Two sleeping pads worth lining up side by side. 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 XT | |
|---|---|---|
| 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✓ | 1.95 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✓ | 1Pump sack included |
| Type | Inflatable | Inflatable |
| Shape | Rectangular | n/s |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Zoom UL Insulated in blue, Ether Light XT 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.
The Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated and Sea to Summit Ether Light XT take different routes to the same job. 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 XT 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 XT 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 XT.
The Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated. It is 3 oz lighter than the Ether Light XT.
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 XT for cushion. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.