Exped
Exped Ultra 3R (M, 183 x 52 cm)
Best use
- Made for
- Bikepacking, Backpacking and wild camping
- Not for
- Winter mountain
Why these labels
- Bikepacking: The maker states this use, and the published specs do not rule it out.
- Backpacking and wild camping: The maker states this use, and the published specs do not rule it out.
- Winter mountain: R-value 3.2: too little insulation on frozen ground
From the maker's stated use and the published specs.
- Summer wild camp: 7/10 UK, roughly May to September, nights above about 8 °C, sheltered pitches.
- Three-season hills: 6/10 UK hills in spring and autumn. Wind, rain, and nights near freezing.
- Winter camp: 4/10 UK winter or high ground. Below freezing, strong wind, possibly snow. Capped at 4: needs warmth 7+ (R 4 or more).
- Weight: 8/10 How much it adds to your pack, compared with the whole market.
R-value 3.2 (ASTM).
Hikers who want a thick, quiet air mat with a built-in pump bag
- Valve
- flat valve
- Type
- Air
- R-value
- 3.2 (ASTM)
- Weight
- 450 g (M)
- Thickness
- 7 cm
- Size
- 183 x 52 cm
Packed size 2.2 L, 23 cm long and 11 cm across Compare with a 2-litre bottle
Shorter than a 2-litre bottle and about as wide as one. Drawn to scale.
Where to buy
Alpinetrek £128.96 In stock. Free delivery. Price includes duties and taxes; delivery estimate 5 to 7 working days; free UK delivery from £85.
View at shop: AlpinetrekUltralight Outdoor Gear £169.99 In stock. Free delivery. Shop lists RRP £184.99.
View at shop: Ultralight Outdoor GearPrices checked 8 Nov 2026 on each shop's own page; shops can change them. We earn no commission on these links; shops are listed by price. More
Our ratings (out of 10)
1 to 10, compared with the whole market. Each says what it's based on. How we score
Warmth
From maker's figures 5/10How well it stops the cold ground chilling you. 5: Does the job. Average for wild-camping gear.
Exped's page lists an ASTM R-value of 3.2, in the R 3–3.9 band: spring to early autumn, not winter. Reviews of the earlier version quote R 2.9.
Thickness
From maker's figures 7/10How deep it is. Deeper is comfier, above all for side sleepers. 7: Better than most.
7 cm thick.
Quietness
Estimate from maker's specs: mat type (fewer than 3 reviews about noise) 5/10How little it crinkles or squeaks when you turn over. 5: Does the job. Average for wild-camping gear.
No review we found says how noisy it is, so this is an estimate from the mat type.
Weight
From maker's figures 8/10How much it adds to your pack. 8: Clearly better than most.
450 g (Exped's figure for M, without the pump bag) sits in the 400–549 g band. Shop listings give 465 g.
Packed size
From maker's figures 7/10How much room it takes in or on your rucksack. 7: Better than most.
Maker gives 23 x 11 cm packed: 3.1416 x 5.5 x 5.5 x 23 = 2,186 cm³, about 2.2 L, in the 1.5–2.4 L band.
What reviewers say (out of 10)
Ratings marked * are from reviews and are not part of the trip score. They are reviewers' scores, not our own measurements. How we score
Comfort*
Reviewers' average 8/10How comfy it is, including for side sleepers.
5 reviews on comfort, e.g. "The Exped Ultra 3R was comfortable thanks to the thickness of the air cushion".
Stability*
Reviewers' average 6/10How well you stay on it without rolling off or bouncing.
3 reviews on stability, e.g. "it was very smooth and shiny and made it easy to slip down the mat in the night".
Reviewers disagree on this.
In short
Good for
- Hikers who want a thick, quiet air mat with a built-in pump bag
- Summer and shoulder-season trips where R 3.2 is enough, or stacked on a foam mat for colder nights
Strengths
- 450 g and packs to about 23 x 11 cm
- 7 cm thick with long vertical air chambers; quiet synthetic insulation
- Schnozzel pump bag included: three to four bags inflate it (SectionHiker), and the 45 L bag doubles as a pack liner
- Two flat valves: one for inflating with a non-return flap and a large dump valve for fast deflation
- 5-year warranty on defects, and Exped quotes ASTM F3340 R-values
Weaknesses
- R 3.2 is not for cold nights: Advnture says it may not suit cold sleepers and SectionHiker wanted a higher R-value
- Smooth, shiny surface lets a sleeping bag slide
- Thin 20D face fabric and few long-term durability reports
- No way to attach a pillow, unlike the Sea to Summit PillowLock patches
Sources
We haven't tested this ourselves. Every score comes from these specs, tests and reviews.
ShowHide sources (6)
- Exped: Ultra 3R mat (specifications)
- Advnture: Exped Ultra 3R sleeping mat review (size M)
- SectionHiker: Exped Ultra 3R Sleeping Pad Review (medium-wide)
- Pack & Trail: Exped Ultra 3R Sleeping Mat review
- Mountain Weekly: Exped Ultra 3R sleeping pad (Teton tested)
- TGO (The Great Outdoors): Exped Ultra 3R M Mummy review