How to Choose the Best Sleeping Pad for Camping and Backpacking
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Trekker SV Sleeping Pad
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Quick and easy to inflate and deflate, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Trekker SV sleeping pad uses light yet durable fabrics, combined with exceptional comfort and compactness for 3-season backpacking.
Shop similar productsKey Details
Pad Thickness (in.)
2.5 inches
- Fast inflating SpeedValve pulls in surrounding air to amplify your breath, inflating your mattress in 1/3 the time of conventional valves
- Patent-pending auto-reversing SpeedValve deflates almost instantly for quick and easy packing
- Patent-pending Triangular Core Matrixâ„¢ construction and reflective ThermaCaptureâ„¢ Barrier technology provides unmatched comfort, warmth and stability
| Best Use | Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Sleeping Pad Type | Air |
| Sleeping Pad Shape | Rectangular |
| R-Value | 2.8 |
| Repair Kit Included | Yes |
| Stuff Sack Included | Yes |
| Sleeping Capacity | 1-person |
| Pad Thickness (in.) | 2.5 inches |
| Gender | Unisex |
Buying Advice
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Most Helpful Favorable Review
A brilliant concept, but not worth the extra 7 oz
RudyB9 years ago
I did a lot of research before deciding on the NeoAir Trekker as the best combination of value, comfort, and R-rating on the market. I chose to buy in the store rather than online, and that's where I learned about the brand-new "speed valve" version. The excited REI employee giddily told me that they had just gotten the speed valves in stock, and he talked me into buying one. I proceeded from the store straight to a planned winter solo hike in New Hampshire's White Mountains. That is how I found myself, above 4000' and in -15 temperatures, attempting to inflate this thing for the very first time. I was completely unable to get the speed valve to work, and eventually blew up the mattress the old-fashioned way. That was a bit of a disappointment.
Back in the comfort of my home after the trip, I did some more thorough testing. First, I watched all of the Youtube videos explaining how to use this valve. Then, employing all of the best techniques, I inflated the mattress several times with the speed valve, and several times with the nipple valve. On average, it takes me 10 breaths to fill the mattress with the speed valve, and 19 breaths to fill it without. This slightly less than 50% increase in efficiency is nice, but it doesn't make the speed valve version of this pad quite worth the extra 7 ounces. Therefore, I plan to return this mattress and purchase the version without the speed valve. It is important, however, to note two significant advantages that the speed valve version has over the standard valve. One is the ease of deflating the mattress--this takes only seconds, and makes rolling the mattress up much faster and more pleasant. The other advantage is the ability to actually be able to reach your whole arm inside of the mattress to clean it out. I found this to be really nice. You can grab a paper towel and mop up your spittle from inside the pad after each trip. These features may be decisive factors for some people (7 ounces more or less isn't as significant for some as for others).
Note on warmth: I used this mattress, in conjunction with a RidgeRest, in temperatures that reached -20 degrees, and I was perfectly comfortable. You would be very ill-advised to ever trust your life solely to an air mattress in the winter, so for most people, this pad is sufficient for 4 season camping when combined with a foam pad.
Note on material and shape: There is some crinkle to this pad, but it is less noisy than other air mattresses I've tried. It appears durable, and I like the color. I prefer the rectangular shape, and found the regular length to be plenty long enough for me (I'm 6'1"). The width is pretty industry standard. The mattress is thick enough for me to be comfortable on my side.
RudyB
Boston, MA
73 people found this review helpful
Most Helpful Critical Review
Won't seal, went flat, returned to store
Wyattearp20169 years ago
Despite watching the videos and following instructions the mattress would not stay inflated. I used it for 2 nights and had to inflate 3 or 4 times during the night. Going back to a traditional Therm-a-Rest mattress that have been great. The inflation process is kind of awkward, but is faster. It is comfy when it's not flat.
Wyattearp2016
Utah, United States
13 people found this review helpful
Portland Runner
Portland, OR
Don't Buy It
7 years ago
I've returned this twice now. The night starts out fine, but then air slowly seeps out. I wake up with half of my body on the ground. I was told to try it again because I might not have blown it up right. The instructions are pretty simple, though. Blow in, fold tightly in a very specific direction. Finish blowing with the valve. I always woke up cold. Right before climbing Helens. No thanks. Also the energy to blow up the quick valve is not really time or energy saving. You need to awkwardly lie the mat flat. I'm usually about to pass out after anyways. Sometimes simpler is better.
No, I do not recommend this product
Wyattearp2016
Utah, United States
Won't seal, went flat, returned to store
9 years ago
Despite watching the videos and following instructions the mattress would not stay inflated. I used it for 2 nights and had to inflate 3 or 4 times during the night. Going back to a traditional Therm-a-Rest mattress that have been great. The inflation process is kind of awkward, but is faster. It is comfy when it's not flat.
No, I do not recommend this product
RudyB
Boston, MA
A brilliant concept, but not worth the extra 7 oz
9 years ago
I did a lot of research before deciding on the NeoAir Trekker as the best combination of value, comfort, and R-rating on the market. I chose to buy in the store rather than online, and that's where I learned about the brand-new "speed valve" version. The excited REI employee giddily told me that they had just gotten the speed valves in stock, and he talked me into buying one. I proceeded from the store straight to a planned winter solo hike in New Hampshire's White Mountains. That is how I found myself, above 4000' and in -15 temperatures, attempting to inflate this thing for the very first time. I was completely unable to get the speed valve to work, and eventually blew up the mattress the old-fashioned way. That was a bit of a disappointment. Back in the comfort of my home after the trip, I did some more thorough testing. First, I watched all of the Youtube videos explaining how to use this valve. Then, employing all of the best techniques, I inflated the mattress several times with the speed valve, and several times with the nipple valve. On average, it takes me 10 breaths to fill the mattress with the speed valve, and 19 breaths to fill it without. This slightly less than 50% increase in efficiency is nice, but it doesn't make the speed valve version of this pad quite worth the extra 7 ounces. Therefore, I plan to return this mattress and purchase the version without the speed valve. It is important, however, to note two significant advantages that the speed valve version has over the standard valve. One is the ease of deflating the mattress--this takes only seconds, and makes rolling the mattress up much faster and more pleasant. The other advantage is the ability to actually be able to reach your whole arm inside of the mattress to clean it out. I found this to be really nice. You can grab a paper towel and mop up your spittle from inside the pad after each trip. These features may be decisive factors for some people (7 ounces more or less isn't as significant for some as for others). Note on warmth: I used this mattress, in conjunction with a RidgeRest, in temperatures that reached -20 degrees, and I was perfectly comfortable. You would be very ill-advised to ever trust your life solely to an air mattress in the winter, so for most people, this pad is sufficient for 4 season camping when combined with a foam pad. Note on material and shape: There is some crinkle to this pad, but it is less noisy than other air mattresses I've tried. It appears durable, and I like the color. I prefer the rectangular shape, and found the regular length to be plenty long enough for me (I'm 6'1"). The width is pretty industry standard. The mattress is thick enough for me to be comfortable on my side.
globetrotting fool
Boston, Massachusetts
gimmicky - not worth the extra weight
9 years ago
Although this does take less breaths to inflate, I couldn't actually use the gimmicky speed valve to fully inflate the pad, as it becomes harder and harder the fuller the pad gets. So I ended up having to use the traditional valve near the end. Yes, it deflates faster, but is deflating a pad really so difficult? Okay, maybe if you need to break camp fast. Anyway, the speed valve seems gimmicky and adds extra weight. To save your breath (and the inside of your pad), get the older version and a pump bag instead.
No, I do not recommend this product
Wooksquatch
Lake Geneva, WI, United States
Comfortable but loud, so I'm told
8 years ago
I bought this to replace a therm a rest base camp pad. My aging bones need more comfort under them and my back says carry less weight. This pad fits the bill to a T. Slept like a rock on this pad but at the cost of being moved to the doghouse. I am told this pad is loud, my wife did not sleep on our first night so I ended up moving to an extra tent for the remainder of the trip. I really do want to love this product and had it been quieter I would still be sleeping on it in the same tent as my wife. The speed valve works alright I filled the pad quickly with a few breaths but had to fill the pad the rest of the way with the normal valve. Sleeping on this pad was great aside from not sleeping where I wanted to be sleeping.
No, I do not recommend this product
buckskinfilly
Fort Collins, CO
Great pad with minor flaws
8 years ago
We literally inflated, deflated and laid on every pad they had in stock to try. I bought this and my hubby bought a self inflating thermarest pad at the same time. We then went on a week long camping trip of sorts and slept on many different surfaces and different temperatures as we were travelling during the day every day. I was fairly warm every night and we had at least two nights with below freezing temps (I was in a sleeping bag with a liner) but a foam layer probably would have helped me stay even warmer. This pad is noisy to deal with, but I never noticed it when I was sleeping on it (and I'm a fairly restless sleeper) and my husband even commented that he couldn't believe how quiet it was. I had one or two nights at the very beginning when the pad deflated, but I figured out that you just have to roll the big valve in the direction it shows you on the instructions and it won't do that. I do have to finish it off with the little valve sometimes, but not every time. I'd say I use the extra valve half the time to just top it off. This pad is amazingly comfortable! I have lower back pain and camping is not very fun for me because of it, but this pad makes camping comfy and fun again. The other thing we were concerned about was if it would fit in our tarp tent and it did, perfectly! We fit two in our incredibly tiny two person tarp tent. We had a dog camping with us during our first trip and it stood up to him walking all over it so I'm pretty happy with the durability so far. It also dries out pretty quickly if it gets wet from condensation in your tent. The pad deflates very quickly and completely, which means it lays nice and flat and packs up quickly and compact. So I'd say there are minor issues with the design, but nothing that you can't work around. Otherwise it's comfy, durable and easy to pack. I am very glad I bought this pad. And after our big camping trip, my husband went and traded his other pad in for this one. :)
Yes , I recommend this product
DrewQ
Warren
Love It! If air leaks, then you didn't do it right
7 years ago
I have two of these and have used it enough to know that if you don't roll the top correctly, it will slowly leak air. It wasn't that bad and it only happened when I first got them. All you have to do is keep it tight when rolling the top and it not an issue. The people who are complaining about air leaking, i assume, are the ones who just don't know how to do it properly and didn't have the patients to learn. I've used the tiny little valve on older models and the quick fill design is so much quicker and easier. I would never go back to the old system.
Yes , I recommend this product
firefighter
Craig, CO, United States
not a typical Therm-a-rest product
9 years ago
I bought 2 of these for my son and his wife, I have a Neo Trekker that is 6 years old and it is a awesome pad. this new pad doesn't seal and you end up blowing it up 3 to 4 times a night. even after watching the video, had exchanged it and tried again. still goes flat.
No, I do not recommend this product
duke
Bend, OR, United States
Designed my the marketing department.
8 years ago
I have used Therm-a-Rest matresses for many years. The evolution of the NeoAir to include the foldable opening at the top on the Trekker SV seemed interesting, so I bought one to replace the NeoAir XTherm that I gave to my son. After two somewhat sleep disturbed nights with multiple refills and re-rolling the top "speed valve" several times without success, I returned this pad to REI. The "speed valve", while an interesting concept, only adds one more place to lose air. Perhaps I did not roll it correctly, but that is the point ... one should not have work to manage a new design to save 60 seconds inflating and deflating. The "speed valve" does make the pad much easier to roll because it deflates so well, but this is not good if it comes at the expense of a good sleep. I happily purchased a new XTherm.
No, I do not recommend this product
GirlScout1542
Valencia, CA
Wouldn't stay inflated :(
9 years ago
I bought this for a backpacking trip. It did not stay inflated. Made for a miserable night. My fault for not trying my new gear before my trip. Will be returning it. I don't think it was user error, but who knows. I still love rei!
No, I do not recommend this product
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