Sea to Summit - Ether Light XR Insulated ASC Mat - Sleeping mat

I have previously been sleeping on foam mats, which worked great for me in warmer weather, but as I keep trekking/backpacking in colder and colder temperatures, it became clear I needed something with a lot more insulation. In addition, foam mats are bulky, cannot be stowed inside of the backpack, and, therefore, often get wet, as most backpack rain covers are not large enough to protect the mat too. That is why I started to look for an inflatable mat that I could stow inside the backpack, but also one I could trust in subzero temperatures to keep me warm. The Sea to Summit Ether Light XR does exactly that.

When packed, it only takes up the size of a large water bottle, insulates very well when inflated, and is very light when you consider what is crammed into it. It went with me on a 2-week-long backpacking trip to Hardangervidda in Norway and though it was summer and temperatures did not fall below freezing, it fully delivered on these promises. The pump sack is a very comfortable way to inflate the mat, though one has to blow from far away if the goal is to prevent moisture from getting inside, which I was not able to fully avoid.

Time will show how durable the sleeping mat is, but it definitely feels like it is. Whilst it is maybe not the cheapest of sleeping mats, it is absolutely worth the money!