Every time we sell this product, customers are a little confused after receiving the product, why the length is not the advertised length. Because this is a sleeping pad with a high R value, it is different from ordinary sleeping pads in that it is filled with aluminum film, so when the customer inflates for the first time, the air resistance is obviously felt and it is considered that the inflation is complete, but it is not actually inflated. No R-value sleeping pad, the interior is empty, and there is no aluminum membrane, so inflation is very simple, and it does not require a lot of effort to fully inflate. If there are still obvious wrinkles from the front, This is not yet fully inflated. Generally speaking, the inflation skills have not been mastered during the first and second inflations. Started proficient the third time.
I think we need to clear this up as I don't want people relying on the measurements provided if they are not correct. I'll measure mine tonight and report back.
Just measured mine. 174cm x 54cm using the pump. I could only get two breaths in it to max inflate it. Max inflation size 178cm x 55cm. However, when you lay on it, it expands to 183cm x 55cm. However, you lose a bit of comfort.
@@BackpackingUK Please use an inflatable bag instead of inhaling to inflate yourself, using your mouth to inflate is not as good as using an inflatable bag. Normal use of the inflatable bag, the purchase of a 183cm model can be inflated to a maximum of 186cm
@@BackpackingUK would you still recommend it in spite of that? also what is the lowest temperaure you have used it in? I would consider buying it if iknew it could keep me warm down to-5c.
Andy I bought this pad a while ago based off your review (mummy style) and just did 5 days cold & rainy bikepacking through Normandy. really pleased with th eperformance, just as compfortable as thermarest self inflating one it replaced - for similar comfort the much smaller pack size is a real benefit meant i could add butane stove and cookware to my load out and extra food & drinks made the trip more enjoyable. all in all great recommendation Cheers!
I bought the square, but I don't use the machine to help me and use the inflatable bag they provide, it fills up the sleeping pad more easily after a few uses.
Just bought the 3.5r value pad. Under £100 great all year round pad for all but the extreme weather. I was looking at the Therm-A-Rest sim pads but prices with the same type of R value was £129 upwards. I'm not a brand snob so went for this and my first impressions are very good. I've used it once and I am very impressed. Before I got this I was using a UL80 but lost confidence with faulty products.
I’ve only just spunked £180 on a thermarest NXT neo air! I wish I’d seen this video earlier 😢 looks like a great pad. Should a side sleeper avoid mummy shaped pads/sleeping bags? Excellent content as always btw! This is one of the best wild camping channels on YT. Just things like your wild camping checklist have been so helpful, thank you very much!
Excellent review, nice sleeping pad, and 'yes' you should always choose the fully rectangular one, i have the same problem with the mummy-shaped mats, have moved away from them completely. there is 'always' enough room in a tent for the full-sized pad. i have noticed on some of your videos your voice is of a 'low' bass and difficult to hear, i don't know if it is because you are too far away from the mic? or not? perhaps you can add some treble on the sound? or wear a tie-clip type mic?
Sounds good until you're in the middle of Antarctica at -70 Celsius. The proof is in the pudding. Will it stand serious winter conditions over many years of usage?
Did you actually measure it? Mine turned out to be only around 170cm in length, and 52cm in width, fully inflated. It does lengthen a few cm when you lie on it with your weight though, but still not up to even near 183cm Not a big problem for me as I'm used to having my feet hanging of the end of my mats.
Every time we sell this product, customers are a little confused after receiving the product, why the length is not the advertised length. Because this is a sleeping pad with a high R value, it is different from ordinary sleeping pads in that it is filled with aluminum film, so when the customer inflates for the first time, the air resistance is obviously felt and it is considered that the inflation is complete, but it is not actually inflated. No R-value sleeping pad, the interior is empty, and there is no aluminum membrane, so inflation is very simple, and it does not require a lot of effort to fully inflate. If there are still obvious wrinkles from the front, This is not yet fully inflated. Generally speaking, the inflation skills have not been mastered during the first and second inflations. Started proficient the third time.
Hi Andy, I currently take a foil sheet with whatever sleepmat I take, not only insulation but also a bit of protection. Do you think I’d still need it with light tour mat? I agree the square would be better for me to at 5’9. I’m also looking at osprey atmos 65, been scouring RUclips for reviews. Currently using my old military issue bergan, heavy and uncomfortable. I’m it getting any younger 😅
Brilliant review Andy! 😊 it’s good to see something that’s tried and tested with a fraction of the big brands price tag. I’ve been using the OEX traverse 5…. Uncomfortably to say the least 😂 but it’s got me by whilst not be able to chuck money into a 200 plus pound Mat! Soon as I can I’ll probably have a go with this one and get it ordered 👌🏼 Good job lad! 👍🏼
For the price this is selling - Go with the Nemo tensor with its warranty . I found this company quite difficult to deal with when I questioned the size of the pad. The standard statement was given as you can see in reply to Andys comments. The answer is to basically keep inflating - I found even at maxium capacity it wasn't the advertised 195cm. This is selling for quite a high price with little buyers protection and quite a difficult returns process. The pad itself is super comfy and seems like a decent product - if you're tall and want the 195cm, this isn't the right pad for you but for anyone under 6ft I'm sure this will work well. I've not been out in cold temps yet but the season is coming up. Hope this helps
Great review Andy! An interesting looking sleeping mat, unfortunately I’ve just bought the Exped Ultra 5r so probably won’t get to try this one. What’s the Rab top your wearing in the video?
I was looking at the products you reviewed and saw both the nature hike and black ice sleeping bags, they look similar in spec. So if you reviewed both and liked both, which is best. Im leaning towards the snowbird 7.
I really rate both. The Black Ice is warmer but it has 140g more of down and is very warm at zero degrees. Naturehike is warm at a few degrees higher. You may roast in the Snowbird 7 outside of winter and warmer spring and autumn nights. Both are very comfortable bags!
When 2 people use a tent, use 2 sleeping pads and tie the 2 plastic-impregnated openings with a rope to prevent shifting. This function is a bit useless
I've seen a few reviews of this mat I think it's the only serious contender to the extherm any budget mat as been as with anything the durability needs to be tested as with the more expensive mats the guarantee is great but the price shows that
There are very few budget pads that go over an R-Value of 4. However, Light Tour (I think it’s a Naturehike brand???) seem to have spend a lot of R&D time trying to make a real contender. To be honest, I think they’ve pulled it off!
My concern is with durability on these - my mates and I have used some cheaper mats in the past and they've always started to deflate in the night after only a small number of nights of use. To get the weight down they've used a lower denier nylon than what you'd see in something like a Sea to Summit pad and I'm not sure how to evaluate the likelihood that adhesive and valve will fail without long term usage. The price here to the UK also isn't radically cheaper than the mainstream brands, once import fees, VAT and shipping is factored in I imagine this would end up hitting around £160 ish (may not be accurate as I haven't ordered one) and you can get a Thermarest or Sea to Summit for around £200 or less if you shop around. I get the noise issue with Sea to Summit, I sleep like a baby on my Sea to Summit mat and the horizontal baffle design on the Thermarest cuts off circulation to my arm so I wake up in the night but these are all personal experiences and wouldn't deter me from recommending them.
The price includes delivery, vat and duty (if applicable). All of Camperlists and Collins Outdoors gear does. It can’t be as unreliable as the Therm-a-rest mats. I was going to buy an Uberlite this week until I saw the shocking reviews on their own site! S2S mats are good quality and comfortable, just really loud.
@@BackpackingUK Yeah I can't comment on Thermarest quality really as I've got a neoair xlite but I've only used it for 40 nights or so before I got sick of the dead arm in the night and moved on to the sea to summit - good to know everything is included in the price, would be great to get an update on reliability of this mat after you've slept on it long term
My concern is the weight, the specs seem to good to be true how do they get a product at that weight that offers an r value of 5.8 when no on else can?
Me too but when you look at the spec it is good value. Way out of my price range though, I'll have to just carry double the weight for half the warmth I guess 😂
Yoo, check out the FLEXTAIL gear zero sleeping bad, they're ≈ $35 and if you get 2x they're supposedly made to be stacked. It could have up to an r value of about 4.3 or something definitely in the 4's, so 2 sleeping pads for prolly ab $70 after tax, I got one and it was fine for me but it was a bit thin I think only ab 20 in wide but ayy they seem nice so far!
I have a basic R1.6 sleeping mat but I'm looking for something to match my comfort 0°C sleeping bag. I was looking at the Nemo Tensor with 4.2, now there's this thing which seems great but almost too warm... Could this be an issue? Could it get uncomfortably warm? I will probably use it mostly above 0°C, what if I use it at +10° or warmer?
I prefer approx R4 sleeping pads because I don’t really camp much below freezing and the vast majority of nights dip inbetween 0-10 unless the height of summer.
Andy dont forget you have a lifetime warranty with Thermarest and they honour it too and its one thing saving 50 quid and a few grams but personally i feel more confident with a well established brand that has a pedigree of quality and has been tried and tested in all extremes and on all continents. It does have some good qualities but i would have to do some further research onto the materials and build before i jumped ship. It will be good to hear and see a long term review after its had some thorough use though.
@@BackpackingUK I have only ever heard positive things when people have had genuine issues and its not been user error and thats been the case with other brands. From what i have heard over many years from people in the industry most of the problems arise out of over high expectations and mis use through lack of knowledge and reading instructions especially with tents and shell gear and over loading rucksacks etc.
@@BackpackingUK This response surprises me. Thermarest have got the best reputation of any pad producer on the market worldwide. Complaints tend to be from beginners who make beginner errors or don’t really understand the technology. Mine has personally lasted 5 years and hundreds of uses without a single fault. My xlite is warmer than any other mat I’ve tried from any other company, even those with claimed higher r values. Between Xped, sea to summit, some cheap Amazon alternatives and Thermarest, the only manufacturer whose claims matched their products in reality were Thermarest.
Believe me, there is essentially no difference in product quality between the two brands. Why does Thermarest provide a lifetime warranty? Because behind the high price is a huge profit, you can actually think that you buy 2, then you get one, and when you need warranty, they send the second one for you.
I bought my Xtherm as new and it came punctured, when I asked for the warranty they wanted me to pay, I started giving bad reviews while mentioning thermarest and finally they repaired it for free, (after 5-6 months of having sended it for repairing) Some say they got a new one, they gave back mine repaired after a lot of months and not without me having to insist them tondo it for free... Be aware of this😳
Exactly! Thanks a lot for taking the time to answer me! Your channel is Awesome, you've got a fan from Brazil!!! If only my country didn't sabotage us and charged 90% import feet, I'd be buying one of those in no time. The 3.5R value even has a couple version!
I noticed you were been very careful not to squeeze it, but you did accidentally when moving it around and it sounded very crisp packet while you were calling it quiet. Nobody tests the noise of a mat by rubbing their hand over the top of it like you did lol. The main problem with these and other manufacturers making cheaper mats is the warranty period. For instance Thermarest have a lifetime warranty on theirs. If anything goes wrong a few years from now and they can't fix it they send you a new one. This doesn't stop the warranty, it is still lifetime. Sometimes it's worth saving up the extra money needed to buy the likes of the new Thermarest NXT etc. because peace of mind is priceless.
@@BackpackingUK Maybe they are, maybe they're not, but either way a lifetime warranty is better than a 12 month one. I'm not saying this pad here that you are showing is bad, a bit too crackly yeah. Is the low price worth 12 months warranty? That's up for a buyer to decide.
I am going to disagree with your sea to summit extreme mat comment. Absolutely no noise and extremely comfy. I do find it can get cold spots, not what I'd expect from a R value of over 6 plus it's quite a large pack. But noisey?! Not at all.
@BackpackingUK possibly? I honestly don't know? But 100% mine is extremely quiet. I'm just unsure about the warmth aspect. Saying that it seems to have improved with age, which is odd in itself? It's biggest drawback is pack size and weight. Which is why I've invested in the big agnes rapide recently
I don’t believe this r rating of 5.8 it seems way to good to be true. I use all expeds now right up to the 8.0 downlat9. My fav power to weight pad is the syn7 wide. Your gonna need to sleep on a snowy summit to prove this mat to me 😂. A great piece of advice is hear what they say but trust what they do.
Most of these high R-value mats use multiple layers of foil. It works, but they tend to be more noisy, less comfortable and only work properly when they’re pumped up to the max. Great for deep winter camping but there are much better choices for minus 5 + degree camps.
Top-end high r-value pads cost a fortune. It’s budget compared to them and it is a fraction of their costs. You’ve got to compare them against each other. To put this into context I’ve just reviewed an Exped pad with an r-value of 2.9 that retails are £182! The problem is people confuse budget with cheap. The two are different.
Every time we sell this product, customers are a little confused after receiving the product, why the length is not the advertised length.
Because this is a sleeping pad with a high R value, it is different from ordinary sleeping pads in that it is filled with aluminum film, so when the customer inflates for the first time, the air resistance is obviously felt and it is considered that the inflation is complete, but it is not actually inflated.
No R-value sleeping pad, the interior is empty, and there is no aluminum membrane, so inflation is very simple, and it does not require a lot of effort to fully inflate.
If there are still obvious wrinkles from the front, This is not yet fully inflated.
Generally speaking, the inflation skills have not been mastered during the first and second inflations. Started proficient the third time.
I think we need to clear this up as I don't want people relying on the measurements provided if they are not correct. I'll measure mine tonight and report back.
Just measured mine. 174cm x 54cm using the pump. I could only get two breaths in it to max inflate it. Max inflation size 178cm x 55cm. However, when you lay on it, it expands to 183cm x 55cm. However, you lose a bit of comfort.
@@BackpackingUK Please use an inflatable bag instead of inhaling to inflate yourself, using your mouth to inflate is not as good as using an inflatable bag. Normal use of the inflatable bag, the purchase of a 183cm model can be inflated to a maximum of 186cm
@@BackpackingUK would you still recommend it in spite of that?
also what is the lowest temperaure you have used it in? I would consider buying it if iknew it could keep me warm down to-5c.
@@bimazivanovic4784 Go Large, that's what I should have done!
Thanks Andy for the review, just picked up a rectangular RW 5.8 for £69 in the Aliexpress sale, on the back of your recommendation
The R x weight x price ratio is rather unbelievable ! Only resistance over time will be the judge. Thank for a fine video as always 👌
That’s what I think too!
Andy I bought this pad a while ago based off your review (mummy style) and just did 5 days cold & rainy bikepacking through Normandy. really pleased with th eperformance, just as compfortable as thermarest self inflating one it replaced - for similar comfort the much smaller pack size is a real benefit meant i could add butane stove and cookware to my load out and extra food & drinks made the trip more enjoyable. all in all great recommendation Cheers!
Thanks for sharing 👍
Great info on understanding the R values which have confused me in the past
As a general rule I'd say a pad with a R-Value of 4 is good for UK weather all year round apart from the really cold winter nights.
Great review as always Andy. Very interesting piece of kit.
Andy, great product review, keep up the good work
Worthwhile review. Thanks Andy.
Cheers 👍
I got the pad, pretty happy with it honestly. Comfy...
I bought the square, but I don't use the machine to help me and use the inflatable bag they provide, it fills up the sleeping pad more easily after a few uses.
Just bought the 3.5r value pad. Under £100 great all year round pad for all but the extreme weather. I was looking at the Therm-A-Rest sim pads but prices with the same type of R value was £129 upwards.
I'm not a brand snob so went for this and my first impressions are very good. I've used it once and I am very impressed. Before I got this I was using a UL80 but lost confidence with faulty products.
3.5 is a great 3 season pad. You just need more when going into sub-zero winter nights.
How's it in terms of comfort?
@@bimazivanovic4784 I found it OK. Not quite as comfy as my UL80 but not far behind and the R-value is better.
@@dougdixonhull thanks
I’ve only just spunked £180 on a thermarest NXT neo air! I wish I’d seen this video earlier 😢 looks like a great pad. Should a side sleeper avoid mummy shaped pads/sleeping bags?
Excellent content as always btw! This is one of the best wild camping channels on YT. Just things like your wild camping checklist have been so helpful, thank you very much!
Don’t worry, you will have purchased a new one. It’s the old-style ones that had the problems.
@@BackpackingUK Wasn’t expecting you to reply thank you very much 😊
Excellent review, nice sleeping pad, and 'yes' you should always choose the fully rectangular one, i have the same problem with the mummy-shaped mats, have moved away from them completely. there is 'always' enough room in a tent for the full-sized pad. i have noticed on some of your videos your voice is of a 'low' bass and difficult to hear, i don't know if it is because you are too far away from the mic? or not? perhaps you can add some treble on the sound? or wear a tie-clip type mic?
I prefer square and the price is fantastic
Sounds good until you're in the middle of Antarctica at -70 Celsius. The proof is in the pudding. Will it stand serious winter conditions over many years of usage?
Did you actually measure it?
Mine turned out to be only around 170cm in length, and 52cm in width, fully inflated.
It does lengthen a few cm when you lie on it with your weight though, but still not up to even near 183cm
Not a big problem for me as I'm used to having my feet hanging of the end of my mats.
Every time we sell this product, customers are a little confused after receiving the product, why the length is not the advertised length.
Because this is a sleeping pad with a high R value, it is different from ordinary sleeping pads in that it is filled with aluminum film, so when the customer inflates for the first time, the air resistance is obviously felt and it is considered that the inflation is complete, but it is not actually inflated.
No R-value sleeping pad, the interior is empty, and there is no aluminum membrane, so inflation is very simple, and it does not require a lot of effort to fully inflate.
If there are still obvious wrinkles from the front, This is not yet fully inflated.
Generally speaking, the inflation skills have not been mastered during the first and second inflations. Started proficient the third time.
Hi Andy, I currently take a foil sheet with whatever sleepmat I take, not only insulation but also a bit of protection.
Do you think I’d still need it with light tour mat?
I agree the square would be better for me to at 5’9.
I’m also looking at osprey atmos 65, been scouring RUclips for reviews. Currently using my old military issue bergan, heavy and uncomfortable. I’m it getting any younger 😅
Great review. New Subscriber. Will be looking to get one of these for winter long distance hiking. Davey.
Brilliant review Andy! 😊 it’s good to see something that’s tried and tested with a fraction of the big brands price tag. I’ve been using the OEX traverse 5…. Uncomfortably to say the least 😂 but it’s got me by whilst not be able to chuck money into a 200 plus pound Mat!
Soon as I can I’ll probably have a go with this one and get it ordered 👌🏼
Good job lad! 👍🏼
Get the rectangular wide one 👍
Light Tour actually make sleeping pads for Naturehike and other brands, that's why they are almost identical
Yes, I initially thought it was Naturehike who made these but it's actually Light Tour themselves.
Lighttour has been OEM for other brands to get more sales. This is normal in China.
For the price this is selling - Go with the Nemo tensor with its warranty . I found this company quite difficult to deal with when I questioned the size of the pad. The standard statement was given as you can see in reply to Andys comments. The answer is to basically keep inflating - I found even at maxium capacity it wasn't the advertised 195cm.
This is selling for quite a high price with little buyers protection and quite a difficult returns process. The pad itself is super comfy and seems like a decent product - if you're tall and want the 195cm, this isn't the right pad for you but for anyone under 6ft I'm sure this will work well. I've not been out in cold temps yet but the season is coming up. Hope this helps
Don’t use the pump sack on the Nemo Tansor. My mate’s has just failed. Use a Flextail pump 👍
Great review Andy! An interesting looking sleeping mat, unfortunately I’ve just bought the Exped Ultra 5r so probably won’t get to try this one. What’s the Rab top your wearing in the video?
You’ve got a great mat there so don’t worry! It’s the Rab Nexus / Nucleus pull-on.
For a 4 season uk wild camping side sleeper, would you pick this or the Big Anges Rapied?
A R4.0 will see you down to zero and a few under. If you’re really going winter camping you’d need something like this.
Hi Andy,do you still rate this pad as am thinking about getting one .Thanks Steven
I’d definitely say size up 👍 There’s no doubt it’s a warm pad and suited for winter.
I was looking at the products you reviewed and saw both the nature hike and black ice sleeping bags, they look similar in spec. So if you reviewed both and liked both, which is best. Im leaning towards the snowbird 7.
I really rate both. The Black Ice is warmer but it has 140g more of down and is very warm at zero degrees. Naturehike is warm at a few degrees higher. You may roast in the Snowbird 7 outside of winter and warmer spring and autumn nights. Both are very comfortable bags!
How does this compare with the Big Agnes Rapide that you raved about in a previous video? Thanks.
It’s a very different pad. Nowhere near as comfy BUT it is warmer. The BA is good down to zero but struggles thereafter.
Hi Andy… so which is best, Big Agnes Rapide you were excited about recently or this? About to buy my first mat.
Big Agnes unless you’re going proper winter camping.
@@BackpackingUK thanks Andy. Getting on a bit so deep winter stuff is not considered. Mild warm summer nights. I need comfort though. Big Aggie it is!
Hi Andy! What's a purpose of those metal holes I can see on the side of the sleeping pad?
When 2 people use a tent, use 2 sleeping pads and tie the 2 plastic-impregnated openings with a rope to prevent shifting. This function is a bit useless
I've seen a few reviews of this mat I think it's the only serious contender to the extherm any budget mat as been as with anything the durability needs to be tested as with the more expensive mats the guarantee is great but the price shows that
There are very few budget pads that go over an R-Value of 4. However, Light Tour (I think it’s a Naturehike brand???) seem to have spend a lot of R&D time trying to make a real contender. To be honest, I think they’ve pulled it off!
Great review Andy. Nice to see different products. I looked on the web site. Do you have to pay much tax. Being a us company.
Delivery and taxes included 👍
@@BackpackingUK thanks Andy 👍🏻
Did you ever find your feet getting cold? I just received it and i like it very much, however i have noticed it lack insulation in the feet area?
No, but my sleeping bags have really good foot boxes so I’m unlikely to notice.
looks worth the investment
It is if you're in the market for a really warm winter pad.
My concern is with durability on these - my mates and I have used some cheaper mats in the past and they've always started to deflate in the night after only a small number of nights of use. To get the weight down they've used a lower denier nylon than what you'd see in something like a Sea to Summit pad and I'm not sure how to evaluate the likelihood that adhesive and valve will fail without long term usage. The price here to the UK also isn't radically cheaper than the mainstream brands, once import fees, VAT and shipping is factored in I imagine this would end up hitting around £160 ish (may not be accurate as I haven't ordered one) and you can get a Thermarest or Sea to Summit for around £200 or less if you shop around. I get the noise issue with Sea to Summit, I sleep like a baby on my Sea to Summit mat and the horizontal baffle design on the Thermarest cuts off circulation to my arm so I wake up in the night but these are all personal experiences and wouldn't deter me from recommending them.
The price includes delivery, vat and duty (if applicable). All of Camperlists and Collins Outdoors gear does. It can’t be as unreliable as the Therm-a-rest mats. I was going to buy an Uberlite this week until I saw the shocking reviews on their own site! S2S mats are good quality and comfortable, just really loud.
@@BackpackingUK Yeah I can't comment on Thermarest quality really as I've got a neoair xlite but I've only used it for 40 nights or so before I got sick of the dead arm in the night and moved on to the sea to summit - good to know everything is included in the price, would be great to get an update on reliability of this mat after you've slept on it long term
I just ordered one after watching this review. I really didn't want to be spending over £150 on a sleep mat. £101 from Camperlist with free delivery.
My concern is the weight, the specs seem to good to be true how do they get a product at that weight that offers an r value of 5.8 when no on else can?
I saw the word budget and was expecting this to be £40 🤦🏻♂️
Believe it or not, it’s half the price of the others. This is quite a special pad at this R Rating. Normally I would call a budget pad £30-£40!
Me too but when you look at the spec it is good value. Way out of my price range though, I'll have to just carry double the weight for half the warmth I guess 😂
Yoo, check out the FLEXTAIL gear zero sleeping bad, they're ≈ $35 and if you get 2x they're supposedly made to be stacked. It could have up to an r value of about 4.3 or something definitely in the 4's, so 2 sleeping pads for prolly ab $70 after tax, I got one and it was fine for me but it was a bit thin I think only ab 20 in wide but ayy they seem nice so far!
The oex traverse XL has an r rating of 4.6, and a closed cell mat underneath you'll have a r rating of 6+!
Is there any update on the durability of this pad?
To be fair, I think it’s only Thermarest pads that fail 😂
I have a basic R1.6 sleeping mat but I'm looking for something to match my comfort 0°C sleeping bag. I was looking at the Nemo Tensor with 4.2, now there's this thing which seems great but almost too warm... Could this be an issue? Could it get uncomfortably warm? I will probably use it mostly above 0°C, what if I use it at +10° or warmer?
I prefer approx R4 sleeping pads because I don’t really camp much below freezing and the vast majority of nights dip inbetween 0-10 unless the height of summer.
Andy dont forget you have a lifetime warranty with Thermarest and they honour it too and its one thing saving 50 quid and a few grams but personally i feel more confident with a well established brand that has a pedigree of quality and has been tried and tested in all extremes and on all continents. It does have some good qualities but i would have to do some further research onto the materials and build before i jumped ship. It will be good to hear and see a long term review after its had some thorough use though.
Therm-a-rest mats have a shocking reputation though. I’d buy their bags but not their mats.
@@BackpackingUK I have only ever heard positive things when people have had genuine issues and its not been user error and thats been the case with other brands. From what i have heard over many years from people in the industry most of the problems arise out of over high expectations and mis use through lack of knowledge and reading instructions especially with tents and shell gear and over loading rucksacks etc.
@@BackpackingUK This response surprises me. Thermarest have got the best reputation of any pad producer on the market worldwide. Complaints tend to be from beginners who make beginner errors or don’t really understand the technology. Mine has personally lasted 5 years and hundreds of uses without a single fault. My xlite is warmer than any other mat I’ve tried from any other company, even those with claimed higher r values.
Between Xped, sea to summit, some cheap Amazon alternatives and Thermarest, the only manufacturer whose claims matched their products in reality were Thermarest.
Believe me, there is essentially no difference in product quality between the two brands. Why does Thermarest provide a lifetime warranty? Because behind the high price is a huge profit, you can actually think that you buy 2, then you get one, and when you need warranty, they send the second one for you.
I bought my Xtherm as new and it came punctured, when I asked for the warranty they wanted me to pay, I started giving bad reviews while mentioning thermarest and finally they repaired it for free, (after 5-6 months of having sended it for repairing)
Some say they got a new one, they gave back mine repaired after a lot of months and not without me having to insist them tondo it for free... Be aware of this😳
In fact, the square shape is better, the leg room is more sufficient, and the width is wider for me.
I usually go for rectangular mats. I was wrong to pick this shape!
Do I need to buy an electric inflator too?
No. Actually, they prefer you to use the provided pump sack as this mat must be pumped up hard to get the full length and width.
I wish folk would actually test a product a few times for a review, instead of just showing what the product looks like b4 testing.
Budget relative to the expensive thermarest, this sleeping pad seems to be good in comparison
Exactly. I'm not saying this is cheap, far from it, but it is budget compared to the very expensive high R Value pads out there.
Which one is the top? Is it the silver color
Yes 👍
@@BackpackingUK is it mention in the manual
Hi, where in the uk did you get this mat please?
There isn’t a UK distributor so use Camperlists 👍
Hi, what's camper lists?
Is it just me, or the baffling design is identical to the one on the new Zenbivy pad?
They might be made in the same factory. It wouldn’t surprise me.
Exactly! Thanks a lot for taking the time to answer me! Your channel is Awesome, you've got a fan from Brazil!!! If only my country didn't sabotage us and charged 90% import feet, I'd be buying one of those in no time. The 3.5R value even has a couple version!
I noticed you were been very careful not to squeeze it, but you did accidentally when moving it around and it sounded very crisp packet while you were calling it quiet. Nobody tests the noise of a mat by rubbing their hand over the top of it like you did lol.
The main problem with these and other manufacturers making cheaper mats is the warranty period. For instance Thermarest have a lifetime warranty on theirs. If anything goes wrong a few years from now and they can't fix it they send you a new one. This doesn't stop the warranty, it is still lifetime.
Sometimes it's worth saving up the extra money needed to buy the likes of the new Thermarest NXT etc. because peace of mind is priceless.
Thermarest pads are a joke! They have to give a lifetime warranty otherwise no one would buy them. They are the worst for failures!
@@BackpackingUK Maybe they are, maybe they're not, but either way a lifetime warranty is better than a 12 month one. I'm not saying this pad here that you are showing is bad, a bit too crackly yeah. Is the low price worth 12 months warranty? That's up for a buyer to decide.
Seems like a good mat - did you buy it or was it sent to you to test?
Sent to test 👍
I am going to disagree with your sea to summit extreme mat comment. Absolutely no noise and extremely comfy. I do find it can get cold spots, not what I'd expect from a R value of over 6 plus it's quite a large pack. But noisey?! Not at all.
Brian and Dave both have these mats and they’re terrible for noise. Maybe a faulty batch?
@BackpackingUK possibly? I honestly don't know? But 100% mine is extremely quiet. I'm just unsure about the warmth aspect. Saying that it seems to have improved with age, which is odd in itself? It's biggest drawback is pack size and weight. Which is why I've invested in the big agnes rapide recently
I don’t believe this r rating of 5.8 it seems way to good to be true. I use all expeds now right up to the 8.0 downlat9. My fav power to weight pad is the syn7 wide. Your gonna need to sleep on a snowy summit to prove this mat to me 😂. A great piece of advice is hear what they say but trust what they do.
Most of these high R-value mats use multiple layers of foil. It works, but they tend to be more noisy, less comfortable and only work properly when they’re pumped up to the max. Great for deep winter camping but there are much better choices for minus 5 + degree camps.
@@BackpackingUK I still think you should do the winter summit camp but I suggest taking a exped 😂. A myth buster camp is a good thumbnail.
Why not buy one and give it a try? It would be foolish to jump to conclusions without experiencing any product@@summittaedae2323
Sleeping pads finally appear - price butcher, very good
you cant say it will take you in the deepest of winter until you have tested it in below zero conditions
I have, just not -20c!
I regret buying the thermarest NXT neo air, quite expensive and noisy.
The new ones are much quieter. I tested them out back-to-back earlier this year. Still far from perfect though!
budget money! 🙂
Compared to other high R-Value pads. It’s still not cheap though!
Rather pay bit more for thermarest. At that price
Very misleading title !! Its not budget and not a fraction of the cost either ! Please stop doing the salesman thing.
Top-end high r-value pads cost a fortune. It’s budget compared to them and it is a fraction of their costs. You’ve got to compare them against each other. To put this into context I’ve just reviewed an Exped pad with an r-value of 2.9 that retails are £182! The problem is people confuse budget with cheap. The two are different.
Sounds like a big crisp packet
It’s not that bad and it’s nothing compared to the others!
Goodbye, Overpriced American Sleeping Pads
My issue isn't necessarily their price, it's that they are expensive AND have faults. Really bad value for money.