Two sleeping pads worth lining up side by side. The Ultra 6.5R leans on low weight while the Ultra 7R answers with warmth, so the pick comes down to which you value.
| Exped Ultra 6.5R | Exped Ultra 7R | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 83✓ | 76 |
| Warmth (R-value) | 6.9 R | 7.1 R✓ |
| Weight | 16.0 oz✓ | 22.2 oz |
| Warmth-to-weight | 1.52 R/100g✓ | 1.13 R/100g |
| Packed size | 2.16 L✓ | 4.29 L |
| Thickness | 3.5 in | 3.5 in |
| Durability | 12 /100 | 12 /100 |
| Price | $200✓ | $220 |
| Features | 2Pump sack included, Repair kit included | 3Pump sack included, Two-way valve, Repair kit included✓ |
| Type | Inflatable | Inflatable |
| Shape | Rectangular | Rectangular |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Ultra 6.5R in blue, Ultra 7R 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 Exped Ultra 7R take different routes to the same job. The Ultra 6.5R wins on low weight and warmth-to-weight, and the Ultra 7R pushes back on warmth.
The Ultra 6.5R is 6 oz lighter, stronger on warmth-to-weight, and more packable (2.2 L vs 4.3 L). The Ultra 7R is warmer (R 7.1 vs R 6.9). On the default GearScore the Ultra 6.5R leads 83 to 76.
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 Ultra 7R if warmth matter more to you, or you are focused on colder nights and shoulder-season trips.
The Exped Ultra 6.5R. It is 6 oz lighter than the Ultra 7R.
The Exped Ultra 7R. It is warmer (R 7.1 vs R 6.9) than the Ultra 6.5R.
The Exped Ultra 6.5R, 83 to 76 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 Ultra 7R for warmth. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.