Lightweight, COMFORTABLE sleeping pad for side sleepers?

Terran; thanks – very useful! Ordered an Exped Flex 1.5 LW now to protect the underside a bit better. As well as a Ultra 10r. If I don’t like it I can return it without costs, and the consider a Tensor EC.

I went to REI over the weekend and tried out all the pads they had.  This one was by far the most comfortable.  It’s 2.4lbs, so I guess I’m lightening the rest of the load as much as possible to accommodate it when it goes on sale.  It isn’t super warm (I wish they’d pushed that one just a little bit more); they have a very warm version but the super warm ones are 3.05lbs…

Henrik S – I am very happy with the durability of Exped mats. My last Synmat lasted the better part of a decade before a baffle delaminated. Their customer service is also excellent, as attested to by others.

Erik G; that’s good to hear. A sleeping pad that fails in cold temperatures, is not something i’d like to experience.

Exped has a mummy version of the ultra 8, which weighs about 550g. Almost bought that one, but Justinoutdoors did a review of the 6.5 mummy and pointed put that it’s not completely insulated – making it colder than the rectangular version. A Youtubevideo of the ultra 8 mummy shows the same problem. Hope Exped fixes that in the future.

Exped has a mummy version of the ultra 8, which weighs about 550g. Almost bought that one, but Justinoutdoors did a review of the 6.5 mummy and pointed put that it’s not completely insulated – making it colder than the rectangular version.

I bought one and returned it:

bradmacmt; thanks for the photos – clearly shows the lack of insulation. Sent exped an email and they replied that there was no plans of fixing this designflaw. Too bad – could have been an interesting product.

Any views on best insulation types in sleeping pads to avoid cold hips or butt?

If the Tensor EC has several layers of film, then maybe deflating the pad to be more comfortable leads to less useable insulation – by sqeezing two or more layers together.

When I shine a light at the side of the Exped Ultra 10R, it seems like the insulation is glued to the top fabric, and the bottom fabric, but nothing in between. Looks like that on pictures online as well. When deflating the pad a bit, I assume that only the gap of air at pressure points will be smaller, but not “deactivate” parts of the insulation like when you squeeze these heat reflective films together – as with the Tensor EC. Maybe that could mean that hips/butt will stay warm more easily on pads with this type of insulation – but only guessing.

Am I on to something here or completely misunderstanding how these things work?

I did dissect my 7R. Playing from memory. The insulation is attached to the baffles top and bottom. The curvature of the outer fabric leaves an air gap. There was nothing in-between. It was a thin insulation layer. Not mylar.

I did save the outer fabric. There’s strips on the inside where the baffles were attached. Exactly how they were attached, I don’t recall.

Thanks Terran. Found a picture on Gearpriority.com that seems to show only insulation on the inner top and bottom;

Terran; do you experience cold spots on pressure points as hip/butt on the Nemo Tensor EC?

I haven’t really, but I haven’t used it in winter temperatures.

Had my first night on the Exped Ultra 10r LW now, with the Exped flex 1.5R under. Was very comfortable stomach sleeping until 0400 AM where the hips started to ache. Tried to inflate it more and tried to deflate it (even down to the point my hips touched the ground when laying on the side). Spent an hour trying different things, but at least for stomach sleeping – I could not find a good inflation level.

Any suggestions?

A slight aside to this conversation, Nemo has updated the Tensor All-Season for 2027 – it will remain 3.5″ thick, but its construction is switching to the same as the Eclipse All-Season. It will lose around 2 oz’s weight, and its R value goes from 5.4 to 6.0. The Regular-Wide will go to 17 oz / 490 g.

From their 2027 literature:

“The most versatile workhorse in our Tensor sleeping pad line just got leaner. For 2027, Tensor All-Season features redesigned Spaceframe™ baffle construction — transitioning from lateral to longitudinal low-stretch fabric trusses. This shift in internal architecture delivers meaningful weight savings while preserving the stable, waterbed-free support and whisper-quiet performance buyers expect. The pad still suspends two layers of Thermal Mirror™ metallized film for a robust 6.0 R-value, maintains its signature 3.5 inches of cushioned loft, and includes both the latest Laylow™ valve design and signature Vortex™ pump sack. This evolution keeps the pad positioned exactly where it belongs — as the go-to choice for backpackers who refuse to choose between warmth, comfort, and a light pack.”

Another Aside, here in the Central Rockies backpacking in summer (where temps average in the 40’s at night but can certainly get much colder) I sleep cold on the R 4.5 Thermarest Neoair. So instead I use the XTherm which is the warmest pad I’ve ever used. I really like the XTherm, and appreciate that it’s not over 3″ tall. The “vertical race” with pads is out of hand imo.

Spent an hour trying different things, but at least for stomach sleeping – I could not find a good inflation level.

You might try your ZB Flex Air with the Flex mat. It’s a big improvement on the ZB by itself. Can’t say it will help. I’m not a stomach sleeper.  It’s usually my hips that wake me up.

If you’re pulling a pulk, maybe a cot?

The ZB has played out it’s part and will be sold. Did use it with a Zlite underneath, but just as bad.

The S2S Ether light XR Pro has proven to me that some sleeping pads will actually be nice to sleep on the entire night. It’s just the lack of warmth that’s bothering me – so need to hear back from S2S soon (been 2 weeks of silence now).

The ultra will be returned now. Luckily a Tensor EC came on sale for 80usd discount, so ordered that one. Even though the tensor 2022 version needed constant adjustments, I did not experience hip pain on that one. A cot might be something on a pulk, but i do use a backpack more so a fairly lightweight sleeping pad is necessary.

Bradmacmt; will there be any differences between the tensor AS and the eclipse after the spaceframe baffles are introduced to the AS as well?

Jen, did you experiment with more firm mats? I am way better of with a second hand (1 inch) Thermarest prolite, and even a double closed cell foam mat than with an Exped Synmat. The small Prolite combined with an 3/8” ccf mat is super for me as a side sleeper.

Bradmacmt; will there be any differences between the tensor AS and the eclipse after the spaceframe baffles are introduced to the AS as well?

The Tensor AS and Elite remain the same, retaining the Apex Baffle Constriction.

The Tensor All-Season and Trail get the Spaceframe construction that is in the Eclipse. Both will still have  20D tops and 40D bottoms. The Eclipse remains the same.

From Nemo regarding the All-Season:

I see the difference between the trail and the AS, but not the Eclipse and the AS. R value and weight is about the same, and also the baffles. Will also be interesting to see if they insulate the baffles on the sides fully. The Eclipse lacks insulation in the side baffles (either fully og partially), so it supposedly sleeps colder than expected.

From reddit – Nemo Eclipse

From reddit – Nemo Eclipse

Well that’s not good…

“I wonder whether the problem is with the tubes going across rather than lengthwise? ”

good question Roger.  The uberlite has tubes across and it feels very unstable.

It seems like most of those air mats have lengthwise tubes.  Maybe that’s better.

Body mapped. Your quilt should cover the side baffles. Like a quilt. Don’t hold it up to the light. It’s good to know. It would make me hesitant. According to Google, the Extreme has insulation all the way across.

Lengthwise baffles on the side help cradle you in.

Henrik, if it’s just butt and hips consider carrying a ccf sit pad and putting it under your hip at night.  Works for me with my nemo tensor insulated.   My pad is less than 2oz (decathlon)

This weekend was -3c lows and glad I brought my decathlon ccf full length as a topper over the nemo