REI Co-op - Helix Insulated Air Sleeping Pad

As a side sleeper I can vouch for the REI Helix.

You should consider making the switch to a hammock. I'm a side sleeper and I'm way more comfortable in a good hammock setup than I am on the ground. If you're insistent on ground sleeping, maybe consider using what I do when I need to sleep on the ground. I've got an REI Helix pad, but I also have a MLD 40x80x1/8 eva foam pad that I fold up to 20x40x1/2 to put on top of the inflatable mattress. That gives you a flat, soft surface on top of the inflatable.

I've got a BA Rapide SL for my daughter to sleep on, but since I primarily hammock camp, I went the cheaper route for myself and got the REI Helix. It's a decently comfortable pad, especially when I pair it with my CCF mat, but you've got my attention with the Light Tour. Even if it doesn't sleep as warm as it should at a rated 7.5, it's probably at least as warm as my Helix, and much cheaper, and lighter.

Oh, if the Light Tour is less comfortable than the Helix, then it's not going to work out for me, lol. The Helix is the limit of my comfort. Ever since I began hammock camping, my tolerance for ground sleeping isn't great. Thanks for the info!

REI Helix is a good pad. I own both the 20” regular and the 25” wide. Reasonably priced. Also, try deflating what you have a bit. That can change the comfort

I'm hard on my gear and the Helix from REI has lasted me a few years with no signs of trouble. I use it less than I'd like, though. I got mine when the old colors were on clearance, so it was pretty affordable as I recall. The equivalent mattress is $118 with the sale right now. I do partially credit my success to being careful about not letting shoes in the tent.

What seasons are you hiking (low temps range) … what is your height/weight … do you sleep warm or cold … belly or side sleeper or toddler and turner? I’m 6’3” runs warm hikes 3 seasons on non frozen ground above 32 (try to stay above 40), side sleeping tosser and use the either lite xt long wide. (3.5”) … quite comfortable for me. Gotten it down to 34 with mid base layer Wife is opposite and uses the REI Helix wide normal (3”) quite comfortable for her. Gotten it down to 42 with base layer

That’s what I use too but I put an inflatable sleep pad from REI on top. It’s due to fail as it’s at least 10 years old but the memory foam will save the day.

I’m about your same size and side sleeper I ended up going with the REi Helix, it is very similar to the S2S Ether Light. I have taken it out a few times in summer and shoulder seasons and it has been pretty comfortable and has a decent R value (4.9).

You've tested *all* of them? You find the Nemo more comfortable than an Etherlite XT? An REI Helix? An Exped? A Rapide SL? That doesn't compute for me. The Nemo is more comfy than a Neoair but well below all of those.

It's best if you can visit a local outdoor retailer like REI to try out some pads. That way you know what's comfortable for you, and can make some choices on picking the lightest pad that meets those needs. For me I find the Nemo Tensor (lightest), S2S Etherlight XR, and REI Helix (heaviest) to be reasonably comfortable pads as well. Xlite/Xtherm were definitely less comfortable last I tried.

Dude. You were there and didn't grab the REI Helix!?! Great pad for comfort and warmth and can be had for a steal.

The REI helix is extremely comfortable. It has great dimpled baffles. Its probably the comfiest pad ive ever used.

How do you sleep? On your back, side, rolling around a lot? Thicker pads are more comfortable generally. Vertical baffles tend to be more comfortable than horizontal baffles. I like the nemo tensor lines, as well as the big agnes rapide, exped 5r, and rei helix. You really need to know what the coldest nights you expect to camp in to know which pad you should get. They all have different r value/insulation value. Higher numbers = more insulation and better for cold weather camping. Low numbers are summer pads or 3 season pads.

REI helix sleep pad has done me right, r rating is good for sleeping on snow and the long wide version fits my tall ass well. I haven’t had any luck on the foam pads being comfortable or warm enough on mountains. Rolls up nice and small too

I've got the helix as well and it definitely keeps me warm. REI also has sales quite often where you can grab the helix for closer to $100.

Thoughts from an REI employee: Comfort often comes from a few factors, but don't apply to everyone. Thickness can help a lot. The Thermarest NeoLoft for example is very comfortable, because it's a whopping 4.6" thick, and a great surface. Some pads have some foam in them, not just insulation. This is kind of old school, the original Thermarests were like this. This can be nice and plush because you don't have to dial in the air amount quite as specific. Plus, if it loses air, you're at least sleeping on something other than nylon. The Thermarest Trail Pro comes to mind. A little heavy around 2lbs, so not for the UL crowd. But comfy. There is a lighter version called a Trail Pro Lite. They used to sell a terrific pad called a ProLite Apex, but it was discontinued and may not be coming back. Sea to Summit and a few other brands make pads with some foam in them that are backpackable. These are also (mostly) self-inflating, which is nice. The shape of the pad can also factor in. Some people love how most Big Agnes pads are raised on the sides, to help you stay in place, and not roll off the pad. Most of their pads are thick too, not as thick as the NeoLoft, but thick. The Rapide is a great seller. Other brands do this too. I mentioned surface, some have a really nice brushed surface that also helps keep you from sliding off, and from making noise as you move. The Neoloft as mentioned, but the REI Helix is nice like this too. Baffling is also a factor. Some love "dimpled" pads (like the Helix), some like "tubes" either horizontal or vertical. The choice is yours. Closed cell foam are not comfortable. They are not thick. They are not warm at all. And they are bulky. But they are inexpensive, light, and almost indestructible. Anyone who bought a Ridgerest back in the 1990s likely still has it, and it's probably in like new condition.

I've had a lot of different ones over the years, bought a REI Helix in the spring last year and it's the best one I've ever had. It packs really small too.

I'm a back sleeper and find that the dimpled baffling systems on the Helix and S2S pads tend to be the most comfortable. Nemo Tensor is the next most comfy, and Thermarest horizontal baffles are the least comfortable for me. Can't comment on the Expeds as I haven't tried them.

I've taken the REI Helix into 20 degrees comfortably. Be mindful the baffles + sleeping bag are part of the R rating. It takes a nosedive if you attempt to use a quilt.

Have you tried any of them? Your local REI would at least have the Helix. I too had that on my shortlist and when I tried it I didn’t like it, I found I bottomed out too easily when moving and side sleeping. Like when I laid flat I’d be a couple mm off the ground, but then shifting too much weight to my hips would have me touch the ground. Again, it was fine and pretty comfy when my weight was fully distributed. My point is go and try them. I ended up going with a Nemo Tensor.

I do like to sleep comfortably when backpacking, and have spent a lot of time trying to figure out what works best for me. I've tried many pads over the past decades, including these two, along with similar Exped sleeping pads like the Ultra, Versa, and Dura. I am primarily a side sleeper, so that informs some of my sleeping experience on these, and am 190cm and 95kg. Personally I was not able to sleep comfortably on the Exped MegaMat Lite, or its siblings (Dura/Versa/Ultra). A through-line in my testing of these is the vertical baffling: I regularly wake up and find my arm is numb. I think these might work better for me if I was primarily a back or chest sleeper; lots of people like them and recommend them. But in my adulthood I've probably maximum only got about two hours of sleep at a time on a design like these. I have only had to contact Exped for warranty once, and they ended up shipping me a new unit before I even had to send the old one back: top marks here in support. I just picked up the Therm-a-rest NeoLoft before the holidays and took it on two trips in Mt Hood National Forest. Maybe the most comfortable backpacking pad I've personally used recently, even if the large (long wide, 78x26) weighs 2lbs! When fully inflated it is 4.6" thick. One of the few pads I've slept more than six straight hours on, which is kind of how I prioritize pads. Not only comfortable, but has a soft-touch stretchy fabric which feels good against the skin (I tend to sleep with quilts rather than bags). The first night I did wake up to find my arm was numb, so curious if that was a one-off with a weird sleeping position... R-value is 4.7, so I haven't used it at all in the past 45 days because of the cold where I am. It looks like the REI exclusivity is now over in early 2025, and this can be picked up lots of different places. Honestly the thing I dislike the most is the valves; I just don't care for the old-style Therm-a-rest valves. Realizing your question was specifically about those two, I also wanted to recommend what I have found to be my most comfortable pads in recent years: 1. Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Extreme Insulated. This specific pad and its sibling, Ether Light XT Insulated, have been my primary pads the past four-ish years. They are 4" thick and the most comfortable pads I've used, probably tied with the NeoLoft. Never woken with my arm numb, and the only pad I've ever slept seven-plus hours straight-through. In the PNW I use the non-Extreme-variant in the warmer half of the year, and the Extreme-variant in the colder half. The stuff sack with the inflation aid built-in is the smartest I've seen. Extreme version has an r-value of 6.2, and the non-Extreme version r-value is 3.2. The Extreme has that spider-web looking Thermolite insulation, which in my mind is the most reliable winter/cold insulation; it doesn't crinkle and potentially fail like newer thin reflective films in other lighter pads (NEMO Tensor, Big Agnes Rapide, etc). On the flip side that makes the Extreme very heavy, more than 2lbs, and also packs down the biggest of any backpacking pad I've owned. 2. REI Helix. Been using this on-and-off for the past few seasons. One of the few pads that has me sleeping through the night. It is only 3" thick, but I have found the trick is to fully inflate: the dimples do a good jump of evening out my weight and not experiencing any arm numbness. The long wide is 1lb 13oz, and seems pretty sturdy compared to other REI-brand pads I've used in the past; no leaks yet... R-value of 4.9. I always wake up refreshed and feeling good on those mats, baring any environmental issues outside of the pad. I cannot recommend the NeoLoft in that way yet, but will continue to use and test it out in the near future with an additional foam pad underneath to make it safe for snow conditions (as the r-value stacks). And I don't think I will ever recommend an Exped pad for backpacking. Exped does make fantastic foam inflating car-camping pads though!

REI Helix. Im a side sleeper and love it.

Get the rei helix pad, I think they are having their Labor Day sale right now. If you’re a member you can return it up to a year of using it. Membership is like 30$ for lifetime. As far as being in the ultralight sub, personally I carry a little extra weight for comfort in my sleep system and drop ounces in other places.

i have a couple etherlights for different seasons. My partner got the REI helix which surprised me for how good it is for the price

Helix is good when on sale (like, now). Full price it's probably not worth it, IMO.

6'2" ~240. I have an REI Helix long/wide.

u/Wandering_Hick When I turn over, I bottom out briefly on the REI Helix -that said, I was never cold and also was comfortable once I was in position. I just picked up a Rapide, but now I am seeing all the reviews about the quality and sleeping cold. In your opinion, should I go back to the Helix and just live with the brief bottoming out? The Helix is slightly lighter and more packable it seems than the Ultra5R and possible a little more comfortable as a side sleeper.

I suggest individual sleeping bags or quilts for colder weather. When I purchased sleep bags, I looked for a comfort rating that is the same or lower than lowest expected temperature. A 20f sleeping bag may have comfort rating of 30 or 40 degrees. To sleep well in 30 degrees, look for a 10 degree bag or quilt. A pad with R5 or better rating. The REI Helix is liked by many because it’s close to R5 and it’s lightweight. Big Agnes pads, I have 3, tend to sleep cold so I discount their R values. I have used a quilt plus an additional fiberfill blanket in colder weather. It worked well, but I first tried it car camping when I knew I had a back up system (more blankets) available. Recently I purchased a 10 degree quilt for temps down to mid-20s. It’s still in the teens at my house with lows in single digits. I like quilts but it did take some time to learn how to use mine well and stay warm. For the novice, a sleeping bag is a wise choice. Once you digest all the comments here, settle on a budget, and get a better idea of what conditions you will experience, consider making a new post over in r/backpacking with greater detail.

I’m a side sleeper and I got the REI Helix. It’s not square but it’s not mummy shaped really either. It has been a game changer for keeping warm, comfy and it’s not noisy at all

I love my REI Helix, but it's nowhere near as much cushion as that new NeoLoft. I do like mine fairly soft so typically I hike with a short length CCF pad as well so there is a little extra padding and warmth under my butt/hips. Works great for me since I grabbed the Helix during a yearly sale for like $105. But I would love to try that NeoLoft on a trip myself...

Sea To Summit Ether Light XR (XT is the old model, definitely go for the XR it's lighter, warmer and pack smaller) is a great all-rounder, one of the best actually when it comes to comfort-weigh-pack size ratio. Other good all-rounders are REI Helix and Zenbivy Ultralight Mattress, both of these has very similar comfort but are slightly heavier. If you seek ultimate comfort there would be there competitors: Zenbivy Flex Air Mattress, ThermaRest NeoLoft and Exped MegaMat Ultra. Each of these are basically best of the class, which one would be the best comes down to personal preferences as each of them using different baffle construction.

I used to have 3 Nemo tensor. One of them blew up while inflated inside the car crossing the Eisenhower Tunnel in Colorado (+11,000 feet). It was my fault, just be careful. Got the REI Helix after that, which is much more bulky but comfortable to sleep (wider and greater R value). Bottomline: Nemo Tensor is more packable but delicate, Helix is more comfortable and warm but less packable.

its not the lightest but the rei helix pad is pretty good

I’m guessing your pad is some semi self inflating pad based on what you’ve described and I think that’s all I need to know really. I’d recommend moving to a regular inflatable pad. The REI helix or any of the 3 big Agnes pads are a great value and in that 4-5 R range that will carry you deep into fall. Weight is reasonable and comfort is much higher than some of the chip bag ultralight pads. If you have an REI nearby check garage sale. It’s been loaded with these pads lately. I’ve bought a few just cause I couldn’t help myself at some of the deals.