REI Traverse

The REI Traverse uses a slightly dimpled vertical baffle pattern. While pressure relief is not good compared to a fully dimpled pattern, the Traverse relieves pressure well and, when sleeping on my side, my arm does not go numb or fall asleep. The Traverse is 8.9 cm (3.5 in) thick, which is thick enough that I never touch the ground, even sitting up on the pad or with the pad slightly deflated. The two outer tubes are slightly thicker than the inner tubes, which is meant to keep you centred, but I did not notice the effect much. On a pad like the NEMO Eclipse All-Season, the centering effect is more noticeable and I feel “cradled”.

The vertical baffles make the Traverse a very stable pad. Sleeping near the edge or in the middle, I never feel like I will roll off the pad and it never feels unstable. Deflation does help with comfort; however, not very much air can be let out before bottoming out.

The top material is soft and has some give to it. I would not call the material stretchy, but there is enough give that you notice it. Overall, comfort is very good. The pad has good pressure relief and good stability, which are the two things I look at most with comfort.

The REI Traverse has a lab tested ASTM R-value of 4.3, but I found that R-value is not a good predictor of real world warmth. The Traverse uses synthetic insulation inside the pad, which reduces air movement and convective heat loss. REI rates the Traverse as suitable for cold weather and says the pad gives considerable insulation from ground temperature. I tested the Traverse down to -2°C (28°F) on warm ground. At -2°C (28°F) I felt minimal heat loss through the pad. I was not uncomfortable and the heat loss was barely noticeable. I think the lower limit for the Traverse is around -4°C (25°F) or -5°C (23°F) on wet ground. Overall, the warmth of the Traverse is good for an R-value of 4.3 and the pad is warm enough to satisfy most people in 3-season conditions.

The regular wide REI Traverse weighs 711 g (1.6 lb) on my scale, which is 26 g (0.9 oz) under the advertised weight of 737 g (1.6 lb). The regular size has an advertised weight of 595 g (1.3 lb) and the long wide size has an advertised weight of 794 g (1.8 lb). The Traverse weighs almost the same as the REI Helix, which weighs 700 g (1.5 lb) in the regular wide on my scale. The Traverse is heavier than the NEMO Eclipse All-Season, which weighs 558 g (1.2 lb) in the regular wide on my scale. The Traverse packs very small, with REI listing the regular wide pack size at 13 cm (5.1 in) by 27 cm (10.6 in).

The REI Traverse has two valves, a dedicated inflation valve and a dedicated deflation dump valve. REI colour codes them so there is no confusion in the dark. Inflation is easy through the inflation valve and the pad inflates quickly. Packing up is easy as well because the dump valve does not let air back in. Open the dump valve, let the air out, and roll the pad. REI includes a pump sack, a stuff sack, and a compression strap with the pad. The pump sack is decent but I prefer to use a pad inflator like the Outzac Pico Pump. The Traverse is compatible with most pad inflator pumps.

A drawback of the valves is that they are on the bottom of the pad. During inflation, you have to inflate the pad and then flip it over, which can be difficult in a tight 1-person tent. You could flip the pad over (if that does not compromise the insulation), but then you are lying on the valves. I much prefer valves located in the top corners of the pad. Valves on top make it easier to add air when a pad loses some pressure overnight as the temperature drops and make it easier to let a little air out to adjust firmness and improve pressure relief.

REI does not publish the shell denier of the REI Traverse and REI was not able to tell me what it is. REI says only that the main fabric is 100 percent recycled polyester. I have not had durability issues with the REI pads in the past and I expect the same to be true for the Traverse.

The best way to judge durability is to read reviews and check whether people report the same problems again and again. With sleeping pads, the things to watch for are leaks at the weld points, where most failures happen, and baffles blowing out. REI lists 16 reviews and none report durability issues. REI backs its Co-op brand gear with its 100 percent satisfaction guarantee and a pad that fails can be returned to REI within a year of purchase.

The two components of a sleeping pad that usually lead to the pad sounding noisy are the internal insulation (reflective film can sound crinkly) and the outer material (which can squeak on tent floors). The REI Traverse uses synthetic insulation that does not crinkle and a soft shell material that does not make a rubbery noise on a tent floor. The Traverse is one of the quietest pads I have used.

The REI Traverse excels at comfort, stability, quietness, and packability. The compromises are weight and the valves on the bottom of the pad. The Traverse is for someone who bottoms out on thinner pads and wants a thick, stable, quiet pad for three-season trips where weight is not the first concern. At full price the Traverse is not as strong as some other options, but on sale it is a very good option.