Therm-A-Rest Neo Air
- Details
The latest sleeping pad from a long lineage of quality products in the Therm-a-rest line from Cascade Designs delivers on it promises. Forgoing the insulation and foam that generally fills sleeping pads, the Neo Air instead uses a reflective materiel to reflect heat back to the body. This move saves quite a bit of space and weight while still managing to give the Neo Air a respectable R-rating of 2.5. The pad weighs in at a mere 13.375oz., rolls up to the size of a one liter bottle and still raises you up 2.5" off the ground. Our testers found this to be the most comfortable mat by a healthy margin. Sleeping bags stay nicely on the mat without slipping off during the night and the horizontal design of the air chambers made for a great distribution of weight. As you would expect, the pad is constructed of very lightweight materials and gentle handling is the name of the game, although on the two week test in Glacier National Parkand Gunnison National Forest, the Neo Air showed no signs of a leak. There have been some reports of some early distribution problems but these should ease with time. If you are looking for the top of the line pad and can get past the sticker shock, the Neo Air is the only choice. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a great pad that is about half the price, albeit slightly heavier and more bulky, check out the Big Agnes Insulated Air Core. Also available in four sizes; small (20"x47"), medium (20"x66"), regular (20"x72"), and large (25"x77") there is a surely a size for everyone.
Quick Review:
Design: Light weight sleeping pad Weight: 13.375oz. (Regular) Retail: $119.95 - $169.95 (Buy) Why it's hot:
- Light weight
- Great weight distribution
- Great loft
- Packs down small
Why it's not:
- Price