be honest, has been for years now, I was debating between going very small and lightweight, like the Nemo Tensor, or going very comfy, like the Big Agnes Boundary Deluxe or the newer Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft. I have a men's physique of a 6ft, 250lbs upsidedown triangle, so getting a pad that suits my needs is important to me (as it should be for everyone). When this pad came out, I analyzed the specs and got very excited. It has a small packed size, a large unpacked size, nearly 4in inflated height, is lightweight, cutting-edge architecture, a pumpsack that's integrated into the stuffsack, and a good enough R-value, all at a competitive price. It honestly seems like this pad is the new king/queen/ruling monarch of the backpacking sleeping pad category, and after testing it out, I am very happy with my purchase. My girlfriend stole it from me during while testing and was so impressed with how comfy it was that she will now be ordering one for herself too! I do have one massive gripe though, but it has nothing to do with the pad. To be clear, the pad is great. It's the pricing structure. I ended up purchasing the Large Mummy version instead of my desired Large pad because Sea to Summit thinks that the corners of a rectangle are worth an additional $40!!! 🤣🤣🤣 In addition, my 5'3" GF was debating between the Regular Mummy and the Regular Wide, which has a difference of 4 inches in width and those fabulous corners for additional foot room, but again, at an additional $40. She was ready to settle for Regular Mummy, until I pointed out that the Large Mummy is the same weight and width as the Regular Wide, BUT it also has an additional 5 inches of height WITH a smaller packed size for $20 LESS than the Regular Wide!!! My 5'3" gf and I (6') are getting the same pad because the pricing structure is so poorly constructed. To conclude: The mummy pads are a great value, and the pad itself is phenomenal, but the rectangle pads are a complete joke for the money. @SeatoSummit: Check out your competitors, take a look at Nemo's Tensor page, and notice that the price of 'Regular' and 'Regular Mummy' is the same; it's just a matter of preference for the buyer, and this is how it should be for your pads. Stop charging a $40 'Corner Tax'. Anyways, hopefully Sea to Summit sorts out their mistake, because this pad absolutely rocks! Cheers! ❤️

Lighter, smaller, and warmer than the XT

Great update to a good pad. The XR is a little smaller and lighter than the XT, but a lot warmer while remaining equally as comfortable. The valves seem well constructed and hold air well in the nights I was on it so far.

Better Sleep

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I have lots of nights in the backcountry sleeping on other brands of sleeping pads. The Ether Light AR Insulated pad has improved my sleep. No more tingling in my arms or sore hips. Much longer and more restful sleep. I have a short mummy which fits me perfectly. Seems wider than other 20" pads. The pad does seem to have less insulation than other pads I've used. Still it's a good pad for summer use. The inflation sack takes a little practice, but it works really well. I wish the inflation bag was separate from stuff sack, since it could then be used for other things. The material isn't as slippery as other pads. Packs down relatively small and easy to get back into stuff sack. Only have 15 nights on it so far. The material seems durable so hoping to get many years out of the pad.

Originally posted on Sea to Summit

Too firm and plasticky feel

Might be a good pad if your prefer your mattress to be very firm. I did not fully inflate, which would already mean and reduction in R-Value and the pad was still too firm for my liking. Besides that, the fabric that was used has a very plasticky feel to it and not a lot of stretch. Going to return the pad and keep looking.

Amazing sleep upgrade

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The Ether Light XR is a great upgrade to my previous sleeping pad. This pad is super comfortable, packable, and warm. Even though I bought the rectangular wide pad, it is still amazingly small. Also, I love the integrated pump on the sleeve that makes pumping up the sleeping pad super quick and easy. I love that it is integrated right into the sleeve so you can't lose it. I have tried a lot of different sleeping pad brands, and I think the Sea to Summit pads are the best backpacking pads you can get.

Originally posted on Sea to Summit

Great Pad

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] My dad got this sleeping pad for me for my 21st birthday. I am going on tour with an indie band and this is an unexpectedly great and comfortable solution for crashing at people’s apartments when they don’t have 6 extra beds for the band. I recommend it to more musicians who are going on the road. It is comfortable, my bones don’t touch the floor, and fits in the car or plane with a bunch of other music gear. I will also use it outdoors in the future.

Originally posted on Sea to Summit

Comfortable

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] It's relatively easy to inflate, comfortable to sleep on and fairly quiet. I am only speculating about the future but it "feels" cheaper than I would prefer. However that's merely opinion from comparing it to my 25 year old therm-a-rest.

Originally posted on Sea to Summit

Super comfy

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Super cushy. Able to lay on my side without my hip hitting the ground. Lightweight. Packs down great. Very happy with this purchase.

Originally posted on Sea to Summit

The best pad on the market

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Simply the lightest, easily packable, and most comfortable air pad available.

Originally posted on Sea to Summit

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.]

Originally posted on Sea to Summit