Rating: | 8.3 / 10 |
Value for money | 2.0 / 2.5 |
Durability | 1.7 / 2.5 |
Comfort | 2.1 / 2.5 |
Weight | 2.5 / 2.5 |
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:
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.
Therm-a-rest UberLite sleeping mat
You can purchase the Therm-a-rest NeoAir UberLite online from Wild Earth
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!
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$449 AUD RRP. 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
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
This review was done with product provided by the distributor of Therm-a-rest