Therm-a-Rest - NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad

The Thermarest pad is hard to beat for weight to warmth ratio. However, some people find them noisy and don't like the horizontal baffles. I'd look at quilts vs. sleeping bags. A quilt with a pad attachment kit is way more comfortable (and lighter) than a sleeping bag.

The first thing you need is a skill: accepting disappointment. If you don’t want to go down the rabbit hole, you must accept that taking a stranger’s suggestion may result in you finding a better item later, and some regret that you didn’t purchase the “best” item first. You must then think: “ok, but I saved myself 15-30 hrs research.”  Complete gear list, 10lb $800 total: https://pmags.com/the-budget-backpacking-kit He also has a 15 lb $300 version  https://pmags.com/300-gear-challenge Cheapest is buying used or discount - check r/ulgeartrade, r/geartrade, and steep and cheap.  My recommendations:  Sleeping pad:  - cheapest is learning to sleep on CCF - Nemo switchback, ridge rest, or similar. Unbeatable value and reliability. (Pads advertise r=2ish. You can stack pads to double this, but folks typically find that foam pads are plenty warm for 3 seasons. Pads seem to sleep warmer than the r-value suggests, due to the way r-value for pads is measured - it ignores heat loss through the sides, which is minimal for thin foam and not minimal for thick air pads.) - lightest for the r-value inflatable is the Thermarest X-Lite NXT - more comfy and not too heavy is the Exped Ultra 5. (5=r-value of 4.8ish) You can buy a mummy-shape (in either regular or long-wide mummy) to cut weight or the rectangle (again in normal or long-wide) if you like to sprawl.  Sleeping bag:  I bought mine used, learned to wash it. It was a good learning project. 

I use a NeoAir Xlite NXT regular for backpacking, although not perfect, it gets the job done. Biggest complaint is when I sleep on my back, my arms will drape off the sides of the pad. I still sleep well with it. I grabbed the NeoLoft Regular Wide at launch for car camping. I use it for non-backpacking related sleeping. Using a Basesus handheld air inflater for it, it's very luxurious. The Basesus has enough juice to fully inflate it 5 nights. It's a complete dream sleeping on the NeoAir. I don't think I'd ever backpack with it. Just had to comment on how darn comfortable it is. I am a 50/50 side back sleeper.

I used both and preferred the Nemo. My Thermarest air outlet sprung a slow leak. I prefer the Nemo rectangular shape to the tapered mummy shape of the Thermarest. Edit: I endured three punctures on the pct and I would never use an inflatable pad again. I went to a foam pad and it was so much nicer. Dealing with the inflatable was a giant hassle for me. The foam pad is indestructible and my sleep was identical Edit: I tracked my sleep across 180+ nights using my watch and ran a statistical analysis (regression) to determine the factors that influenced my sleep. Whether I used a foam pad or an inflatable mattress was NOT STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT with a negligible r squared. Basically it meant I slept the exact same regardless of foam or inflatable pad. It didn’t matter.

ccf pad cut down to size for the doggo, and an inflatable pad (xlite or tensor) for you next to it -- or get used to sleeping on ccf pads too if that wouldn't be good enough and she couldn't be taught to accept it

I have a tensor, xlite, and exped 3r -- I think they're all reasonably comfortable, although tensor probably at least 10% more comfy than both. Expeds can be bought cheap (sometimes $100), but if that's not the main concern it's between the tensor and xlite: tensor has 40d bottom and 20d top, xlite is 30d/30d; tensor is 5.5r / xlite is 4.5r; tensor (r/w) is 18oz, xlite max is 19oz. Historically the xlite has been considered more durable + repairable, but with the new fabric changeup recently, not sure that'll still be the case. Tensor is probably what I'd recommend to you. Also, trial version exists that is lighter but less warm (~3r) which could be warm enough for you.

I'm actually a stomach sleeper and find the xlite very comfortable for that, although the noise is definitely an issue when sleeping without a thin pillow. I do think the tensor is slightly more comfortable, but I have to get the air pressure just right, more-so than the xlite. Interesting we have different experiences like that!

Get the xlite nxt short, definitely long enough and only 11.5oz. Could also get an older xlite women's, that's slightly lighter and supposedly warmer (but maybe less comfortable and more noisy) Get the Enlightened Equipment Enigma APEX 20, short/regular, 7d fabric inside + 10d fabric outside (26.75oz) for ~190 euros

Hello! So, for a few trips now, I have used the Therm-A-Rest NeoAir Xlite NXT regular wide. I'm a side sleeper and I haven't had a night where I didn't wake up a couple of times because of my hands, which are going numb.  I've tried to sleep on a fully inflated mat. I tried having it way less inflated to the point where my hips nearly touched the ground, but it did not help. My hands went numb. I thought I might have to get another pad, one with more pressure relief, but I'm not sure if that will solve my problem and, if yes, what pad I should get. I looked into the Zenbivy UL Mattress. That one looks comfy, has good reviews, has a good R value and is "just" 100g more than the neoair. The problem is, here in Germany it costs €270! I think that is waaaay too much when comparing it to the neoair for €180 or a Nemo Tensor All Season for €200. So I thought about getting the Nemo Tensor all season. Sadly, it will be even heavier since there is no mummy regular wide, only a rectangular wide one which increases the weight. It should be more comfy, not as much pressure relief as the Zenbivy mat, but probably better than the NeoAir. Are there any other recommendations? Anybody else having the same problem with the NeoAir? I'm based in Germany, so I guess my choices are a bit more limited, at least when I don't want to pay an absurd amount of money for a pad. Thanks in advance!

1) Patch your Xlite 2) If not working, buy a Nemo Switchback. Start with the full one and cut it down until you don't want to take anymore off. Enjoy a never popping pad. If too hard, double up for your torso

I like the STS UL Insulated in XS. For me, the low height is comfier than the balloony X-Lite

I've been fine with an R2 CCF down to 20f limit. A 3mm ccf added makes it significantly warmer and more comfortable. A short accordeon and full length 3mm is a great combo. For an air pad, the Sts Insulated with an R3.2 is a limit for me. XLite around 4.5 is cosier and more than enough imo. I prefer the STS for comfort

Xlite Wide Mummy is also wide where it matters and lighter

Nemo. Dimples are much more comfortable… as a side sleeper I tried Thermarest and always felt I’m sliding off the sides!

I use the thermarest xlite nxt combined with the MLD thin light pad. I’ve used this combo down to around 5f and been toasty underneath. I tried the thin light pad underneath the inflatable and on top and found that it was warmer on top the inflatable. My biggest cold spots resulted from drafts around the sides of my quilt below 20f. This sounds weird but I tucked the thin light pad inside my quilt and it made a big difference in stoping drafts and my contact side was not cold. I’ve also slept in expedition grade down jacket and then down pants with alpha layers underneath and down booties with no sleeping bag and stayed warm on top the thermarest down to about 10f.

If your planning on sleeping with temps below 20f your going to want a R6 or greater insulated sleeping pad like the thermarest xtherm. I’d say the thin light pad is comfortable 30-20f on a r4 three season pad. You’ll defiantly want a 0f bag if it’s anywhere close to 0f no playing around when its that cold.. Long term temps below 10f makes for very difficult backpacking survival without a well planned gear kit. It’s hard enough to keep your water from freezing and the colder it gets the faster it all happens. If the ground is frozen and your on a r2 sleeping pad your ground side body will feel like it’s slightly warmer than freezing. You’ll be rolling over every 10 mins or less to keep the ground side of your body warm and it’s not fun. From r2 to r6 or above is a huge difference in Insulation when it’s below freezing.

I’ve got the thermarest xlite nxt and been comfortably warm to around 15f. That being said I believe the amount of air pressure in the pad can make a difference in comfort and warmth. I found the pad most comfortable slightly deflated. However, I believe you lose warmth with lower inflation psi, and max psi does feel warmer to me although like sleeping on a rock. Getting the sweet spot of perfect psi can be difficult and sometimes I fiddle around letting a tiny bit of air out until my shoulder stops falling asleep. Wish there was a UL psi gauge built into the pad. 🤣

For the sleeping bag I’d recommend a zpacks, timmermade or cumulus 30f range sleeping bag you could push into much colder temps wearing alpha 120 bottoms, down jacket, and down foot booties inside the sleeping bag. I’ve used this combo of clothing to push my 12oz 50f sleeping quilt down to 20f comfortably. If you plan to camp mostly in the summer I’d get the 50f bag and just wear more clothes inside it to push temps lower in fall. I switched to this technique and was able to reduce my pack size a lot and half the weight of my sleeping bag and its bulk. It works well since I’m already taking the alpha pants and down jacket anyways so I might as well wear them and save weight on the sleeping bag. The wind makes the biggest difference to me for how much insulation I need at night. For High Wind below freezing a windproof bivy that can fit over your pad and quilt makes a huge difference to your overall warmth and stoping drafts. Many UL quilts with 7D fabric are not very windproof and even a 20f bag can feel very cold at 20f in high winds. I like to summit camp and it’s often very windy above 6000ft. For the sleeping pad I’d recommend the thermarest nxt https://cascadedesigns.com/products/neoair-xlite-nxt-sleeping-pad?srsltid=AfmBOop1YJvl8n8oPU1vCNvveJ5sopEYhuUIcb1ORgJmz5-Sc-vxRd-W If 6.1 and the wide thermarest fits me but is still small. It packs down very small and is the most comfortable and insulated pad for the weight that I’ve tried yet. I have slept at 10f in the snow and been fine with it. You can also pair it with a gossamer gear thin light foam pad and gain more R values for freezing temps.

I have the NXT and it’s warm down to about 15f. I’ve found that if you pair the NXT with the GG thin light it adds insulation and can be pushed to single digits temps as a system. Then you don’t need a dedicated winter sleeping pad and you’ve got the GG thin light as a sit pad and yoga mat.

I’ve have a thermarest xlite nxt size wide but wish I had bought the uberlight because most of my camping is 3 season and it’s a good bit lighter. I’ve got around 85 nights on mine no leaks. I have washed it several times and it’s holding up great. Most of the time I set the pad on top of a MLD thin light pad which I also lay down around camp on, do yoga, or use it as a sitting pad. I am over 6 foot and a side sleeper and my feet and knees hang off a little bit on a size wide. I’ve tried some other sleeping pads, but they were not as comfortable although the tensor is about the same comfort if not a tiny more because I think it has better side stability.

You’re spending a lot of money so I definitely would test them. Also, you can get a less insulated pad and pair it with the MLD thin light and then use it over top, or underneath your sleeping pad to gain more insulation and push the pad beyond summer use. I use my xlite down to around 10F so far sleeping with MLD pad ontop of xlite. For three season use I sleep with the MLD pad underneath the X light just to prevent puncture, but that’s not the main reason I bring the MLD pad. I don’t take a chair so I really like to use it to lay on by the fire or use as a sit pad. It’s only 3.1oz and it has more function than buying the warmer xtherm as a dual use item that can also add insulation to your three season pad but be useful around camp… laying down yoga sitting etc.. or using the xlite outside the tent in the open ontop the MLD pad to prevent pops. In freezing temperatures I’ve tested the MLD below and on top the Xlite and found that it is way warmer on top.

I kind of regret not buying a thermarest xtherm instead of the neoair I think. Fairly big R value difference: - neoair wide/regular mummy: R=4.5, 16oz - xtherm wide/regular mummy: R=7.3, 19oz 3oz (+19%) weight difference for 62% higher R value I backpack a decent amount in hot DC summer/falls though and felt the x-therm might just make me too hot.

Ya prob should have just bought an x-therm for flexiblity though I'll say I've been warm enough with my xlite nxt down to the 20s.