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Sea to Summit Ultra Light Insulated Women's Mat Review

Sea to Summit has a huge range of sleeping mats available to suit all needs and budgets – so many that it can be difficult to navigate. Here is the first of a series of reviews of the Sea to Summit range to help you make the right choice.

The Sea to Summit Ultra Light Insulated mat for women is well, a bit of a surprise packet. It is packed with features.

The trend in women’s sleeping mats is for them to reflect the shape of women – this means slightly wider at the hip and narrower at the shoulder. This is obviously a generalisation which some women’s mats get right and others not so. The Sea to Summit women’s Ultra Light Insulated mat gets this pretty right – for me at least!

The next thing to look for in a women’s mat is the insulating factor. The generalisation is that women feel the cold more and therefore need some additional insulation to reduce the impact of lying on the cool ground. Again, this mat accommodates this need by combining an Exkin Platinum® layer and a thicker THERMOLITE® insulative layer into a single layer. The result is a warm mat (the R-value is 3.5) that is also light and compact when packed.

The next important feature to look for is comfort. There is nothing worse than tossing and turning after a tiring day on the trail because you don’t have enough cushioning underneath. Also, side sleepers (male and female) need a bit of extra cushioning to prevent their hips from hitting rock bottom. The Sea to Summit Ultra Light Insulated mat incorporates Air Sprung Cell™ comfort coupled with what Sea to Summit refers to as a ‘dot weld pattern’ that disperses pressure across the mat for a more comfortable night’s sleep.

The colour of mat is Paprika which is kinda pinky-orange. Not my favourite but it certainly stands out! The weight of the mat is 480 grams (regular size) which is comparable to other light weight insulated sleeping mats for women of comparable R-value.

The length of the ‘regular’ size  is good for me (I am 165 cm) but if you are above average height, consider the ‘large’ size or opt for the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated mat.

This mat is a little noisy but not to the extent of other sleeping mats – I’m thinking of the Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite here. If the noise bothers you (or your hiking buddies), just slip the mat inside a sleeping bag liner!

I love Sea to Summit’s Airstream™ Pump Sack which allows you to pump up the mat in little time and without turning blue in the face!

The Sea to Summit Ultra Light Insulated Women’s mat is a great mat packed with features. So if you are looking for a warm, comfortable and lightweight sleeping mat then this is a great choice. One final comment that I would make here is just because this mat is sold as ‘women’s’ mat it doesn’t mean that guys looking for a warmer mat shouldn’t consider it as an option.

I would be very happy sleeping on this mat and I’m confident you will be too!

We Like

• Very low weight and size means you hardly notice this sleeping pad in your pack
• Good resistance to cold for its size and weight which will keep you warm
• Great for side sleepers as your hips won’t dig into the ground giving you a better night’s sleep
• The Airstream™ Pump Sack is included for super easy inflation – this is a great innovation!
• Ultra-Fresh® anti-microbial treatment to prevent internal mould growth – who doesn’t need that?
• Accommodates the Sea to Summit Pillow Lock™ to attach an Aeros™ pillow to the mat (sold separately)

We Don't Like

• The cost. The recommended retail price is not a cheap sleeping but you get what you pay for and  this mat is by no means at the top end of the pricing range
• Can be a bit noisy at night time but the noise can be dampened by placing the mat inside a sleeping bag liner
• May be a bit short if you are above average height in which case the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated mat could be a better option for you

Best Uses

• Hikers seeking to minimise their pack weight
• Great for side sleepers and those wanting a bit of extra comfort and warmth
• Great for male or female hikers

Buy One

You can purchase the Sea to Summit Ultra Light Insulated mat for women online from Snowys or from Wild Earth, or from Wildfire Sports

Disclosure:  We may earn a small commission, at no additional expense to you, if you click through and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us!

Investment

AUD $249.99 RRP  keep an eye out for the regular sales

Other Versions

Sea to Summit has a large range of sleeping mats and pads to suit your needs including the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated in men’s and women’s versions

Sea to Summit Insulated Sleeping Women’s mat inflated

Close up of the Sea to Summit sprung cell construction

Sea to Summit Ultra Light Insulated Women’s mat side view

Sea to Summit multi function valve makes this mat very easy to blow up without passing out

Sea to Summit sleeping mat being being inflated

Rolling up the Sea to Summit Ultra Light Insulated Women’s mat

Pillow lock example showing an Aeros Pillow

Sea to Summit Sleeping mat comparison. 1 litre water bottle versus the Sea to Summit Sleeping Mat Comparison versus the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated mat

Disclaimer

This review was done with product provided on loan by Sea to Summit

Last updated

25/11/2023

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