Two sleeping pads worth lining up side by side. The Ultra 6.5R leans on low weight while the Ether Light XR Pro answers with warmth, so the pick comes down to which you value.
| Exped Ultra 6.5R | Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 83✓ | 81 |
| Warmth (R-value) | 6.9 R | 7.4 R✓ |
| Weight | 16.0 oz✓ | 19.8 oz |
| Warmth-to-weight | 1.52 R/100g✓ | 1.32 R/100g |
| Packed size | 2.16 L✓ | 2.57 L |
| Thickness | 3.5 in | 3.9 in✓ |
| Durability | 12 /100 | 39 /100✓ |
| Price | $200✓ | $219 |
| Features | 2Pump sack included, Repair kit included | 3Pump sack included, Two-way valve, Repair kit included✓ |
| Type | Inflatable | Inflatable |
| Shape | Rectangular | Tapered |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Ultra 6.5R in blue, Ether Light XR Pro 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 Exped Ultra 6.5R and Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Pro take different routes to the same job. The Ultra 6.5R wins on low weight and warmth-to-weight, and the Ether Light XR Pro pushes back on warmth and cushion.
The Ultra 6.5R is 4 oz lighter, stronger on warmth-to-weight, and more packable (2.2 L vs 2.6 L). The Ether Light XR Pro is warmer (R 7.4 vs R 6.9), thicker for more cushion, and more durable. On the default GearScore the Ultra 6.5R leads 83 to 81.
Pick the Ultra 6.5R if you care most about low weight and warmth-to-weight, which makes it the better call for counting grams on long miles. Pick the Ether Light XR Pro if warmth and cushion matter more to you, or you are focused on colder nights and shoulder-season trips.
The Exped Ultra 6.5R. It is 4 oz lighter than the Ether Light XR Pro.
The Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Pro. It is warmer (R 7.4 vs R 6.9) than the Ultra 6.5R.
The Exped Ultra 6.5R, 83 to 81 on the default algorithm. You can re-weight the factors to match your trip.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the Ultra 6.5R for low weight, or the Ether Light XR Pro for warmth. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.