Exped - Ultra 3R Mummy

After most of a thru with a 3R it's the only sleeping pad I would ever want on the AT. Comes with great pump sack. Get in a bag on top of it for winter.

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.

Go lay down on all of these and see for yourself. Also I avoid pads with multiple thermal welds that create small "pillows" because of their failure mode. This subreddit gets about 5 requests a week for "what inflatable pad" and there are many comments and lots of YouTube videos. I haven't seen anything new or different in a few years, so at this point just going and laying down on a couple pads ... maybe borrow from friends and try out at home once you decide on R-value and weight is about all one can do. The idea to buy, try, and return is also valid. With lengthwise baffles I think one can "feel" or sense in the dark where they are on a pad and that helps one stay away from the edges. Exped mummy-shaped pads are the lightest except for the Therm-A-Rest ones, but Exped is much less expensive and people have reported they are more comfortable and make much less noise. I should also say I have 3 of them at different Rvalues.

How much weight is too much for you, though? I’m a larger guy (230lbs) and find the tensor uncomfortable. It’s usable, but I don’t sleep great on it. My wife has the quasar and it’s way more comfy for me. Recently, I said screw it and tried an Exped Ultra mat. It’s quite large, and has some weight to it. BUT I sleep better than I ever have in the backcountry. So it’s my luxury item - and I’ll gladly carry the extra weight for the improved sleep I get.

Same here. I find it comfy af fully inflated

I like my Exped 3r and in fact I just ordered a 5r to upgrade my temp ratings for 3season use. I belive they are Swiss made?

I like the xped

I am a 220lb chunk side sleeper and the Exped 3R has been good to me for a long time at this point. Just have to deflate it a little bit so that it cradles you and it is pretty supportive. Its not like sleeping on my Megamat or anything but not too bad in the backcountry. The Xlite kept me up all night, the Exped does not, at all.

How would an Exped Ultra wide mummy fit on your list?

Exped Ultra in size Wide Mummy. These have lengthwise baffles, about 25" wide near the shoulder. Choose your R value which will choose your weight.

+1 for Exped and lengthwise baffles.

I don’t find these comfortable. Lightweight - yes. Comfort - no. I just bought my second xped and it is bulkier but so much more comfortable. You feel as if you are being rolled off. And yes you can let them down which helps but still uncomfortable and then when you sit up you are on the hard floor.

Check out airpads by Thermarest, Exped and Sea to Summit. Not the self-inflating ones, the ones with thick air chambers. They can be up to 4" thick, and the comfiest ones are miles away from a roll mat. If you buy one, don't inflate them by blowing, as exhaled air has enough moisture in it to cause issues down the line.

My exped 3r and 5r pads are great! They are very, very comfortable. Cannot speak for the Tensor. My REI doesn’t have the Exped Ultras on the floor, they’re a website item. If REI is a long drive, order from REI online and try it on your (very clean) floor for a night. REI has a no-questions-asked return policy.  For side sleeping I recommend sleeping on the pad slightly deflated and throwing a small piece of closed-cell foam under your hip.

5R and 3R mummy user here. Very comfortable mats. Very reliable.

Exped Ultra 3R and 5R are silent, and have raised side baffles to keep you centered better. I considered all of those other pads, but after trying them, exped are the only ones I found comfortable. the downside is the price and weight of the 5R, but I don't sacrifice sleep anymore if I *have* to sleep on the ground.

Tensor Elite listed specs are 20x72 at 8.5 ounces . Exped ultra 3r in the mirrored mummy 20.5x72 configuration is 12.9 ounces. 8.5 ounces vs 12.9 ounces. So not half the weight It's 1.5x the weight, not 2x. And it's warmer and way more durable

+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.

Be careful with the 3R mummy. I was considering this, but a lot of folks find Exped’s mummy cut too aggressive at the top and at the bottom. Compare vs. Nemo and TR.

I guess I want to make clear that I wasn't suggesting the MegaMat Ultra, but a different Exped Ultra.

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!).

Exped Ultra 3, 5 or 7

A comfort-oriented side sleeping setup that has worked well for me:  - Exped Ultra 3R LW mummy fits my height and is wide where it counts. Because the baffles run lengthwise, they “block” you into the pad and you don’t feel like you’ll fall off. (At least, I don’t. I am a tall, somewhat slender woman.)  - Put a patch of foam under the hip - prevents the feeling of bottoming out. 2 panels of switchback, a cheapo sit pad, some foam that comes with a random package - anything squishy works. The foam is key. The only reason I ever felt uncomfortable before the foam was my hip hitting the ground. No longer!  I can sleep in any position in that setup. 

+1 for this pad. I find it to be extremely comfortable and it comes with the best inflation sack on the market…doubles as a waterproof pack liner.

I only have experiences with the Exped Ultra 3R. I used it for a 60 day tour in Scandinavia and it worked great, slept almost better than at home.

Most 20D pads seems to be "too fragile". Only exception seems to be the exped ultra somehow. But it's really hard to have a good picture on pads reliability.

Exped and Nemo both have thick pads and they aren’t crinkly like Thermarest. :)

Same! I have the Exped Ultra 3R and love it. It's super comfy, packs down small, and has held up well after a ton of trips. It insulates enough for summer alpine nights, but if you run super cold like my camping buddy, the 5R might be better.

This is what I use and love it.

6'1, 260 lb side sleeper.... Exped Ultra 3R is my pad of choice for my climate, but they have some with much higher R-values. It's more comfortable, to me, than either the Nemo Tensor or Thermarest X-Lite.

I like my Exped 3R. Doesn’t sound like a potato chip bag when you move around.

I was that way until I found the right sleeping pad and pillow situation. I'm using an Exped Ultra 3R and an Exped mega pillow. It's amazing.

Totally agree on the Ultra, I've got an Ultra 3R currently that is my 3-season pad but the Elite is substantially lighter and isn't really a direct competitor, Uberlite was discontinued ostensibly because of the high failure rates and warranty claims/returns.