Source
r/Ultralight•
pixels4pixels

Sea To Summit Ultralight mat , insulated or non insulated ?

Question

Hi , looking for people with experience with either one of those sleeping mats to give me a bit of advice and info on how the supposed R value really is in the real world , mostly wondering how low can you go with the non insulated version.

I bought a insulated version of the pad and got sent a non insulated version by accident instead , I'm wondering should I send it back or just get the price difference refunded.

I will mainly use this pad in the warmer months (well , North Europe ''warm'') , but the insulated version supposedly has a 3.3 R value compared to the 0.7 of the non insulated.

The weight penalty is just 80 grams and the pack size doesn't seem to be much different. That makes me wonder will that 80 gram reflective sheet really add 5x the insulation?

Thanks in advance!

Posted Apr 9, 2018, 7:30 PM UTC · edited

311
Zwillium•

I would only use a 0.7 indoors. A 3.3 is good for me into the 40s, but anything less and I feel the cold through the mat.

4
Midwestmountains•

I have the insulated version and I like it alright. It's warm down into the 30s, although in the lower 30s I do feel a bit of cold creeping in. .7 R value on the non-insulated version though is basically nothing, which makes it only a summer pad imo.

I will say the insulated one squeaks like a balloon when you roll around on it, especially if you use a quilt.

3
craige1989•

I have the insulated version. Love the thing. I'd definitely swap it for the insulated one. I'm in scotland, had it down to -5C without any noticeable cold but everyone is different. Definitely worth a small increase in weight for the added versatility. If they made a shirt and wide version of get that uninsulated for summer.

2
produktionsmemen•

the neoir xlite has an r-value of 3.2 and serves me well down to freezing. If you are in Scandinavia I would take the insulation, otherwise you would only be able to use your pad on the warmest of summer nights.

2
JPOutdoors•

I have used both, honestly I was getting a little cold with the non insulated at around 50 degrees. I tend to sleep normal temperature, I guess.

2
pixels4pixelsOP•

How big is the difference in pack size between the two? I'm kinda blown away on how small the non insulated one is.

1
Ryan-Kodak-Brown•

I carried the uninsulated pad on the Appalachian Trail, Baja Divide, Washington PCT section and a Sierra High Route in September. I found it plenty comfortable in everything above freezing. I’ve had nights below freezing and stayed warm enough for sleep, ie not shivering. The only time I’ve been truly uncomfortable is on frozen ground. I have an insulated version now but only have a few weeks on it. Love these things. I do sleep relatively warm.

2
sirthunderfluff•

I’ve had the Insulated version down to approximately -8 or -9C° paired with a -7C° down quilt. Not really comfortable at that temp, but survivable.

I’ve also used it in temps as high as approximately 27°C and it was still pretty comfortable.

Love the valve on that pad too. Easy to inflate and even easier to deflate.

1
BecauseSometimesY•

Even in warm months, sleeping on the ground with essentially no insulation can get cold. If going for either of those S2S pads, I’d go for the insulated pad. Get the order corrected!

1
iskosalminen•

Pretty much what everyone else has been saying. The 80g weight penalty is pretty minor for the added warmth, especially if you're using the pad in Northern Europe.

I bought the insulated version for the last week on the PCT as snow was falling and it was ok down to, I'd quess, around -5c high in the mountains on snow. As the R-value says, it's not the warmest pad, enough for 3 season usage, but it's the most comfortable pad I've ever slept on (out of all the NeoAirs and few Expeds).

1
drotar447•

Last winter I used the ultralight mat on many snow camping trips above 10,000 feet and it was sufficiently warm.

Also, I realize this isn't what you asked but might be useful to you. I ultimately stopped using this mat because it slid around like crazy and I was constantly having to reposition it during the night. I switched to the neo air xlite and this problem went away.

1