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Sea to Summit has a comprehensive line of high-quality, women's specific sleeping mats, and the Ether Light XT Insulated is one of our favorites. We love the shape and comfort and slept fabulously on its quiet materials. We were willing to overlook the Ether's extra ounces (though not many) in exchange for a more comfortable, peaceful sleep and extra warmth for those chilly spring or fall nights. Unfortunately, due to the new R-value testing standard, this pad has been knocked down a few pegs in the warmth department, but it's still an excellent choice for multi-day backpacking trips. Our full review of women's sleeping pad shows how it stacks up versus competing products.
REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable
Quiet
Lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Lower R-value
We've seen some users online complain that this pad is noisy. This wasn't our experience, but the consensus among users seems to be that the noise factor depends on how the pad's laminate interfaces with your particular tent's floor material and/or your sleeping bag. This issue can likely be remedied by getting a lightweight sheet or liner designed to fit over your sleeping pad.
Editor's Note: This review was updated on December 13, 2023, after a fresh testing cycle with updated metrics.
Comfortable and warm, this model will have you sleeping like a baby out on the trail
A great choice for your long backpacking trips, this pad is light, compact and warm
This is a good choice for winter camping, as it's incredibly warm and comfortable
This warm and comfortable model should be noted for its price and performance
If you want a light and durable pad that you can use as a seat and won't deflate, this could be the pad for you
Rating Categories
Sea to Summit Ether...
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir...
Sea to Summit Ether...
Therm-a-Rest Trail...
Nemo Switchback - S...
Comfort(30%)
9.0
8.0
9.0
8.0
3.0
Weight(30%)
8.8
9.7
6.0
5.6
10.0
Warmth(20%)
6.1
7.5
10.0
7.5
4.0
Packed Size(10%)
7.5
9.0
6.0
6.0
3.5
Construction Quality(10%)
7.0
7.5
7.0
9.0
9.0
Specs
Sea to Summit Ether...
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir...
Sea to Summit Ether...
Therm-a-Rest Trail...
Nemo Switchback - S...
Measured Weight
15.0 oz
11.8 oz
24.2 oz
25.6 oz
10.8oz
ASTM R-Value
3.5
4.5
6.3
4.5
2.0
Insulation
Thermolite insulation
Air and baffles
Thermolite insulation
Foam
Foam
Thickness
4.0 in
3.0 in
4.0 in
1.5 in
0.9 in
Tested Length
66 in
66 in
66 in
66 in
50 in
Tested Width
21.5 in
20.0 in
21.7 in
20.0 in
20.0 in
Packed Size
11.0 x 4.5 in
9.0 x 4.1 in
9.4 x 6.9 in
10.5 x 6.0 in
20.0 x 5.0 x 4.0 in
Bottom Material
40D nylon
30D rip HT nylon
30D / 40D nylon
50D polyester
Closed cell foam
Pump Sack Included?
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
N/A
Show full specification details ▼Hide full specification details ▲
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Ether Light XT Insulated has plush features, like a one-way valve and stuff sack pump for easy inflation. All of Sea to Summit's sleeping mats come with an attachment system for their proprietary pillows as well, which is a nice bonus. We think the few extra ounces this pad weighs will be made up for with quality sleep on the trail.
Performance Comparison
We love how thick the Ether Light is; unlike some pads, you don't feel like you're on a boat, and it's very stable.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Comfort
For a lightweight backpacking pad, we are pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the Ether Light XT Insulated is thanks to its ample four-inch thickness that kept us elevated well off the ground without feeling like we were on a boat. The air chambers on this pad feel more stable than other models — you don't feel like you're going to roll off in the night.
Sea to Summit has figured out how to make a light, warm air mattress that is also more than two inches thick and doesn't have space blanket material to reduce crinkling noises. The materials are quiet due to a different type of synthetic insulation.
The author getting cozy for the night on her Ether Light pad.
Credit: Jessica Haist
We also appreciate the thought that Sea to Summit has put into the shape of their women's pads. These mats are oval-shaped and wider at the hips, adding to overall comfort for bodies with hips. The men's versions are more of a triangle shape, wide at the shoulders and tapering down.
We appreciate the thought that Sea to Summit put in designing a women's specific shape. Their pads are wider at the hips which makes them very comfortable.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Weight
The Ether Light falls behind just a little in this metric, weighing 15 ounces. It's not the lightest product of the bunch, but it's also far from the heaviest.
We wish the Ether Light XT could shed a few ounces. Weight is a fundamental metric for a backpacking pad. That said, you often have to compromise between an ultralight product and getting a good night's sleep. This pad is still less than a pound, and we believe it's worth the extra weight. We did notice that the included stuff sack (that also acts as a pump) weighs two ounces on its own. If you're counting every ounce, you could leave that at home to save weight, though if you take that route, you'll only have your lung power to blow up your pad — which isn't super fun, especially at higher altitudes.
Three of the Sea to Summit mats we've tested. From bottom to top: Comfort Plus SI, Ether Light XT Insulated, and the Ultralight Insulated. For how much slimmer the Ultralight is, it only weighs 0.4 ounces less than the Ether.
Credit: Ian McEleney
Warmth
With the implementation of new R-value testing standards, the Ether Light has been downgraded from a 4.2 R-Value to 3.5, which puts it right in the middle of the pack in terms of warmth. That said, if paired with an extra piece of foam insulation, you can stretch this model from early spring to late fall and stay comfortably insulated from the cold ground.
Sea to Summit has added extra insulation to the women's version of the Ether Light XT Insulated (the men's has a 3.2 R-value). They use “Thermolite,” which is a high-loft fiberfill material that seems to pack down very small but has excellent insulating qualities. These pads should likely be stored uncompressed to avoid permanently compressing the insulation's loft.
Packed Size
A small package compared to most, the Ether Light is still not the smallest of the bunch.
Because this sleeping pad has substantial insulation compared to those with the smallest packed size, it doesn't pack down quite as small. You can reduce bulk (as well as weight) by leaving the included stuff sack at home.
Sea to Summit's Ether Light XT (left) and Ultralight Insulated (right). The Ultralight has a slightly smaller packed size.
The Sea to Summit Ether Light (left) and Therm-a-Rest NeoAir (right). The NeoAir definitely packs down much smaller.
Construction Quality
Not the most durable of the bunch, the 40-denier materials of the Ether Light XT are still pretty robust compared to most light backpacking pads. We discovered a slow leak in our Ether pad at one point, but we suspect that was because we camped on poky rocks one night in the backcountry, not a particularly smart thing to do with a delicate air mattress.
The Ether Light XT is reasonably durable overall based on our experience. Sea to Summit's valves are well made, as they're plugs you can pull out or push in with no twisting required. We appreciate that all Sea to Summit models come with repair patches for punctures and an extra piece for the one-way valve in case you lose it.
We like Sea to Summit's valve system. It is easy to use and seems durable.
Credit: Jessica Haist
Should You Buy the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated?
Sea to Summit's products are high quality and subsequently come at a high price. One of the pricier products in this review, the cost of the Ether Light XT Insulated gave us a moment of pause. But if this pad is within your budget, it is a decent value because of all the reasons we've outlined above. We love this sleeping pad because it is more featured, comfortable, warm, and quieter than most of the competitors we tested. It is a few ounces heavier than some other top-tier options, but we're willing to overlook this in exchange for very comfortable sleep in the backcountry.
The Ultralight (bottom) and Ether Light (top). The only advantage we can see (of the Ultralight) is that it costs less. Otherwise, the Ether is far superior.
Credit: Jessica Haist
What Other Sleeping Pads Should You Consider?
The Ether Light XT Insulated is an excellent choice for backpacking. It's light enough for any trip, long or short, except for perhaps something like ultralight fast-packing. You can stretch the seasons of this warm pad from early spring to late fall and even winter if you pair it with a foam pad like the Nemo Switchback. If you want just one warmer and lighter pad, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT is our top choice. If weight isn't a factor and you just want the warmest option, check out the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Extreme.
