What NeoAir Xlite pad should you buy (Regular or Short)?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ค. 2024
- Therm-A-Rest makes some of the highest quality sleeping pads on the planet. Their NeoAir Xlite model by many is considered the BEST UL sleeping pad that's on the market. What if we compare the NeoAir Xlite to itself. How does the Regular size compare to the Short and is it WORTH IT?
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Gear I mentioned in this video:
Clothing:
☆Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite: bit.ly/2FmnPxZ
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☆Therm-a-Rest Air Pump: bit.ly/2FlyU2b
☆Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat: amzn.to/2xciiHr
NeoAir Xlite Pump Sack Demo: • NeoAir Xlite Pump Sack...
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I’ve just changed my setup from large rectangle sleeping mat that was over 600gr (21oz) to Termarest small uberlight that is 170gr (6oz) and cheap large 2x0.75m mylar reflectix sleeping pad that it 2,5mm thick and only 100gr. I’m so much more warm and comfortable with this setup as much more isolated area. The termarest small sizes are so much cheaper and because most people don’t buy them you can get extra discounts. I spend much less time blowing the pad up and releasing air each day. Also my pack is now 380gr (13oz) lighter after this change. Win, win, win!!!
Nice video. Thank you. I bought the regular about five years ago and the short about 2 years ago. Going from a Ridgerest for about twenty years, the change to the regular NeoAir xlite was like magic. Same-ish weight and the NeoAir made all the little pine cones, pebbles, and irregularities of the ground disappear. All of a sudden, I slept better on the trail than at home. I bought the short to save 7 oz, and now that's all I take. I ALWAYS have trouble believing that I'll sleep as well on the short as the regular, and I always do sleep as well. I use my empty ULA-Equipment Catalyst below the short for my feet. This gives ANOTHER advantage of the short, a place to get the Catalyst out of the way in my Zpacks Duplex. By the way, I'm a tiny bit shorter than you.
+Barry Wohl Thanks for commenting Barry. Excellent point about space to place your pack. Thank you!
Nice review. Excellent communication skills, I really like how you put the one pad over the other one, to give a clear indication of the difference of the two.
When using small (light weight) tents - my feet tend to touch the tent walls when turinng in my sleep. When using the small pad it happens far less often (6cm of extra height does make a difference ...)
Also i usually rest my feet on my backpack - makes the rest of the tent more roomy ^^
I like the comparison of each pad. At the end of the evening, I’m going to spend 8- 10 hours sleeping. If this is the case, sleep is the most important part of the hike. Sleeping at night to hike better during the day is the key in weight management . Hike on. Skillet
Great topic and good job. Have been wondering about short vs regular.
Something worth mentioning is if you go with the short version, you are not going to have the insulation on your body from the ground. The little sit pad is not going to give you a whole lot of insulation. So if you're going to be out on the trail when it's cold it might be worth having the longer one.
Also something I found about the little motorized fan is 1) if you put lithium batteries in it it will blow harder since it doesn't have a regulator on it (and it is lighter and lasts longer) and 2) you can use it as a fan when it's hot out and you're laying in your tent at night. I loved it for that. And also it works incredibly well as a bellow for starting fires. I used a wood burning stove for the second half of my AT hike and this thing helped a ton. Oh, and the battery life on it is great. I used it for about 3/4 of the trail and switched batteries I think once. Maybe twice. 3) You can't express enough how nice it is to not have to sit there and blow up your matress every night after hiking. :)
Great points on the pump!
I would agree on the shorter version on colder temps. I brought the short with me on the JMT and when it got below 30, I wished I had the longer version.
Follow Bigfoot Thank you for that information. It’s just what I was looking to find.
Tx for this review - just purchased the small version (i do have the regular and i love it) for my bike packing race in Italy
Thank you for the review. I Love my S2S UL insulated, but its getting old and needs to be replaced. I am a side and belly Sleeper and 6" and 250lbs and the S2S Long is great. I am looking at a CF backpack with no internal support but a back pocket made for a Z-pad. Too bad there is no manufacturer that has clips that allow you to attach a short/jr air mattress with short/jr Z-pad. I had a few issues with my S2S slowing leaking and it would have been great to have a "backup" Z-pad to sleep on rather than sleeping on Ozark River rocks. I am a restless sleeper and I don't believe a "sit pad" non-attached pad would be very comfortable for me.
With a Pulk in Winter, I use a self inflating, Evolite Plus in wide with varying varieties of foam and mylar underneath (depending on the temperatures) but prefer a hammock with UQ for 3 season. If a lighter weight tent system is necessary, I use a no-longer-available, Neo-Air Xlite "short" version but in a rectangular shape vs. the oval you explored. I use my pack under my feet to help minimize back pressure should I roll over onto my back. For back sleepers, the "short" version can be uncomfortable depending on the shape of your backside, how much height you maintain under your leg insulation(s), and the amount of firmness you choose in your X-lite "short" pad. Good job with the comparison, Bigfoot.
+MRo Thanks for sharing your experience in this MRo!
You’d be surprised how often there IS NOT mold in pads. Ive seen quite a few well used pads cut open out of curiosity. Those dark spots are almost always just the insulation/reflective material breaking down a little. Food for thought.
BRILLIANT review! THANKS!
Thank’s for a good review, very helpful👍
Nice video Bigfoot. It was great to see the two side by side. I use the Klymit Static V Luxe as I am a side sleeper/belly flopper. I tend to flop back and forth in the night so the extra room is necessary. It is heavier but a good nights sleep has value to.
+BDU King Thanks BDU. I'll keep them coming. Got a few ideas for some to come
Bigfoot we're you glad you took the short pad on the JMT. I'm thinking of doing the same and I'm also 5'8". Thanks
Thanks for the review. I just picked up a TR Neo Air X-Lite 'small' but only because the price was right. But like you I'm 190lbs 5'8" fellow and used to a full size sleeping pad. I used to have a Mtn Equip. Coop Reactor 3, I think which served me for 3 season camping. It delaminated after 5yrs. I bought a TR Pro Lite Plus cause it's so roomy. Not yet tried. So, I'm glad you said the small served you OK. I'm a bit of a side sleeper. I start on my back, but eventually shift in the middle of the night. I do have a inflatable seat pad and even 2 x BA Twister Cane Biofoam, which one I can cut down. Hmmm.
The side by side comparison is very helpful, also you lay down on them for scale. Your trail experience, pumping them up and verifying the weight are informative, unlike some reviews that merely recite the manufacturer specifications.
+lamyeechiu thanks. It's rare that the manufacturer's specs are correct
Great gear reviews do these pads especially the short ones work well with a quilt (enlightenment quilt)
Wondering about this as well, will an enlightenment quilt open up at all below the short pad?
Good video!
I bought the small one and it suits my needs the best. I have a very narrow 1-person tent that doesn't fit my backpack when I sleep and that will not work this year when I am going rainier places. My backpack(Fjällräven Kajka) also has a lot of cushioning so I thought that if I get a smaller pad I could have it in the tent with me to put my feet on. Works out perfekt for me! :-)
Don't compromise on your sleeping mat if you want to sleep well enough to enjoy the next day.
I use the short version with an 1/8" thinsulate toe so length pad underneath in three season use and on top of the XLite in very cold weather. Also I use a Thermarest air tap valve (
taedawood I'd like to see pics
I love the short one as I am 5'1 and normally sleep curled up anyways, its the perfect fun-size sleeping pad😂
Super informative video! So instead of rocking a sit pad under the shorter version, what’s your take on having a closed foam pad under the same shorter X-lite? Thanks Bigfoot!
My pad has a treated interior. Never had an issue with mod
I am 5 foot 9 , have 2 rotatorcuff damaged shoulders, cannot use the less width. The wide will keep my shoulders above the pad. If you have shoulder issues you have to consider the width as probably more important than the length.
I wonder if the gradual mold growth and moisture inside the pad made it heavier.
+Jay Wanders Out I'm sure it does
This was indeed a helpful video. I wish I had them both here. I would live to do some physical measurements on them... What do you think about the risk of deflation? Or anyone else reading the comments... Ever heard about problems with that? At what mileage?
I like the Nemo Tensor. If weight was my issue, I would use klymit x frame inside the sleeping bag. I have a friend that swears by the x frame short. Neoair's noise is real. I have friends that use it, and it sounds like a crinkle contest.
Good video. Good presentation. How much they cost. God bless you.
I hated my short and regular size Xlites, but the wider Large is perfect, its too long for my use, but I found the other way to narrow, I really really wish they would make a Regular size in the Wide width, as the Large length is actually too long
Exactly. I've experimented and found that even 34 inches long x 24 inches wide x 2 inches of padding is all I need for comfort on the torso. So a short/wide would be great. How manufacturers don't recognize this is perplexing. As big foot says, the butt pad or lightweight ccf can fill in the rest if needed.
You can cut the large pad and reseal it with an iron. As with almost all things, there are videos on youtube to show you how. :-)
You remarked: " How manufacturers don't recognize this is perplexing [demand for short and wide]"
Strangely enough, therm-a-rest did … 35 years ago (with their self inflating range at the time).
What perplexes me is that now they somehow think that there is no demand anymore for a short length but otherwise "normal" wide matrass.
Nemo recognizes this and makes the tensor regular wide
Try the womens version
is it possible to blow up the neo air xlite nxt with the mouth without mold creating in the pad and without reduced isolation because of moisture going in the pad?
Just wondering, do you know if it matters which side is up?
When you weigh your old mat, don't forget there is moisture and mould in it adding extra weight
thermarest say there's only 1cm difference in pack size between the small and reg? Despite 4oz weight difference?
That was the main reason I was considering the small.
Hi, I'm a hammock, tent and bivvy camper. I saw you had toyed with the Exped UL7. I've had mine for almost 4 years now and its never missed a beat. Maybe the 'known issue' wasn't an issue back then? I have tried the short/torso version but always ended up with cold spots or sore heals so stuck with the standard (I'm 6ft and 210lbs). At some point I hope you do manage to compare the Exped (2017) with the Neoair. That would be a very interesting video. Looking forward to watching you on the JMT, I aim to be following your footsteps this time next year. Until then I'll have to make do with the John Muir Way (Dunbar to Helensburgh (Scotland) starting 25th Sept.
+Grant Bell Thanks Grant. I would like to do one, probably will be next year though.
I found the short version to be both too short and the 20 inch width way too narrow. I rolled off every time I rolled over in my sleep. I have a the 25 inch wide version of the bigger size. I shortened the regular wide size so that now the pad ends shortly below my knees. There are some useful you tube videos on how to shorten these Thermarest pads.
Any thoughts on the 'female' version as a compromise?
+Michael Foster-Brown I haven't tested it out myself, so I cannot truthfully answer that . The length is 66inch for the reg instead of 72. Big difference is the added warmth of the pad which has a r-value of 3.9 compared to 3.3. So if you get cold easily and don't want to go up to the NeoAit Xtherm, this is something to think about.
The short pad is good during the summer with R value 2 or below R-2.
It's R3.2. Put your pack under your feet and it's fine. I use it in the spring and fall no problems. Winter and early spring/late fall I throw a z-lite underneath it. Problem solved.
+Stu Minnis Thanks Stu!
I am really contemplating the short version as by the 7th or 8th day - I am exhausted mentally and physically blowing up a mattress as a nightly routine. I am so tired of the routine that I am even contemplating going back to foam Z- Lite Short.
You can always carry the pump sack. Fixes you’re problem with blowing it up, and it tripled as a pack liner and you can even turn your xlite /pump sack into a chair. I did a review the NeoAir xlite pump sack if it interests you
I abandoned my expensive air mattress for the same reason and for two more reasons: The crunch is annoying and wakes me up. The Z-Lite does not slip around as much as these neo-air. My 47x20 Pro S comes in at 12.3 oz. Worth the weight to me.
I would like to have a short and wide. Does anything like that exist?
🙏🏼
Im kinda short, and sleep on the side in a curled up position. Checked how much space i took, and i think that short one should BARELY be big enough. Probably sucks when i need to stretch my legs, but it was just $100 on sale, so i gotta at least try it.
Hi bro whats name is green pomp on 3:38 min
I have both, and use the half pad in my hammock.
+Chef Cocoa 👍👍👍👍👍
Great idea. I was looking at the short...I’m a hammocker that occasionally reverts to my tent.
To what temperature do you begin to feel the cold from bellow? Are you using a quilt or sleeping bag in your hammock with the Short Xlite?
I use a short and put my pack with a z seat under my legs.
Thanks for the great comparison, Bigfoot! Not to change the subject, but I was curious if the fires out west are going to have any impact on your JMT trip. I hope not. -Todd
+tak2w The video I am dropping tomorrow is exactly about that. In short, at this current moment, No.
I have one of these and I hate it. It is way too narrow. I am a side sleeper and this is ridiculously narrow. I slide off this thing several times a night.
Is there a way to keep mold from forming?
Don't use humid human breath to inflate.
Use a battery powered inflator (1 oz) or fill by squeezing a 13 gal garbage bag (or similar) held onto the inflation nozzle.
Cool
so the short is not as long as the longer version, so i would gain more length by buying that one.
Hasn’t the mold inside pads theory been de-bunked?
As a side sleeper, do you think there is a difference for us side sleepers?
Unless your torso is super long and your hip falls off the bottom of the short pad there is no difference. They're basically the same pad, just shorter.
I'm a side sleeper and I use the short, but I've found it's more comfortable if I turn it around so that the narrow part is at my head and the wider part at my hips.
That's a good idea, thanks
I'm 6,3 and I'm wondering if I should go with a large or a regular. Anybody know if the extra width would be a great thing to have? Any answers appreciated.
I still dont get why would someone would use the short version.
The short is too short and too narrow. I rolled off every time I moved around. I cut about 18 inches off my large wide version, then resealed it with an iron. There are you tube videos on how to do that. I trimmed 4 oz off my pad.
Put the pads in the freezer to kill the mold
I think the klymit has then beat and i don’t know why more people don’t say anything about it more. It’s 23 inch wide so that’s good plus the design is more comfortable. It’s a little bit more weight, but it’s also warmer (klymit insulated v UL is 15 oz). 3 ounces more and way better. Only thing is I’ve patched it up hangin out at the house with it, 3 times. I’m not even sure what happened. Although I know I dropped an ember on it so my bad
Horace Kephart
I don't see how you folks sleep on a 20" pad. I need 25". Large. I'll take the 16 oz one lol
yeah same for me, I need/want the extra width, but not the extra length
As a side/stomach sleeper, I hate these vids. I cannot sleep with my legs on my backpack, side or my stomach, so nope nope.Being 6'1 does not help stuffer these short pads either. I once did make use of 2 3 inch cardboard in the summer. packing it into the backcountry felt wrong, but it worked ok w the GG 1/3 thinlite paired
I love short sleeping pads. Never have used anything else, after I learned about their existence a few years back. Minimalist is the way. I truly hate carrying extra shit I don't use or care about.
When you're 6'2, the short version is not even a remote option. the end.
I'm 6.2
I use the short, a sit pad under my feet, and my pack under my legs.
It's not mould it's the foil inside coming off
i cant believe that there are really people who buy the short one because of weight like damn drink a whole wodka and sleep without a mat
Thinsulate pad, not toe.
I bought the 1/8" pad from Gossamer Gear and cut the length to match the length of my NeoAir XLite short. It also serves as my sit pad and weighs right at 2 ounces.
Damn that small looks mad small lol
thumbs down for using inches :P
I empty my REI Flash 65 backpack and place it under my legs. Works fine for a 75 year old man. My 20 x 47 older NeoAir weighs in at 9 ounces. I cut my 55 pound load down to less than 25 pounds just by employing moderate light weight substitutes....including food and water.