Here is how these two sleeping pads compare on the numbers. They score within a hair of each other, so it comes down to the details below.
| NEMO Eclipse All-Season | Exped Ultra 6.5R | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 85✓ | 83 |
| Warmth (R-value) | 6.2 R | 6.9 R✓ |
| Weight | 16.0 oz | 16.0 oz |
| Warmth-to-weight | 1.37 R/100g | 1.52 R/100g✓ |
| Packed size | 2.46 L | 2.16 L✓ |
| Thickness | 4.0 in✓ | 3.5 in |
| Durability | 43 /100✓ | 12 /100 |
| Price | $160✓ | $200 |
| Features | 3Pump sack included, Two-way valve, Repair kit included✓ | 2Pump sack included, Repair kit included |
| Type | Inflatable | Inflatable |
| Shape | Rectangular | Rectangular |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Eclipse All-Season in blue, Ultra 6.5R 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 NEMO Eclipse All-Season against the Exped Ultra 6.5R is a study in priorities. They are close enough that this really is about which handful of specs you weight most.
The Eclipse All-Season is thicker for more cushion, more durable, and $40 cheaper. The Ultra 6.5R is warmer (R 6.9 vs R 6.2), stronger on warmth-to-weight, and more packable (2.2 L vs 2.5 L). Their GearScores land within a couple of points (85 vs 83), so neither runs away with it.
Pick the Eclipse All-Season if you care most about cushion and durability, which makes it the better call for comfort and room to move. Pick the Ultra 6.5R if warmth and warmth-to-weight matter more to you, or you are focused on colder nights and shoulder-season trips.
The Exped Ultra 6.5R. It is warmer (R 6.9 vs R 6.2) than the Eclipse All-Season.
The NEMO Eclipse All-Season. It is thicker for more cushion than the Ultra 6.5R.
They are nearly tied at 85 and 83 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 Eclipse All-Season for cushion, or the Ultra 6.5R for warmth. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.