Good to know: this sleeping pad is unisex
Pros / Reasons to Buy
- Exceptional comfort
- Dual chamber inflation design means adjustments can be made easily for the perfect sleep
Cons / Reasons to Avoid
- Heavy
- Doesn’t pack down so small
If comfort is your top priority on the trail, then you will be very happy with the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated sleeping pad. I found it has offered me next level comfort, especially with joint problems that need extra care and attention whilst sleeping on the trail.
Sea to Summit claim that this sleeping pad is the most awarded of all time, and that aside, I can see why it’s so popular. I’ve found myself reaching for it time and time again and making concessions with other areas of my camping kit just to make this fit. It’s really that good. It’s well featured, warm, comfortable and durable to the next level.
So, if you’re on the fence as to whether the comfort is worth the extra weight or not, read on to find out what makes me sing the praises of this dual chamber, cutting edge sleeping pad so highly.
Compare to similar products:
Nemo Switchback | Nemo Tensor All-Season | Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite NXT | Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT | Rab Stratosphere 4 | Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated | Big Agnes Divide Insulated | Nemo Quasar 3D | Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated | Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated | Exped Ultra 7R | Klymit Static V | Sleepingo Large | Tame Lands | Therm-A-Rest Z Lite Sol | |
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Buying Options | |||||||||||||||
Our Rating | Best Foam Sleeping Pad | Best Air Sleeping Pad | Best for Comfort and Ultralight | Best for Winter and Best Mummy Shaped Sleeping Pad | Best for Summer | Best for Side Sleepers | Best for Back Sleepers | Best Budget Air Pad | Best Rectangular Sleeping Pad | ||||||
Type and Shape | Folding, closed-cell foam | Rectangular or Mummy Inflatable | Mummy Inflatable | Mummy Inflatable | Rectangular Inflatable | Mummy Inflatable | Rectangular Inflatable | Rectangular Inflatable | Rectangular or Mummy Inflatable | Rectangular Inflatable | Rectangular or Mummy Inflatable | Rectangular Inflatable | Mummy Inflatable | Rectangular Inflatable | Folding, closed-cell foam |
Comfort | Low | Excellent | Excellent | Very Good | Excellent | Excellent | Very Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Average | Average | Low |
Warmth/R-Value | Average (R-Value = 2) | Excellent (R-Value = 5.4) | Very Good (R-Value = 4.5) | Excellent (R-Value = 7.3) | Very Good (R-Value = 3.8) | Very Good (R-Value = 4) | Very Good (R-Value = 4) | Low (R-Value = 1.8) | Very Good (R-Value = 3.2) | Very Good (R-Value = 4.8) | Excellent (R-Value = 7) | Low (R-Value = 1.3) | Low - Average (No ASTM FF3340 rated R-Value, but likely around 2) | Low - Average (No ASTM FF3340 rated R-Value, but likely around 2) | Average (R-Value = 2) |
Weight | Regular Version - 415g/14.5oz | Regular Version - 522g/1lb 2oz | Regular Version - 368g/13 oz | Regular Version - 453g/1lb | Regular Version - 695g/1lb 9oz | Regular Version - 845g/29.8oz | Regular Version - 652g/23oz | Non-Insulated Regular Version - 650g/1lb 7oz | Mummy Regular - 490g/17.3oz | Regular Version - 510g/18oz | Rectangular Medium Version - 650g/23oz | Regular Version - 530g/18.7oz | 408g/14oz | 600g/21oz | Regular Version - 410g/14oz |
Packed Size | Regular Version - 51x13x14cm/20x5x5.5in | Regular Version - 25.5x10cm/10x4in | Regular Version - 10.4x22.86cm/4.1x9in | Regular Version - 11.3x22.86cm/4.5x9in | Regular Version - 24cmx12cm/9.4inx4.7in | Regular Version - 12x23cm/5x9in | Regular Version - 20x13cm/8x5in | Non-Insulated Regular Version - 20x10cm/8x4in | Mummy Regular - 24x11cm/9.5x4.5in | Regular Version - 18x10cm/7x4in | Rectangular Medium Version - 23x14cm/9x5.5in | Regular Version - 20x8cm/8x3in | 27x8cm/10.5x3in | 23x10cm/9x4in | Regular Version - 51x13x14cm/20x5x5.5in |
Open Size | Regular Version - 183x51x2.3cm/72x20x0.9in | Regular Version - 183x51x9cm/72x20x3.5in | Regular Version - 182x50.8x7.62cm/72x20x3in | Regular Version - 177.8x50.8x7.62cm/72x20x3in | Regular Version - 183x51x8cm/72x20x3in | Regular Version - 184x55cm/72x21.5in | Regular Version - 183x51x8.25cm/72x20x3.25in | Non-Insulated Regular Version - 183x51x9cm/72x20x3.5in | Mummy Regular - 183x55-42x10cm/72x21.5-16.5x4in | Regular Version - 51x183x11cm/20x72x4.25in | Rectangular Medium Version - 183x52x9cm/72x20.4x3.5in | Regular Version - 183x58x6cm/72x23x2.5in | 187x54.6x5cm/73.5x21x2in | 188x56x5cm/74x22x2in | Regular Version - 183x51x2cm/72x20x0.75in |
Materials | Polyethylene foam backed with metalized foil | 20D and 40D Nylon with two layers of metalized film | 30D Ripstop Nylon | 30D and 70D Ripstop Nylon with Thermacapture Reflective Film | 75D Polyester with 100% recycled polyester 'Stratus R' insulation | 30D/40D Nylon withThermolite insulation and Exkin Platinum film | Ripstop nylon with Thermalite insulaiton and heat-reflecting film layer | 100% Recycled Polyester | 30D/40D Nylon withThermolite insulation and Exkin Platinum film | Ripstop nylon with two layers of metalized film | 20D Ripstop polyester with down insulation | 75D Polyester | Ripstop Nylon | 40D Ripstop Nylon | Polyethylene foam backed with Thermacapture Reflective Film |
Durability | Excellent - will still work even if torn or damaged | Good - supplied with repair patches | Good - supplied with repair patches | Good - supplied with repair patches | Good - supplied with repair patches | Very Good - supplied with repair patches and spare valve parts | Good - supplied with repair patches | Good - Supplied with repair patches | Very Good - supplied with repair patches and spare valve parts | Good - Supplied with repair patches | Good - Supplied with repair patches | Good - Supplied with repair patches | Good - supplied with repair patches | Good - supplied with repair patches | Excellent - will still work even if torn or damaged |
This article is part of our series on the best sleeping pads for camping, view all articles below:
- Best Sleeping Pads for Camping
- How we Tested Sleeping Pads
- How to Choose the Right Sleeping Pad for Camping
- Compare Sleeping Pads
Related content:
Analysis and Test Results
When carrying weight isn’t my absolute top priority, the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated has become my go to sleeping pad for the best, most comfortable sleep on trail I’ve ever had. This sleeping pad lives up to its hype and in all of my tests performed exceptionally well.
One area which does mark this sleeping pad down a little is its weight, for the large, this comes in at 1045g/36.9 oz whereas the regular comes in at 845g/29.8 oz. Though because of how well it performs in terms of comfort, design, useability and thermal resistance, I find myself making exceptions for it – it’s a justifiably exceptional piece of kit.
For the price, I found this to be top end. Compared to some other models at the top of the market in our round up, this sat proudly amongst them and stood up well next to its competition.
Performance Comparison
See our video 360 of the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated sleeping pad taking into account some of it’s main features:
Type and Shape
The Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated is an inflating sleeping pad. As it uses a dual chamber system for its inflation (two separate inflating areas that sit next to each other for comfort and insulation) it is pretty unique in our reviews.
It is a mostly rectangular mummy/slight coffin shape. It sits at the premium end of our reviews due to its price point and comes from well-known brand Sea to Summit. It doesn’t fall into the lightweight category so is better suited to hikers who aren’t quite as fixed on breaking down weight as much as possible.
Comfort
As a preface, I have a health condition that causes me chronic pain – you could liken to something like arthritis. One of my main gripes at times with sleeping pads is that I wake up with the areas that hurt all the time feeling like they hurt a lot more than they should be doing.
I find this especially so if I turn onto my side in my sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep when you’re in pain is never particularly easy, and I found that the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated was exceptionally comfortable and I woke up in no more pain than I usually do. This is pretty next level for me.
I feel confident in saying that if you struggle with chronic pain, have joint issues or anything similar, you will love this sleeping pad. Likewise, if you’re that bit older and just want to protect your joints more and keep yourself as comfortable as possible, then this is the sleeping pad I’d recommend.
How is all of this possible? This sleeping pad makes use of two separate air chambers which essentially interlock. This is combined with a multi-function valve that on the ground means you can adjust the pressure in the top layer to suit your needs.
This also helps with the ‘squidgy’, ‘squishy’ feeling you often get from sleeping pads when you roll around. Having the bottom layer fully inflated helps to negate any problems caused by rough trails or camping spots. Likewise, this helps too if you do experience a puncture as there is always one side inflated.
I feel that the comfort is an area where the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated really excels. So much so that the brand claims that currently, this sleeping pad is the most awarded of all time.
Warmth
This sleeping pad uses the brands’ Thermolite and Exkin Platinum for warmth. I also feel like the dual chambers help a lot when it comes to insulation. It’s marketed as 3.5/4 seasons, and suitable for winter camping. To preface, I haven’t had chance to test this in full winter, but in colder temperatures at higher altitudes I have not experienced any complaints in terms of warmth.
I am generally a fairly cold sleeper, and I didn’t feel that this was an issue with this sleeping pad. It has an R-Value of 4, which the brand claims is suitable for all but the coldest ground. From my tests, I would say I’m pretty confident that you would be able to easily use this sleeping pad all year round with no issues at all.
Ease of Use
For my tests, I’ve used the large sleeping pad, and this felt very easy to set up. Though I should preface this by saying that I’ve become used to setting up sleeping pads with a valve inflation system. The Comfort Plus Insulated also comes supplied with a stuff sack that works as an airstream pump. This is great when you’re tired after a long day as you don’t have to worry about becoming out of breath.
I found that it being easy to set up makes all the difference when you’re at altitude and you may feel a little bit more disorientated. I would say that the ease of inflation is generally in line with many of the other top end sleeping pads like in our overall roundup of the best sleeping pads.
Though, one point I should add was that when I first tested out this sleeping pad, I mistakenly just inflated one side. I started to wonder what all the fuss was about. It felt pretty uninspired to be honest. Then I realized there was a second inflation attachment area of the underside.
You may think this should have been obvious given that this is a dual chamber. It just didn’t quite occur to me (user error, tiredness). If you do find yourself in the same situation, the chances are, you just need to inflate the second side. Once I did, I understood the hype.
Another point to add is around the inflation time. Given this is dual chamber, you may be thinking it takes twice as long to inflate as some of the other pads. To be honest, I found that it takes just less than two bags from the pump sack to inflate each side. It takes about the same amount of time as any of the other more robust sleeping pads in our round up (just under 3 minutes).
Real time set up: Our video below shows a real time inflation of the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated, taking just under 3 minutes in normal conditions.
Weight
Weight is an area that I do feel a bit of a gripe with the Comfort Plus Insulated sleeping pad. It is heavy – there is no denying that. In fact, it is actually one of the heaviest in our round up on sleeping pads by quite a long stretch (see our comparison table here which compares all the weights of the products we’ve tested next to each other).
I tested the large, which weighs in at 1045g/36.9 oz. The regular weighs in at 845g/29.8 oz. Either way, they’re both heavy. If you’re looking for an ultralightweight sleeping pad that also has a good comfort factor, then you may want to go for something like the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite NXT.
That said, I feel like I’m happy to give this sleeping pad some slack when I consider how comfortable it feels to use and the level of sleep comfort it offers. So much so, I’m happy to make a few cut backs on other gear in my backpacking pack to keep this with me!
Version | Weight |
Regular | 845g/29.8 oz |
Large | 1045g/36.9 oz |
Packed Size
This sleeping pad doesn’t pack down particularly small, in fact, it’s one of the largest packed sizes for the large in our overall round up. I personally found that the size coming in at 12x26cm/5×10 inches for the large made it a pretty snug fit with the rest of my camping gear. For some ultralight backpackers, this may be a touch too far when it comes to size.
However, if the packed size isn’t the absolute be all and end all for you, then you will likely find ways to make this sleeping pad fit with the rest of your gear. I really feel like the comfort it offers is worth what it needs adjustment wise to get it sitting well with your other stuff.
One area I did really like is that the inflation sack actually doubles as it’s stuff sack. Most of the other sleeping pads in our reviews have a separate inflation sack, which does bulk things up a bit, so this is a really nice space saving design from Sea to Summit.
Version | Packed size |
Regular | 11.3 x 22.86cm/4.5 x 9 inches |
Regular Wide | 12.7 x 27.94cm/5 x 11 inches |
Large | 12.7 x 27.94cm/5 x 11 inches |
Real time pack down: Our video below shows how long it takes to pack down the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated sleeping pad (around 1 minute 45 seconds) in normal conditions.
Open Size
I tested the large version of the Comfort Plus Insulated and this is certainly bigger than the regular, in both length and width. The regular comes in at 184 x 55cm/72 x 21.5 inches and the large at 201 x 64cm/79 x 25 inches.
I found it fitted perfectly fine in my 2P MSR Hubba Hubba backpacking tent. As expected, there was more than enough room for another sleeping pad beside me and all my gear to sit in the tent at night.
One of the main reasons I went for the large is because I move around a lot in my sleep and like to know I’m not going to roll off straight onto the floor. If you’re not like me in that regard, then you can likely get by with the regular just fine, unless you need the extra width or height for your frame.
Version | Open Size |
Regular | 184 x 55cm/72 x 21.5 in |
Large | 201 x 64cm/79 x 25in |
Features
The Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated is a very well featured sleeping pad, in fact it has won countless awards for all that it offers. I was a little dubious that some of this could just be marketing hype, so I was pleasantly proved wrong when I had some of the best nights of on trail sleep I’ve had on this pad.
One of the features that I couldn’t stop raving about was the dual layer air sprung cells that come as standard on this pad. What this means is that there is a top and bottom section which inflate separately. This allows you to get a really individual feel when it comes to the sleeping firmness. Likewise, when I roll around in the night on this sleeping pad, there is no real change in air pressure which is especially good if you have back or joint problems.
This also helps to increase the durability of this sleeping pad too. As the fact it has two separate inflation areas means that even if you get a puncture, you’re not left without an inflated section.
What’s more, this sleeping pad makes use of Thermolite technology to keep you feeling warm throughout cold nights and with an R-value of 4 makes it perfect for all year round. When you combine everything this pad has to offer, I really feel its most fantastic features offered are it’s comfort. It really is second to none!
I also love the pillow lock points or attachment points. This seems to be a fairly similar situation to the Sea to Summit Ether Light, which we’ve also reviewed. Though this only really works with Sea to Summit’s own brand pillow. As I use a Nemo Fillo Pillow, this was not a feature I could fully test out.
That said, the idea of not having your pillow move around in the night seemed like a good one! This has been some of the main source of neck and back problems I’ve experienced out on the trail, so adjustments to improve this are welcomed. If you’re yet to buy a pillow for your new sleeping pad, I’d recommend looking at Sea to Summit’s offerings that connect up with this pad.
Materials
The fabrics used for this sleeping pad are a 30D/30D nylon with anti-microbial liquid extruded TPU lamination. What that means in the real world is a really durable sleeping pad that will withstand a lot of pressure even from heavier loads.
Naturally, I always suggest using a liner, Tyvek or similar if you want to sleep outside your tent to keep it abrasion free as much as possible, but if looked after, I’m confident to say the premium materials used here should last a long time. This also isn’t always needed depending on trail conditions.
Durability
Following on from the durable materials used that I’ve mentioned above, this sleeping pad feels really durable and like it really is built to last. Only time will tell if it stands the real test of time, but I’m pretty confident that from my experience of it so far, it will.
One of the main reasons I think this is because of the dual chamber system that is used on this sleeping pad. With most sleeping pads, there is a lot more pressure put on just one area of the sleeping pad. This gives the opportunity for weak spots to occur.
With the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated, you’re essentially relieving some of this pressure by having two areas inflated. This also means that if you do get a puncture, you still have one area of inflation to keep you comfortable until you can fix it.
Sustainability
Sea to Summit don’t make any special claims about the sustainability of the Comfort Insulated Plus sleeping pad, but they do have a generalized sustainability section on their website. Though this doesn’t really go much further than most brands claims that cover the basics and airy claims that I’m not entirely sure are always backed up.
That said, this sleeping pad really, really feels like it’s built to last. If you’re not looking for the most lightweight of sleeping pads and comfort is your main criteria to meet, then there is a really good chance that this could be the only sleeping pad you need.
This obviously does a lot when it comes to sustainability as the less we buy, the less of an impact we have. It would be good to see Sea to Summit publishing more information on this products sustainability, though.
Price
There is no doubt about it, the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated is certainly in the higher price point when it comes to sleeping pads. This firmly puts it in the premium end out of the sleeping pads we’ve tested for this round up.
That said, I feel it is worth the premium price point. It is endlessly comfortable, it is exceptionally durable, its warm and it’s from a brand who are well known in the outdoors and backpacking scene. It ticks all the right boxes on paper. Out in the wild, it ticks them too.
If you’re looking to up your game in terms of kit, then I can confidently say you will be happy with your investment. If you want the most comfortable sleep outdoors you can have, I think you’ll be even happier.
Conclusion
I can’t rate the Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated highly enough in terms of the next gen level of comfort it offers. Especially, if like me, you have joint concerns and sleeping comfort is your absolute paramount.
The dual chamber inflation system really takes things one step further and is the only sleeping pad in our overall best sleeping pads round up that uses this. This allows for a great level of adjustment on the trail and means you’re never rolling around with areas moving or changing.
The areas that let this sleeping pad down are its weight and its packed size, which do take some justifying (it is the heaviest in our round up and also one of the largest packed size). I was skeptical about this at first, but once I experienced the comfort it had to offer, I found myself rapidly making adjustments to make it fit and make sense with the rest of my gear.
I’m pretty confident that if you decide to buy this sleeping pad from Sea to Summit and are in the market for an exceptionally comfortable sleep, you won’t be disappointed.
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