Therm-a-Rest - NeoAir XTherm (OG Version)

Thermarest Neoair Xtherm or Xlite are my picks.

Exped megamat for car camping, thermarest neoair for backpacking

I have the Thermarest NeoAir XTherm (max) and freakin love it. Yes it sounds like a crinkly bag of chips, but I sleep with earplugs. It is VERY warm, well made, and surprisingly light/compact. I just went with the idea of "buy one really damn good pad" and then not have to think of it every again - I slept in moroccan desert and high arctic with it - very enjoyable!

It looks like you're responding to the convo above but the idea of using an inflatable for the torso with pack or equivalent on the legs/feet has many advantages. It's both lighter and has an inherent element of redundancy. If the inflatable fails beyond repair, there's still some kind of insulation for the torso. I just came back from a trip on which I used an old Xtherm torso pad with a GG folding pad that was part of my pack. The old Xtherm only weighs 269g and is much closer to the ground which puts less stress on the knees. The GG pad is 74g. The combo is significantly lighter than a regular Xlite *and* it has inherent redundancy. The Tensor Elite short isn't really a torso length. I'm 170cm and the Tensor Elite short is 160cm. It's too bad Nemo doesn't offer a genuinely torso length version.

I have previous generation NeoAir Xlite and XTherm pads (with the older valve that looks like a small black cylinder protruding from the pad. The XLite has a bit of that "potato chip bag" crinkle which I think has gotten better in the newer models. In terms of comfort, my Nemo Tensor is WAY more comfortable, but my first Nemo Tensor failed when it kept getting little holes where the dimples are located. The NeoAir XTherm is AWESOME for warmth. I took mine on my Mt Baker climbing/mountaineering class in mid July 2024 and it was great there, and I didn't seem to mind the comfort as much. Maybe I was just tired at the end of each day and didn't care! I have a Kilos AeroCloud Ultra on the way to try and compare, which will probably be my wife's pad when we go to Iceland this summer to hike the Laugavegeur. She has lower back issues and keeping her on a comfortable pad is very important. We're always trying to strike a balance between comfort and weight for her gear. I think the Rapide SL is another good pick. Hard to know which of all these options are the best.

For what it's worth, I've had a Xtherm for years and it's the most durable inflatable pad I've owned. No leaks so far

For -5C and durability I would personally take the Thermarest X-Therm mummy. R7.3, 440gr (although mine weighs 460gr in reality), and a 70D material on the underside. Anecdotally, I can feel the cold seep through my Nemo Tensor Insulated (R4.2) from around freezing.

Thermarest. There’s a reason it costs so much. It’s in high demand because it’s worth the money.

The Thermarest NeoAir is indeed lighter. At just 12 ounces the semi-mummy arguably the best quality sleeping pad in this range and weight. But it's also not cheap. The NeoAir Xtherm is the cold weather version, R 7.4, and 16 oz. The Nemo Tensor Extreme is rectangle, R 8.1, and 18 oz. Both the Thermarest and Nemos are quieter than they were in the past. Also, the more you use them, the more quiet they get. Agree the Thermarest pump sack is the worst of the bunch, no question, but I've gotten mine to work enough. The Rapide is usually warm enough for most people 3 seasons, and the reason to buy it is indeed it's thickness, and the sides being raised. Agree the Exped 5R is good for most people. It's a simple, comfortable, rectangle. R 4.8, and 1lb 4 oz. That's certainly heavier than the Thermarest but $50 cheaper.

The Thermarest NeoAir is indeed lighter. At just 12 ounces the semi-mummy arguably the best quality sleeping pad in this range and weight. But it's also not cheap. The NeoAir Xtherm is the cold weather version, R 7.4, and 16 oz. The Nemo Tensor Extreme is rectangle, R 8.1, and 18 oz. Both the Thermarest and Nemos are quieter than they were in the past. Also, the more you use them, the more quiet they get. Agree the Thermarest pump sack is the worst of the bunch, no question, but I've gotten mine to work enough. The Rapide is usually warm enough for most people 3 seasons, and the reason to buy it is indeed it's thickness, and the sides being raised. Agree the Exped 5R is good for most people. It's a simple, comfortable, rectangle. R 4.8, and 1lb 4 oz. That's certainly heavier than the Thermarest but $50 cheaper.

I own the XTherm and have been very happy with it, and Thermarest as a company in general. Great stuff.

Thermarest neoair xtherm. Expensive, but totally worth it. Don’t do what I did and spend 2x rrp on 4 other pads because the thermarest is “too expensive” before, inevitably, buying a thermarest because everything else sucks.

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.