Thermarest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad - Women's
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A great 4 season, ultralight sleeping pad.
Name: Thermarest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad - Women's
Specs:
Weight: 12 oz (w/ repair patch kit)
Dimensions: 66x20x3 in
R-value: 4.5
Shape: Semi-rectangular/ Mummy
Type: Air Pad
MSRP: $200
Note: The “women’s” specific version no longer exists. The whole pad has been upgraded a few times, including fixing the potato chip bag sound, increasing the R-value to 4.5 from 3.9, increasing the thickness by half an inch, and coming in a variety of sizes (like a wide version). You’ll want the short size for the same weight as this pad. Purchase from REI here.
What I Like:
Weight: Super lightweight and small packed size is what makes this inflatable pad so awesome! The men's version comes in different sizes of varying weights, but all are lightweight.
Warmth: A 3.9 R-value puts this pad into the 4-season category. It is sufficiently warm for any summer backpacking conditions, and is a great year-round pad option. This is great because you could potentially get away with a less warm bag, or quilt, in certain conditions because of how insulating this pad is. The men's version has a 3.2 R-value, so not as warm as the women's version, but still a good, warm pad.
Comfort: Side sleepers, rejoice! This pad is so comfortable, you will be able to sleep on your side without sag. Even your heaviest points (shoulders, hips) are suspended on the mattress comfortably. Like sleeping on a cloud! Absolutely no complaints on comfort.
Durability: After using this pad for over 150 nights, I can say that this this pad is very durable. It survived a PCT thru-hike! In my last nights on trail, I noticed some blown baffles, which didn’t affect my sleep quality or the pad’s ability to hold air. Thermarest has a great warranty though, and will repair the pad. Of course, it is in more danger of popping than a closed-cell foam pad, but it comes with a field repair kit.
What I Don't Like:
Noise: This pad is crinkly. Every time you move, the pad makes a lot of noise. If I am already not sleeping well, and my partner moves on this pad, it will be even harder to get to sleep. This of course can be resolved with earplugs. It does get less noisy with continuous use. After taking this on a full thru-hike of the PCT, it no longer makes noise. But it was a lot less noisy after maybe 2 weeks of sleeping on it.
Cost: If you are budget-minded, this pad may seem crazy expensive to you! I promise, it is worth the cost. If you are an REI member, this is a great item to spend a 20% off coupon on, and you may be able to find it on sale at places like Backcountry.com or campsaver.com that have other seasonal promotions.
Overall, I couldn't recommend this pad enough, for backpacking or car camping!