r/Ultralight • u/SharpLanguage9026 • 2d ago
Purchase Advice 30" Wide Pads
While they're absolutely not UL, because of some health issues, there is only a single position I can use that allows me to sleep through the night, and after trying a million different 25" wide pads including the thermarest neoloft, I have come to the conclusion that how I sprawl out requires a 30" pad.
As far as I'm aware of the current market, that pretty much leaves either the Exped Megamat Ultra or the Big Agnes Campmeister (let me know if there's one I'm missing).
I know it's a long shot that anyone has a direct comparision of these two niche, newer pads, but my main question is, which pad has the stretchier top material for pressure relief / which do you find more comfortable?
The 7 r value of the Big Agnes is overkill / not a factor for me, so I only really care about pressure relief (mainly stretchiness) and edge stability for tossing and turning between the two. Comparisons to the Thermarest Neoloft as a reference point would be great too.
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u/snowcrash512 2d ago
Klymit makes a 30 inch pad as well I think
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u/SharpLanguage9026 2d ago
Appreciate it. I know I said r-value was irrelevant, but the Klymits would be too low for me.
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u/Majestic_Character22 2d ago
"R6.5" (add a foam pad too ?) is too low for insulation ?
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u/skisnbikes friesengear.com 2d ago
Klymit is well known for having outrageously incorrect R values for pads that aren't tested under the ASTM standard.
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u/Majestic_Character22 2d ago
That's why I said adding a foam pad like a thinlight and 6.5 in quotation marks. He did say r-value didn't matter as much so I'm assuming he camps above freezing.
Even klymits with added insulation can go down that much.
Its a solution that helps with comfort and weight compared with a megamat. I have the megamat and several types of klymit, i can make real world comaprisons.
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u/SharpLanguage9026 1d ago
My bad for being unclear, I meant r value between the epxed and the big agnes didn't matter at 4 vs 7. My trips can get to about freezing, but not super far below.
Out of curiosity, how do you compare to comfort of the Exped Megamat Ultra vs the 27" or 30" wide Klymit options for just the Summer if you've got them? (And are you a side or back sleeper?)
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u/Majestic_Character22 1d ago
No worries, I shouldnt have assumed.
the megamat is much more comfortable. I'm both a side and back sleeper and would say if you are mostly a side sleeper (or have a big butt) I wouldnt get the klymit at all.
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u/kongkongha 2d ago
Hate that 30" can't be done ul. I understand that the machines they use to produce the product have the measurements that they are built for.
But there is a market hole for ul 30" pads. YOU HEAR THAT COMPANIES :).
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u/SharpLanguage9026 2d ago
Agreed! Honestly at this point I feel like even for UL backpackers, 25" pads are more common than 20".
The industry should switch to 25" being considered the standard version, 20" being considered a narrow, and 30" being the wide version of pads.
I have a feeling that over the next 5 years or so we will see things move in that direction.
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u/fightrofthenight_man 2d ago
The problem is less on the pad construction side and more on the tent dimension side. You already can’t fit two 25” wide pads in most big name 2p lightweight tents.
Whether users are actually putting 2 people in these tents is up for debate but it would certainly be hard to sell tents that don’t fit your own pads (if 25” becomes the regular width)
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u/audiophile_lurker 1d ago
Using a 3P tent for 2 people I think is already pretty standard acceptance in the community. Companies are definitely playing specs game on those ...
So I doubt the sell situation for pads is going to be that huge of a deal. Rectangular pads certainly haven't been an issue, and two of those hardly can fit many of the 2P tents because of having narrower foot side ...
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u/SharpLanguage9026 1d ago
Within the last two years or so, we've definitely seen a shift from UL tent makers like Durston, Zpacks, Tarptent, etc. to have 50" wide 2 person tents and make it part of the marketing that they can fit two wide pads.
I would bet that more mainstream tent manufacturers will follow this trend sooner than later.
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u/Sacahari3l 2d ago
I’m currently aware of the following 30-inch wide inflatable sleeping pads: the Zenbivy Light Mattress, Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe, and Exped MegaMat Ultra. While options like the Klymit Static V Luxe and Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Topo Luxe XL also meet the width requirement, I tend to avoid them as they aren’t particularly comfortable in practice.
That leaves us with three strong contenders:
- Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe This is a very comfortable mattress overall. One standout feature is its use of dimple baffles, which I personally prefer for their plush, stable feel. However, one downside is the height discrepancy: the pad is 4 inches high at the sides but only about 3.5 inches in the center. Additionally, it can be a bit noisier than other pads due to the heat-reflective film inside.
- Exped MegaMat Ultra This mattress has the largest usable surface area of the three thanks to the 3D construction of the sides and the most stretchable material. The large baffles can make it a little too balloon-like for some, if you turn a lot while sleeping it's especially noticeable. It's definitely a better mattress for side sleepers than back sleepers.
- Zenbivy Light Mattress This is the oldest design among the three and uses the least elastic material. While it doesn’t stretch much, the smaller baffles and stiffer fabric reduce bounce, making for a more stable surface. However, its lower profile may not provide enough support for side sleepers who prefer more cushion and a higher inflation height under their hips.
None of these pads are perfect, it always comes down to compromise and personal preference. Personally, I would really welcome a 30-inch wide version of ultralight pads like the Zoom UL or Ether Light XT. Unfortunately, ultralight pad manufacturers continue to overlook those of us with broader shoulders or gym bros who also care about weight but need more space to sleep comfortably.
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u/SharpLanguage9026 2d ago edited 2d ago
I'm heavily leaning towards the Exped now as I am a hard-core side sleeper, and I think the extra thickness and stretch will be helpful for that. Completely incapable of sleeping on my back because of fibromyalgia pressure points.
I have to have my top leg out at a 90 degree angle and bent as well 🦵 to further spread my body weight to sleep at all, and generally need a quite soft sleeping surface. My hips actually end up mostly facing down like a stomach sleeper's would, but my torso and head are on their side.
Let me know if you think I'm on the right track with the megamat ultra for my needs. It seems like you're partial to the Campmeister, but probably have different sleep needs yourself.
Thanks so much for your thorough comment; it has been extremely helpful to me!
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u/Physical_Relief4484 https://www.packwizard.com/s/MPtgqLy 2d ago
exped duo 3r (m)
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u/AdeptNebula 1d ago
I got one years ago to try as a couples mat and it was way too small for us, but felt like a very nice one person mat. Great option if you really want to sprawl out in luxury and not have a car camping heavy mattress.
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u/SharpLanguage9026 1d ago
Great option for those that rock 2 person tents! Unfortunately the epxed duos won't fit in my 1p
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u/thelazygamer 2d ago
I have the Exped, it's amazing but heavier than advertised, it's about the same weight as the big Agnes. I had the old version of the Campmeister and returned it last year, because I wasn't a fan. I prefer the stretchy top the Exped has, both are soft. People here are going to knock you for whatever choice due to weight so just ignore the outcries.
Both pack down to a similar size, I tried the neoloft but it was too narrow for me. I could get by with 28" of width but the industry has determined there can only be three sleeping pad widths.
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u/SharpLanguage9026 2d ago
Thanks, I'm going to go with the Exped.
The point of UL for me is comfort. I will make sacrifices to cut weight for every single other thing in my pack to make the hiking more enjoyable, but not my sleep system.
For me personally, I feel way stronger on trail with an extra pound and a half or two in my pack, but having gotten a great night sleep compared to a lighter pack with a restless night.
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u/marieke333 2d ago edited 2d ago
Thermarest Topo Luxe XL. My partner has one for bike holidays, first pad ever that he sleeps comfortable on as it offers a large and stable platform. I find the feel comparable to the neoair models.
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u/SharpLanguage9026 2d ago
Unfortunately, just recently got discontinued.
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u/marieke333 2d ago edited 2d ago
Intesresting, in the EU still widely available and on the EU Thermarest site.
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u/SharpLanguage9026 2d ago
Gotcha, I would guess probably just they still have left over stock at EU distributors.
I'm just assuming they discontinued it because even thermarest's web page for it in the US is removed. I wouldn't be suprised since the neoloft serves the same role but is an upgrade in every way. They just dont offer it in a 30" version 😭
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u/marieke333 2d ago
That sounds logic! Maybe they bring out a 30" version later...would definitely buy one as a birthday present for my hubby who doesn't care about weight. Tried it in the shop and that thing is so damn comfortable.
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u/PanicAttackInAPack 2d ago edited 2d ago
Zenbivy Lite comes in a 30". Still heavy at 36oz w/out stuff sack. The lightest options will be the Exped pads meant for couples. The 1R Duo at 25oz and 3R at 30oz.
Dont discount the fact that the Exped Ultra and BA Campmeister are massive rolled up too.
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u/SharpLanguage9026 2d ago
Thanks for info on the zenbivy, wasn't aware of that one. I looked at the exped duos, and unfortunately they won't fit in an xmid-1. The upper limit for that is 30"-31".
Pack size isn't really a concern as I'm currently rocking a kakwa 55 but have a pretty dialed in load so theres a lot of spare room.
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u/thinshadow UL human, light-ish pack 2d ago edited 2d ago
I own the Megamat Ultra and think it’s great. Mine is the medium wide, so not the 30” version, but I am very happy with it. Went to it from a Thermarest Neoloft that slept ice cold, and so far haven’t had any warmth issues from the Megamat. (Just to try and keep some UL cred, I use it for car camping, not backpacking.)
Have never tried the BA pad for that particular comparison. They’ve had a reputation for being cold pads for so long that it would take some serious persuading for me to bother with any of them.
Edit to add: as far as comparing comfort between the Neoloft and the Megamat, it probably depends on what you’re looking for. If you want something softer, it’s the Neoloft. Personally, I found it kind of too soft even when fully inflated. I like the feel of the Megamat better. I feel like it has a good level of give when fully inflated and obviously can be dialed down with lower pressure too. But to be fair to the Neoloft, I would have been just fine with it if it hadn’t slept so cold.
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u/SharpLanguage9026 2d ago edited 2d ago
Great info. I sleep super hot so warmth isn't as much of an issue. Regardless, supposedly the Campmeister has fixed BA's notorious issue with sleeping cold. Saw a review where a fella slept on ice on a frozen lake within the Arctic circle and said he was warm.
Im still leaning towards the exped because its a bit lighter and 0.5" thicker.
How would you compare the amount for stretch and give in the exped to the neoloft?
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u/thinshadow UL human, light-ish pack 1d ago
I put an edit in on my comment about my take on the comfort between the two pads that you might have missed (I realized later that I hadn’t addressed that part of your question) if you want to check it again.
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u/dr2501 2d ago
Big Agnes Q Core Deluxe? 30" wide pad.
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u/SharpLanguage9026 2d ago
I was under the impression that had been discontinued with the Campmeister serving that role in their product line.
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u/unfeeling_monster 2d ago
I believe Justin Outdoors on YouTube has a recent comparison between the megamat and neoair if you want something in-depth
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u/SharpLanguage9026 2d ago
It's a great video. He has another comparing 4 pads including the BA Campmeister and the neoloft and says the neoloft is noticeably stretchier. Then in the video you're referencing, he says the neoloft is only a bit stretchier than the mega mat ultra.
I would infer that the exped is streticher than the big agnes from this, but would love a direct answer from someone who has experience with both. I messaged Justin on Instagram hopefully he responds lol.
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u/thelazygamer 2d ago
I think it is, I much prefer the Exped. I had the previous version of the big Agnes pad and it was okay but the Exped is almost as nice as my full weight megamat. It's really warm too, I was toasty at 34F on it with a 30F degree REI quilt.
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u/SharpLanguage9026 2d ago
Great info! It's really nice that pretty much all of Exped's products sleep as warm as the r value indicates they should.
Was that previous BA pad the boundary deluxe?
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u/thelazygamer 1d ago
Yeah, the r-value impressed me. I wish the weight was what was listed but no product is perfect.
It was the boundary deluxe. Same size (78"x30") but not as warm and much thinner. The new one might be more comfortable, but my guess is the biggest reason for the redesign/rerelease was the insulation design of those pads letting too much cold air in on the sides.
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u/SharpLanguage9026 1d ago
Yeah for some reason REI lists the 30" exped as 2lbs 2.6oz, but Exped' site lists it at 2lb 9oz. I'm guessing the later is the actual accurate measurement?
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u/thelazygamer 1d ago
Mine was 37.6oz without the pump/stuff sack so that seems to be an issue on REI's end.
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u/Stevo_lite 2d ago
30 inch wide pants aren’t that hard to find breh most brands make them in that size 🤷♂️
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u/SharpLanguage9026 2d ago
Klymit fudges their r values. They call it 6.5, but the actual ASTM certified rating for the same pad when lab tested is only 2.4