The Exped Dura 5R has quickly become a favourite for group camping trips, says David Lintern.

I have to say I’m impressed by the Exped Dura 5R. I think it’s the first 2 person, all season sleeping mat I’ve used that is also small and light enough to backpack with (providing you are friendly with your adventure partners).

David Lintern highly recommends

This mat is a decent weight for its warmth and comfort, and yet still packs down impressively small.
Pros
  • packsize
  • comfort
  • separate valves for different sleeping styles
Cons
  • Relative cost and weight unless always in a couple
Quick specs
Price: $368 / £285
Weight: 1513g
Type: air mat
Materials: 75 D / 170 D recycled polyester, Oeko – Tex® 100 certified
Insulation: 160 g/m2 Texpedloft microfiber, bluesign® certified
Dimensions: 183x82cm (medium)
Thickness: 5-7cm (adjustable)
Rating: 4.8
Sizes: Medium or long wide
Women’s version?: unisex
expeduk.com

It’s an insulated air mat that inflates with a bag and needs 3 full bags to fully inflate each side. There are 2 valves on each side (1 in, 1 out) and each side can be adjusted for different levels of firmness. The inflation sack is well made and stays put on the valve when under pressure during inflation. Inside, the mat has insulation welded to the top and bottom of the fabric, and on the outside the recycled, matt ripstop face fabric ensures a squeak free night and is soft to the touch.

In use, it’s incredibly comfortable. The mat is thick enough for side sleepers and to retain warmth on sub-zero winter camps. The independent chambers mean that the integrity of one side is not compromised by movement on the other. Vertical baffles (head to toe) cradle each sleeper, and there are wider baffles on the outside of the mat to stop each person rolling off. It’s long and wide enough for people up to around 6” and of average size.

To top it off, it packs down into a sack not much bigger than some summer sleeping bags and is a very decent weight for all that warmth. For us, it’s been fantastic for family wild camping trips both on the bike and on foot. Not having 2 mats in a tent actually saves space and prevents losing arms, legs, or children’s cuddly toys in between. The Dura 5R has quickly become a favourite for group camping trips.

Testing Conditions

David is quite short at 5’8”, and sleeps cold. He tested the mats over winter, spring and summer from glen bottom to mountain summit camps, all in Highland Scotland. He sometimes used the mats together and sometimes apart and always in different shelters, to help gauge form and function. Weights are from his own scales and include stuff sacks, inflation bags and repair kits.

This review was first published in the October 2024 issue of The Great Outdoors. Read more honest reviews in our round-up of the best sleeping mats.