The Sea-to-Summit Ether Gentle XR Insulated Sleeping Pad is a light-weight, inflatable sleeping pad that’s 3.9″ thick and options air-sprung cells for optimum consolation, making it way more comfy than sleeping pads with horizontal baffles. Weighing 16.6 oz (in a mummy form), it has a sturdy flat inflation valve and is simple to inflate by mouth or with the included pump sack.
- Weight: 16.6 oz (common 72″ mummy)
- R-value: 4.1
- Sort: Inflatable
- Dimensions: 72″ x 21.2″ (25″ widths, and 66″ brief and 78″ lengthy lengths, additionally accessible)
- Thickness: 3.9″ (10 cm)
- Insulation: Reflective platinum layer and artificial insulation
- Antimicrobial therapy: Sure
- Included insulation sack: Sure
- Supplies: 30d / 40d nylon
- Professionals: Sprung cell design may be very comfy, features a pillow attachment system
- Cons: Heavier than ultralight inflatable sleeping pads
The Ether Gentle XR Insulated replaces the previous Ether Gentle XT Insulated Sleeping Pad (nonetheless accessible in clearance). I’ve been utilizing the Ether Gentle XT for the previous 5 years, and it’s by far probably the most comfy inflatable sleeping pad I personal. As a aspect sleeper, I slept extremely properly on the Ether Gentle as a result of its air-sprung cells tailored to the form of my physique and limbs. The brand new Ether Gentle XR makes use of the identical air-sprung cell design, which mimics the texture of a spring mattress. Nevertheless it has the next R-value and folds up a lot thinner and smaller than the earlier technology XT. Dimension issues with inflatable sleeping pads, as they will eat a number of pack quantity.
ASTM R-Values Sea-to-Summit pads are additionally rated with ASTM R-values (a world customary), so you’ll be able to evaluate the insulation they supply with pads from different distributors that ship out their pads to impartial testing labs for R-value ranking, together with NEMO, Therm-a-Relaxation, Exped, NEMO, Large Agnes, and REI. In the event you’re purchasing for a brand new sleeping pad and it has an R-value, however not an ordinary ASTM R-value, you’re by yourself. There’s no telling how the seller measured its R-value, or whether or not they simply made it up, which occurs all too typically.
Air Sprung Cells
The sleeping floor of the Insulated Ether Gentle XR is made up of air-sprung cells, which mimic a pocket spring mattress in order that the floor of the pad conforms to your physique form no matter whether or not you sleep in your again or in your aspect. This helps maintain you on the pad at evening, with out the necessity for additional side-rails to maintain you from rolling off.
At a full 3.9″ thick, the added consolation of a thick pad and the air-sprung cells is so price it, particularly on multi-day journeys when sleeping properly is crucial. The Ether Gentle can be insulated with artificial fibers and never only a reflective foil layer, making it a a lot quieter pad to sleep on. Regardless of being hotter (with the next R-value), the Ether Gentle XR Insulated Sleeping Pad is considerably thinner than its predecessor and is just barely bigger than a 1L Nalgene bottle when packed.
Flat Valve and Pump Sack
The Ether Gentle pad comes with its pump sack for ease of inflation. It mates to the pad’s flat valve, a three-way valve: one for inflating the pad, with an built-in nipple to launch air for extra consolation, and a closed cap to utterly shut the valve. In the event you carry each caps to deflate the pad, the air rushes out of the large valve gap, so that you don’t need to spend time evacuating the air or roll the pad up a number of instances to pressure all of it out. Flat valves are additionally far more sturdy than stick valves since they don’t require a screw-type lock and roll-up flat.
Pillow Attachment
I’ve by no means been one for backpacking pillows, however the Pillow-Lock attachment system that comes with the Ether Gentle XR is a game-changer. The Ether Gentle XR comes with 4 velcro pads you could stick with the highest of the pad. These maintain a Sea-to-Summit pillow in place so it doesn’t transfer off the pad at evening. It vastly enhances my sleep expertise and luxury. I take advantage of a 2.5 oz Sea-to-Summit Aeros Down Pillow, however the pillow-lock system works with any of (and solely with) Sea-to-Summit’s inflatable pillows.
Advice
The Sea-to-Summit Insulated Ether Gentle XR air mattress is an excellent comfy sleeping pad with air-spring cells that mimic a spring mattress. At 3.9 inches thick, it conforms to your physique and retains you on the pad all evening, whether or not you’re a again or aspect sleeper. A flat valve and sturdy exterior material enhance sturdiness and reliability, whereas an R-value of 4.1 is good for 3+ season backpacking and tenting. Extremely beneficial!
Disclosure: Sea-to-Summit donated a pad for assessment.
SectionHiker by no means accepts fee for gear evaluations or editorial protection. Once you purchase via affiliate hyperlinks on our website, we might earn a small fee at no additional price to you. Assist us proceed to check and write unsponsored and impartial gear evaluations, climbing and backpacking FAQs, and free climbing guides.