A close look at two sleeping pads buyers cross-shop. They score within a hair of each other, so it comes down to the details below.
| Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated | Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Insulated | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 85✓ | 84 |
| Warmth (R-value) | 4.3 R✓ | 4.1 R |
| Weight | 14.0 oz✓ | 16.6 oz |
| Warmth-to-weight | 1.08 R/100g✓ | 0.87 R/100g |
| Packed size | 1.66 L | 1.66 L |
| Thickness | 3.3 in | 3.9 in✓ |
| Durability | 12 /100 | 39 /100✓ |
| Price | $200 | $189✓ |
| Features | 3Pump sack included, Two-way valve, Repair kit included | 3Pump sack included, Two-way valve, Repair kit included |
| Type | Inflatable | Inflatable |
| Shape | Rectangular | Tapered |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Zoom UL Insulated in blue, Ether Light XR Insulated in amber. A blank spec is never counted as a win. GearScore is the rating for the Overall use-case (0 to 100). Pick another above to re-score. Prices are current MSRP.
Put the Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated next to the Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Insulated and the trade-offs are clear. They are close enough that this really is about which handful of specs you weight most.
The Zoom UL Insulated is warmer (R 4.3 vs R 4.1), 3 oz lighter, and stronger on warmth-to-weight. The Ether Light XR Insulated is thicker for more cushion, more durable, and $11 cheaper. Their GearScores land within a couple of points (85 vs 84), so neither runs away with it.
Pick the Zoom UL Insulated if you care most about warmth and low weight, which makes it the better call for colder nights and shoulder-season trips. Pick the Ether Light XR Insulated if cushion and durability matter more to you, or you are focused on comfort and room to move.
The Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated. It is warmer (R 4.3 vs R 4.1) than the Ether Light XR Insulated.
The Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated. It is 3 oz lighter than the Ether Light XR Insulated.
They are nearly tied at 85 and 84 on the default algorithm, so re-weight the score to your own priorities to break the tie.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the Zoom UL Insulated for warmth, or the Ether Light XR Insulated for cushion. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.