REI Co-op - Helix Insulated Air Sleeping Pad

My Rapide SL insulated is very comfortable but nowhere close 4r. It might be 2r. Maybe. I just replaced it with the REI helix. 1oz heavier, but even more comfortable and a “true” 4.9r. They retail for $160. Exped 5r is also comfortable, warm, and has a great pump sack - although I suspect they’re getting ready to revamp them in the spring and they’ll be a decent amount more compact and lighter then. But you’ll probably find good Black Friday deals on the current one.

Just used my Helix last night and would recommend. To me it’s much comfier than than the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT I had before

You should consider making the switch to a hammock. I'm a side sleeper and I'm way more comfortable in a good hammock setup than I am on the ground. If you're insistent on ground sleeping, maybe consider using what I do when I need to sleep on the ground. I've got an REI Helix pad, but I also have a MLD 40x80x1/8 eva foam pad that I fold up to 20x40x1/2 to put on top of the inflatable mattress. That gives you a flat, soft surface on top of the inflatable.

I've got a BA Rapide SL for my daughter to sleep on, but since I primarily hammock camp, I went the cheaper route for myself and got the REI Helix. It's a decently comfortable pad, especially when I pair it with my CCF mat, but you've got my attention with the Light Tour. Even if it doesn't sleep as warm as it should at a rated 7.5, it's probably at least as warm as my Helix, and much cheaper, and lighter.

Oh, if the Light Tour is less comfortable than the Helix, then it's not going to work out for me, lol. The Helix is the limit of my comfort. Ever since I began hammock camping, my tolerance for ground sleeping isn't great. Thanks for the info!

Megamat is wonderful but it's not fitting in a backpack, you'll have to take a second trip for it. It takes up a lot of space in the car even.  I think you should check out the nemo quasar or (only during an REI sale) the REI helix. Something about the honeycomb pattern is really comfortable. 

With the upcoming REI sale on REI and Nemo sleeping pads, I am considering upgrading. I have a klymit static V, and have never once slept well on it (2 trips). I don’t go backpacking much, but want to go more. Better sleep would make it more appealing. Obviously a sleeping pad can only get so comfortable. How much better do they get though? UPDATE: Went to REI to try all the different options. I personally found the Nemo tensor to be the most comfortable. My wife preferred the REI Helix. We both preferred the tensor/helix over the Exped Ultra 5r. We brought one of our Klymits with us, and it was a night and day difference. We ended up buying both the REI Helix, and the Nemo Tensor. We will try both over a trip this weekend, and exchange as needed afterwards (at the REI staff members recommendation). We can apply the price match policy once the sale hits to get the better prices.

I've had a lot of different ones over the years, bought a REI Helix in the spring last year and it's the best one I've ever had. It packs really small too.

You've tested *all* of them? You find the Nemo more comfortable than an Etherlite XT? An REI Helix? An Exped? A Rapide SL? That doesn't compute for me. The Nemo is more comfy than a Neoair but well below all of those.

REI Helix. Im a side sleeper and love it.

REI Helix is a good pad. I own both the 20” regular and the 25” wide. Reasonably priced. Also, try deflating what you have a bit. That can change the comfort

Have you tried any of them? Your local REI would at least have the Helix. I too had that on my shortlist and when I tried it I didn’t like it, I found I bottomed out too easily when moving and side sleeping. Like when I laid flat I’d be a couple mm off the ground, but then shifting too much weight to my hips would have me touch the ground. Again, it was fine and pretty comfy when my weight was fully distributed. My point is go and try them. I ended up going with a Nemo Tensor.