Sea To Summit Ultralight Pad

For summer thru hiking and the with a goal of being the lightest weight, most packable pad, here is your answer. One air port with an anti-microbial, one-way valve allows users to easily fill the pad by blowing into it, or with one of Sea To Summit’s handy stuff-sack pumps. A Jet Stream Pump Sack doubles as a compression sack and weighs about 1.5 ounces.

Sleeping outside on the UltraLight at 10,000 feet on the Continental Divide Trail was like sleeping on air – and only air – as the pad only provides an R Value of 0.7. People say this is the pad you carry more than you actually use, but it does add to the comfort factor if not the warmth.

Once you’re laying down on the pad, the individual “Air Sprung Cells” move uniformly beneath you and disperse body weight, even for those too wide or long for the entire body to be on the pad. It has a ridiculously tiny packed size at 3 x 6.5 inches. This Sea to Summit sleeping pad even uses smaller cord (like the smallest .2cm) and smaller fastex plastic stoppers to reduce weight even further.

The insulated version of this Ultralight Pad is just as sweet, and in my opinion, sweeter, than the uninsulated version. The regular length insulated version is a typical 72 inches long, with a height of 2 inches, a weight of 16.9 ounces, and a three-season R-value of 3.3, yet it maintains a packed size of 4 x 9 inches.

Universal Attributes

Performance: 5
Ultra-high performance.

Design: 4
Its advanced yet simple design achieves impressive weights, packability and comfort levels.

Durability: 3
This sleeping pad is built to be lightweight, which appears to have been at the cost of durability.

Innovation: 4
Absolutely cutting edge, but for a price. Remember the basic rule, the lighter the gear, be it a shoe, bike, tent or pad, the more expensive it will be.

Features: 5
The Air Sprung Cells are truly amazing. Simple and minimal in design, it does an amazing job of spreading out body weight, especially once you’re laying down. Also, the double valve serves three purposes. Open it all the way and the air is instantly released. Open just the outer stopper and you’ve got a one-way valve that can be used for manual inflation. Or attached it to a stuff sack blow back, sold separately.

Universal Tests

Comfort test: This is not the most comfortable pad on the market. But it is one of the lightest. And just like in boat design or ski design, everything is a compromise. It doesn’t mean it’s not high performance, it’s just not built for comfort.

Weighted overnight test: No problems, holding it air all through the night.

Durability test: Ummm, let’s just say this isn’t for aggressive blow up fights, but the rip-stop nylon is durable.

Re-pack test: Pretty much a piece of cake to roll up and pack up to its original size, which is smaller than a water bottle.

Inflation speed test: These pads inflate so easily it’s not even funny. Fewer than 10 big breaths and you’re good. Using one of the optional stuff-sack inflation bags makes it breathless, filling the pad in literally just a few bags full of air.

Packed size test: This is the smallest packed size on the market. Takes up no more room in your pack than a water bottle or lightweight jacket.