Exped - Ultra 1R
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Based on 1 year's data from Jan 28, 2026 How it works
Liked most:
208
57
"I can take it down to like 25-30F very comfortably."
"Pads like the Xtherm (with good convective heat loss mechanisms) outperform pads like the Tensor XC (minimal convectove eat loss mechanisms) even though the Tensor XC has a higher tested rvalue. ... Stevens testing reinforces what I have also been seeing in the field while testing dozens of pads in every temperature possible. ... The other issue is that companies are designing to max the ASTM standard and "taking advantage of" the hole in the standard in order to push really high r-values that don't hold up when you're all of a sudden in air temps of -40."
"I slept on a simple switchback in 7°F weather last month on Hagerman Pass in Colorado... It was warm enough."
270
92
"I just put up with the pinholes and patching them on trail because I can't sleep better on any other pad. ... There's a huge difference in comfort depending on your body between the dimpled baffling of the Etherlight/Tensor and the horizontal baffling of the Xlite. ... I can't sleep on horizontal baffling despite all the good features of the Xlite. ... I'm a side sleeper and my arms and shoulders ache and/or fall asleep or go numb on the Xlite. For whatver reason I can only sleep on dimpled baffles (tensor, etherlight)"
"I sleep all night and no body aches."
"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."
24
12
"It’s the first ultralight mat I’ve used that doesn’t sound like a bag of chips when I move around — no annoying crinkle from the heat-reflective foil. ... The outer fabric is also surprisingly quiet."
"My favorite part is that they're soooo quiet. No rustling or rubbed-balloon sound when you roll over."
"Insulation instead of reflective layer is quieter ... Can’t stand the crinkly noise produced by reflective layer models. ... I find they’re less noisy than the reflective pads. ... Overall, i find expeds less noisy."
41
15
"reliable ... I’ve been using the same inflatable pad for 6 or 7 years now and I’ve never had an issue with punctures or leaks"
"used a double wide exped for numerous years with zero issue."
"I've used it for about 80 days over several trips. It's a very robust build."
2
0
"I had a hole in my Exped, out of warranty, had to pay for shipping but they repaired it and shipped it back for free. Super nice of them."
"Exped repairs pads for the cost of shipping to Tacoma."
Disliked most:
59
87
"Dropped about 9ozs and kicked myself the rest of the way down the trail for being so gullible. ... I could really feel those 9ozs off my back."
"stupidly heavy mondo king pad"
"For pack-in or hiking its FAR too heavy."
8
2
"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. ... But in my adulthood I've probably maximum only got about two hours of sleep at a time on a design like these."
"In my opinion the Megamat vertical baffles don't help with comfort at all, though they might help with the feeling of support if thats what someone was looking for. Not for me."
9
3
"the exped still makes noise ... the noise caused by the sleeping bag sliding around on the pad ... I turn over nonstop all night long and am insanely sensitive to noise."
"sooooooooo loud"
"(Exped backpacking style inflatable pad) not as quiet!"
4
3
"Over time, the Exped began to leak ... As best I can tell, the rubber lining inside the fabric begins to slowly degrade and develop pinhole leaks. ... You never hear leaking air. You just wake up in the morning with your hip touching the ground (I’m a side sleeper)."
"Mind you, my Exped mat has never been the same since I camped in a prickle patch."
"Expeds CAN leak"
0
1
"on Exped pads, DO NOT simply pull the flap to open the valve. BE SURE to hold the part of the valve that is permanently attached to the pad fabric separately so that the forces of opening the flap do not tear the valve out of the fabric."
Agerak 1.0Any Exped Med-Wide pads fit the bill. Incredibly comfy to boot. They are more expensive but a good nights sleep it worth it imo. Best investment I made for camping. I got my Deep Sleep for just over $100 on sale.
Ahh ok then yea low or no R-value would be fine in those cases. Klymit also makes a good lightweight low R-value pad, it's what I used in Texas and worked quite well in warmer weather. Not as heavy or thick as the one you linked, but much lighter and packs down smaller. Great if you're backpacking but there are better options if car camping imo. Exped Ultra 1R is also a good pad, the more insulated 3 and 5 are also popular for colder temps. I've used the Dura versions which are a heavier/more insulated version and it was comfortable. I've also heard good things about Nemo Tensor but have no experience with it.
coldharbour1986 1.0I've had my exped for around 4 years now, and it's never let me down. Was concerned at how fragile it seems, but I've slept in some spikey places and never had an issue. [this ](https://www.expeduk.com/products/ultra-1r) is the current version of what I've got, and can't praise it enough.
Leonidas169 1.0I can’t use anything over a 2 in summer or I sweat profusely on whatever side is against the mat. Sold my uberlite and picked up the 1R long/wide. Sleeps more comfortable as well.
goodhumorman85 0.1I know they are light but the neoair durability isn’t great. Also Cascade (thermarest) just moved from Seattle to Reno and I bet things are super disorganized still I opted for the Exped Ultra series. There’s a weight penalty but I find them much more comfortable, and Exped repairs pads for the cost of shipping to Tacoma.
AdeptNebula 0.0Exped Ultra is comfortable and ultralight. Pretty affordable, too. Give it a try.
Backpacker_billy97 0.0How much weight is too much for you, though? I’m a larger guy (230lbs) and find the tensor uncomfortable. It’s usable, but I don’t sleep great on it. My wife has the quasar and it’s way more comfy for me. Recently, I said screw it and tried an Exped Ultra mat. It’s quite large, and has some weight to it. BUT I sleep better than I ever have in the backcountry. So it’s my luxury item - and I’ll gladly carry the extra weight for the improved sleep I get.
Comfortable-Pop-3463 0.0Most 20D pads seems to be "too fragile". Only exception seems to be the exped ultra somehow. But it's really hard to have a good picture on pads reliability.
gijoe4500 0.0I have a Nemo Tensor, Thermarest NeoAir X-Lite, and an Exped Ultra. My favorite of the 3 is the Exped. I haven't used the Rapide, but I'd put it in the same class as the ones I have. At that point, they are all so similar, buy the one that is the most comfortable for you. $20-30 less or more at that price point isn't huge, and is 100% worth it for more comfort.
Mission-Calendar-372 0.0I had an Exped Ultra for many years, which was pretty comfortable, but wasn't a big fan of the vertical baffles. When it finally failed, Exped replaced it with a duo Ultra. Good customer service. Since then I've had the Thermarest nxt and a ZenBivy which I didn't find comfortable. I bought the Nemo Tensor Extreme last week from Backcountry for 20% off. I haven't really had it out, but I highly recommend it. Six foot, 200# side sleeper. I don't have to keep it rock hard.
random_number_12 0.0+1 on Exped ultra. This was way more comfy for me than the XTherm or the S2S
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