How to Choose a Sleeping Pad for Camping and Backpacking

A go-anywhere, do-anything sleeping pad, this Exped pad is a good option any time of year. It's insulated for all-weather use and has an R-value of 6.9. It's packable for backpacking and bikepacking.



Imported.
View all Exped Air Pads| Best Use | Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Sleeping Pad Type | Air |
| Sleeping Pad Shape | Rectangular |
| Insulated | Yes |
| Insulation Type | Synthetic |
| R-Value | 6.9 |
| Repair Kit Included | Yes |
| Stuff Sack Included | Yes |
| Packed Size | Medium: 4.3 x 9.1 inches Medium Wide: 4.5 x 10.6 inches Long Wide: 4.7 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. Medium Wide: 1 lb. 3 oz. Long Wide: 1 lb. 5 oz. |
| Gender | Unisex |
| Sustainability | Contains recycled materials |
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A fail for me , have to say it was very comfortable but slept cold do to the reflective missing in spots. will try to add a photo when i held it up to sun .
This is an awesome pad, I thought it was pretty comfortable, very warm and solid construction with separate valves made it easy to inflate and deflate. Unfortunately I hadn’t tried vertical baffles and I woke up 2 hrs with some back pain and uncomfortable, however I do not think this takes away from the sleep pad and I still give it a 5/5 because I think everyone should know what type of pad is best for them and if vertical baffles work for you this is probably near end game
This pad has a great mix of comfort, ease-of-use, low pack weight, and competitive price. We bought this as comfortable pad to pair with a Zenbivy sleep system and they work great together. The pad is very comfortable and supportive. When compared side by side with a prior year REI Helinox, the Ultra 6.5R is noticeably thicker, and much more supportive near the edges of the pad. This was very noticeable as a side sleeper, but not as big of a deal if you're a back or stomach sleeper. We tested this overnight car camping at temperatures down in the 40's - not really a stress test but the pad seemed warm enough. The pumpsack/dry bag is a cool idea and works great as a pumpsack, thought I'm not sure how I'd organize my stuff to take advantage of it.
Super light and packs small, but great comfort and insulation. So glad I picked this up before a couple nights camping that was getting into the 30s - I was nice and warm. And fit in my half of the REI Passage 2 tent. Being able to let out a little air to adjust comfort while lying down is a cool feature. Want to get another one for our family's next camping trip!
Bought this pad a few months ago and have used it on less than 5 trips - pad has bottomed out every night since purchasing. Emailed Expeds customer service team and they were very unhelpful and don’t answer a single question I asked. Will be switching back to Nemo and I would recommend others do the same.
The pad is comfortable, but it started to leak on me on a 3 day trip. Also, not a huge fan of the intake being on the bottom of the pad.
This is the first pad I’ve ever bought and it lived up to the hype! I took it backpacking and car camping and slept like a BABY. Got 10 hrs of good sleep in the Virginia back country and almost got too warm at ~40 degrees. Super worth!
This Pad was incredibly comfortable, kept me warm and was surprisingly comfortable to side sleep on. I sleep on my back and side
Warm and comfortable, but EXTREMELY fragile. I assumed these sleeping pads would be somewhat durable given the reputation of Exped and that they are designed for backpacking however, they are not. I have only spent 6 nights on mine and it has already punctured twice from normal use, and I keep it in the stuff sack in my pack. The product is good, just something to be aware of.
Probably the best new pad on the market. Compact, comfortable, quiet, and warm. Easy to fold and pack up due to the valve placement being symmetrical. Materials are soft and combined with the internal insulation, make this pad super quiet. Used in upper 30s and no issues with warmth. Good competition for the Tensor All Season.


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