Australian Hiker

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Therm-a-rest NeoAir UberLite Sleeping Mat Review

I have been using Therm-a-rest sleeping pads and mats for many years. Early in 2016, I purchased the Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite mainly because I had a major shoulder injury caused by a rock climbing accident that forced the issue. So when I had the opportunity to test out the Therm-a-rest NeoAir UberLite sleeping mat I was very keen.

I have a growing list of criteria which guide my sleeping mat selection including:

• Comfort and support for a side sleeper who has experienced a few shoulder injuries in the past
• Light as possible to support my ambition to be an ultralight hiker
• Durable given the harsh environments in which I tend to hike
• Minimising any disturbance for tent companion i.e. Gill

The Therm-a-rest NeoAir UberLite sleeping mat meets most of these criteria. The big advantage of this mat is its weight – or more accurately, lack of weight. At 250 grams for the regular size, it is without doubt the lightest available. And despite its 6.4 cm depth, it is very comfortable because of the NeoAir construction which is also a feature of the XLite.

When packed down, the UberLite is about half the size of a packed XLite – another big bonus.  Therm-a-rest does suggest that you can fit the UberLite pack into your pocket which is possible but there are other things best carried that way!

The UberLite has an R-value of 2 which is ideal for warmer or summer conditions but isn’t sufficient for the colder months of the year.

The 183 cm length of UberLite suits me well despite my 185 cm frame – I tend to sleep with my hiking pillow off my mat in any case!

Now for the negatives. First lets deal with the elephant in the room and that’s price. At $370 AUD it’s not cheap but if you value lightweight, or should I say ultra-lightweight above everything else, wants to maximise space in your pack,and also want comfort then this hefty price is well worth it.

Its fabric is potentially a down side as well.  At 15 denier thickness its on the thin side so you need to look after it more so than other heavier weight mats. While I tend to be hard on my gear I have never had an issue with my lightweight sleeping mats.

The crinkly noise, which is one of the drawbacks of the lightweight Therm-a-rest mats will drive some people mad – I don’t find it to be a problem and don’t even notice it although Gill often complains at the noise I make when I toss and turn. Other hikers sleeping nearby haven’t said this is an issue but maybe they’re just being polite!

The UberLite has all the features of Therm-a-rest’s NeoAir range but with almost half the minuscule weight of the Xlite. For those looking to go as light as possible during the warmer months then this mat if definitely the way to go.

We Like

• Exceptionally low weight and tiny packed size that so you hardly notice this sleeping mat in your pack. Great for the ultralight hiker who wants comfort and almost no weight
• All the benefits of NeoAir construction
• Good for warmer environments
• Great for side sleepers as your hips won’t dig into the ground giving you a better night’s sleep

We Don't Like

• The cost. This is not a cheap sleeping mat but if your an ultralight hiker then this is the price  you pay for saving grams
• Can be a bit noisy at night time. I have never really noticed this but my wife is a light sleeper and often complains about the noise if I move around a lot at night
• Relatively delicate construction so you need to take care on rocky surfaces to ensure you don’t get slow puncture leaks. Easily fixed if you use a ground sheet
• Takes a bit of effort to inflate – up to about 30 breaths but that an issue with air mats of any type
• Not wide enough to fit your arms when outside the sleeping bag. However this is not an issue when your are are inside the bag

Best Uses

• Ultralight hiking during the warmer months
• Great for side sleepers

Therm-a-rest UberLite sleeping mat

Buy One

You can purchase the Therm-a-rest NeoAir UberLite online from Wild Earth or Wildfire Sports 

Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our gear reviews. If we don’t like a  product, you’ll be the first to know!

If you have used the Therm-a-rest NeoAir UberLite or if you have questions, we’d like to hear from you. Post your comment or questions below

Investment

$370 AUD. Keep an eye out for the regular sales that occur and you may get a great deal

Laying on a Therm-a-rest UberLite mat

Size comparison. 1 litre water bottle versus the Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite Women’s versus the Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite versus the Therm-a-rest UberLite versus 500 ml water bottle. The UberLite mat is tiny

Other Versions

Therm-a-rest makes a large range of sleeping pads however the following are in the same range and provide alternatives depending on your needs:

Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite large size

Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite small size (much shorter, narrower and lighter for those gram weenies)

Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite women’s mat – warmer pad designed for women, higher R-value but also smaller and narrower

Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite MAX  – large size version, more for car camping rather than ultralight hiking

Therm-a-rest NeoAir XTherm – warmer and more durable version but also heavier and a great wintertime pad

Disclaimer

This review was done with product provided by the distributor of Therm-a-rest

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