Editors' Choice 2009: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Sleeping Pad

Picked one up last week to replace a 3/4 length Therma rest that was pillaged by a rodent in the garage. Used it one night and have mixed reviews...it could be a bit wider ( i rolled off a couple of times ). I wount completely inflate it the next time, it is very "hard". However, i sleep on my side and my hips did not touch the ground even partially inflated. It is light and compact, i am curious how it will perform in the winter.

Jim-
I picked up a NeoAir last spring and used it all summer, and like the review says, it's the best sleep I've ever had in the backcountry. Im not sure what crackling you're referring to, because I haven't noticed any, even when deflated? It definitely hasn't been a problem for me.

I'm very tempted to buy the NeoAir but I have one question. (BTW - I've had a vintage 1986 Ultralite 3/4 Thermarest that I still use, but would like a bit more comfort to go with my graying hair.) Anyway, I have not read any reviews that address my one concern - doesn't the crackly sound it makes against your ear wake you up a lot at night? This is a serious question, because I've played around with it in the stores and it seems pretty loud. I think it would wake me every time I move. Anyone? THANKS, JIM

I had this recomended to me by some friends in my hiking club, so I went out and got it. It's fantastic. I'm a heavier person but when I blew it up, I didn't come close to touching the ground. Actually it was a little hard fully inflated so I had to let some of the air out and still didn't feel the ground. The aluminum liner works almost too well. I was too warm while my fellow campers complained of being cold all night.
I agree it looks flimsy, and while I'm not a brute to my gear, it seems to hold up remarkably well.

You have to blow it up one writer says.....boo hoo....give me a break. It rules and rules with great sleep benefit. If I see one more whimpy writer complain about blowing hot air, I will scream..yaaaaaaaaaa..buy it now!!!

Does this pad fit in the Thermachair (you know, the good ol' purple one)? That is make-or-break information!

Great Pad, It feels a little bouncy, but for a airpad, its incredibly light and packs small. Its true that the stuff on it makes it stick to everything; I've put it into a Agnes Bag, never need to take it out. Just roll up my sleeping bag with the pad inside, and right into the stuffbag ; Makes it realy simple to pack up, sleeping bag still fits nicely in the compression sack. Never know the pad is in there.

I'd be very curious how it compares to other inflatable pads, especially the Big Agnes line. I'm not sure how I feel about it not coming with a stuff sack or a puncture repair kit; this seems to come standard with other manufacturers.

This thing is absolutely ridiculous. Purchased it on a whim. Expensive whim, yes, but it's turned out to be one of the best camping purchases I've ever made.

This holds you WAY over the ground; so much so that I can sleep on my side on a hard surface and not touch the ground. The regular version is rather narrow, but the surface of the pad is coated in some kind of grippy stuff. I didn't move an inch all night, but it may not be the best for a restless sleeper. It was plenty long enough, though. Now, I'm tall and skinny (6'1", 155 lbs.), so your mineage may vary, but friends of varying body types have also tried it with no problems.

It held air very well; I've blown it up in the warm afternoon and leaving it as the temperature cools down, and I've blown it up and slept on it as a storm rolled through, and not once have I ever wound up on the dirt in the morning.

It does feel flimsy. I'm so paranoid that I'll rip this pad that I take two hands to open and close the valve (the fabric twists a little, and it's a little scary).

The tradeoff, however, is the unbelievably small size and weight when it's rolled up. When you first buy it, you'll think "No way will it roll out to the stated dimensions." I even had to blow it up in the store to see for myself; the salesman I asked permission stuck around, and he and I stared dumbfounded after it was all blown up.

There are a couple gripes that I have. The first is that there is no carrying bag for it; you have to buy it separately. It was only $15 if I remember correctly, and is coated to make it waterproof. It's not a bad investment, as it has a loop that you can use to hook it to the outside of your pack. The second minor grips I have is that it's not auto-inflating; you have to sit there and blow it up manually. While it's a silly gripe, sometimes you're just too drained at the end of the day to really want to blow up the thing.

However, I always do, because every time I've been rewarded with a phenomenal night's sleep, and a smile on my face when I wake up well-rested. If you've got the scratch, pick one up.