I have been testing the Sea to Summit Ether Light XR sleeping mat. There is also an Ether Light XR PRO version. Both are available in small, regular and large sizes and standard and rectangular shapes.
Features include:
Ether Light Air Sprung Cell design “to provide stability and comfort”
4 inches / 10 cm thick
Lighter, quieter and durable 30D/40D face fabric with liquid-extruded lamination
Thermal Core insulation, which increases the insulation value while reducing weight.
A layer of a reflective film is suspended between the dot welds of the mat (the XR Pro has multiple layers of reflective film)
R-Values of the Ether Light Mats – the XT is rated 4.1 (22% warmer than previous) and the XR PRO is 7.4 rated (19% warmer)
XPRESS valve
PillowLock system prevents a Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow from slipping
Anti-microbial treatment added to the TPU lamination formula prevents internal mould growth.
Stuff sack with integrated “pump sack”
Weight: Regular 535g
Repair kit with six self-adhesive patches and a spare valve inserts
Price: RRP is £199.95 – buy for £159.95 from WildBounds. (I earn a small commission for sales.)
Also see: Sea to Summit
My thoughts: Sea to Summit Ether Light XR inflatable sleeping mat
The best sleeping mats are lightweight yet inflate to give good comfort levels. They should not be noisy when you turn over as you sleep. A noisy sleeping mat is a terrible thing because it can keep you, and anyone nearby, awake.
The Sea to Summit Ether Light XR inflatable sleeping mat ticks all the right boxes. It weighs just 535g when packed up (I have the regular length) and then inflates fairly easily using a useful inflating bag attached to the stuff sack. Gone are the days when you need to inflate a sleeping mat by your own puffs alone. Now you let the inflating bag fill with air – this can be done by catching some wind or air, or by adding a few light puffs of your own. The subsequent “bag of air” is then expelled into the sleeping mat by rolling over the top of the bag. It works brilliantly and takes between eight and 10 “bags” of air. I finished off the inflating with a couple of extra puffs of my own.
The result is a 10cm deep sleeping mattress that I found very comfortable to sleep on. I can end up with sore hips during a camp night because I a a side sleeper but I hardly noticed this with the Sea to Summit Ether Light XR inflatable sleeping mat.
Apparently, as well as the 10cm depth, the mat has an Air Sprung Cell design, which means it gives a stable support, which is similar to your mattress at home. I think the inflatable mat does feel like a nice stable and comfortable sleeping platform.
Sea to Sumit also state: a Thermal Core insulation fills the inner space and includes a film that reflects infra-red radiation to preventing heat loss due to convection and internal air movement. I am happy to report I did not feel cold overnight. I have tested it in low temperatures, although I was inside a good quality sleeping bag so this will have helped my warmth rating, too.
It’s also good to have a few added extras, such as the PillowLock system that stops a Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow from slipping round (if you now one of these pillows) and a decent repair kit.
Deflating the mat is very quick. Just release the valve, let the air rush out and roll up. It’s easy enough to roll it up and get it back into the stuff sack. Some mats can be a tight squeeze but not this one.
One negative is the price. It is not a cheap sleeping mat. The RRP is £200 although I have seen it on sale for less than £160. Yet, that is still pricey. I guess that good quality, lightweight camping kit that is also comfortable is never going to be cheap and Sea to Summit is a well-known and reputable brand.