This ultralight sleeping pad might just be the sweet spot for UK adventurers who want high comfort without the weight. Here’s why we think it’s one of the best sub-500g pads you can buy.

Zenbivy Ultralight Mattress

Ideal for: 3-season wild camping, backpacking and bikepacking

Not suitable for: Subzero use, ultralight fastpacking trips

The Zenbivy Ultralight Mattress is one of those rare bits of kit that genuinely lives up to the hype. Weighing just 470 grams, it packs down small, inflates quickly, and delivers a level of comfort that’s hard to believe for something this light. With a solid 4.8 R-value, it’s built for three-season use across the UK, and the soft, silent 4-way stretch top gives it a proper bed-like feel. While it’s designed to pair perfectly with Zenbivy’s modular sleep systems like the Ultralight Bed, don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s just a system add-on — this is a serious standalone pad that holds its own with any setup. At £199, it’s a premium choice, but for comfort like this, it’s worth it.

Zenbivy Ultralight Mattress sleeping pad review

Zenbivy is an American brand with a bold mission: to make sleeping outdoors feel as comfortable as sleeping in your own bed. And over the past few years, they’ve been quietly reinventing how we sleep in the wild. Their modular sleep systems — from the original Zenbivy Bed to the innovative Ultralight Bed — have introduced clever innovations, starting with their integrated sheet-and-mattress combos that move with you rather than against you. We’ve tested much of the range over the years, including and the throughline is clear: Zenbivy designs for real sleep, not just survival.

The Ultralight Mattress is Zenbivy’s answer to the needs of fast-and-light backpackers who still value comfort. It weighs just 470 grams in its lightest configuration (though goes up to 700g depending on style), and packs down to a size that strikes a smart balance between plushness and practicality. It’s been designed to work seamlessly with Zenbivy’s modular sleep systems — particularly the Ultralight Bed — forming part of a lightweight, customisable sleep setup that’s genuinely different to anything else on the market.

That said, you’d be wrong to write this off as just a bolt-on for the Zenbivy Bed. Dismiss it as a sleep system extra at your peril — because this is very much a standalone pad in its own right, and a seriously capable one at that. Whether you use it with a quilt, a standard sleeping bag (even if that gives Zenbivy sleepless nights), or as part of their full setup, the Ultralight Mattress performs impressively. At £199, it’s definitely in the premium bracket, but so are most of the pads it outperforms. Unlike many rivals that shave grams at the cost of sleep quality, this one gets the balance right — delivering real comfort without the bulk.

So how does it stack up against the rest? Compared to the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir (£200, 4.5 R-value, slightly lighter), the Zenbivy offers superior comfort but with a small weight penalty — and without the infamous crisp packet crinkle that can ruin a quiet night. The Big Agnes Zoom UL is lighter still (400g) and packs down smaller, making it a great choice for minimalist missions, but in our experience it’s less stable, a bit slippier, and doesn’t deliver the same plush feel. Even Zenbivy’s own Flex Air Mattress is comfier still, but it’s heavier and bulkier by design. Which means if you’re looking for the best balance of comfort, weight and packability — something that genuinely works across long treks, chilly bivvies and weekend wild camps — the Ultralight Mattress sits right at the centre of the bullseye.

How we tested the sleeping pad

We’ve been using the Zenbivy Ultralight Mattress across the UK since early 2024, taking it through woodland overnighters, multi-day hikes, and some damp Dartmoor spring nights. It first came out on a single-nighter in the Chiltern Hills, paired with a Zenbivy bed system. One tester noted it felt a bit bulky for an ‘ultralight’ pad — until they laid down on it and promptly fell asleep. We then carried it into the Merrivale area of Dartmoor for a spring two-dayer. Cold, wet ground and 3°C overnight lows didn’t challenge it at all. No cold spots, no shivers, just quiet sleep. Finally, a trip through the Lakes confirmed it again: night after night of solid sleep. Even side sleepers never once bottomed out. What really stood out across all these trips wasn’t just the warmth or the weight — it was the consistency. Whether it was the chill of early spring or a sodden pitch after a long day, this pad never let us down. It became our default for any trip where we wanted to go light without dreading bedtime.

Why this pad works so well

The Zenbivy Ultralight Mattress is the sort of product that rewards attention to detail — both from the people who designed it, and the people sleeping on it. From the moment you unroll it, it’s clear this isn’t just another inflatable mat. The materials feel different. The way it holds its shape is different. And once you lie on it, the difference becomes obvious.

Start with the inflation. The stuff sack doubles as a pump, which clips neatly to the valve and fills the mat in just a few bagfuls. There’s no need to fiddle with bite valves or huff away into the night — just scoop, press, and done. Once it’s inflated, the mat wants to be firm. That’s by design. You don’t have to guess at the “right” pressure, which means less faffing at camp and more reliable comfort. Blow it up till it won’t take any more, and the 4-way stretch top kicks in — moulding to your body, spreading your weight, and giving you genuine support whether you’re on your back, front or side.

It’s this top layer that makes the Zenbivy stand out from the crowd. Most ultralight pads give you a thin, plasticky surface that feels like sleeping on a balloon. This one feels soft to the touch and has a surprising amount of give — without that weird wobble some pads suffer from. Our side-sleepers especially appreciated this. On Dartmoor and in the Lakes, we never once bottomed out. That’s rare in any lightweight pad, let alone one that weighs under 500g.

The valve system is another highlight. A simple two-way design makes it easy to inflate, adjust, and deflate without drama. And the fabric — a 20D recycled polyester on top and tougher underside — makes a real difference when it’s time to pack up. On most pads, rolling out the last bits of air can be a frustrating chore. Not here. The Ultralight Mattress is pliable enough to fold and roll cleanly in one go. No re-rolling. No swearing. Just a quick pack-down, even on a cold morning when your fingers don’t want to cooperate.

And then there’s the silence. It might sound like a small thing, but it makes a big difference. Where pads like the NeoAir XTherm squeak and crinkle with every shift, the Zenbivy stays blissfully quiet. That’s huge if you’re sharing a tent — or just want a peaceful night without being woken up by your own tossing and turning.

Warmth

Warmth-wise, this thing punches well above its weight class. With an R-value of 4.8, it’s good for just about everything except deep winter. We’ve used it down to 3°C without any cold spots creeping in — which, again, we put down to that full-body support. Because your hips and shoulders don’t sink through, they stay off the ground, keeping your core temperature steady all night. Add a foam pad underneath if you’re venturing out in snow, but for the rest of the UK’s camping calendar, it holds its own.

And while it’s not the tiniest pad out there, it still packs down small enough to disappear into your bag. The trade-off is simple: carry a few more grams and sleep like you do at home — or save a handful of weight and compromise on comfort. For us, the choice is easy. Of all the pads we’ve tested under 500 grams, the Zenbivy Ultralight Mattress is by far the most comfortable. And that, really, is the entire point.

How the Zenbivy Ultralight Mattress performs in the UK

Across every trip we took it on, the Zenbivy Ultralight Mattress delivered — and then some. From a quick overnighter in the Chilterns to a chilly spring mission on Dartmoor and a longer roam across the Lake District, this pad proved itself as one of the most dependable pieces of gear in our arsenal. It handled cold, damp pitches with zero complaints, kept our hips and shoulders suspended well off the ground, and never developed any of the dreaded cold spots you sometimes get with thinner ultralight mats.

Even at temps around 3°C on Dartmoor’s sodden granite, the Ultralight Mattress kept us toasty — no foam topper, no added insulation, just the pad and a decent quilt. That 4.8 R-value isn’t just marketing fluff. Because the pad supports your entire body when fully inflated, no part of you presses through to the ground — and that means you stay warm, even on your side.

And it’s not just warmth — it’s how consistently good the pad felt across different conditions. In the Lakes, we used it night after night without any drop in performance. It never once sagged in the night, slipped out from under us, or rustled loud enough to wake a squirrel. It packed down easily every morning, even with numb fingers. That kind of reliability matters — especially on longer trips when poor sleep can quickly catch up with you.

What we realised was this: the Ultralight Mattress isn’t just an “ultralight” pad. It’s a comfort-first sleep system that just happens to be light enough for serious backpacking. For us, it’s replaced multiple other pads because it’s simply more versatile — whether we’re shaving grams for a fastpack, or just heading into the woods for a quiet, comfortable kip.

Zenbivy Ultralight Mattress FAQs

With an R-value of 4.8, the Ultralight Mattress is perfect for three-season UK use. It stays warm through spring and autumn and even holds its own in early winter. You might want to add insulation below for full-on snow camps, but for most British trips, it’s spot on.
The R-value is 4.8, which is very solid for a sub-500g pad. That means it’s warm enough for most UK conditions outside of deep winter. The pad’s firmness and support help eliminate cold spots by keeping you properly elevated.
Very. It doesn’t pack down quite as small as some Big Agnes or Therm-a-Rest pads, but it’s still compact enough for most packs. The included stuff sack makes packing a breeze, even when it’s wet or you’re in a rush.
It feels solid for its weight. The 20D recycled polyester top and durable underside strike a great balance between softness and resilience. We never felt like we had to treat it with kid gloves. A repair kit is included too.
Incredibly easy. The valve system is intuitive, and the inflation sack makes it quick. Deflation is just as painless, thanks to the flexible build and wide valve. One roll and it’s packed.
If you value sleep and don’t mind paying for comfort, yes. It’s not cheap, but it delivers one of the best night’s sleep you can get in a UL pad. And if you’re a side sleeper or a light sleeper, it’s worth every penny in our opinion.

The Zenbivy Ultralight Mattress: Our verdict

If your outdoor adventures demand that you carry light but sleep well, the Zenbivy Ultralight Mattress is hard to beat. It’s not the absolute lightest pad on the market, nor does it pack down to a thimble-sized bundle — and at £199, it’s certainly not trying to win over budget-conscious campers. But if you’re the kind of person who heads into the hills regularly and wants to wake up rested, warm and ready to move, this might just be the smartest investment you can make in your sleep system.

What makes it special is the balance it strikes. There are lighter pads, warmer pads, and cheaper pads — but we’ve yet to find one that delivers this level of comfort at this weight. Whether you’re on a multi-day trek in the Lakes, a bivvy mission in the Peaks, or just looking to upgrade your current setup without going full luxury, the Ultralight Mattress hits a real sweet spot. And while it’s designed to work seamlessly with Zenbivy’s modular sleep systems, we’d argue it’s just as impressive as a standalone pad. Whether you’re pairing it with a quilt, a sleeping bag (sorry, Zenbivy), or the full Ultralight Bed, it holds its own — and then some. If you’re ready to stop compromising on sleep just to save a few grams, this is the one we’d pack.

Zenbivy Ultralight Mattress review: A featherweight camp champ when it comes to comfort