Bad night of sleep in the backcountry? The reason I hear more often than not is warmth. Numerous are the times in camp when I’ve been brewing coffee and heard a friend say “I just couldn’t get warm.” A good sleeping bag is a start, but all too often campers overlook the value of a good, insulated sleeping pad. Therm-A-Rest certainly knows a thing or two about restful nights in the woods, and the NeoAir XTherm is a four season sleeping pad guaranteed to keep even the frostiest of sleepers toasty. I tested the pad all summer long, and was impressed by its comfort and insulating ability.
The Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XTherm is all about R-value. We’ve talked about this important rating in other reviews, but here’s the idea: R-value is the rating system for insulation. The higher the number, the warmer the pad. Therm-A-Rest packs a whopping 5.7 R-value into the XTherm, and does so without the bulk. They also did it without any bulk; the NeoAir XTherm pad weighs less than a pound and is about the size of a 1L water bottle! The top material is 30d High Tenacity Nylon and the bottom is 70d Nylon Soft Grip. The incredible warmth that this pad yields is thanks to the four layers of reflective material that recycle your body heat and trap warm air inside. Ever see those crazy “space blankets” draped over marathon runners at the end of a race? That’s the same material Therm-A-Rest used to create this lightweight yet still four-season worthy pad.
Enough tech, the real question is how did it perform? Nothing short of excellent. I brought the NeoAir XTherm mattress with me on backpacking trips to the High Uintas for testing. Sleeping at over 10,000′ can be a chilly proposition, but even 35 degree temps proved no match for this pad. I was so warm that most nights I didn’t even need to zip my bag up. Comfort is not sacrificed a bit with the XTherm; at 2.5″ wide there is plenty of plushness- side sleepers rejoice! When it was time to break camp, the NeoAir pad took up slightly more space in my pack than my usual pad (which just so happens to have an R-value of 0, a welcome trade). The only negative about this pad is the crinkling sound created when you first lay down to get comfortable, but I didn’t find it any more annoying than other pads I’ve used. Supreme warmth, solid comfort, and trail ready: if you’ve ever griped about being too cold at night, the Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XTherm is the pad to cure your woes.
NeoAir Pillow: If you’re upgrading your sleeping gear, why stop with just a pad? I also tested the NeoAir Pillow this summer, and was pleased with its performance. How many times have you been disappointed by that rolled up jacket you pass off as a pillow? With both the small and medium sizes weighing in at under 4oz, there’s really no reason not to have one. The NeoAir Pillow stuffs into a tiny sack that fits in the palm of your hand, meaning it can be jammed into any open nook or cranny in your pack. It blows up with about 5 big breaths, and made sleeping on my back feel a lot better than the aforementioned “jacket pillow.” It can even double as a small camp seat, just be careful where you place it. I give this little backcountry luxury two thumbs up.
The Good: NeoAir XTherm is very warm, comfortable, and lightweight enough to please just about any backpacker out there.
The Bad: A bit noisy when you move around.
The Verdict: If you’re a “cold” sleeper or need a true four season mattress, the NeoAir XTherm is the ideal solution.