Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Sleeping Pad Review

tThe Sea to Summit Ether Light XR is a competitive update to Sea to Summit’s line of sleeping pads. Sleeping pads have undergone enormous updates and improvements over the years. In the past, this evolution was always a matter of compromise: typically giving up warmth and durability for a lighter (and often more expensive) sleeping pad.

In contrast, the Ether Light XR offers more warmth with less weight, building on the stability and inflation technology of the previous Ether Light XT. With this new model, Sea to Summit gets closer and closer to the golden ratio of weight, warmth, comfort and price.

Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Insulated ASC Sleeping Pad At a glance

Recommended RRP: $199*
Weight: 16.6 ounces (regular)
Materials: 30/40D nylon with TPU lamination, single-layer TRM reflective insulation
R value: 4.1
Dimensions (Length x width x height): 72” x 21.7” x 3.9” (normal)
Sizes: Small, Regular, Large, Wide Regular Rectangle, Large Rectangle

*The specifications above are for a regular mummy, the style I tested.

Intended use

Sea to Summit Ether Light XR is a lightweight and compact 3+ season sleeping pad. It was designed to provide greater comfort and reliability without compromising weight or pack size.

Review circumstances

I used the Ether Light XR sleeping pad in the regular mummy-style size for about a dozen nights while backpacking in the Canadian Rockies. I slept on it at night temperatures ranging from 75°F to about 40°F.

Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Features

The box shows a cross section of the interior of the pneumatic cells and the insulation.

Core thermal insulation: The Ether Light XR uses Thermal Core insulation, which incorporates a suspended TRM (thermal reflective multi-layer) material. This layer separates the interior of the pad and reduces internal air movement while reflecting heat back to the sleeper. This insulation method is becoming more common in sleeping pads.

Air suspended cells: The Ether Light XR’s baffle design features 95 small interconnected independent chambers designed to mimic the comfort and stability of a modern pocket spring mattress. The cells completely support the weight of the sleeper and adapt to the contours of the body.

XPRESS valve: The valve on the Ether Light XR is one of the best designed valves I’ve seen on a sleeping pad so far. Uses two lids layered and nested. Lifting just the top lid exposes a one-way valve to inflate the pad. You can make micro-adjustments and release small bursts of air by pressing a small button in the middle of the one-way valve. Removing the second lid exposes a larger opening to quickly deflate the mattress.

Airstream Backpack: Sea to Summit has quite cleverly integrated a large inflation bag directly into the bag for storing the mat. One end opens to store the mat and the other end unfolds into a large pump bag. Only three to four pumps are needed to fully inflate the pad.

Pillow locking system: All Sea to Summit sleeping pads include four self-adhesive Velcro patches. When stuck to the mattress in the right places, the patches will adhere and retain the soft fleece of a Sea to Summit pillow, preventing it from slipping. The patches are quite soft and do not snag on clothing or sleeping bag fabrics.

Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Pros

Comfort and stability

I am considered a «combination» sleeper, which means I move around all night, from back to side to stomach. If there’s a weak point in a pad holder, I’ll find it.

That said, the Ether Light XR is easily one of the most comfortable pads I’ve ever slept on. The pad feels especially comfortable at almost 4 inches thick, which is thicker than all other comparable mats currently available. It also has a width of 21.7 inches, 1.7 inches wider than standard. This small increase makes a surprisingly large difference.

The baffle design is what makes the main difference in comfort compared to other mats I have slept on. Instead of a more traditional horizontal or vertical baffle structure, the Ether Light XR has nearly 90 individual indentations arranged in a diagonal pattern. This creates 95 cells that can absorb weight and adapt individually to the shape of the body, without adding stress to other areas. I didn’t feel any noticeable pressure points on my hips, shoulders, or knees when sleeping on my side.

The deflector design also creates very subtle side rails, which helps prevent me from rolling off the deck. The Ether Light XR stands firm and doesn’t flex or bottom out significantly when you sit on it.

Durability

I slept in many gravel tents in provincial and national parks when I was testing the Ether Light XR. I’m usually careful when removing larger, sharper stones, but I was still worried about the small punctures. Fortunately, Sea to Summit approached the design of this platform with increased reliability in mind.

The pad is made from a 30/40 denier hybrid fabric with a TPU (textured polyurethane) interior laminate. The higher denier material is stronger than the usual 10 or 20 denier material found in many other ultralight air pads. The TPU lining improves the flexibility and durability of the outer fabric and adds a layer of resistance against water and oils.

The fabrics have also received an antimicrobial treatment, which helps resist mold growth within the pad. The Ether Light

Packaged size and inflation

The Ether Light The large air valve releases all excess air as you roll and the rolled pad easily slides into its storage bag.

The sleeping pad also inflated very quickly thanks to the integrated pump bag. I really liked that the pump bag was compact and was an expandable part of the storage bag. It was really easy to use, connecting securely to the inflation valve and inflating the pad with just three or four rounds of air.

Cons of Sea to Summit Ether Light XR

squeaky material

The material seems a little sticky with a somewhat vinyl-like feel. I found that it felt a little sticky on bare skin, especially in warmer conditions. The rubbery material also squeaks a bit, which occasionally woke me up when changing sleeping positions.

Weight-heat ratio

Compared to other ultralight insulated mattresses currently on the market, the Ether Light XR is a bit heavier for the warmth it offers. The regular mummy size of the Ether Light XR has a warmth rating of 4.1 for 16.6 oz. For comparison, the Big Agnes Zoom UL has a warmth rating of 4.3 for over 2 ounces less weight, plus it comes standard as a rectangle. Or for a similar weight, you can choose the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT with a generous R-value of 7.3 and a weight of 15.5 oz.

The website suggests that the Ether Light XR is warm enough for winter camping, mountaineering, and cold-weather backpacking. Personally, I would like to add a closed cell foam pad under the mattress to increase the potential warmth if I were to use it in very cold conditions.

Overall value

The Sea to Summit Ether Light XR is a solid addition and improvement to the Sea to Summit line of sleeping pads. The mat manages to walk a middle line in terms of warmth and price, and its durable construction and high comfort help offset the few extra ounces of weight compared to other similar mats.

Buy the Sea to Summit Ether Lite XR Insulated ASC Sleeping Pad

The Sea to Summit Ether Light XR was donated for review purposes.

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