Exped - Dura 5R Sleeping Mat

A sleeping pad is not the spot you sacrifice for the minuscule weight savings possible. I use an Exped mat that is like 4” thick, extra wide, XL, and insulated and I’m not even sure it’s heavier than the 1” Thermarest I used for 20 yrs prior.

Exped pads are highly underrated!

After various attempts of finding the right set up: Exped on top of a cot. Watch for REI sales for the Exped, and watch the garage sale area for the cot.

Same. OP, given that you have the space, I would recommend memory foam or something similar. I use a 6” trifold mattress, but in your case, given that you have the space and have trouble sleeping, I would recommend a normal one-piece mattress for you. If you do use the Exped, the secret is to adjust the air pressure. Everyone is different, but for me, if I let out air until my butt just barely touched the floor while sitting on it, that would be ideally comfortable (though not as comfortable as memory foam) when I laid down on it.

My exped is a piece of magic.

My exped is really comfortable and warm

I've used it for about 80 days over several trips. It's a very robust build.

I use an Exped, but then add a foam topper from Walmart cut to size for extra comfort. 

Megamat is a good choice. We have one and like it. Yes they can be punctured, but they’re expanding foam, not just air, and they’re easy to repair. They’re also warm when the weather is cold. We also have these for multi-day river trips, and I actually prefer them to the Exped. Sooooo comfy, and tough as nails. [Landing Pad](https://www.aire.com/product/30-landing-pads/) You can just strap them together with a cam strap. Either way, you’re right to abandon air mattresses.

i have several Expeds and I don't think they're that loud at all.

This is my thinking too. Rab may be pricey, but it’s good. I just can’t find much reliable info,tests or reviews on the Rab sleeping pads. Was hoping to find it here. Since some miserable hikes with leaking Thermarests back in the day I switched back to a thick ccf foam winter mat. But that obviously was a step back in sleeping comfort. So since then I combined it with a self inflatable. That’s why a R5 will do for me.

I (64M) swear by my Exped. Not cheap but comfort in a relatively small package. It comes in a bag that can be attached to anything. YMMV

The Rapide SL is easily the most comfortable pad I have used. I have an older version though where the insulation doesn’t work properly, so I can’t use it in cold or even cool weather. I believe they fixed this issue, if so I would 100% go with that one. I tried the Tensor all-season and absolutely hated it, which was surprising because I have heard rave reviews about it. It made my arm go numb, jammed into my ribs/side, I could only inflate it ~halfway to be comfortable, and it sounded like I was sleeping on a Doritos bag. However it is incredibly packable and lightweight. Unfamiliar with the Etherlite personally. I ended up with the Exped 5R, not as comfortable as the Rapide SL but miles ahead of the Tensor. EDIT: Mainly a side and occasional back sleeper.

G'Day Practical, I've had an Exped Synmat which I recently replaced with an Exped 5R (I haven't used this yet, but it is the successor the Synmat). The Synmat lasted quite a few years and I was very happy with it. Both mats are rectangular rather than tapered so I think you will be less likely to slide off it. I certainly never had any problems, which is why I bought the 5R. Regarding sleeping bags, I have a three season bag (Exped Ultralite 300, \~300 g down) which I can pair with an inner bag (Macpac Snowflake, 130 g down). I used this combination (along with a silk inner sheet) in Nepal up to 4000 m (in accommodation) and was always comfortable. Note, you didn't mention having an inner sheet. If you do not have one, I advise you to get one (silk, not cotton). I think it is worth buying quality products from reputable manufacturers. They will last you a long time and be reliable.

I've also been very pleased with my previous Expeds. Mind sharing why you'd always choose them over others? Just comfort? Thanks for your response!

I have that Wellax pad. It was actually pretty great in 20 degrees for the first two trips. Then it stopped inflating fully. I just bit the bullet and switched to Exped.

I'm heavier and shorter than you and side sleep on Exped mats just fine.

If you have one nearby, REI has sleeping pads blown up you can lay on and test out. Everyones body and sleeping preferences are different. Once you figure out what kind of baffles you prefer, finding a sleeping pad will come easier as there are so many options. Especially if weight isn't an issue. I have a Nemo Tensor. It has quilted baffles. Everyone loves it, and it hurts my back and hips so bad. I also have an Exped pad and one from Zenbivy with vertical baffles. I love these. They cradle my body better. Thermarest is super popular. Most are horizontal baffles. They don't look comfy to me but it seems like people sleep well on them. Sea to Summit and Big Agnes are other popular sleeping pad brands. What kind of temps are you expecting? You'll want to choose a pad with an R value appropriate to your camping needs. Most choose a 3 season with an R value between 2-4. I would stick on the upper end if you're a cold sleeper.

I used to have a S2S pad and I really liked their baffle design. I replaced it with an exped but even though it’s thicker it doesn’t feel as good to me.

At 55 YOA I like to ease into it. A week-10 days before a camping trip, I'll start sleeping on my Exped. If I wake up at 2am sore, I will move to bed. By the end of the week, I sleep through the night (as well as any other night).

Go EXPED. Best pads IMO. The vertical baffles make a huge difference and they are not crinkly at all.

I have the 5r and love it. Exped rules.

+1 on this, I tried several pads (foam and inflatable) as a side sleeper and the Expeds are AMAZING. I actually get good nights sleep on trail with them and they’re pretty good in terms of weight. I’ve got the 3R, 5R, and 7R versions now. The inflating part takes some getting used to (“schnozzle bag”) but is kinda fun. At least they don’t advertise themselves as “self-inflating” like some other pads that don’t actually self inflate.

Exped! I’ll never sleep on anything else.

Exped, thank me later

I like the xped

I (64M) always used a cot when camping. REI had Expeds on sale and I have read such good things about them, so I bought one. They are the best mattress for camping I have ever used. Even weighing 230lbs, side sleeper, I would have a tough time touching the ground through the mattress. They are quick to fill up with the enclosed hand pump and quick to deflate. They are light and I now prefer it over the cot that I have used for many years.

I loved my Expeds before I got my camper. I now use a 6” memory foam mattress and wouldn’t be able to go back.

Hi all! After many years I'm finally replacing my heavy-ass (but comfy) Exped Dura. Versatility and some durability is very important for me, as I don't want to own several pads for several use-cases. I want to use my sleeping pad for three seasons, although living in Norway it can get -5 Celsius even in autumn, and having a buffer even then seems smart. I mostly want to use it in tents, but I do also hammock camp sometimes. I plan on eventually using it for a through hike, although in the next months it will be used for multi-day treks. I'm also a side sleeper. I've read a lot of reviews and figured out the three top contenders for me seem to be the **Nemo Tensor All-Season, Exped Ultra 5R and Big Agnes Rapide SL.** Here are the specs from the official websites, although I've heard that R-Values are often wrong and the weights are often without inflation-bags etc. If someone has corrections for the subjective warmth of the pads, the true packed size and the true weight that would be amazing! Of these the Exped seems to be the heaviest and largest, but I'm not sure as both weight and packed size are sometimes wrong. |Pad|Price|R-Value|Weight|Packed Size|Size| |:-|:-|:-|:-|:-|:-| |[Nemo Tensor AS](https://www.nemoequipment.com/products/tensor-all-season-insulated-sleeping-pad)|171€|5,4|522g|25,5 x 10 cm|183 x 51 x 9 cm| |[Exped Ultra 5R](https://www.exped.com/en/products/sleeping-mats/ultra-5r?sku)|156€|4,8|585g|23 x 12.5 cm|183 x 53 x 7 cm| |[Big Agnes Rapide SL](https://www.bigagnes.com/products/rapide-sl-insulated)|135€|4,8|510g|18 x 10 cm|183 x 51 x 11 cm| The prices are the cheapest I could find for each of them in Germany, but price isn't that important to me, I just want a **great sleeping pad under 600g that will pack down relatively small and keep me warm even in autumn**. What are your experiences with any of these? Would you highly recommend any other ones? Thanks and best regards!

Get an exped airbed. I've tried a lot of selfinflating mats, but i always end up blowing them up by mouth and than have les comfort sleeping than with the exped mats and be sorry i bought them. The investment in an exped is worth it, especially the air bag to blow them up is genius.

I really like my exped. I bought it on sale from REI and I still thought it was expensive but in retrospect it’s worth full price. I have [this](https://a.co/d/jbKmmg3) air pump and it works great. I have a double & single pad and have no issues getting them back in their storage bag. Not familiar with the other one you’re looking at fwiw.

Expeds CAN leak, but they're expensive and built really well. They're different from regular air mattresses because they have foam inside them which insulates you from the ground really well. Nemo makes a similar product. Exped also has great customer service (from what I've heard) and can patch your mattress if it gets holes.

Voordeel van exped is de opbaaszak. Die werkt echt beter dan die van andere merken

Exped 5R is awesome. May be a little out of the price range but worth it.

The 3R is a pretty incredibly value for an 18oz pad at around $150. The 5R is probably better for being in Maine outside of summer.

Yep. Exped is almost as comfortable as our home mattress.

Quieter than the tensor. I use the 5R, wife has the Nemo

I was using a backpacking style exped inflatable pad and recently replaced it with a self inflating one. Takes up a lot more space but far more comfortable (and quiet!).

I went with the Exped after feeling them out at REI…. I did have an issue with the Exped and was able to exchange it…. Remember that ultra light means it’s less durable, so tough terrain could damage an air pad while sleeping in it….

I brought my exped and put it on top of the mat provided by the tour operator. I’m glad I did because the ground was rocky and on cold nights I was happy to have the extra insulated layer.

I have a couple exped mats and knock offs like Hikenture and Qomotop. They are not phony in the sense that the insulation ratings are way off. I camped in freezing temps for the last 5 years and am very toasty on every trip. I can't tell the difference in insulation properties between the brands. Only difference is the Exped breaks down much smaller than the knock offs.

I like my Exped 5R. 2 valves. a really nice inflation bag. Not very expensive. Comfortable. Just finished a trip in Alaska with it. Temps were 1C to 10C. Mine is the Long and Wide model and it comes in at 785 grams. Insulation rating of 5R. I'm an all over the place sleeper. I use an Enlighted Equipment quilt (with a foot box) instead of a bag.

We have expeds and they are awesome. At our heaviest using them I think one of us topped out about 215lbs and comfort wasn't compromised at all. We are both side sleepers. Hopefully someone closer in size to you will respond, but I hope that's slightly helpful! Add: I did just look and exped states their weight limit is 330. So maybe that might not be the best option.

I currently use an Exped Ultra 7R which packs smaller, is lighter, and has an additional 2 R value than the S2S pad. They also have a 5R pad that’s even lighter. I have yet to find any down side to Exped other than they’re a bit on the costly side. I’m not sure about the S2S pad, but many 4 season pads have a crinkling sound from the reflective insulation layer, but my pad is much more muffled than most others with that layer. The noise alone is a winner for me since I tend to move a lot while sleeping.

Try the Nemo Tensor, the Exped pads, and the Big Agnes Rapide (heaviest, but thickest). You should be able to lay on all of these at an REI if you have one nearby. They should have all the most popular ones blown up and ready to try.