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 much more snug than sleeping pads with horizontal baffles. Weighing 16.6 oz (in a mummy form), it has a sturdy flat inflation valve and is straightforward to inflate by mouth or with the included pump sack.
Weight: 16.6 oz (common 72″ mummy)R-value: 4.1Type: InflatableDimensions: 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 insulationAntimicrobial therapy: YesIncluded insulation sack: YesMaterials: 30d / 40d nylonPros: Sprung cell design may be very snug, features a pillow attachment systemCons: 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 snug inflatable sleeping pad I personal. As a facet sleeper, I slept extremely nicely 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. But it surely has the next R-value and folds up a lot thinner and smaller than the earlier technology XT. Measurement issues with inflatable sleeping pads, as they’ll eat a number of pack quantity.
ASTM R-Values Sea-to-Summit pads are additionally rated with ASTM R-values (a global commonplace), so you possibly can 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. Should you’re searching for a brand new sleeping pad and it has an R-value, however not a normal 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 usually.
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 facet. This helps hold you on the pad at night time, 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 value it, particularly on multi-day journeys when sleeping nicely 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 barely 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. Should you elevate each caps to deflate the pad, the air rushes out of the large valve gap, so that you don’t must spend time evacuating the air or roll the pad up a number of instances to drive all of it out. Flat valves are additionally way 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 can follow the highest of the pad. These maintain a Sea-to-Summit pillow in place so it doesn’t transfer off the pad at night time. It enormously enhances my sleep expertise and luxury. I exploit 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 snug 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 night time, whether or not you’re a again or facet sleeper. A flat valve and sturdy exterior material improve sturdiness and reliability, whereas an R-value of 4.1 is right for 3+ season backpacking and tenting. Extremely really useful!
Disclosure: Sea-to-Summit donated a pad for assessment.
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