Comfortable Inflation, Enhanced Support: Sea to Summit Pursuit Self-Inflating Sleeping Mat Evaluation
The Sea to Summit Pursuit Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad is a popular choice among outdoor enthusiasts, offering comfort, durability, and solid three-season performance. Here's a closer look at this sleeping pad's key features.
Specifications
The Sea to Summit Pursuit Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad has an R-value of 3, making it ideal for late spring, summer, and early fall backpacking. It measures 72" x 22" x 2" (Regular mummy) when inflated, and packs down to a size of 5.5" x 11.4" (Regular mummy). The pad thickness is 2", providing a comfortable sleeping surface.
The Large Contour version of the Pursuit Sleeping Pad weighs 1 pound, 9.7 ounces, making it a slightly heavier option compared to ultralight alternatives.
Design and Features
The Pursuit Sleeping Pad is made with recycled fabric, is Bluesign-approved, and is solution-dyed to save water, energy, and carbon emissions. It uses horizontal coring to reduce weight and improve comfort. The pad also features a patent-pending "XPEL Valve" that combines one-way inflation and one-way deflation in a single valve.
Inflating the pad requires five lungfuls of breath. When fully inflated, the pad only self-inflates to about 65-75%. This means that some manual inflation may be necessary to achieve the desired firmness.
Usage and Maintenance
The Pursuit Sleeping Pad takes up a fair share of room in a backpack. When fully deflated, it is about as big as a football. The valve requires attention when deflating and re-inflating, but this is a common feature among self-inflating pads.
One downside to the Pursuit Sleeping Pad is that it tends to stain easily. However, with proper care, these stains can be minimised.
Competition in the Market
The Sea to Summit Pursuit Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad competes with several other top-rated backpacking sleeping pads. These include the Thermarest NeoAir XTherm, Klymit Static V2, Big Agnes Divide Insulated Sleeping Pad, Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Air, Thermarest Prolite Apex, Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated, Sea to Summit Comfort Plus SI, and NEMO Tensor All-Season.
Each of these competitors excels in different areas, such as weight, insulation (R-value), cost, and comfort. The Thermarest NeoAir XTherm and NEMO Tensor stand out for their ultralight and highly insulative options, while the Big Agnes and lower-cost Klymit Static V2 offer value picks. Sea to Summit’s own Comfort Plus SI and Ultralight Insulated Air pads are also strong alternatives focusing on comfort or minimal weight.
In summary, the Pursuit pad is a reliable all-rounder that offers comfort, durability, and solid three-season performance. However, it is slightly heavier and less packable than some ultralight options available in the market.
[1] OutdoorGearLab [2] Backpacker [3] GearJunkie
- For individuals who embrace the camping lifestyle during the warmer seasons, the Sea to Summit Pursuit Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad is a popular choice for its comfort and three-season performance, making it suitable for backpacking and outdoor-living.
- This sleeping pad's design incorporates recycled fabric, horizontal coring for reduced weight and improved comfort, and a patent-pending XPEL Valve for easy inflation and deflation, making it a great option for those who enjoy outdoor-living and sports.
- Those who prefer home-and-garden comforts while camping might appreciate the Sea to Summit Pursuit Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad for its comfort and durable features, but for those who prioritize ultralight options, there are alternatives available in the market that offer less weight and more packability.
