Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad Review

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The new Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XLite camping air mattress is improved for 2012. Therm-A-Rest has managed to reduce the weight of the XLite by more than 15% – to  a mere 15oz.

This air mattress is made of advanced material and has a tapered shape which is narrower at the foot to reduce weight. You don’t need to worry that you’ll be sacrificing comfort or warmth with the NeoAir XLite, because it has the same thickness and heat-reflective properties of the other Therm-A-Rest mattresses, but at a fraction of the weight. The inner core of the NeoAir XLite is a metallic, reflective material which functions to reflect your body heat back up to you. This feature will prevent the ground from soaking up your body heat and keep you warmer during the night.

The NeoAir XLite is made of a different, thinner material than other mattresses, and the material is a bit more noisy than others. As a result of its thinner material, the NeoAir XLite packs down smaller than other mattresses as well, at only 9″ long x 4″ in diameter when packed into its included stuff sack.

Durability is always a concern with ultralight gear, but this mattress showed no signs of wear at all after a half dozen uses. If you happen to set up on a less than perfect campsite and the XLite gets nicked, it comes with a repair kit (kudos Therm-A-Rest).

Backpackers and campers usually have pretty simple concerns regarding mattresses: easy to operate, comfortable and warm, and light weight. The Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XLite ticks off each of these boxes with enthusiasm, packs down to the size of your 32oz water bottle, and weighs virtually nothing. We highly recommend it for weight-conscious backpackers looking for a high-performance air mattress.

For more information on the NeoAir XLite and other Therm-a-Rest products, visit www.thermarest.com or www.amazon.com/thermarest.