Australian Hiker

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Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite Review

For me the Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite was an evolutionary process. I started off with a foam pad followed by the Therm-a-rest Prolite before moving onto the NeoAir XLite pad (see the image below). By nature I am a side sleeper but given that I have had a number of shoulder injuries over the years, I have to regularly shift positions during the night from my back to one side and then the other. This annoys my wife no end as she is a light sleeper so the more I toss and turn, the more I disturb her.

Like most people of my age, I used a foam pad for a number of years and appreciated the Therm-a-rest Prolite series when it came out but found it still didn’t provide enough support when I slept on my side. Early in 2016, I bit the bullet and 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. As expensive as this pad is, it has been one of the best financial outlays I have made on hiking equipment. I now sleep very comfortably in any position and even as a large male, the size of the regular sleeping pad works well for me.

There are a huge number of inflatable mats available on the market now but my reason for choosing this particular mat was based on weight (360 grams for the regular size) and size as I try to become an ultralight hiker. The pad, when packed, is around the size of a one litre water bottle and the weight is minuscule. One additional bonus I didn’t even consider when making my purchase was the additional heat retention that this pad provides over the thinner options. I do appreciate the additional insulation this pad provides but being a hot sleeper this usually isn’t an issue. This pad is not as long as me but I don’t like having my head resting on the pad itself so the length of the pad works out well.

This pad is certainly not perfect (but no pad is). The price is the obvious negative and is at the dearer end of the price scale at AUD $455 RRP but I really wanted this pad and waited until it was on sale to buy at a good discount.

The pad size is fine for my 188 cm frame and while some people have issues with ‘soft’ edges or not being able to get your arms on the pad if they are outside the bag, this doesn’t worry me; if my arms are outside the sleeping bag then it means that it is warm. If this was a real issue, the large version is wider and longer but I didn’t see any real positives for me given the additional weight and size to deal with.

Another negative often discussed on the internet is the crinkly noise that this pad makes. This is an issue that Therm-a-rest has worked to improve and certainly from a user’s point of view I don’t find it to be a problem although my wife often complains at the noise I make when I toss and turn. Other campers who have been in the same room haven’t said that this is an issue but it may be if your partner is a light sleeper.

Overall I am very happy with this pad and for more than 6 years this remained my mat of choice only to be replaced in late 2022 by the Neoair Xtherm mat. I would strongly suggest you look at this as an option when choosing an inflatable pad. For many hikers the price will be an issue but consider all the features that this pad offers before choosing another option.

We Like

• Exceptionally low weight at 360grams
• Very compact size when packed up means you hardly notice this sleeping pad in your pack. Great for the ultralight hiker who wants comfort and minimal weight
• Good resistance to cold for its size and weight which will keep you warm in all three-season conditions. This will help form the base for a great sleep system
• Great for side sleepers as your hips won’t dig into the ground giving you a better nights sleep
• Even after 6 years and many hikes it’s still working well for me

We Don't Like

• The cost. This is not a cheap sleeping pad but you get what you pay for. Mine has done an awful lot of work in the past 6 years
• 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
• Takes a bit of effort to inflate – up to about 35 breaths
• 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
• Can be a bit soft at the edges although again I don’t find this an issue

Best Uses

• Ultralight hiking
• Great for side sleepers

Buy One

You can purchase the Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite online from Snowys or from Wildfire Sports

Disclosure: Some of the above links are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us!

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

Investment

AUD $455.00 RRP. Keep an eye out for the regular sales that occur and you may get a great deal

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 Mattress Women’s (warmer pad designed for women. Higher R value but also smaller and narrower)
• Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLit MAX  (large size version, more for car camping rather than ultralight hiking)
• Therm-a-rest NeoAir XTherm Max (warmer and more durable version but also heavier. A great wintertime pad)
• Therm-a-rest Uberlite (for those gram weenies)

Comparison of various sleeping mats packed. From the left one litre water bottle, Therm-a-rest Neo Air Xlite, Therm-a-rest Prolite, and a foam mat. All these sleeping pads are very similar in weight but the size increases and comfort level decreases as you move to the right in this image

Therm-a-rest Neo Air Xlite Sleeping pad inflated

This images shows the level of support provided by these three types of sleeping pads. If you are a side sleeper then you are likely to have a restless sleep on the two bottom pads in this image

The sleeping pads are a similar sizes. The air valve on the two Therm-a-rests on top are visible on the right hand side of the image

Disclaimer

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

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