The title, style, and size description for this item list it at 3 inches thick, but the product dimensions and "About this item" are correct at listing it at 2 inches.The stuff sack and info/sales card both indicate it is a 2 inch pad with an R value of 3.As normal for self inflating sleeping pads, it took several hours to self inflate most of the way the first time.After about 8 hours, i got impatient and gave it some air with an inflatable mattress blower and put the plug in.After inflation, it only got to 1.75 inches at the thickest part. The spaces between the ridges run about 1.5 inches thick.All of my other "2 inch" pads also run about 1.5 to 1.75 inches thick.This pad may get a little thicker as time allows the foam to expand some more.I took a short nap on it, and it did not leak any.But as normal for the 2 inch size pads, my hip bones got sore as I was on my side and they tend to push all the way down and through with a pad that is rated at only 2 inches.They list it as 1 pound 11.3 oz, I measured 1 pound 12 oz with the stuff sack and the patch kit.It is lighter than all of my old 2 inch pads, even though it is about 6 inches wider than they are.It comes with a nice little patch kit to keep in the stuff sack with it.The valve is a nice touch, it features a one way flap that can be turned over when you are rolling the pad up to put it away.As you roll it up, the valve lets out the air, but keeps the foam from sucking it back in and self inflating itself.This makes it a lot easier to squeeze out most of the air and get it as small as possible.The normal position of the valve keeps the pad from deflating if the plug comes out accidentally.The valve and plug are a nice touch, and are less likely to get frozen shut if you blow into your pad when camping in the winter like the twist style valves do.The pad does not have a dedicated top or bottom, it does not matter how you unroll it in your tent, you don't have to turn it over unless you want the valve to be on a particular side.

I picked up this pad hoping for a cushy 3” of side-sleeper bliss. Turns out it’s actually 2” despite multiple claims to the contrary in the description (note: description has since been changed to 2”). However, to its credit, it’s a better sleep situation than my old 2” pads, so I’m keeping it (and using it).First-time inflation took about 20 minutes with a few heroic finishing puffs. Whew! It stayed fully inflated over a 3-night trip with zero leaks. At just 1 lb 12 oz (including stuff sack and patch kit), it’s a win on both weight and packability, which matters when you’re leading backpack trips and trying to keep your gear footprint small.Valve design is clever: it has a flap you can flip for deflation, which makes rolling it up much less of a wrestling match. It keeps air from sneaking back in while you’re packing up, unlike those old-school twisty valves that test your patience and lung capacity.No top or bottom side to fuss over, just unroll and go.Bottom line: It’s not the 3” the description initially promised, but it is light, compact, and comfy for a 2-incher, so now that the description is accurate, I feel I can give this five stars with no hesitation.

For a long time I have viewed Sea-to-Summit as more of a generalist, entry-level maker of outdoor gear. That's not to say I don't enjoy their products, the Evac dry bags and the pour-over coffee filter have been part of my main backpacking kit for a while now. But the "big three" and other more specialized items felt like their offerings weren't necessarily on par with the elite outdoor brands. But after being really surprised by the Spark sleeping bag, I began to realize that I was selling them short.Do I expect to see the Pursuit pad in every other AT or PCT thru-hikers kit? No. Do I think it might be the best sleeping pad option in its price bracket? Absolutely. Is it going to be my main go-to for my backpacking trips? A complicated maybe. This pad strikes me as a hybrid between an inflatable pad and a closed cell foam pad, with both the pros and cons of each. If you have ever slept on a closed cell pad, I feel one of two things is true: you were still young or you hated it. But they are great insulators, they are light and tend to feel even lighter, they require no time or effort to setup and breakdown, and you don't have to worry about them failing (mostly). Meanwhile, an inflatable pad is almost always more comfortable and supportive, packs down smaller, and keeps you more off the ground. However setup and breakdown are far more involved, and you can get absolutely overwhelmed with the options and cost.For reference, here's what I currently have in my rotation:-Nemo Alpine Longbow, my go-to. A super compact and relatively lightweight, mid R-value inflatable. Great for any length backpacking trip and nearly any temperature I am willing to tolerate-Big Agnes Circle Back Insulated//Acacia Sleeping Pad, car camping luxury beds. I suppose you could pack out the Circle Back but it's chonky. Both are super plush and super warm.-ExPed FlexMat//Nemo Switchback, rarely come out. If I really need the extra insulation from the ground or know that the campsite(s) are super comfortable and level, they may make an appearance but haven't for years now.The other thing to know is I am older and not doing trips longer than a week or so in the backcountry. I don't claim to be an expert on thru-hiking, but nor do I do a lot car camping or just pull right into your site camping.So, now, finally, let's talk about the Pursuit. I want to get my one major gripe out of the way and it isn't really major. I know "self-inflating" is a bit of misnomer, so I knew I would be adding that last bit of air (and having to do the initial inflation manually). And maybe I am pampered but it's 2025, why no pump sack? As Sea-to-Summit only offers a single "add-on" pump sack, which is a 20L (!) dry bag, it means realistically you're going to be topping this off with lung power. For me, three good breaths after laying it out and giving it around three minutes to fill, so that is a comfortable and low number. But the moisture you introduce to the pad each time is the issue.On to the pros now though. As I said, it is a quick setup, I found consistently that 2-3 minutes was enough to self-inflate then a few puffs to get it topped off. Not closed cell level of just throw it on the ground, but much quicker and more effortless than five plus minutes with the pump sack. The valves fit tight and are intuitive to use, no leaks or inadvertently pulling them loose while sleeping on it. Breakdown is also much faster and easier than an inflatable pad. Here's where their novel included stuff sack shines, it loads from the side instead of the top, so rather than multiple folds really having to get a nice, tight roll like most inflatables, you just halve it and roll. Now, I will say the side loading makes me much more reluctant to hang it on the outside of my bag. I normally would not do that with an inflatable, it's more of a closed cell thing, but here's where we are getting into that hybrid design, the "Delta-Coring" aspect. This pad has a lot of foam inside it. Makes it a breeze to inflate, makes its measly two inch height feel more supportive than a pad twice as thick, makes it feel light (the equivalent size of my Nemo is 200g lighter but this seems to be nearly on par because it is far far less dense), and gives it some (but not a ton) of insulation without the usual inflatable crinkle noise. But it does add bulk that cannot be compressed, so it sits between a closed cell and an inflatable in terms of volume. One goes on the outside of the pack, one goes on the inside, where does this one go? A conundrum, but to hang it outside I would like a more secure stuff sack personally.In conclusion, it's just so close to being worthy of top spot in my rotation. It's as comfortable and quieter than the already whisper-level Nemo (which is a huge reason they are my favorite inflatable brand), while being much faster and easier to setup and breakdown, while costing only 60% as much. But it is notably bulkier without having the out-of-pack secure mounting of a closed cell, lacks the R-value of either, and does not include a pump sack. In the end it's hybrid nature makes it the classic jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none pad. Do I wholeheartedly endorse it as great value and amazing three-season backcountry pad, especially if you have the external strapping system you trust? Hard yes. It may not be my go-to at this point with how and where I backpack, but I sure wish it had been my first pad.