Best Ultralight Sleeping Pads: Nemo, Therm-a-Rest, Exped & Sea to Summit Compared

A good night’s sleep when hiking can make or break your trip and your sleeping pad plays a major role in that equation. From winter expeditions to minimalist summer treks, there’s a pad built for every season, terrain, and sleep style. In this breakdown, we’ll compare top models from four of our favourite outdoor gear brands: Nemo, Thermarest, Exped, and Sea to Summit.   

Many different factors contribute to the performance, comfort and durability of a sleeping pad, such as thickness, type of insulation and type of fabric. ASTM tested R-Value is a measure of thermal efficiency, and how well an object, or in this case a sleeping pad, will hold onto warmth. The higher the R-value of a sleeping pad, the warmer the sleeping pad will be. 

A major factor for comfort is overall thickness. A thicker pad will prevent you from bottoming out when sitting down and provide more space between you and the ground. Thicker pads are sometimes heavier though, due to the extra fabric and in some cases having to compensate with more insulation. Different baffle designs also contribute greatly to overall comfort, where dimpled baffles are usually the most comfortable as they result in the most relief of pressure points, followed by vertical baffles, which cradle the shape of your body, and horizontal style baffling last. 

Sleeping pad insulation is a major factor in calculating and assessing total warmth. As the ASTM R-Value is conducted in a controlled environment, it’s unfortunately very common for sleeping pads to sleep much colder than advertised. For example, down used to be a very common sleeping pad insulator, though over time, down tends to lose its loft the more it is compressed. It can also be permanently damaged if compressed when wet. These two situations are very common when using sleeping pads, and it resulted in older down insulated pads from sleeping much colder, the older they got.  

Other sleeping pads used synthetic insulation, which had the benefit of not being rather quiet, but like down, synthetic insulation also loses its loft the more it is compressed. As a result, most companies have switched to using layers of reflective metallic film, which does not get affected by prolonged compression and can last much longer than other forms of insulation. 

Overall durability of a sleeping pad is a major factor in ensuring long term use and longevity. Older sleeping pads used polyester, which feels good against the skin but is weaker than options like nylon, which can feel more plastic-like. A major indicator for sleeping pad durability is fabric denier. While the strength of the bottom fabric is more important in preventing punctures, denier of the top fabric is also important and should not be overlooked.  

Different baffle designs have tendencies to be more durable, where horizontal baffling is typically the most durable as it is welded to the shortest point, followed by vertical baffling and dimpled baffling. Dimpled baffling is typically the weakest and the most susceptible to blowouts, simply due to the amount of welds. 

Check out our overview of the most popular and well known sleeping pads available today: 

The Nemo Range

Tensor Extreme 

The Tensor Extreme is theoretically the warmest pad on this list and strikes a nice balance between durability with its 20D/40D mix, comfort with its 8.8cm thickness and dimpled baffling, and a nice warmth to weight ratio. It’s probably the best mix of features if you’re frequenting colder areas, though the XTherm will be a little more durable and the Ether Light XR Pro will be more comfortable. 

Tensor All Season 

The Tensor All Season is exactly what it says on the box, a great all rounder. It is much lighter than other pads of comparable R Values, with the same durability of the Extreme at a 20D/40D mix. It is identical in almost every way to the Extreme but features two less sheets of reflective film. The Ether Light XR however may be slightly more comfortable but less warm and much heavier. The XLite is marginally lighter but much less comfortable and may be less durable. 

Tensor Trail 

The Tensor Trail is one of the lightest pads on this list and is a great option for those commonly frequenting warmer climates. Like the other tensors, it is almost identical in every way aside from the number of reflective sheets, with the Trail featuring only one. It still retains the great durability of the previous Tensors. While fine for three-season use, those chasing snow or sub-zero camping will definitely have to layer with a Closed-Cell (CCF) foam pad. 

Tensor Elite 

The Tensor Elite is the lightest pad on this list. It is also the least warm. This is the pad for the serious gram counters, with a weight so low that it is lighter than most Closed Cell (CCF) foam pads. This low weight comes at a cost however, with only a 10D (surround) fabric. This pad will experience punctures much more frequently than any other pad on this list, but if that’s not too much of an issue, you will not find a lighter pad in the world that boasts the comfort of the Tensor Elite. It still uses the dimpled baffling construction of the previous Tensors and while not as thick, is still enough to prevent bottoming out. 

The Thermarest Range

NeoAir XTherm 

The XTherm is the highest warmth to weight pad on this list, and the most durable. Its horizontal baffles aren’t the most comfortable however, and when fully inflated, feels like a wooden board. It can be deflated slightly to improve comfort, but this will reduce its thermal properties. Choose the XTherm when weight and reliability matter over comfort.  

NeoAir XLite 

The XLite is another great all-rounder, but unfortunately has the same shortfalls of the XTherm in its minimal thickness and horizontal baffling construction not offering much pressure relief. However, it may be more durable in some cases due to its 30D top and horizontal baffles. Choose the XLite if your trips demand the lightest weight and you prefer a firmer bed. The All Season will offer slightly more warmth and comfort at a higher weight, and the Ultra 5R will offer more warmth and comfort for lower durability but a much lower price. 

The Exped Range 

Ultra 3R  

The Ultra 3R is a great pad for those chasing comfort at a lower weight. Some individuals find that Exped’s vertical baffles can be much more comfortable than some forms of dimpled baffling, and the Ultra pads also have a nice feature where the side walls are slightly raised, keeping you cradled in the centre of your sleeping pad. While warmer and lighter than the Tensor Trail, some may find it to be less durable due to its 20D surrounding material and polyester face fabric. 

Ultra 5R 

The Ultra 5R is basically the same as the 3R, but has slightly more insulation which results in higher warmth for a little more weight. While still lighter than the Ether Light, it suffers from a weaker face fabric which may affect long term durability. Choose the Ultra 5R if you’re after comfort and warmth at a lower price, and aren’t frequenting rough areas which may cause punctures. 

The Sea to Summit Range

Ether Light XR

The Ether Light pads are some of the most comfortable pads on this list, but also the heaviest. They boast the highest thickness and one of the highest mixes of durability at 30D/40D. The Ether Light suits individuals who chasing a reliable and comfortable pad but don’t mind the extra weight. 

Ether Light XR Pro 

The Ether Light XR Pro follows a common theme of increasing the warmth, but also the weight, of its little brother. While slightly more comfortable than the comparable Tensor Extreme, it is also much heavier at nearly 100g and less warm. The 30D top works slightly against Sea To Summit’s favour here, but some winter campers may appreciate the more durable top fabric. Choose the XR Pro if you appreciate a good night’s sleep in even the coldest of conditions, and aren’t too bothered by the extra weight compared to the XTherm and Tensor Extreme. 

Final Thoughts 

Whether you prioritize ultralight performance, extreme cold protection, or plush comfort, there’s a sleeping pad on this list that fits your needs. Choosing the right pad depends on your typical conditions, sleep preferences, and pack weight goals — but with options like these, you’ll be resting easy no matter where the trail leads.