Sea To Summit Ether Light Xt Extreme Insulated

The heat retention of this mat is great which is achieved by combining an Exkin Platinum® layer and a thicker THERMOLITE® insulative layer into a single layer. The result is a warm mat (the R-value is 3.2), lightweight and compact when packed. I do appreciate the additional insulation, and despite being a hot sleeper, this mat works well for me. This mat is great for side sleeping, and in fact I’ll go as far as saying this is one of the most comfortable mats I have used. It also provides excellent cushioning for back sleepers that only comes from a mat that is 10 cm deep – yes 10!

Existing pillows can be made Pillow Lock™ compatible by adding an Aeros Pillow Case. You have to decide whether you want to carry one pad like the Extreme and a small foam sit pad or two sleeping pads, including an inflatable pad and bulky foam pad, which can be awkward to carry in winter. Personally, I finally got rid of all my NeoAir XTherms this year because I sleep so much better on Sea-to-Summit’s Ether Light XT pads. Weight is far less important to me than a good night’s sleep. As long as I carry a small foam sit pad, like the NEMO Chipper for sitting on snow, I can carry the Ether Light XT Extreme and have a more packable sleep insulation system.

It’s a pretty good year-round mattress but might need some extra insulation if you’re traveling somewhere really cold. It’s light enough for any trip, long or short, but maybe not the best for something like ultralight fast-packing. The Ether Light XT Insulated will provide you with quiet, quality sleep out on the trail.

I found it requires filling and rolling the Airstream Pump stuff sack eight or nine times to inflate the Ether Light XT fully—which can feel a little tedious. I substituted the larger and faster Exped Schnozzel PumpBag UL bag ($39, 2 oz.) and only had to fill and roll it three times. The Schnozzel can double as an ultralight stuff sack for clothing, too. The valve is particularly well-designed, a rubberised tab system allowing you to either select the one-way inflate valve or the quick ‘deflate’ open hole. This allows the stuff sack pump to work fairly well, a triumph of valve design over physics.

If you backpack in chilly fall and winter conditions, there’s also the Ether Light XT Extreme, which has an R-value of 6.2. INCREDIBLY COMFORTABLE – The Ether Light is dot-welded to create “air sprung cells” that are designed to mimic a pocket-spring mattress for soft support that cradles the body in a way baffles can’t. The Ether Light is comfortable like Sea to Summit’s popular UltraLight Insulated sleeping pad, but it’s twice as thick and cushy. That extra thickness means you won’t bottom out or feel uneven ground underneath the pad, for a good night’s sleep on any terrain. Very slight side rails help keep your body centered on the pad and make sliding off less problematic.

Unsere Air Sprung Cell Technologie Ist Der Grund Warum Du Auf Sea To Summit Schlafmatten Besser Schläfst

The 30D nylon face fabric has a slightly rough texture to help keep your bag from sliding off during the night. The 40D nylon base fabric feels really substantial, and like it would hold to anything you could throw its way. I now have 3 of the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT pads, I won’t use anything else, and like Philip, I have sold off many of my other pads.

This mat is also available in different versions (e.g. larger, smaller, women’s etc.) which will suit the needs of all hikers. The colour of the mat is black which has become the ‘in’ colour for many mats at the moment. The plasticised material of this mat is easy to wipe down to remove any dirt or dust unlike the cloth-style covered mats that hold onto the dirt really well. The Ether Light has a slightly lower price than some of the other cushy, ultralight pads on the market, plus the included pump sack adds to its value.

Super Comfort

Because the stuff sack has two open ends it is not possible to put the repair parts into the stuff sack and have them stay there. Because the stuff sack is small, and it becomes the opening for the inflation bag, it is hard to capture a full volume in the inflation bag so I’d say it took me twice as long and twice as many bags to inflate. I purchased one of these pads based on this review and I have to agree that this is the most comfortable pad that I’ve ever owned. Combined with an Aeros down lined pillow and its a slice of heaven for my tent. I’ve used a NeoAir for several years and love that pad but I tried the Ether Light pad a night myself and it’s way more comfy to me than the NeoAir. With my back problems, I also really like the 25″ width on the pad I bought.

Thank you for your many reviews and recommendations Philip. It looks like you can get the women’s in a sort of mummy shape st 72 x 25. Beyond the specs, I don’t know how, but usually the woman’s is a better deal unless you are 5’10” or over. They do mention narrower shoulders and wider hip area on the woman’s version.

But they also have a no-questions-asked return policy if it helps. Frankly – you couldn’t pay me to sleep on an Xlite ever again. They were revolutionary when they came out but they’re just not that comfortable compared to the S2S pads.

Patent-pending multi-function valve and supplied Airstream Pump/stuff sack mean quick and easy inflation, deflation and adjustment. This mat is like it’s sibling theSea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated mat is a ‘sprung’ (Air Sprung Cell™) inflated mat. While most other mats on the market opt for horizontal or vertical baffles this welded sprung construction disperses pressure across the mat for a more comfortable night’s sleep ensuring there are no ‘soft edges’. This mat is very comfortable to lay on in any position. In fact I’ll go as far as saying this is one of the most comfortable mats I have used which is something that Sea to Summit has done very well with this range.

The Ether Light range uses loops of TPU material to connect the top and bottom welds. This produces a thicker cell to give you a plush sleeping experience without compromising on Sea to Summit’s Air Sprung Cell comfort. Want to see how the Ether Light XT Insulated Sleeping Pad compares with other sleeping pads? Check out our list of the 10 Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads to get the inside scoop on products we’ve tested and used in the backcountry. The Ether Light is a really nice pad, but it does have some downsides, including being a bit heavier and bulkier than the leading lightweight backpacking pads. Also, we find the Ether Light can be a tad noisy as you shift in the night , and its surface can feel a little plasticky against bare skin.

Unfortunately, due to a new R-Value testing standard, the Ether has been knocked down a few pegs in the warmth department. The Ether is still an excellent choice for multi-day backpacking trips. Only air mats with a minimum R-value of 4.5 to 5 are adequate for sleeping outside on frozen ground with below-freezing air temperatures. And every morning, I awoke after sleeping longer and later than I normally do in my bed at home, feeling incredibly well rested and realizing my bag and air mat could have handled even colder temps. Our favorite product from Sea to Summit’s women’s line is one of our favorite products of all and takes our Top Pick Award. The Ether Light XT has plush features, like a one-way valve and stuff sack pump for easy inflation.

For three-season backpacking, see my review of the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Air Mattress. Also, note that the women’s models have a slightly warmer R value of 6.3. So my commitment to Therm-a-rest is strong and I wondered whether the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated mat could challenge my biases. When the mercury drops, the Ethe rLight XT Extreme’s 6.3 ASTM R-value will keep you cushioned and insulated from the cold hard lumps and bumps beneath. Click here to learn about the new ASTM R-Value test standard. In July last year we had the opportunity to talk to a number of manufacturers and suppliers about new and exciting gear releases.