A comfortable sleeping pad is worth the extra weight. A good nights sleep will make the extra ounces seem lighter the next day. Same can be said for a pillow. If I have to cut weight, I will look at other items before before I look at sacrificing sleep.
Best way to look at it, IMO. The difference between getting solid rem sleep and not is huge in how you feel the next day. I think some of this ultralight gear gets too stripped down and overlooks the bigger picture sometimes.
I have the Rapide SL (Big Agnes) in the long/wide. I probably could have gotten away with the regular length but I'm actually super happy with the long as it means my pillows don't slip off the end of it - like has happened with other pads in the past. I'm a side sleeper myself and it's been an absolute game changer for me comfort wise.
@@sergeykaprantsev5192 I don't think so honestly. It's probably in the middle of the pack noise wise - it's not as noisy as some and it's not like a foam pad either. Probably makes a difference what your tent floor is made of too - but I didn't have issues with noise (though I do tend to be a deep sleeper when I'm actually sleeping - so take that as you will).
As a side sleeper, I have to say, I find thermarest pads comfortable. All my pads are thermarest, and none of them are wide. Just shows, different people, different experience
Totally agree, what is comfortable enough is very individual which also makes the headline unfortunate. I've had several Thermarests and wouldn't carry anything that's heavier than one pound backpacking. Not that there is something magical with one pound, but there are so much to choose form that's less than a pound and works really well (for me, and a lot of other people).
I love the Nemo Quasar. I’ve had lighter Nemo pads, but this pad is on another level of comfort. I haven’t had a bad night sleep yet in this pad. Totally worth its weight IMO.
I only use the xtherm in below freezing conditions, and I pair it with a reflective pad underneath that I saw Justin Outdoors use. This combo works amazingly for keeping me warm and comfortable.
I ordered the Rapide a few days ago for $105! The R value has been upped to 4.8. Going to use it with my Sea to Summit bag & my Nemo Kunai 4 season tent.
I have an older Exped downmat (and 2 ultralight Exped downmats), great for cool/cold weather in Europe. Good quiet camping is nearly always at elevation in Central Europe (unless you enjoy being squeezed in with 20-30 stationary trailers!), so warmth is important. I tried several of those light but noisy Thermarest; horrible noise, and terrible for side sleepers. Maybe there're ok for older kids, teens, or those who barely move at night. I can sacrifice other gear to save weight, but sleep is so important for enjoyable overnight adventures.
Hi, loved the video and the channel . One thing i wish you would show is the pack size in you hands , i think this is just as important as all the other aspects you brought up and just so you know ive been looking at the quazar my self. All the best 😊👍
My Nemo was badass while backpacking the last two weeks of September. Sleep like a baby, never touched the ground, warm…good review. Weight doesn’t matter when it comes to sleep for me.
@@kdavis4910 best sleeping Pad on the market for me . Never had such a good Sleep . And after my Uberlite popped i put durability ans comfort / sleep recover way over the stupid Idea of going Ultra Light on every Gear Item .
I recently picked up the BA Rapide SL in a regular/short. The BEST NIGHT SLEEP I’ve ever had in my tent! I do wish they would make a short wide. We need a better variety of short person gear. I’m gonna pair it with CC foam pad in winter to see how it compares to my xtherm.
Love that! Yes, I agree that more Short/Wide pads need to be available. My kids don't quite need a full length pad yet, but would benefit using a 48"-60" pad.
I might have seen a short/wide pad on the internet a while back but I can't remember what site or brand it was. Short pads are of no use to me so basically forgot about it as soon as I clicked away and it might not be available right now anyway.
Been using my Nemo for 2 seasons now, yes it's a bit heavy, but it is soooo comfortable, especially as I'm a side sleeper. I motorbike camp mainly but I'm a minimalist camper, this pad is defo worth breaking the rules for. Also have a Thermarest Neoair Xtherm which is light and very warm but it's narrow and very noisy, so I don't sleep anywhere near as well. Totally recommend the Quasar 3d wide insulated pad - only issue I have is it's a bit more needy to inflate using my flex tail pump, so I have to hold it while it inflates. No biggie tho. Thanks for the review!
Agree.. I just returned the TRest Neo Air Topo 30x77 because horizontal baffles were not as comfortable as the BA Q Core 30x78 horizontal baffles. I hated trading away made in USA TRest for made in Taiwan BA but comfort is comfort..
I slept on my rapide SL during summer, and I had the best sleep ever. Only negative thing about it is the weight of the pumpsack, that material is thick 😳
I got my Rapide SL last month and immediately followed that with the Flextail mini pump because it’s smaller to pack than the pump sack and ever so much easier! I love both ~
So you have the regular wide version in this video of the 25" wide instead of the20" regular version. I'm thinking of going fir the 25" wide version.. glad to hear lots of positive feedback from it.
I have 3 Nemo Quasar 3Ds. Love 'em. Even use one as a replacement pad for a regular Haven hammock. Interestingly enough, Nemo doesn't seem to make them anymore.
I bought the Xtherm and while it is super warm it is not comfortable for me so I gifted it to my son and he loves it. I went with the S2S extreme and it's been a great fit.
I've just got the new NXT version of the Xtherm and it's thicker and quieter. I think it's super comfy, although I haven't tried the BA Rapide yet so maybe I don't know what true comfort is.
For car camping only try the ExPed MegaMat Lite. It's like a bed almost! I'm a die hard side sleeper and still haven't found the ONE that I can live with for extended backpacking to the point of ordering in all hammock gear and wanting to try that instead. The nemo tensor is a good try. And I liked the Outdoor Vitals pad in large and wide. I always want at least 25" wide. I don't need long but that isn't an option. Why can't we get short wides? I'm not even big! I'm 5'6" and 130 lbs. I just like the room to roll over and not fall off!
Good video and comments here. Two questions. First, how much do you weigh? That would be helpful in understanding which pads work for that weight. Second, what are the key differences between the Tensor and the Quasar? I've always heard the Tensor is the most comfortable pad. I have the X-therm, Max-wide and have been happy with it. I bought thermarest's little battery pump and love it.
A lot of reviews I’ve watched reviewers rave about certain pads, until they lie down on them, then they are loud - squeaking, rubbing, humming noises. So TAR out, S2S out, Exped out, I did think the BA Rapide SL was a contender, but this video proves its out as well. But the Nemo Quasar 3D insulated looks and *sounds* like a contender. And circa 300gms heavier? That’s the weight of 2x iPhones.
The Big Agnes Rapid SL is a great sleeping pad and I may buy one if my Exped Downmat 9 ever wears out. I've been using it for 12+ years and it has been perfect. Did I mention a 8 r value and integrated pump?
Interesting. I'll keep my eyes open for it when it becomes available for sale. At this time I'm quite satisfied with my Xtherm Regular & Trekker Chair combination. Warm Regards from bone dry Reno, Nevada.
Dont forget although you favoured the BA the Thermarest have a lifetime guarantee on their mats which is reassuring after spending a big chunk of money.
I do wish other companies would offer pads with higher R-values. X-therm user due to location in the Northern BC Rockies. At high elevation overnight temps are cold, shoulder seasons even colder. Requires mat/pad layering for additive R-value effect. But agree the chip bag noise is annoying. 🥾🏔🇨🇦❤️
Growing up we didnt have sleeping pads or pillows. We was happy to have a sleeping bag and a tent. Any thing beyond that is full comfort to me. I choose the xtherm. I hike the olmypic mountain. You have to stay dry and warm period. Weather can change to bad even during the summer. Survival before comfort. Makes me appeciate my bed when we get home. Lol
I have the XTherm regular version; 20" wide & I'm a side sleeper. No problem for me to get a good nights sleep, every time. You made no mention of the Trekker Chair that I bought & have it wrapped around my Xtherm air mattress. It provides me "insulated" back, butt, & leg support when I'm inside my tent, easy peasy to disconnect it so I can lay flat on the air mattress when I'm ready to crawl into my sleeping bag. The XTherm is THE ONLY air mattress with a 70D bottom side which makes it MORE resistant to getting holes poked into it than any other brand. The Thermarest Xtherm air mattress -It's the only brand that offers a chair accessory. Warm Regards from bone dry Reno, Nevada.
I'm buying my dad a new pad. He's 70 years old and still backpacking. He hasn't been comfortable on his old pad anymore. should I get him the nemo tensor or the big agnes rapid for 3 season camping. I have the tensor and love it. Also do you know about the big Agnes insulated q core pad? Thanks for any guidance
I've been considering the Ether Light XT insulated as my next pad purchase. I currently have a Nemo Cosmo insulated with the built in foot pump. It's been great but I do have my shoulder and arm falling asleep sometimes. I'm looking for the top most comfort in a backpacking pad for cooler summer camping down around 40F and warmer. What is your pick for the top best comfortable backpacking pad?
I have had two xtherms. One lasted less than a week before leaks due to delamination, the other maybe a month. I have hiked over 26,000 miles and bicycle toured maybe three times that. Unfortunately Cascade Designs is not the company it was years ago. I have been disappointed with most everything I have purchased of theirs, and am tired or retuning to REI, who is not the company it used to be either - returns aren't like they used to be. Again, stay away from Themorest and MSR!
I haven’t used any of the pads you talk about here, but based on your descriptions, I’d probably buy the Big Agnes if I were in the market for a new pad. I have used Thermarest pads in the past (just not this specific model) and I agree with most everything you said.
What do you think about putting foam pads under the wide air pads? The foam ones are only 20” wide so the 25” air pads will hang off the end. Does it matter?
SPECS 20" x 66" Total Weight: 18oz R Value: 4.2 Packed Size: 4.5" x 7.5" Thickness: 4.25" 20" x 72" Total Weight: 19oz R Value: 4.2 Packed Size: 4.5" x 8" Thickness: 4.25" 20" x 78" Total Weight: 21oz R Value: 4.2 Packed Size: 5" x 8" Thickness: 4.25" 25" x 72" Total Weight: 24oz R Value: 4.2 Packed Size: 5" x 8.5" Thickness: 4.25" 25" x 78" Total Weight: 26oz R Value: 4.2 Packed Size: 5.5" x 8.5" Thickness: 4.25" 40" x 72" Total Weight: 40oz R Value: 4.2 Packed Size: 6" x 11.5" Thickness: 4.25"
Can you make your content inclusive by formatting the auto captioning into closed captioning please? it is extremely hard to watch it relying only on the auto captioning sadly (I'm Profoundly Deaf)
Not a fan of the Nemo pad...I had the baffles go on me after two years...unsure if it was the same model you have reviewed but I believe so. Too bad because it was a comfy pad.
BA over the Nemo Alpine?! Curious to hear why the champ has been dethroned? You've been big on the Tensor and Alpine in the past. I don't understand how Thermarest can be one of the most expensive pads you can buy yet consistently rated as not comfortable and hang their hat on the warmth/weight ratio, stinks.
Oh don't get me wrong, I still love the Tensor, but as I've been using these other pads, I've found where I am getting the best sleep. My sleep patterns have also changed over the past few years, and how I sleep has changed, so I've been happier with the comfort from the Rapide (Q-Core SLX) and the Quasar more than what I was getting from the Tensor.
@@BackcountryExposure imo its better than the rapide or Qcore because of the Stuffsack that functions as the pump sack too and the placement of the Valve.. its just nice how the stuff/pump Sack is designed. Way better than the Big Agnes or Nemo Tensor Pumpsack and unless my Name is Dan Becker i will never ever bring one of these shitty Mini electro Pumps that Sound in Wild Nature is like the Look of Trash on the Trail
You mentioned the STS Etherlight XT, but didn't review it here. Is it that similar to the Rapide? Does the Rapide win over it due to slightly higher R value? I know I sleep really well on the Etherlight, but then I'm comparing that to the Xtherm and the Nemo Tensor insulated.
I've got the STS Etherlite XT and it's a strange mat. It's comfy and its warm for the most part, but if you move around then you end up with cold spots where the warm air and warm insulation moves about and the cold air and insulation comes to the top of the pad. Not to mention I've got the wide rectangular version and it's a crazy big pack size. Much prefer the xtherm. That's just my two cents anyway.
Yes and no. The BA Boundary deluxe is the replacement, but the only difference between the Rapide and the Boundary is the material they use for the top half of the pad. The Boundary offers a more velvety/soft finish to the top but it’s also heavier and a bigger pack size.
As someone who is an UL distance backpacker anything over 12 oz is a no go for me. That said I am looking for a pad for my wife for mostly car camping which pad would you go with? Thanks
I completely understand that. We all have our own priorities. I'd go for the Quasar for sure. The Sea To Summit Ether Light XT is another great option.
Hi. To anyone who’s reading this: I’m fairly new to camping and I can’t wrap my head around sleeping pads like these. I am 5’10 208lbs if i sleep in one of these things will my weight just make me touch the cold ground because of how heavy I am? 😂
I like to use the rubber/soft attachment for my Quasar. None of the attachments are a perfect fit, but the soft rubber one I find works the best for the Nemo valve.
@@alexanderherbertsson9109 it’s not going to be a tight fit, I just have to hold it in place to get the pad 90% filled and then a few puffs from my mouth to finish it off is all it needs.
Just received a Big Agnes pad I ordered online. I hate the way it inflates using the air inflator sack. Trying to return for refund. Doesn't matter if it is the most comfortable sleeping pad in the world if not user friendly to inflate.
Any sleeping pad with elements in width not length is just a scam. I'm speeking of my own experience since I've been living outside from sept '16 onwards. It's too easy to roll off.
Thermarest pads are built in the USA from the finest US and global materials. They also make them in Ireland for the EU market. Also the Ozark Trail foam pad from Walmart is made in the USA. Definitely not comfortable, warm, or space saving.
Okay, I walked into that one a little without going into more context on my question. My point in my reply, cause I’m fully aware that Thermarest manufacturers their product in the US, is/was that arguing to say that you should only ever buy US made products just isn’t a reality. Products may be built in the US, but the fabrics and plastic components came from a mill overseas. Everything we use day to day in life is sourced from all over. So I just kind of find the made in China argument to not have much ground to stand on. But I do feel it’s important to research how products are sourced and the ethics of a company and that be part of your buying process.
@@BackcountryExposure Thank you for your reply. The USA should not become isolated from the world. Products sourced from all over, from allies, is good. It is China that I’m most worried about. As long as we send money to them. We support, very bad environmental, human rights, legal, practices. But mostly, they are building out their military. With an intent, to rule the world.
