REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Bounce-free design
Excellent pump sack
REASONS TO AVOID
Dated valves
Material fragile
Exped Ultra 3R Duo Review
This sleeping pad is incredibly lightweight for a double-size sleeping pad
The Schnozzle system is one of the highlights of the Exped sleeping pad line. The pump is made of extremely lightweight material and even the hint of a breeze poofs it to full capacity. This makes pad inflation efficient, though the Ultra 3r does take some time to fully inflate.
Credit: Brian Martin
Our Verdict
The Exped Ultra 3r Duo is a lightweight sleeping pad made with backpacking couples in mind. This clever pad allows for a significant comfort boost over single sleeping pads while avoiding the significant weight penalty often found in large tent-floor-style sleeping pads. While it does seem like sacrifices were made in overall build quality, i.e. dated valve design and relatively fragile fabric, it is impossible to ignore how lightweight and comfortable this pad was. We think with a proper repair kit and knowledge of its use, this pad could be a viable option for those wanting to experience the warmth and comfort offered by a tent-floor-size sleeping pad without lugging around two to five extra pounds of material.
Our Analysis and Test Results
This svelt double-size sleeping pad is an excellent option for hiking couples looking to keep pack weight reasonable and not compromise on comfort. The eye towards maintaining an overall weight sets this pad apart.
Performance Comparison
The Ultra 3r double sleeping pad is a truly light weight option for couples looking to boost their comfort while backpacking.
Credit: Brian Martin
Comfort
Overall we found the comfort offered by the Ultra 3r Duo to be notable. The fabric is textured and quiet, there are separate air chambers for each sleeper, and the three inches of air padding was more than adequate. We found the separate air chambers to be a highlight in the comfort department. Each individual can move and bounce without the effect being felt at all by the other sleeper. Separate air chambers allowed us to dial in the desired firmness for each individual and surprisingly there was no void or ridge felt between the two separate chambers, allowing for trouble-free spooning!
Completely separate air chambers allow each individual to adjust the firmness to their own needs. The seam between each chamber is not noticeable which we appreciated mid snuggle.
Credit: Brian Martin
Weight and Packed Size
Forty-three ounces might sound like a big number, but it's barely heavier than two individual lightweight sleeping pads and offers some significant benefits for that bit of extra weight. In truth, we found 43 ounces to be very lightweight considering this pad covers the entire floor of our Black Diamond Firstlight Two-Person tent. Not only does it cover the entire floor, but it also pushes the walls out a touch making the tent feel a bit bigger.
We also found the packed size to be completely reasonable. It's not much larger than our standard one-liter french press. Yes, this package is harder to find space for in a small pack but some clever packing can make hauling the Ultra 3r Duo a snap.
Next to our one-liter french press, the Ultra 3r shows its packed size. Not so big it took up our entire pack but also large enough to necessitate thoughtful packing.
Credit: Brian Martin
Warmth
Typically, with new ASTM r-value standards, the r-value is incredibly informative regarding the overall insulation properties of a sleeping pad. Duo pads come with some benefits single pads don't have, which, in our experience, boost the overall warmth. The Ultra 3r Duo was no exception. We felt it outperformed its 2.9 claimed r-value as we stayed toasty warm with 30-degree sleeping bags on a chilly fall night at about 8000 feet.
The ability to have the entire tent floor covered with padding and insulation gives the overall feeling of a higher r-value than the Ultra 3r is rated for.
Credit: Brian Martin
Ease of Inflation
While having two separate air chambers does allow each individual to fine-tune the inflation, it does add to the already laborious nature of inflating this pad. We didn't find inflation of this pad particularly difficult, however, and the included “Schnozzle” pump sack is feather-light and works incredibly well. Even at a brisk pace, it took us about 5-8 minutes to fully unpack and inflate the Ultra 3r Duo.
The Schnozzle system is one of the highlights of the Exped sleeping pad line. The pump is made of extremely lightweight material and even the hint of a breeze poofs it to full capacity. This makes pad inflation efficient, though the Ultra 3r does take some time to fully inflate.
Credit: Brian Martin
Durability
Unfortunately, during our testing, while our 120lbs gear tester was sitting in the center of one side of the pad, a muffled popping sound was heard followed by rushing air. A .5 cm by .5cm triangle-shaped hole appeared without provocation. This was on the top face of the sleeping pad without any involvement of sharp objects or anything that might inflict this type of damage.
The pad did come with two large fabric sections, Expeds own brand of textile glue, and patching instructions. We found the instructions to be easy to follow and were ultimately able to repair the sleeping pad. We feel that this may be an isolated event and we were able to fix the pad without rendering it unusable.
The Exped Ultra 3R Duo is a great comfort option for backpacking couples.
Credit: Brian Martin
Value
While the price tag may seem steep, we found the Ultra 3r Duo to represent a solid overall value. It's comfortable, very lightweight, and does the job of two sleeping pads! The material durability may be a question mark, but in the end, the included repair kit was more than adequate with all necessary materials and instructions. If you and your hiking partner are looking to boost your overall comfort on the next backpacking trip the Ultra 3r Duo is worth a look.
The Exped Ultra 3r is indeed a svelt package offering comfort without weighing you down.
Credit: Brian Martin
Conclusion
With some durability concerns, we wouldn't recommend using this sleeping pad for heavy car camping and instead, feel that it's light weight and packability make it a uniquely capable backpacking dedicated duo sleeping pad. The comfort offered by individual air chambers and having the entire floor of the tent covered in padding and insulation made for some very pleasant nights of sleep.
—
Brian Martin
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