Best sleeping pad for Scandinavian mountain hiking and thru-hiking – Gröna Bandet
Response counts and average ratings describe different things. Brand averages are not ratings for every model.
Best sleeping pad for Scandinavian mountain hiking? Hikers’ experiences on Gröna Bandet
Nemo and Therm-a-Rest lead the five most frequently reported sleeping-pad brands by average rating in the 2026 dataset. At model level, Tensor All-Season scores 9.5/10 from two responses, XLite NXT 8.5/10 from four, and Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated 9.5/10 from two. Exped Ultra 3R is the most frequently identified model, with five responses and 8.6/10. Frequency and satisfaction answer different questions.
Lightweight sleeping pads for thru-hiking in the Scandinavian mountains
Choose ground insulation, dimensions and comfort as part of your complete sleep system. Compare the weight of the size you will actually carry; a Regular specification does not describe a wider or longer pad. Check the exact generation before using a published weight or R-value.
What R-value do you need for summer and cold mountain nights?
R-value describes resistance to heat loss through the ground. Choose for the expected conditions and your own need for a margin. An R-value is not an exact minimum temperature that applies to every sleeper.
Inflatable sleeping pad or closed-cell foam?
An inflatable main pad and a thin foam mat can be used together. Keep these roles separate when comparing products: the survey does not provide an independent rating for each component of a combined setup.
Which sleeping pad works for side sleepers?
Check width, thickness and support around your hips and shoulders, as well as fit inside the tent. The survey cannot identify a separate winner for side sleepers because that group is not isolated in this comparison.
Reference specifications – separate from survey ratings
Manufacturer references: XLite NXT Regular: R 4.5, 370 g; Tensor All-Season Regular Mummy: R 5.4, 400 g minimum weight, 480 g packed; Rab Ultrasphere 5 Regular: R 5.5, 345 g. These sizes are not verified for every respondent’s pad. Exped currently lists R 3.2 and 450 g for rectangular Ultra 3R M; do not assign these values to an unidentified older generation.
Therm-a-Rest · Nemo · Rab · Exped ·Reference specifications – separate from survey ratings
| Model | R-value | Weight | Hiker rating | Main intended use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exped Ultra 3R | Generation not identified in survey | Size not identified in survey | 8.6/10 · 5 responses | Hiking in moderate conditions; check the version |
| Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT | 4.5 (reference) | 370 g · Regular | 8.5/10 · 4 responses | Long-distance hiking with a focus on low weight |
| Nemo Tensor All-Season | 5.4 (reference) | 400 g minimum · Regular Mummy | 9.5/10 · 2 responses | Hiking with a focus on insulation and comfort |
| Rab Ultrasphere 5 | 5.5 (reference) | 345 g · Regular | 8.0/10 · 2 responses | Long-distance hiking with a focus on low weight and packed volume |
Reference sizes: XLite NXT Regular 183 × 51 cm; Tensor All-Season Regular Mummy 183 × 51 cm; Ultrasphere 5 Regular 183 × 51 cm. Size and generation are not verified for each respondent’s pad. Nemo lists 480 g packed weight. Intended uses are editorial guidance, not survey findings.
Gramjakt R6 and Gramlite 3 mm in the survey
Gramjakt UL R6 scores 9.0/10 from one response in the 2026 model table. This is a small sample, not a general test result. Gramlite is mentioned as a supplementary foam mat; there is no separate rating and the data does not reliably identify the 3 mm version.
Results 2026
| Brand | Responses | Average rating | Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Therm-a-Rest | 17 | 9.0 | 17 |
| Exped | 17 | 8.5 | 17 |
| Nemo | 6 | 9.3 | 6 |
| Sea to Summit | 6 | 8.8 | 6 |
| Rab | 6 | 8.3 | 6 |
| Rank | Model | Responses | Average rating | Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exped Ultra 3R | 5 | 8.6 | 5 |
| 2 | Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT | 4 | 8.5 | 4 |
| 3 | Nemo Tensor All-Season | 2 | 9.5 | 2 |
| 3 | Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated | 2 | 9.5 | 2 |
| 5 | Rab Ultrasphere 5 | 2 | 8.0 | 2 |
| 6 | Big Agnes Zoom UL | 1 | 10.0 | 1 |
| 6 | Nemo Tensor Elite | 1 | 10.0 | 1 |
| 6 | Nemo Tensor Extreme Conditions | 1 | 10.0 | 1 |
| 6 | Sea to Summit Ether Light XT | 1 | 10.0 | 1 |
| 10 | Exped HyperLite | 1 | 9.0 | 1 |
| 10 | Exped SynMat HL Winter | 1 | 9.0 | 1 |
| 10 | Gramjakt UL R6 | 1 | 9.0 | 1 |
Combined 2024–2026
| Brand | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Therm-a-Rest | 29 responses · 8.2 (29 ratings) | 8 responses · 8.5 (8 ratings) | 17 responses · 9.0 (17 ratings) | 54 responses · 8.5 (54 ratings) |
| Exped | 14 responses · 8.3 (14 ratings) | 3 responses · 9.7 (3 ratings) | 17 responses · 8.5 (17 ratings) | 34 responses · 8.5 (34 ratings) |
| Sea to Summit | 6 responses · 9.2 (6 ratings) | 1 response · 10.0 (1 rating) | 6 responses · 8.8 (6 ratings) | 13 responses · 9.1 (13 ratings) |
| Nemo | 2 responses · 10.0 (2 ratings) | 1 response · 10.0 (1 rating) | 6 responses · 9.3 (6 ratings) | 9 responses · 9.6 (9 ratings) |
| Rab | 0 responses · – (0 ratings) | 0 responses · – (0 ratings) | 6 responses · 8.3 (6 ratings) | 6 responses · 8.3 (6 ratings) |
| Model | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Total responses | Combined average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exped Ultra 3R | 0 responses · – | 2 responses · 9.5 | 5 responses · 8.6 | 7 | 8.9 (7 ratings) |
| Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite | 4 responses · 7.8 | 1 response · 5.0 | 0 responses · – | 5 | 7.2 (5 ratings) |
| Nemo Tensor All-Season | 1 response · 10.0 | 1 response · 10.0 | 2 responses · 9.5 | 4 | 9.8 (4 ratings) |
| Sea to Summit Ether Light XT | 3 responses · 9.7 | 0 responses · – | 1 response · 10.0 | 4 | 9.8 (4 ratings) |
| Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT | 0 responses · – | 0 responses · – | 4 responses · 8.5 | 4 | 8.5 (4 ratings) |
| Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated | 1 response · 9.0 | 0 responses · – | 2 responses · 9.5 | 3 | 9.3 (3 ratings) |
| Exped Ultra 5R | 1 response · 10.0 | 1 response · 10.0 | 0 responses · – | 2 | 10.0 (2 ratings) |
| Exped HyperLite | 1 response · 9.0 | 0 responses · – | 1 response · 9.0 | 2 | 9.0 (2 ratings) |
| Rab Ultrasphere 5 | 0 responses · – | 0 responses · – | 2 responses · 8.0 | 2 | 8.0 (2 ratings) |
| Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL | 2 responses · 8.0 | 0 responses · – | 0 responses · – | 2 | 8.0 (2 ratings) |
Method and first-hand data
The 2026 dataset contains 62 responses: 35 concern the full Gröna Bandet route, 26 sections and one gives no route extent. This is self-reported first-hand experience, not a controlled product test or a representative sample of all hikers. The year identifies the survey dataset, not a verified hiking year.
The yearly datasets contain 60 responses (2024), 15 (2025) and 62 (2026). The same person may appear in more than one year. In 2024 the score concerns the whole sleep system; later questions distinguish sleeping bag/quilt and sleeping-pad setup. Combined averages therefore mix different questions and are not directly comparable product-test scores.
Backpackinglight runs the survey and also sells outdoor equipment, including its own brands. A single top score is one person’s experience.