"Ultimate REI Co-op Helix Sleeping Pad Review: The Perfect Backpacking Essential!"

[@ManivanAdventures]

I love this pad actually! Saw it on sale for $80 and could not resist! Heavier than my Nemo Tensor, but higher r-value and seems much more durable. I also find it to be just as comfortable as my Tensor, if not more because of the material it is made out of. Great pad and a great deal even at full price! 🤙🏼

[@BackpackingGearNut]

I was surprised at how comfortable it is; it's a reasonable price, especially since it is on sale often.

[@christianturman1306]

Thank you for talking about this pad. I love REI and I got this pad recently during their spring sale for a great price for both me and my fiancée. Super warm, great price, and very comfortable!

[@BackpackingGearNut]

It is cheaper than most major brands; I was surprised at how much I liked it.

[@arthurvino]

$79 on sale - steal for such a nice pad.

[@BackpackingGearNut]

@@arthurvino I feel this is a good budget pad that is not lacking! I have seen these on sale several times in the last year.

[@ajw9975]

Nice review. I have the S2S Ether Light XT. It is comfortable and the fabric is not an issue for me. What is an issue is that I agree it sleeps cold. The dimples are a weak point in that they are not insulated. Along with that, the reflective layer just kind of floats on top of the bottom side of the pad, leaving a huge unbaffled air space above it. Cold air seeps in from the sides and where your bag doesn't cover the pad (i.e. the leg area). This is a big design flaw. Good to see this being recognized in many of the newer pad designs out there.

[@BackpackingGearNut]

Thank you for sharing your experience with the S2S Ether Light XT. It's great to hear your feedback on its comfort and design flaws. I know that most people I have talked to love it.

[@frogturtle]

dude…I just got the therm-a-rest xlite NXT and my arm was falling asleep on it repeatedly. I remember trying a more quilted style pad at REI, I think a Nemo one, and it felt comfortable but the r-value wasn’t as good. This thing seems awesome. higher r-value than the xlite, more comfortable pattern, and less expensive. the offset quilting is genius because it lets you have the comfort of that pattern without producing cold spots in theory. downside is it’s a bit heavier than the xlite, but having my arm fall asleep and messing up my ability to sleep well isn’t worth the weight savings. sleep is critical! I might be in the market for this pad. thanks for sharing!

[@BackpackingGearNut]

My pleasure! Thank you for sharing your story for others to see. Have a blessed day!

[@BigDawgCAM]

I think 24in width per person is a fair trade to make with tent manufacturers. By that logic, a two person tent should have be at least 48in wide and a three person at least 72in wide across the entire tent floor to qualify as such. The current 20in per person just isn't enough, especially for bigger men like myself, and it's ridiculous for tent manufacturers to mark them as such

[@BackpackingGearNut]

Good observation!

[@CarlosDangerTheThird]

Thanks for your review

[@BackpackingGearNut]

My Pleasure

[@Taffer-bx7uc]

I own a couple of the older versions and boy are they warm! I wouldn't recommend using these during the summer because they are warm.

[@BackpackingGearNut]

I have used it in hot and cold weather and have been comfortable. I mostly sleep with a quilt, so it is easy for me to regulate the temp. I have never slept with this matt add a temperature above 70°F

[@joh8379]

I'd wonder how it compares to the big agnes rapide sl in terms of comfort. 🤔

[@BackpackingGearNut]

They are both extremely comfortable. They both have their advantages. If you like the taller side ribs on the Rapide SL that center you on the pad, I would go with the big Agnes. If you’d like the quilting effect of the REI helix then go with that one. I can tell you because I’ve had many hours on both, and I sleep great on either one.

[@chrisr2925]

Mark, those valves look a lot like the ones on my Rapide XL. Does the REI inflator fit both?

[@BackpackingGearNut]

I pulled them out and checked; they are not the same size. I hope that helps.

[@chrisr2925]

@@BackpackingGearNut it does. Thank you.

[@BackpackingGearNut]

@@chrisr2925 My Pleasure!

[@joh8379]

Why do I feel someone is pointing a gun to your head? Thanks for the review I'll consider the REI. ✌️

[@BackpackingGearNut]

Not sure and at the time of filming this, I wasn’t an affiliate for REI, but I am an affiliate for amazon If my review was about making money I would’ve suggested the Sea to summit pad. I do my best to always be truthful with my reviews. I hope that helps. Thank for your input😀

[@misterritter9854]

Do you get a more balanced support from the quilted pattern? I've always been too uncomfortable on airpads with regular horizontal or vertical baffles, as it just feels like i kind of crater into, no matter how firm or soft I inflate it. I've been tempted to try a quilted baffle pad though (saves a lot of space over a foam inflating).

[@BackpackingGearNut]

Yes, particularly with the REI mat. It’s one of the most comfortable I’ve ever laid on and out of the quilted designs for me. It’s the best. You don’t feel like you’re on the balloons at all. I’m going to put out a video about the sea to summit ether light XT this week, and my final verdict is after having it for a very long time and using that many times I don’t find it to be comfortable. It feels to baloony to me and I don’t feel like the quilted pattern works like the REI Matt does. I also state that the majority of people you hear talking about it love it. So that’s just my personal feeling about it but the REI Matt I know is on sale right now so you can basically get it for less than half the price of the sea to summit mat

[@misterritter9854]

@@BackpackingGearNut Thanks so much for the reply! "Balloons" is definitely an accurate description of the feeling, so it's good to know you're coming from the same place so to speak. I will likely give the Helix a try!

[@BackpackingGearNut]

Glad I could be of help!

[@behind-the-gear]

100 percent correct! the fabric they use makes a big difference in comfort. Also I know you did an in depth review because you hit every thing i have noticed with my pad. Especially blowing it up.

[@BackpackingGearNut]

Thank You for the critique. It helps!

[@phillipgardner3297]

Wish they still made it in green😢

[@BackpackingGearNut]

I like the green, but I’ve also liked some of the new colors. For the last three years, they’ve had a new color every year.

[@BigDawgCAM]

Mark, can I ask how wide the Helix is at the foot? It looks like it tapers down to about 20 in. I'm thinking of transitioning from my S2S Etherlight to one of these! I can probably sell my old pad for how much one of these costs.

[@BackpackingGearNut]

I just measured it, and it is about 20 inches at the foot. Hope that helps!

[@arthurvino]

30d is the material

[@BackpackingGearNut]

Thanks! That is helpful!

[@CharmingGecko]

You know I wasn’t joking when I posted that coupon code. Strange you would simply delete the post. You should investigate before jumping to conclusions lol.

[@BackpackingGearNut]

I didn't delete anything. I don't know what happened.

[@CharmingGecko]

@@BackpackingGearNut Oh that’s strange. KZbin must have thought I was a bit. Big Agnes has a code out right now that lowers the regular wide Zoom UL to about 150 bucks, or other items but whatever percent. BATEAM is the code.

[@BackpackingGearNut]

@Cloud 👍

[@olivern4784]

Have you compared it to the Expad 5R?

[@EricFleming231]

Paria has same dimensions, similar R value, same price and is an inch thicker, an inch wider, and doesn't have a tapered bottom.

[@BackpackingGearNut]

I have had the Paria XL insulated, and it was so uncomfortable for me. This is particular to my preference. I must state that horizontal baffles are less comfortable than quilted-style baffles. Personal preference. That company makes excellent stuff. How long have you been using their mat? How does it compare to other mats you have slept on? It is good for people to get more than just my opinion. Thanks!

[@AdilSadik1991]

Dumb question but why is the pad blue on their website but yours is green?

[@BackpackingGearNut]

Two years ago, when the pad first came out, it only came in green; now, it only comes in blue. They're exactly the same, just a different color. They've made no other changes. I think they just like to freshen it up once in a while by adding a new color.

[@FranklinHicks-qs4gs]

Mind if I ask your weight

[@BackpackingGearNut]

245lbs