Price: $109.95

Type: Air Construction/AirSprung Cells

Claimed R-value: 1.1

Weight: 12.5oz (354g)

Packed Volume: 0.8L

Thickness: 2″ (5.1cm)

LxW: 72″x21.5″ (1.8m x 0.5m)

Breaths to Inflate: 15-19

What We Like: Small packed size, Excellent inflation system

What We Don’t: Low R-value, Similarly priced pads with superior insulation

Sea to Summit’s UltraLight air pad delivers the sort of lightweight, high-quality performance that its customers have come to expect, but this focus on cutting weight comes at a cost that not all will be able to swallow. Although it’s less than capable of getting you through a chilly night, the Sea to Summit Ultralight offers some very appealing characteristics for the spring and summer months. It’s incredibly light and packs up small while still remaining reasonably comfortable, with quick inflation and deflation. At just under $110, it’s also a relatively decent value. However, for those who need a light pad that will be viable during the fall and winter, we recommend shelling out an extra ten bucks for the Sea to Summit UltraLight Insulated.

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Sea to Summit earned its name from mountaineer Tim Macartney-Snape’s arduous five-month excursion from sea level to the summit of Mt. Everest. Before taking on this enormous feat, he asked company founder Roland Tyson to outfit him with lightweight gear. Thanks in part to Tyson’s contributions, the journey was a success. Three decades later, Sea to Summit continues to produce high-quality equipment such as tents, sacks, camp kitchens, and sleep systems. Sea to Summit’s $109.95 UltraLight air pad delivers the sort of lightweight, high-quality performance that its customers have come to expect. Still, this focus on cutting weight comes at a cost that not all will be able to swallow.

Warmth

One of the main problems we came across with the Sea to Summit UltraLight is that it is not a three-season pad. With an R-value of only 1.1, it should only be used in warmer climates. The only way we might find ourselves using this in colder temperatures is if it were used in conjunction with a foam pad like the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL, which would create a combined R-value of 3.1. However, this would also negate the low weight and small packed size that make the UltraLight more appealing. The other solution would be to opt for the Sea to Summit UltraLight Insulated, which achieves the same R-value of 3.1 at just a slightly higher weight of 16.9oz. This will cost you just $10 more, rather than the additional $45 you’d need to shell out for the Z Lite SOL.

Comfort

The comfort category is another area where the UltraLight comes up just a bit short. At only 2″ (5.1cm) thick, it’s one of the thinner pads in our review. The pad utilizes what Sea to Summit calls Air Sprung Cells™ to bolster the overall support without compromising packed size. On top of that, the UltraLight’s dot-weld baffling system does an excellent job of distributing air evenly across the pad and reducing the chance of bottoming out, so long as the pad is fully inflated. Some reviewers have noted that this dot-weld system feels a bit “bumpy” and often acts as small pockets that tend to collect dirt. There’s also a slight issue with squeaks that result from moving around.

The dimensions for the UltraLight are 72″x21.5″ (1.8m x 0.5m), which is just slightly wider than the 20” you’ll typically find on standard-sized air pads. There is also a smaller version available that measures 66″x21.5″ and a large version that’s a very generous 78″x25″.

Weight & Packed Size

The UltraLight is certainly aptly named—with a weight of only 12.5oz (354g), it’s one of the lightest pads in our 2021 review, tied with the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite and less than 4oz heavier that the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite. At $189.95 and $199.95 respectively, both of these pads are significantly more expensive than the UltraLight, and only the NeoAir UberLite is able to come close to its small packed size. Compression volume for the Sea to Summit Ultralight is 0.8L, making it the smallest packed pad in our review and very appealing to ultralight hikers.

Inflation

It will take roughly 15-19 breaths to fully inflate the UltraLight, typical of a pad with these dimensions. Inflation is made relatively easy thanks to its one-way valve. Flip open the top flap to only allow air inside. Should the pad be slightly over-inflated, there’s a button in the middle that allows a small amount of air to escape. Once it’s time to pack things up, flip open the bottom flap for quick deflation. The UltraLight’s stuff sack also has a built-in Airstream pump sack that makes the process even easier. All in all, this pad scored very well on inflation.

Durability

The exterior of the UltraLight is made up of 30/40D ripstop nylon face fabric, combined with an antimicrobial liquid-extruded TPU lamination to reduce delamination. While not the most durable fabric, it performed well in our tests. It should hold up to everything but excessive roughhousing (and there is an included repair kit should worse come to worst). The valve is relatively flat, making it less vulnerable to damage than pads with valves that jut out from the pad.

The Bottom Line

Although it’s less than capable of getting you through a chilly night for spring and summer months, the Sea to Summit Ultralight offers some very appealing characteristics. It’s incredibly light and packs up small while still remaining reasonably comfortable, with quick inflation and deflation. At just under $110, it’s also a relatively decent value. However, for those who need just a light pad that will be viable during the fall and winter, we recommend shelling out an extra 10 bucks for the Sea to Summit UltraLight Insulated.

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