Sea to Summit Etherlight XT Insulated - Long Term Review

[@VeloObscura]

Sea to Summit will replace this mat indefinitely and I will always be granted a replacement....... but is it worth it? Some Specs: R-Value: 3.2 Weight: 690g Dimensions: 201cm x 64cm x 10cm Packed Size: 12 x 28 cm RRP: $429.99AUD - but mine cost $270!

[@slava54321]

Привет из России из Санкт-Петербурга! Да, такая проблема есть! Я сходил с ним всего 1 год (2023), спал на нём 30 ночей с мая по сентябрь 2023 года. В последние ночи он начал на половину спускать за ночь. Я изначально бережно к нему относился. Я знал что нельзя накачивать до предела, знал что нельзя оставлять летом на жаре его надутым, т.к. воздух в коврике расширяется, знал что нельзя долго держать влажным и т.д. Я сначала подумал, что когда ползал по нему на коленках (я вешу 90 кг) именно в области живота мои колени продавливали коврик сильнее всего, но потом придя домой и заклеив пару кружочков и надув до предела оставил на ночь и потом он снова начал сдуваться, просто стоя надутым в квартире. Спустя 3 дня в области живота у него было 7 заплаток и все они одинаковые. Кружок в углублении, на самом сгибе видимо не выдерживает давление и внутри ткань, которая держит эти кружочки сверху и снизу, начинает отрываться, т.к. всегда, когда он спускал это было на краю кружочка, не по центру, а всегда по краю, причём именно с одной стороны края. Это словно отрывать скотч, внутри ткань видимо так-же отрывается, т.к. внешне нету никаких дырок, воздух просто проходит через верхнюю ткань (нейлон), который при отрыве, видимо теряет свою герметичность (пропитку). Но я покупал его через фирму-посредник в 2022 году. Вот не знаю что с ним делать. Слава богу что мой первый коврик "thermarest Trail Lite" пережил 1,5 года использования и ничего с ним не случилось!

[@kpj5]

Really glad I saw this before I purchased one .. thank you!

[@VeloObscura]

Glad I could help! 😃

[@FlowerPowerNZ]

Thanks so much for the detailed and honest review.

[@VeloObscura]

My pleasure!

[@mikeski7ify]

I have the same issue, 30-40 uses so far. The sad thing is that it failed in the middle of my TransAlp cycling expedition ... Thank you for shining a light on the problem. Great video :)

[@VeloObscura]

Oh, that is so unfortunate! The longer this video is up, the more people have reached out sharing the same experience. Thanks for commenting!

[@YoureNowOnTV]

Thanks for making this video! 😀👍 TLDR: Same thing happened to me. I spent around a month researching which mat to get to replace my self inflating mat and went for a Sea To Summit Etherlight XT. I'm 72 kilos @ 178cm - 5' 11" and woke up one morning touching the ground camping in my backyard. There were also small metal flakes on the floor of my tent when I opened the valve to release the remaining air (The mylar sheet on the inside was deteriorating or cracking). I researched how to find a puncture and used a spray bottle with a drop or two of dish washing liquid. Sprayed the inflated mat and found three holes on the top where the dimples are. I contacted STS and they immediately said they would send a replacement. I thought I was just unlucky with the three punctures but the patches were working fine, then the same thing happened again with another two punctures. I have a brand new mat in it's box but would rather sell it than go through the same thing again and buy a different mat. I found the warranty process a bit average when I had to re-contact them after two weeks asking if they had sent a replacement. They said "We are waiting for replacement stock" even though I was told they were sending one immediately and a tracking number would be provided. I agree the mat is super comfortable but I don't want to buy new patch kits at $10 a pack to fix this issue. It's obviously something to do with how the connecting ties attach to the top and bottom sides and so long as the design stays the same the punctures will keep happening. Super disappointed that no-one else is talking about this issue! I'm really glad I didn't buy the extreme model that has a higher R value but also more weight and bulk.

[@VeloObscura]

Thanks for commenting, mate! Sorry for your experience, but I'm glad you shared it here. It's more confirmation that S2S have a major manufacturing issue with this mat! The customer support and warranty experience for me was as you say. Friendly enough and they did agree to replace the mat without any objection, but they weren't exactly "efficient" with getting the new one sent out to me. I don't think I'll be taking it on any sort of long-term adventure again, as it's obviously unreliable and getting a new one from them will be far too difficult when on the road. I saw the extreme version and at first it sounded great, until I saw the size and weight! That thing is a monster! Cheers!

[@YoureNowOnTV]

@@VeloObscura Sorry to leave so many comments BTW ☺ I hope you otherwise enjoyed your cycling adventure here in Tasmania? I live here so I'm biased, but it's a pretty nice place in the world.

[@VeloObscura]

@@YoureNowOnTV - Not a problem, mate! We LOVE Tassie! It's such a fantastic place to explore. 😁

[@BluecollarBackcountry]

You are exactly right about the comfort of a larger pad. I've tried the ultralight route where you have to turn like a chicken on a rotisserie and that definitely makes for a long night. I switched back to my old Exped Downmat 5, long and wide and actually get a decent nights sleep. Its worth the weight penalties when you climb out of your tent rested and ready for another day. Nice review Dave ✌

[@VeloObscura]

Thanks, Tony! I've seen the Downmat in the past and it looks great! I think for an overnighter or whatever, an ultralight mat is fine, but for an extended trip the weight penalty of a thicker one is definitely worth it. When you live in your tent, you need to make it comfortable! Cheers.

[@66wikkan]

Thank you so much for your rewiew. Got my mat today and feels good to be prepared if something happens. 🙏

[@VeloObscura]

You're very welcome, Helén! If you have any issues just get in touch with Sea to Summit straight away. They'll help you out! 😁

[@alexandretricaud347]

I have the same issue now, ive bought this mat in 2019 and 35 nights on this.

[@VeloObscura]

The longer this video is up, the more people comment with the same issue! Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@lifetrail_hiking_mentoring]

I'm from Perth, Australia, home of Sea To Summit. I used it about 30 nights over 3 years, and suddenly, now, there is a slow leak on one side; turn it over, and there is no leak. I emailed Sea To Summit. They asked me for the batch number and replied they would replace it or refund it. Without blinking, that said it all. I agree; it's like sleeping on a cloud, so comfortable, but in the middle of a 7-day hike, and it's my business and work, it saddens me to move away and buy another brand. Thanks so much for this review.

[@ThomasRackwitz]

Same problem for me. Two weeks of sleeping on the floor, 12 holes patched. Replacement without any questions, sent to my address in Germany (kinda useless, because I'm hiking in Japan at the moment). So I decided to pick up a big Agnes and trash the etherlight. Too bad, so much potential but such bad manufacturing. I really loved the mat before it started constantly deflating

[@kathrynalexander9319]

Thank you for the review. The same thing happened to me during a 2 week hike of the great south west walk. The problem seemed to be the heat welds weaken the plastic and they start to leak after a while, as it occurred during summer, I thought that the summer heat may have played a part in softening the plastic as well. I just chucked mine and bought a cheapy which isn’t as light or insulated but more bomb proof and cheaper 😎

[@VeloObscura]

Funny how the cheaper ones seem to last better! 😆 What mat did you have that failed? Was it this one? I think you're definitely right about the welds - I had the same theory.... Although mine failed in the middle of winter! 😅

[@kathrynalexander9319]

Yes it was the ether light xt but a regular.

[@VeloObscura]

Gotcha. I think a lot of companies are getting a bit too keen with the Ultralight stuff and are making things lighter than the technology allows at this point...

[@YoureNowOnTV]

Same thing happened to me. Which pad did you switch to ?

[@perryrush5378]

Same thing happened to me but was out of the 60 day warranty period. I ordered another one because it was the best comfort of any pad I had used. I tested it when I got it. It held air so I put it up for a a season and when I used it last night on the floor in my bedroomI had to add air to get through the night. Only a little air but this morning I saw your review after recommending it to a friend so I sent your review to her. What a bummer that this problem exists with such a comfortable pad. By the way, I am a guy but ordered and loved the women's etherlite xt insulated regular. Love it's width and 4 inch side sleeping comfort!

[@VeloObscura]

Yes, the woman's version is also warmer! I would have bought that one too if it wasn't for the fact they don't make them long enough for someone who is over 6ft! It's a real bummer. If my replacement fails then I hope they will replace it again, but if not then I will most likely not use S2S products again.

[@perryrush5378]

Bummer. I am 5 ft. 3 in. so it is great.@@VeloObscura

[@goldenstardust]

Honest and thorough review. I have 2 of these mats (one is womens version). Have only used on short 1-2 night trips so far. Found the womens version to be slightly warmer and wider. Have the pillow stickers installed and they work a treat with stopping my S2S pillow sliding off. For this winter will probably pair it with my exped foldup mat for extra insulation as I tend to feel the cold. Agree it is comfy as👍

[@VeloObscura]

Glad you like em, Kathleen. It's a shame that I had the issue I did, because other than that I love it! I am jealous of the ladies version and the extra warmth, but they don't make em big enough for a unit like me. 😆

[@Truebluehendo]

G'day Bonnie and Dave, hope all's well up Nth. I can really relate to this one as I am a shocking sleeper which as you well know is not ideal for a bicycle touring (the bush camp version). So I tried a few different mats before I even ventured out on a trip. Now I've been sleeping by the fire in swags on the ground for 35 years so I'm not unaccustomed to sleeping on the ground, but that was generally on fishing trips and there was a lot of beer involved😉 I'm 5'10" and used to weigh 107kg then, I moved to the Gold Coast 5 and a half years ago and have pretty much given up drinking, so camping and sleeping without the alcohol as not been easy. I hate sleeping in the swag that i've love for 15 years and after selling the work ute a year ago, I now do everything by bike, so it was always going to be difficult carrying the swag and boxes of beer on it😉 Oh and I now weigh 82kg👍 Anyway I've ended up with a Jasper compact cot from F.E. Active which I just found online after looking at the Helinox cot one. (I, like you Dave can't cop a skinny mat, my wife reckons the sheets on my side of the bed are like they've been in the washing machine every morning because I move around so much at night.) It is 70cm wide and I use a cheap mat I got of ebay that is 60cm wide that just fits nicely in the middle and takes that feeling of lying on a bit of canvas out of the equation. So it's working really good for me being a poor sleeper, put together with a big "awesome" day on the bike, I'm getting a great night sleep no matter what type of ground I have to pitch the tent on. Yes it's way bulkier than a nice compact mat, but it's amazing what you can fit on a good bike. Cheers Guys

[@VeloObscura]

Howdy! Firstly, congratulations on the weight loss! That's a massive difference! You must feel great for it. A few beers definitely helps with the camp sleep, but obviously it has its own drawbacks as you well know! I've always been intrigued by the cot idea. I'd seen blokes using them while car camping etc, and never thought much about them until, like you, I saw the Helinox one which looked great. Don't think I'm quite ready to bike tour with a cot YET, but I can see the option being explored in the very near future! Cheers!

[@Hopped777]

I have the regular tapered size version of this and I regret not getting the wide/long as I am 6ft and roll off it. Stuck with it now, lesson learnt, but at least it’s under 500gm which is really important for my backpacking where the saving of 200gm makes a big difference. No leaks yet, but I am an infrequent user. I also have at S2S camp SI wide, extra long (220cm), rectangular, which is r5 and luxurious-great for 4 season. Weighs 1.2kg though, but very comfortable - good for car camping and short overnighters.

[@VeloObscura]

I always need to get a long mat, but I did want to get the tapered version of it. The shop only had the rectangular one in stock. It would have been nice to shave a few grams off, but I'm not complaining.... The comfort is awesome.

[@victorl.7771]

Thank for this review. I got this one to replace my ultralight insulated one. While it is really confortable in the large version i find it way colder (at around +3dg celsus seemed to be the limit) than the thinner ultralight insulated (that one had no issue at -2 to -4dg Celsus). So i am quite disapointed given the price (160GBP in the UK) so got a rab ionosphere 5.0 to see if does better in the cold...ATB

[@VeloObscura]

That's pretty interesting! I've never had any issues with the temperature rating and it's a lot warmer than my old uninsulated mat, but I don't have the Ultralight to compare it to. Thanks for the feedback! I hope the Rab works out for you! 😁

[@rhomearound]

An excellent review and testimonial, particularly about reliability. Seems like a similar problem to the Nemo Tensor Insulated, which is a popular option in this class of sleeping pad. One question not addressed here, how noisy was your Ether Light? Did it sound like a rubber balloon if you move around while sleeping?

[@VeloObscura]

Thanks mate! Happy to report that I didn't have any issues with the mat being noisy, although I have slept shirtless directly on it and did find that my skin would stick to it in a slightly uncomfortable way. Cheers!

[@YoureNowOnTV]

I wear ear plugs when camping but I find my Ether Light pretty noisey in my Polyester floor tent. That's with the pad deflated a little from max fill to make it a bit softer. I guess all inflatable mats will have a balloon rubbing sound in use but at least it doesn't sound like a bag of potato chips rustling under you. (I wouldn't recommend this pad either with the puncture issues and warranty delays BTW)

[@VeloObscura]

@@YoureNowOnTV - Interesting. Is it the Insulated version you're using? You're definitely right that they all make some sort of noise, but I didn't find mine too noisy at all. Maybe there's a difference in tent floor material I guess? I wear earplugs too btw. Game changer for me!

[@YoureNowOnTV]

@@VeloObscura Etherlight XT Insulated in the mummy shape regular size. 😉

[@andrewvickers4487]

Thanks for your top review. As I'm 20kg lighter I'm thinking it might be worth a punt, dunno. It would be used regularly like you so I'm in two minds given the price...

[@VeloObscura]

The weight might make a difference, but then it might not. I know of other people who have had the same issue and I can't tell you how much they weigh, but one of em looks lighter than me. At the end of the day, Sea to Summit will replace it if it breaks. They're really good at warranty stuff, so as long as you're not relying on it day-in-day-out like I was, then you'll probably be fine - but if you're on a long term trip or something, then it's very risky.... Cheers!

[@andrewvickers4487]

@@VeloObscura Really helps thanks

[@therock005]

Oh man i was really looking forward to purchasing this. But id hate to have to patch it up and ask for replacements. Thanx for bringing this up. Have you founf any good alternatives since then?

[@VeloObscura]

It seems that all mats with a "quilted" or "air spring" design seem to have similar issues. I was recommending the Big Agnes Rapide SL before, but it turns out that one doesn't last either. I've heard great things about the Thermarest Topo Luxe, but I haven't tried it myself.

[@therock005]

@@VeloObscura Thanx man I'll check them out. Thing is I'm not a camper, I would only need this in case of emergency. So for example let's say I go on a trip and have to sleep on a boat (like I did one year) and then when I'm at destination have it, in case I can't find a hotel, like last year 2 days we were almost left out. So I think for this sporadic use maybe it will not be as bad, combined with their no question asked policy. But in your case where you slept everyday and you where away from home for many days it sure must have been a huge problem..

[@VeloObscura]

Yeah, for sure if it's only getting used once or twice a year then it's probably fine. I think I got about 20 nights out of mine.... Maybe 22.... But yes, they'll replace it without issue. 👍

[@FrankHa.]

thank you for your revieu. That's terrible with the mat. I only need a mat for tours with light luggage, for a few days, my old light mat still lives it is the Exped Ultra r1 ( 360g ) now I'm looking for a new one with better insulation, for about 10 nights, mostly just short trips of 3-5 nights at a time. I always use a basic sheet, would you recommend it in my case.? And how is your replacement mat ? ps. For long trips I take the Exped Dura r3 the weighs but exactly 1kg, (in large and wide) it is a bit heavy, but I use it without a base sheet, also very often in my area. If you looking for something indestructible I can recommend the Exped Dura very much, maybe not in the largest size.

[@VeloObscura]

I don't know if I would ever recommend this mat. It's very, very comfortable - but reliability is just too important to me. I haven't had enough nights on the replacement mat to vouch for it, but I predict the same thing happening. Perhaps it would work fine for occasional use. S2S will replace it indefinitely, but you may spend a night or two on the floor before they do. I think I may replace it with a Big Agnes eventually.

[@user-pf1hb4jf9p]

Got exactly the same experience. Best comfort, but many holes. Waiting on the warranty through my dealer (which is a terrible complain which I now learn) I'm curious which mat you use now, since I'm in the market ;)

[@VeloObscura]

Such a shame! I still have the same mat, as I haven't been traveling for a while. I'll be setting off touring again in April, so it'll be interesting to see how long it lasts... 🫤

[@senectarius9685]

Hi :) So how did it turn out? ​@@VeloObscura

[@VeloObscura]

@@senectarius9685 - Haven't used it all that much, but so far so good.

[@davidcolinstillman5585]

AMEN TO THAT 🙏

[@garycook3943]

I'm hoping for better from my StS after giving up on Exped defoliating

[@VeloObscura]

I hope it does better than mine! What model did you go for?

[@erikl.1860]

I also had an Exped mat. Was very happy with it since 2019. But then last year (2022) it also started to ‘delaminate’. I received a replacement and took it on my bicycle tour to Turkey. After 4 months it also started to delaminate. I was thinking of buying the S2S Etherlight XT, but now I’m hesitating. No point in having a good sleep for some time, and then end up sleeping on the ground in the middle of a long tour!

[@VeloObscura]

S2S will provide replacements indefinitely, so it's probably fine for a weekend warrior - but if you're planning on any longer trips, then there's no way that I would trust it!

[@maxflight777]

I purchased a battery powered pump (charges from USB) . Superb and compact.

[@VeloObscura]

I will be reviewing one of those in a few weeks. 👍

[@Tokoroegao]

Have they fixed the issue in the meantime?

[@VeloObscura]

I heard a rumour that they had, but only on a Facebook group. I haven't heard anything from the source - and probably won't because they seem very reluctant to admit there is any issue with the product. Short answer: Who knows....

[@Tokoroegao]

@@VeloObscura I tried to sort reviews to more current to get a feeling if there is a trend. And while this type of failure happens too often to be ignored, it is too infrequent to get a good reading on the trend. I am looking for comfort up to about 2lbs and moderate temps (maybe down to 5-8°C). What pad would you recommend at this time?

[@VeloObscura]

@@Tokoroegao - If my warranty replacement failed I was going to ask them for a Comfort Plus as a replacement. It's heavier, but I've heard great reviews and haven't heard anything negative about durability. Other mats on my radar are the Thermarest Topo Luxe and the Big Agnes Rapide SL. Both of those I've heard good reports of from sources I trust. 👍

[@Tokoroegao]

@@VeloObscura Thank you! The Rapide SL is on my radar, too. It's just a pretty hefty price.

[@paulevans5455]

I lost confidence in in Sea to Summit mats ages ago.Went across to a Zempire Monster mat, it was good but failed more often than my old budget mat. I am a heavy weight run 90kg to 105 kg and mats are not made for continuous use by me , weight weenies would love most on the market but quality, long time use is relatively poor,when you are making super strong lightweight mats.

[@VeloObscura]

Yeah, I mean to a degree I can sort of understand lightweight gear having a sort of "lifespan" and I totally get that it isn't as tough as some of the heavier gear, but this one failed after 22 nights or thereabouts and that's just unacceptable. The bloke I talked to said that his generally only lasted about 20-30 nights before failing too. I really wish I was one of those people who can sleep on the thin foam mats.... It would be so much easier....

[@brianward7724]

@@VeloObscura I believe you can get thicker foam mats now, Dave. I bought the thinner one a few years ago but it's definitely not thick enough for my old bones. There's no way that I would be able to afford this S2S mat, so it definitely isn't an issue for me. Btw, what is the R factor? Oh, when my mate & I toured Tassie in '68, there were no mats - at least, not as far as we knew.

[@VeloObscura]

Yeah, there's a bunch of them out there. I actually have a Nemo Switchback foam mat that I used when the S2S one had deteriorated too far. It's supposedly one of the better ones out there, but I struggled with it. I think I could do a weekend with it, but any more than that would be too much. R-Value is the figure they use to indicate the amount of insulation a mat provides. The higher it is, the warmer it is. I think for alpine conditions they recommend a R-Value of at least 6 and this one at 3.2 is rated for standard 3 season use. I think an R-Value of 4ish is recommended for non-alpine winter use (don't quote me on that). I believe the foam mat I have has an R-Value of 2, but the big heavy self-inflating ones are often pretty high. Regarding the price - It's a pricey mat for sure, but I don't think I paid anywhere near that much for it.... I think I paid about $270 maybe? You can get it on Snowy's right now for $212. Maybe I'll add that to the description!

[@Arbitrage69]

OK, so if you can't recommend this mat, that which mat do you recommend?

[@VeloObscura]

Hard to say, as everyone has different needs. Some people would sacrifice comfort for lighter weight and others would sacrifice weight/packability in order to gain more comfort. I don't have experience with too many mats, but I've heard great recommendations for Thermarest, Exped, Nemo and Klymit. You'll have to do your own research to find which one fits your use case best. I've even heard great reviews of different Sea to Summit mats such as the Comfort Plus, that don't seem to have the same issue as this one. Cheers.

[@paulkhanna1]

It's a damn shame, because the etherlight xt is so comfortable! The failure rate is unacceptably high.

[@bradl2636]

In 2024 are the problems resolved...?

[@VeloObscura]

My replacement has been ok so far, but I haven't used it extensively as I'm currently touring in Java where accommodation is very cheap. I'll find out once I get further into SE Asia. I've heard rumours that the issue has been fixed, but nothing concrete. I wouldn't bet on it.

[@bradl2636]

@@VeloObscura Word from local retailer is they think its been fixed. Too many customer complaints they would have stopped carrying it. Interested others recent experience. I'm a heavy side sleeper 107kg and this one keeps getting recommended.

[@VeloObscura]

@@bradl2636 - Interesting. If it's a big enough retailer of S2S gear and they sell enough of it, I suppose they'd be the ones to ask based on how many returns they get. Interesting!

[@bradl2636]

@@VeloObscura I live in S2S headquarters city... I might give them a call or go visit the office to clarify...

[@VeloObscura]

Isn't their HQ in Perth? Maybe you'll have more luck than I did. When my first mat failed after something like 22 nights and I contacted them about it, I asked if the problem had been fixed and the person I spoke to completely dodged the question.

[@grego10r]

well will not buy sts for sure now ty used me KLYMIT Double V Sleeping Pad, 78$ one sines 2018 still working lol

[@VeloObscura]

Those Klymit mats are great!

[@MrWipex]

Same happened to me. Failing time and time again in the airspring dimples (holes). Their welding technique is just rubbish!! Do Not Buy this pad!!

[@VeloObscura]

Crazy that the problem is so widespread and the product hasn't been discontinued!

[@MrWipex]

To make matter worse, in my case, they even admitted the product issue, but refused to send me a new mat!! So irritating unproffessional.

[@VeloObscura]

@@MrWipex - Really? That's pretty unusual. What reason did they give for refusing a replacement?

[@MagicshineLights]

[@VeloObscura]

❤️