looking for the killer *wide* pad and quilt combo

I’ve tried multiple lighter sleeping systems and my current one is the best I’ve had so far. Klymit V Lux Sl (slightl mummy shaped but not enough to bother me) and Enlighten Ed Equipment Quilt.  And a guilty pleasure about the pad… It came with one of their sheets which I am currently using doing trail work hitches (my job). I can stuff clothes into the pillow pocket and it is seriously a dream. It is an extra 8oz but I sleep great and I am thankful for that extra weight when I wake up feeling ready to go.

Also, for the pad/sheet/quilt it is right at 3 pounds. But it’s my splurge on weight and never regret it.

I would highly recommend a regular wide Nemo tensor sleeping pad, very very comfortable. I switched to a 25-inch wide pad a couple years ago for the same reasons you mentioned. It is only 3 oz more than an ex lite large. Pair it with a katabatic flex quilt and you are good to go in the Sierras.

I’ve been using a Nemo tensor long/wide paired with an EE Enigma 30* long/wide. Very comfortable for me at 6’2″ And fairly lightweight. If you want to to be able to open the quilt completely, maybe the EE revelation would suit you better. I’ve also heard great things about the UGQ quilts.

Josh, you reminded me of a big question I have about this system, and that is the sensation of sleeping directly on a sleeping pad. Seems it would be preferable if the top surface of the pad was microfiber or non-plasticky, but of course that would add weight. I sometimes, but not always, bring dedicated sleeping clothes. That is obviously the way to go to keep everything clean and comfortable, but sometimes I get lazy and thrifty with weight, especially on one-night bike trips that I do from home.

Also, three pounds ‘all in’ for a great sleep system sounds very worth it!

Wow, the Katabatic flex 30 looks great, about 20 oz!

EE Revelation is right in there at a similar weight, and a bit of a nicer price.

It appears both are what I am looking for, something that opens flat.

Need to start saving my milk money…

…Seems it would be preferable if the top surface of the pad was microfiber or non-plasticky…

My experience is the materials they make pads out of tend to feel somewhat cloth like.  Certainly not as nice as a fine Egyptian cotton, but I have not felt hindered by sleeping directly on a pad.  I do usually wear clothes and that helps I guess.

I’m pretty exhausted after a day of hiking.  The thickness of the pad plays a larger role in my comfort.  Which brings me to your original question.  As I get older and fatter I need more comfort in the backcountry.  Big Agnes Q-core pads are wonderful! 3.5 – 4″ thick.  You can get them in regular length + wide width.  The height of luxury.  I match mine with a EE quilt.  I have an overstuffed 30° quilt.  If I was to do it over I would get a 20° quilt.  It can get cold at night in the Sierra.  Even in the summer.

A) Go to Enwild.com and get a neoair MAX in wide. Rectangular and cheap.
B) Get a 20 degree Enlightened Equipment revelation wide while they are in stock.
C) Enjoy every night in the Sierra.

The Nemo Tensor Reg/Wide Insulated is supremely comfortable at 19 oz

Be aware that a Nemo Tensor uses a “breath collecting bag” that you then compress to fill the matt. It is awkward and condensation in the matt is inevitable.

Many other excellent options are available, but are an additional cost.

I’ve been using the Schnozzle bag for several pads with stick valves and rather like the system. Not worried about moisture in the pad. Just not a significant mode of failure IMO.

I was using Exped pads, but the weight savings and smaller packed size of the thermarest neoair X therm “max” (rectangular) has, for the time being, won me over. Plus, it is much warmer.

Unfortunately for me the most comfortable pad I’ve ever had the brief pleasure of laying on was the S2S Comfort Plus SI. I say “laying on” because I’ve never actually slept on it. Although I could have fallen asleep on it… but I might have gotten some funny looks at REI if I did so.

The unfortunate part is the $200+ price tag and the 44 oz (for the reg wide). It’s a whole 2 lb heavier than my Xlite, bulky as heck, and supposedly impossible to get back into the original stuff sack. But man was it comfy! I think it’s a self inflating pad, but double thick, and the exterior pad fabric/material is almost like a cross between the old Thermarest self inflating pads and super thin neoprene. So cushy and so comfy!

But, obviously not light.

O yes, I’ve seen those S2S pads! Very luxe indeed. Don’t they also have integrated pillows?

Unlike you I have never reclined on one, and so I stand a chance of not succumbing to its charms!

Paul, is theX Therm noisy? I can’t keep track of the noisy pads, but seems like most of them are…

Oneil, I had heard all the complaints about the noisiness of the neoair pads, and that held me back for quite a while. But when I actually got the pad and used it it was totally a non issue, I did not even notice it at night, and neither did my wife (who was sleeping right next to me!). I think that on its own, with nothing on top of it, the pad is crinkly. But when in use, whatever is on top of the pad (sleeping bag quilt, human being) dampens the crinkly sounds.

The X-therm is just so warm, and fairly light weight, so I never have to concern myself about whether we’ll be camping on snow or not. Truthfully, the x-lite is pretty warm too, and I have used in here in WA state in the summer (infact, last weekend) camping on snow, 40 degrees at night, and I felt no chills coming through from the snow below.

A side by side comparison of a Nemo Tensor and a Thermarest XTherm resulted in the return of the XTherm.

The XTherm is significantly more noisy than the Tensor.  Covering the XTherm with a EE quilt did nothing to muffle the high frequency crinkling sounds. The noise killed the deal.

Also –

The pumpsack does not like to stay attached.  I pumped with the pad on a bed, lots of room, no need to hurry. It took 11 “sacks” and I had to reconnect 4 times. Fifty pumps with an Exped pillow-pump was much faster. (I reamed 7/8 ID tubing to make a “mating” adaptor.)

The Xtherm was much slower to deflate.

The XTherm was considerably more bulky than the Tensor.

The Xtherm was 3 ounces heavier.

The R6.7 was not enough to offset the negatives for this three season hiker.

Now I know.

YMMV

Thanks for the intel, Greg! The Tensor seems to be a popular favorite , and I’ve been generally impressed with Nemo products. So I’m currently circling around this and a Katabatic Flex 30 or EE Revalation 30, both in regular/wide. Similar weight between the two quilts, so I’ll have a net gain of about three ounces in my sleep system (39 oz to 42 oz) but expect I will be much more comfortable.

Choosing between these two quilts, does anybody have first-hand experience with the strap systems? Katabatic presents a diagram illustrating their attachment system that looks rather convincing at adjusting the amount of ‘dead air’ inside the quilt based on ambient temp. In general, I am looking for much more room to thrash about, but can see the logic to being able to ‘batten down’ on the colder nights, especially considering I want to go with the 30 degree over the 20 degree.

<p style=”text-align: left;”>I find the Nemo air bag very efficient. Like other air bag pumps (S2S, Exped) you don’t blow into the inflater bag , but across the top. The Bernoulli effect pulls fresh ambient air into the inflater bag. My only issue w the Nemo air bag is its not dual use as a stuff sack. The S2S and Exped are. My S2S air bag holds my cut-down Xlite Large (25 wide, 70 long, 15 oz), my Exped pillow, my TaR Vesper 20 quilt. The whole kit is 38 oz. I do like the Nemo pads, but no compelling reason to change dollar wise.</p>

I love that pad, but it is car camping only! Super comfort and warm!

I inflate Xlite and Xtherm stick valve w S2S air bag using an adapter of 1/2″ diameter hose from the the beer brew store, and the blue mouthpiece from a Smartwater bottle. Works like a dream. 2.5 bag of air to inflate 25×70 pad.

“Like other air bag pumps (S2S, Exped) you don’t blow into the inflater bag , but across the top.”

Nemo demonstrates blowing INTO the bag –

Others show blowing INTO the bag –

“The Bernoulli effect pulls fresh ambient air into the inflater bag.”

The Bernoulli effect of blowing across the bag would draw air out of the mat  (if the one-way valve wasn’t there) –

Perhaps blowing into the bag drags additional air with it.

TBH the noise in these pads doesn’t bother me. I’m used to sleeping with earplugs while out camping… My mindset is if I can’t hear the little critters rustling at night (and trust me… on a quite night in Florida, armadillos rustling through leaves can sound like a person lol), then I don’t worry about if they’re there or not. Also, after having kids, I sleep less like a rock and more like a feather in the wind, so anything to help!

When I got my xtherm and xlite pads, I did notice the crinkle noise, and my camping mates complained that my pad was loud during our next trip. But, with earplugs, they don’t bother me at all.

Now, on the other hand, it’s funny when you see these DCF tent manufacturers recommend using earplugs because their tents are so noisy in rain (though I can’t speak from first hand experience on this).

Also, Thermarest’s bag pad inflation bag is a similar weight. Doesn’t seal up like a roll top dry bag like BA’s pumphouse or other models, but in my opinion it doubles as a sufficient bag liner (it’s pretty big). It’s also wide enough that it makes for a good extra barrier under your air pad (torso area) for protection if you are using something thinner like 0.7 polycro.  A little quirky to actually use for inflation, but aren’t they all?

And am I supposed to be filling my pad bag up with my breath?? lol. I just open it as wide as I can and close it as quick as I can to trap as much air as I can to fill up my pad as fast as I can so I can save as much energy as I can and avoid getting lightheaded from blowing up an air pad with my mouth. I thought that was one key point of the bag? :)