Australian Hiker

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Thermarest Neoair Xtherm NXT Max Sleeping Mat Review

Therm-a-rest has a reputation for producing some of the world’s best sleeping mats and the Thermarest Neoair Xtherm NXT Max Sleeping Mat is another great product. The Xtherm range is a group of mats aimed very much at outdoor activities in cold conditions having a R value of 7.3. While there are mats that have higher R-ratings around, the Therm-a-rest Xtherm range has long been considered the pinnacle mainly because of the combined set of features. So what’s so good about this mat?

Dimension wise when I compare this to my well-loved Therm-a-rest NXT Xtherm or the more popular Therm-a-rest NXT NeoAir XLite the dimensions are very similar with the big difference being the width and shape of the mat. Shape wise this is a full rectangular mat rather than a mummy shape and also being 13cm wider overall making for a very plush and comfortable mat.

This mat also comes with an inflation bag and while in theory I like the idea of these ‘bag pumps’ which are starting to come with a number of mats these days, I am equally happy to inflate manually and this is where the WingLock valve greatly helps with this process. As a valve its larger than the one on the older models which makes it significantly easier to inflate and also allows you to take a breath in between without having to rapidly close off the valve. In addition the wing lock mechanism allows rapid deflation, again a nice feature, I will just open the value on my mat while I’m still in my tent and allow my body weight to do all the work. My original Thermarest Neo Air Xlite mat used to take me 35 breaths to inflate but with this new valve it takes less breathes and less effort.

These really are excellent mats to sleep on; they are toasty warm as you would expect, the rectangular shape is a bit of a luxury so you notice it compared to the more compact hiking versions, and it packs down to a relatively small size compared to many other cooler and less expensive mats.

Now for the negatives. There really is only one main negative for this mat and thats the price of RRP of $635 AUD which places it at the top end of the sleeping mat segment however if you look closely you can often find these mats on sale at a much sharper price.

So why then would you buy one? For me I see this mat fitting a number of different niches. Firstly this would make an excellent all weather car camping mat. Secondly if you are camping in cold and damp conditions and are trying to stay warm at night then you need to ensure your mat and your sleeping bag are matched otherwise the world’s best sleeping bag won’t help you very much. This mat out performs just about every other mat on the market in keeping you warm and in doing so weighs less than many cheaper mats that are meant for warmer weather. In fact it is more compact and lighter than many mats I have seen on the trail; but you do pay for that financially.

If you think that staying warm at nighttime is important then the additional weight and additional price are worth this great option. If you are trying to save a bit of weight then look at the hiking version that will save you around 110 grams and is more compact in your pack!

We Like

• Super toasty for those colder nights with an R-Value of 7.3
• Very, very comfortable even for side sleepers
• The pump sack is included for super easy inflation – a great innovation but not necessary given the easy to inflate wing lock value!
• Very compact and relatively lightweight for a sleeping mat that provides this much warmth
  • When compared to other mats of similar warmth the Xtherm range is hard to beat

We Don't Like

• The cost. Try to find this mat on sale. Having said that for what it does its is good value for money
• This is an ultra warm and ultra comfortable mat and with that comes a weight penalty at 650 grams

Thermarest Neoair Xtherm NXT Max Sleeping Mat

Best Uses

• Car camping
• Hiking where warmth is important

Buy One

You can purchase the Thermarest Neoair Xtherm NXT Max Sleeping Mat online from Amazon Australia or from Wild Earth

Disclosure:  We may earn a small commission, at no additional expense to you, 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!

Investment

AUD $635 RRP. You can often find this model on sale!

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. In the Xtherm range you can also find:

Thermarest Neoair Xtherm NXT Max Sleeping Mat what’s in the box?

• Patch kit
• Sleeping mat
• Pump Sack
• Storage bag

Therm-a-rest Winglock valve

Xtherm NXT Range Video

Disclaimer

This review was done with product provided on loan from the Australian distributor of  Therm-a-rest

Last updated

3 January 2025

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