Australian Hiker

Rating

Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite Women's Review

I am a light sleeper at the best of times – I feel every lump, and hear every noise and minor disturbance. Getting to sleep isn’t usually my challenge – the issue for me is staying asleep. So when I’m sleeping in the great outdoors, I need all the help I can get to stay comfortable (and asleep) during the night.

My search for the right sleeping mat has been a long one. Some years ago, I asked an Army mate for advice and the response I received was ‘After a few nights of not sleeping, you’ll sleep anywhere with little effort’.  From first hand experience I have to say this is not the case – I just become grumpy and more zombie-like as the hike progresses.

While a sleeping mat can’t help me with animal and human noises, it can help me drift into deep slumber that will minimise the impact of such things.  So what am I looking for in a sleeping mat? My sleeping mat needs to:

• Follow my body shape
• Form a barrier between me and ground to keep me warm
• Be on the quiet side
• Provide good ‘padding’ under my hips
• Be super lightweight

The Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite Women’s sleeping mat ticks most of these boxes. This sleeping mat provides plenty of insulation and padding. It is very comfortable to lie on and really cuts out the cold. This mat has a 4.2 R rating which is higher than the 3.2 R rating for standard NeoAir XLite. This may not sound like much but believe me, it makes a big difference. While this mat is designed for women, it is ideal for anyone who is needing a thicker insulating layer underneath.

Other important things for me are the shape and the padding. The Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite Women’s has been designed for women in that it is a little more generous in size – particularly around the hips. It also inflates to a generous depth which means I can sleep on my side without feeling the ground underneath. At 340 grams this mat also ticks the ‘super lightweight’ box and rolls into a compact size!

Like Tim, I also progressed from a foam pad then to the Therm-a-rest Prolite before moving to the NeoAir XLite Women’s pad (Tim uses the long version of the NeoAir XLite). When we have the two mats in the one tiny tent, it is a cosy fit!

There are two negatives with this sleeping pad. The first is the price and at AUD $455 RRP it is definitely at the top end. You can find it on sale but even at full price, it represents good value for money. The second negative is that its noisy – not as much as others but more so than I prefer. I have found I can reduce the noise by placing my mat inside my sleeping bag liner – a bit weird I know but it dampens the noise well. The added benefit is that it also stops my sleeping mat from shifting away from me during the night!

I am very happy with this sleeping mat and I get a good night’s sleep which is the main criteria for me! I definitely recommend this mat for those seeking warmth and comfort.

We Like

• Very low weight and compact size means you hardly notice this sleeping mat in your pack
• Great for the hiker who wants comfort and minimal weight
• Great resistance to cold and will keep you warm in all seasons
• Great for side sleepers as your hips won’t dig into the ground giving you a better nights sleep

We Don't Like

• The cost – not cheap but you get what you pay for
• Can be a bit noisy but think about slipping the mat inside your sleeping bag liner
• Take care on rocky surfaces to ensure you don’t get slow puncture leaks
• Takes a bit of effort to inflate – up to about 35 breaths

Best Uses

• Those needing more warmth – male or female
• Great for those wanting a more ‘generously sized’ (thickness) sleeping mat
• Great for side sleepers

Buy One

You can purchase the Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite Women’s online from Snowys 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!

Investment

AUD $455 RRP but worth it for the comfort and warmth

Other Versions

Therm-a-rest make 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 (wider and longer)
• Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite Regular size (longer)
• Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite small size (much shorter, narrower and lighter for those gram weenies)
• 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 – great wintertime pad)

Disclaimer

This review was done with product purchased from a retail store by Australian Hiker

Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite Women’s with a 1 litre water bottle for size comparison

Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite Women’s sleeping mat inflated

Shares