How to Choose the Best Sleeping Pad for Camping and Backpacking
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad
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For the alpinist, thru-hiker or backcountry minimalist who's counting every ounce, there's no better choice to assure the kind of rest you need before a big day in the mountains.
Shop similar productsKey Details
Pad Thickness (in.)
2.5 inches
- Patent-pending reflective layer returns heat back to your body and creates air pockets that conserve warmth, all without the bulk and weight of down and synthetic fills
- New softer fabrics bring better next-to-skin comfort and boost durability with no added weight
- Ultra-packable design offers less weight and bulk than a 1-liter water bottle
- Advanced fabrics and a tapered design have an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio
- 2.5-in. thickness, soft-touch fabrics and baffled internal structure provide unrivaled comfort, stability and support
| Best Use | Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Sleeping Pad Type | Air |
| Sleeping Pad Shape | Semirectangular |
| R-Value | 3.2 |
| Sleeping Capacity | 1-person |
| Pad Thickness (in.) | 2.5 inches |
| Gender | Unisex |
Buying Advice
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Most Helpful Favorable Review
Noisy but works
duc11009 years ago
Definitely noisy but the comfort vs weight is extremely hard to beat. Like all weight conscious items, size is on the small side. I've got a medium build and have no problem staying on the pad but broader folks may not be so lucking.
The stuff size and weight are truly incredible. If it was a bit less noisy, the pad would be an easy 5 star rating but it is loud to the point of making the one self conscious about moving around at night.
All-in-all, having a pad the size and weight of the NeoAir is great for reducing ones equipment footprint and with no loss of comfort, cushion and insulation. Definitely a nice upgrade from other options.
duc1100
Encinitas, CA, United States
119 people found this review helpful
Most Helpful Critical Review
Warm, maybe not cozy
whopper9 years ago
I'm mostly a side sleeper who rolls around at night. I just took this pad out on a 4-night trip and here's what I thought:
Pros:
Warmth! The temperature dropped to 20F and I never felt the cold of the ground coming through.
Light weight. This is basically the lightest insulated pad that's worth getting.
Cons:
Takes more breaths to inflate than you'd think, at least 20-25.
Comfort. This was the dealbreaker for me. As a side-sleeper, my arm was falling asleep no matter how much or little I had the pad inflated. There just isn't a lot of give to the individual baffles.
For me, this wasn't comfortable enough to keep, especially at the price. If you are a back sleeper who doesn't move around much it may be the perfect pad for you, though.
whopper
Washington, DC
91 people found this review helpful
Customer Images
duc1100
Encinitas, CA, United States
Noisy but works
9 years ago
Definitely noisy but the comfort vs weight is extremely hard to beat. Like all weight conscious items, size is on the small side. I've got a medium build and have no problem staying on the pad but broader folks may not be so lucking. The stuff size and weight are truly incredible. If it was a bit less noisy, the pad would be an easy 5 star rating but it is loud to the point of making the one self conscious about moving around at night. All-in-all, having a pad the size and weight of the NeoAir is great for reducing ones equipment footprint and with no loss of comfort, cushion and insulation. Definitely a nice upgrade from other options.
Yes , I recommend this product
mwe8624
Rochester, NY
Great Lightweight Pad
8 years ago
This pad is awesome, I used it for a chilly weekend in Shenandoah National Park and never felt like the cold ground was sucking heat from me. It is also amazingly comfortable, the thickness of the pad means you have plenty of room to adjust the level of inflation to get it just right for what you want. It packs down smaller than the size of a one liter nalgene bottle, so you barely know it's in your pack at all. Inflation can be a little time consuming, but it's well worth it for the features that are offered. It will be a noisy pad at first, but over time it will break in and the noise will subside. Don't let one noisy weekend turn you off to this pad, it is awesome.
Yes , I recommend this product
Ralefenn
Centerville Utah
Durability in question...
7 years ago
I am extremely careful with my gear- my inflatable pads have never even touched the ground - they get inflated in the tent, and rolled up in the tent. However, this pad got a puncture after 5 nights in the field. For $160, you’d think that this pad could withstand normal wilderness usage for more than one week. Especially considering that I used a Nemo Tensor pad (widely considered one of the least field durable ultralight pads on the market) for three years before it ever sprung a leak. Anyways, just be aware that the Neoair is not necessarily the most durable pad out there, and the hunt for a mattress that is truly trustworthy in the field continues. This one ain’t it.
No, I do not recommend this product
minnie hiker
GA
Great mat!!!!
10 years ago
My friend recommended this mat because it is ultra light as well as very comfortable. I bought one immediately. My friend and I went on a one night hike and we each inflated our mats. She mentioned that hers was noisy and I did notice that hers did make a lot of noise each time she moved. I was delighted to find that mine made no noise at all. I also noticed that hers had a slick finish, but mine had a textured surface. Her mat was about three years old and I guess I just got the "new improved model"! It is a GREAT mat. I never had such a comfortable night's sleep on a hike! Absolutely awesome!
Yes , I recommend this product
Zilal
Denver, CO
One of my favorite pieces of gear
8 years ago
I love this pad. It's so comfortable that I sleep on it on top of my bed at home quite a bit, especially when I'm having back pain. I don't find the crinkling to be an issue. It's there but it's no worse than the sound of your clothes or sleeping bag brushing against any pad when you move around. It takes me about 20 breaths to inflate it fully but I don't find this bothersome either. After maybe 100 nights on the pad I think I have a pinhole leak somewhere. But, note that the pad should appear to deflate a little during the night even when it's brand new, because your breath inside will cool overnight.
Yes , I recommend this product
dcnavis
Guangzhou China
A great nights sleep
8 years ago
I bought this a couple of months ago to use on Boy Scout campouts. I found it to have excellent insulation qualities. It kept me warm in WET 50 degree weather and a sleeping bag that was on the edge of its insulation rating. Never did get cold. Some reviews mentioned noise but I had no problems with it making noise that kept me awake ... and I'm a light sleeper. I roll a lot, never was I cold or sleeping on the ground while moving/rolling. I would give it 5 stars if it was just a bit wider, I found it to be pretty narrow for someone who moves around like I do. I'm not a big guy. It did give me the best night's sleep I've had camping. Usually it takes me a night or two to adjust to sleeping on a pad - no need with this one. I am completely satisfied.
Yes , I recommend this product
anzarunner
California
Very comfortable, Gets Quiet with Use
9 years ago
Very comfortable, and works great for those who sleep on their side. Other reviewers have noted that the air mattress is noisy. That is true when it is brand new, but as the materials break in, the noise will go away. I suspect that those who complain about the noise haven't used it very long. I've had mine for a couple years, and it no longer makes the crinkly noise in use. I've used it in temps ranging from 12 degrees to about 80 degrees and it has performed very well.
Yes , I recommend this product
Roger
Watertown, WI
Comfort on hard ground
7 years ago
I really like the loft and support of this pad. I tried it out in store on an already inflated model. It allows comfort even on my side. My 4 star was disappointment with having to blow up by mouth. I went back, intending to get a Therm-a-rest inflator, or exchange it. Well, they don't make an inflator, and the others on the market don't "really" fit it. I did find a little spike tube from another vender that I glued into a dry sack and use to inflate it, so I kept the pad. With home mods, it now inflates with 3 bags of air, I use the bag over the sleeping bag in the backpack, and I am as comfortable as can be on solid hard ground.
Yes , I recommend this product
whopper
Washington, DC
Warm, maybe not cozy
9 years ago
I'm mostly a side sleeper who rolls around at night. I just took this pad out on a 4-night trip and here's what I thought: Pros: Warmth! The temperature dropped to 20F and I never felt the cold of the ground coming through. Light weight. This is basically the lightest insulated pad that's worth getting. Cons: Takes more breaths to inflate than you'd think, at least 20-25. Comfort. This was the dealbreaker for me. As a side-sleeper, my arm was falling asleep no matter how much or little I had the pad inflated. There just isn't a lot of give to the individual baffles. For me, this wasn't comfortable enough to keep, especially at the price. If you are a back sleeper who doesn't move around much it may be the perfect pad for you, though.
Kalab
Portland, OR
Too Small, Too LOUD
6 years ago
Bought this for the weight and brand name. My arms hang off the sides if I lay on my back, I'm 5' 11" and my shoulders are maybe a little wider than most. I would return it for that reason alone but the main reason I'm returning it... IT'S LOUD. It's so loud I felt bad using it on a trip around MT Hood and just slept on the ground after the first night. Every time I shifted my weight or moved in the slightest I woke up because of the noise. It seriously cannot be overstated, it's louder than you think it could ever be. It's actually hilariously loud. The Forest Service should ban this pad for disrupting the natural habitat.
No, I do not recommend this product
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