| NATIONAL PARKS QUICKLINKS |
Also on Backpacker.com
Backpacker Magazine – Gear Guide 2012
Gear Guide 2012: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad
High-performance and ultralight, this pad offers comfort and great packability.
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite (Ben Fullerton)
-
Tags:
- Gear |
- Sleeping pads |
- Sleeping bags |
Bundle of Bags
See all the summer, 3-season, and winter bags from our 2012 Gear Guide. Sleeping pads too!
[Editors’ Choice update] See all the summer, 3-season, and winter bags from our 2012 Gear Guide. Sleeping pads too!
We gave the original NeoAir an Editors’ Choice Award (2009) for its unprecedented comfort-to-warmth-to-weight ratio, and this latest tapered version has even more performance for six ounces less. The internal reflective barrier now returns 25 percent more body heat: One tester used it in lieu of his standard four-season pad on an early-winter summit of Mt. Whitney, and reported staying warm in below-freezing temps on snow (it’s not, however, as insulative as the Exped, above).
Another tester thru-hiked the John Muir Trail and says, “I never ceased to be amazed with its comfort and packability (a miniscule 9 x 4 inches), and deceptive durability.” Downsides: price, and broad-shouldered users might not like the mummy shape. $160; 12 oz.; 72” x 20” x 2.5”; thermarest.com
FULL PRODUCT SPECS: NeoAir XLite (Large)
FULL PRODUCT SPECS: NeoAir XLite (Regular)
FULL PRODUCT SPECS: NeoAir XLite (Small)
Subscribe to Backpacker magazine
Sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter
Reader Rating:
-
My Profile
Join Now
Most recent threads
The Political Arena
13 Benghazis That Occurred on Bush’s Watch
Posted On: May 23, 2013
Submitted By: BillBab
Submitted By: BillBab
Editors' Choice 2013
412 trail-tested products
Boost Your Apps
Add powerful tools and exclusive maps to your BACKPACKER apps through our partnership with Trimble Outdoors.
Carry the Best Maps
With BACKPACKER PRO Maps, get life-list destinations and local trips on adventure-ready waterproof myTopo paper.
FREE Rocky Mountain Trip Planner
Sign up for a free Rocky Mountain National Park trip planning kit from our sister site MyRockyMountainPark.com.
Get 2 FREE Trial Issues and 3 FREE GIFTS
Survival Skills 101 • Eat BetterThe Best Trails in America
YES! Please send me my FREE trial issues of Backpacker
and my 3 FREE downloadable booklets.
Free trial offer valid for US subscribers only.
Canadian subscriptions |
International subscriptions
and my 3 FREE downloadable booklets.
READERS COMMENTS
The lower limit is likely to be 12 oz for a comfortable pad. I tried the 16"X72"X1.5" 9 oz. Klymit Inertia X-Frame and simply could not sleep on my back, my side or my belly. Clever to drop air tubes to allow our sleeping bags to loft into the dropped spaces, but some of us need to have all body parts supported.
Just got the size large for Christmas. It's super comfy, but definitely noisy when I move around on it. The downside to it being so packable – you have to blow the whole thing up by mouth or pump. No point in bringing a pump along after you've spent all this money on ultralight gear, so lung power it is!
what is the difference in size betwwen regular and large? also where can i get a dark colored one like the one shwoed here
http://campingnest.com/?p=23
Wow, 12 oz! That's impressive for a 3.2 r-factor. Even the X-large is only 16 oz. Yeah it's expensive but so are the Exped pads. I have the Exped Downmat 9 LW. It's is very cozy and warm. I especially like the built - in pump. Doesn't put excess moisture into the pad. Everything goes on sale at REI at some point. Jsut wait for one of their 20% sales.
I heard one of the new Therm-A-Rest's pads is very noisy when you make any movements on it. Is this it and if so, what are your feelings about it?
I heard one of the new Therm-A-Rest's pads is very noisy when you make any movements on it. Is this it and if so, what are your feelings about it?
ADD A COMMENT