Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Insulated vs Sea to Summit Ultralight XR Insulated
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In short: The Sea to Summit Ultralight XR Insulated costs $50 less; the Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Insulated is warmer by 0.5 points of R-value; the Sea to Summit Ultralight XR Insulated saves 2.0 oz; the Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Insulated is 4 inches thick against 2.6.
| Spec | Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Insulated | Sea to Summit Ultralight XR Insulated |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$199 | ~$149 |
| R-value | R 4.1 | R 3.6 |
| Season band | Cold three-season | Three-season |
| R-value standard | ASTM F3340 | ASTM F3340 |
| Weight | 1 lb 0.6 oz | 14.6 oz |
| R per ounce | 0.25 R/oz | 0.25 R/oz |
| Thickness | 4 in | 2.6 in |
| Pad type | air | air |
| Inflation | pump sack | pump sack |
| Dimensions | 72 × 22 in | 72 × 22 in |
| Packed size | 8 × 4 in | 7 × 4 in |
| Insulation | ThermalCore multi-layer polyethylene film inside Air Sprung Cells | ThermalCore multi-layer film inside 151 Air Sprung Cells |
| Top fabric | 30D | 30D |
Shaded cells mark the row where one has a measurable advantage. Weight, thickness, girth and shape are left unshaded on purpose: heavier is sometimes tougher, wider is sometimes warmer, and calling a winner on those would be an opinion dressed as a measurement.
What each one does well, and costs you
Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Insulated
- Four inches of loft at 16.6 ounces — the best thickness-to-weight in this catalogue outside the Tensor Elite.
- The Air Sprung Cell grid stops the wobble that ruins most thick air pads for side sleepers.
- Five sizes across mummy and rectangular cuts, so the fit choice is real rather than nominal.
- The Airstream pump is integrated into the stuff sack, so there is no extra item to lose.
- Sea to Summit publishes the ASTM figure and explains the test on the product page, which is unusually straight.
- R-value 4.1 is lower than several lighter pads here — the XLite is 4.5 at 13 ounces.
- Four inches is a long way to fall if it deflates, and a tall pad in a low tent is a tight fit.
- $199 for the Regular puts it in the same bracket as warmer pads.
- The many-celled construction makes it slower to deflate and pack than a simple baffled pad.
Sea to Summit Ultralight XR Insulated
- 22 inches wide as standard while weighing 14.6 ounces — most pads this light are 20 inches.
- $149 undercuts the comparable ultralight air pads by $50 to $70.
- Air Sprung Cells give a stable, mattress-like surface rather than a rolling tube feel.
- Hybrid 30/40-denier nylon is a little tougher than the 20D and 10D fabrics used by lighter pads.
- R-value 3.6 is a mild three-season number — frosty ground wants more.
- Two and a half inches is thin next to the four-inch Ether Light and the 3.5-inch Tensors.
- Only three sizes, and no rectangular cut.