Reviews You Can Rely On

Outdoorsman Lab Ultralight Review

This pad offers more comfort than a foam pad at the fraction of the cost of most inflatable pads
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Outdoorsman Lab Ultralight Review
Credit: OutdoorsmanLab
Price:  $55 List
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Manufacturer:   Outdoorsman Lab
By Matt Bento ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  May 4, 2018
50
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Comfort - 30% 4.0
  • Weight and Packed Size - 30% 7.0
  • Warmth - 20% 2.0
  • Ease of Inflation - 10% 7.0
  • Durability - 10% 6.0

Our Verdict

For the money, the Outdoorsman Lab Ultralight delivers a comfortable night's sleep without weighing you down. It feels softer and packs down smaller than the Therm-a-Rest Z-lite Sol and the Exped Hypersleep Winter, making it a great level up from a foam pad and a good option for summertime backpacking trips. While this pad isn't as light or comfortable as the Editors' Choice Award-winning Therm-a-Rest Neo Air Xtherm, it's a viable option for the backpacker on a budget, hitting your wallet at a mere 6th of the cost of the Xtherm.
REASONS TO BUY
Packs away small
A great bargain
REASONS TO AVOID
Not very lightweight
Not warm

Our Analysis and Test Results

outdoorsman lab ultralight - this pad inflates quickly (12-15 breaths) through a one-way valve.
This pad inflates quickly (12-15 breaths) through a one-way valve.
Credit: Matt Bento

Performance Comparison


This budget pad inflates easily and packs away small, but offers little insulation against cold temperatures. Its cell design is similar to the REI Co-op All Season Insulated Air, keeping air from circulating through the pad to minimize heat loss. But this pad isn't as thick, and it's not insulated, making an uncomfortable choice for winter camping or anytime you're likely to encounter snow.

outdoorsman lab ultralight - this pad is thin and some of our side sleeping testers could feel...
This pad is thin and some of our side sleeping testers could feel the ground at their hips.
Credit: Matt Bento

Comfort


The diamond shaped cells that make up the Ultralight are thicker and offer more padding than foam mats like the Thermarest Ridge Rest while taking up a lot less space in your pack. This diamond cell design eliminates edge collapse and lets you take full advantage of the entire 73 x 21.6 inches of pad space. The space between the cells is super thin, just the shell material laminated together. This makes the pad flexible and more suited for hasty bivy sites on uneven terrain than the Exped DownMat 9 and the Big Agnes Insulated AXL Air. The downside of this design is pressure points and cold spots. Propped up on their elbows, our testers could feel the ground, and a few testers felt the pressure points on their hips and shoulders while laying on their sides. The REI Co-op Flash All-Season Insulated employs a similar closed cell design but feels more comfortable to our testers because it's thicker, and the space between the cells is smaller and there are fewer gaps. While comfort isn't the Ultralight's strongest point, the price and packed size make it an attractive option for dirtbags on the move.

outdoorsman lab ultralight - we found it difficult to stuff this pad back into its small stuff...
We found it difficult to stuff this pad back into its small stuff sack.
Credit: Matt Bento

Weight and Packed Sized


The 20 denier nylon shell and simple inflation system get this pad down to a lean 17.2 oz. according to our scales, just a 3 oz heavier than the non-inflating, less comfortable Therm-a-rest Z-Lite Sol. The Ultralight packs down to a small super small .9 L, almost as small as the lighter Big Agnes Insulated AXL Air, but it took our testers a few tries to fold it in thirds and roll it up so it would fit back in its stuff sack. For everyday use, we'd be more likely to just fold it in half, roll it up, and hit the trail.

outdoorsman lab ultralight - the gaps between baffles are only as thick as the top and the bottom...
The gaps between baffles are only as thick as the top and the bottom sheets laminated together, giving this pad a low R-value.
Credit: Matt Bento

Warmth


With a claimed R-value of 1.3, no insulation, and plenty of gaps between the closed cells, we don't recommend this pad for cold weather camping. Outdoorsman Lab recommends this pad for temps down to 40. For a warm sleeper, this pad is adequate in above freezing conditions, and if you do most of your camping in warm, summer weather, the Low R-Value won't be an issue. Paired with a lightweight foam pad like the Therm-a-Rest Z-lite Sol, you get a combined R-Value of 3.9 and some added puncture insurance while still keeping costs low.

outdoorsman lab ultralight - the one-way valve can be held open with the pull tab on the valve...
The one-way valve can be held open with the pull tab on the valve cover to ensure it will deflate while you fold and roll the pad up.
Credit: Matt Bento

Ease of Inflation


This pad features a simple, effective one-way valve for inflation and deflation. 12-15 big breaths will fully inflate the pad, about the same required to inflate the REI Co-op Flash All-Season Insulated. Our testers agree 12 or 15 breaths makes for quick and easy inflation, and one-way valve prevents air loss while you're inflating the pad, and it deflates if you press down on the valve.

Durability


The Ultralight includes a repair kit. This pad withstood rocks, sticks, and one curious house cat with no punctures, but that doesn't mean leaks won't happen. Carrying a few extra ounces of repair supplies is worth it if you're out on an extended trip. Since this pad isn't insulated, water vapor from your breath shouldn't be an issue when it comes to the longevity of this pad. Outdoorsman Lab covers this pad with a lifetime warranty.

outdoorsman lab ultralight - while the ultralight (above) packs away to a similar size as the big...
While the Ultralight (above) packs away to a similar size as the Big Agnes Insulated AXL air (below), the Ultralight is much more difficult to get into its stuff sack.
Credit: Matt Bento

Value


This pad is all about value. While the low R-value makes for a cold nights sleep, you simply can't beat $55 for a relatively comfortable summer pad that packs down small and only weighs around 17 oz. Combine this with a $20 Therm-a-rest Ridge Rest Sol, and you've got a warmer set up that's still under $75.

outdoorsman lab ultralight - for summer camping, this pad is much more comfortable than the...
For summer camping, this pad is much more comfortable than the ground, but we recommend carrying a pad with a higher R-Value for colder conditions.
Credit: Matt Bento

Conclusion


No bells or whistles with this one, but the effective design will get you off the ground at a low price. The Outdoorsman Lab Ultralight is a decent pad for a minimalist on a minimal budget.

Matt Bento