Therm-a-Rest - NeoAir XTherm NXT MAX Sleeping Pad

Personally (I’m in my 40s and a side sleeper) an Xtherm or Xlite is one of my favorite purchases. But everyone has different needs. I’m a fan of not buying new things until you actually need them. Or you are sure that your goals will outgrow your gear. A cheap inflatable is definitely not worth it.

If you have something you’re happy with, decline to participate in outdoor culture’s fascination with over consumption. That said, getting an expensive XTherm pad completely changed the range of temps I’m stoked to be out in.

It depends on your conditions. I have a full length Xtherm for 40f nights but the half sized Xlite (now discontinued?) for 60f nights. It’s great, good weight savings. Sometimes put my backpack under my feet, but generally I’m not that fussy.

The Xtherm was a total game changer for me. The warmth from the reflective technology makes a huuuge difference

Thermarest Xtherm for me.

15F frequently or “just in case”? This is my set up: Xtherm Thermarest, 0F Enlightened Equipment Enigma (bought in 2021, I’ve heard their quality is decreasing), 90gsm alpha fleece sleeping layer. SMD’s Gatewood Cape , which offers minimal heat trapping. I feel good to 20F. I’d be uncomfortable but ok at 15F. If my tarp isn’t cutting the wind well enough, I’ll also sleep in my rain layers. There’s no one “true”/“best” way. It’s going to depend on your body, your baselayers and how much comfort you want. Alpha fleece is incredible, but only if you take care of it and have a wind layer. 850 or better down is going to be a good thing to look at. Lighter materials need more care/are more fragile. Thicker material on a sleeping bag will also cut wind better, but be heavier. Managing sweat and condensation is also going to be a big part of being warm. https://preview.redd.it/ql5u7bcm7b6f1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3447a515da55f7c7c722dd870512568afebd5473

The best warmth to weight ratio pad on the market is the Therm-A-Rest XTherm. Great pad, really fucking warm though so only get it if you sleep cold. It’s pricy but if you buy it at REI it’s got a year of warranty, which you might really need, especially in the desert or even just if it gets all nasty from being wet later on. It’s a steal imo.

Thermarest neoairs are too loud and crinkly for me. Rab style of mattress doesn't do well for me as a side to belly sleeper. Nemo is my pick because the only air pads I've kept are Nemo. An astro non-insulated pad is my summer pad with an older cosmo insulated pad being my 30 to 55-deg pad.

The therm-a-rest is the most popular and i have the blue one but depending on the conditions you camp in you could pick the lighter one (yellow). That being said this one and the nemo extreme conditions will have higher denier material underneath which makes them less prone to puncture. I don’t know about the other ones on top of my head. Nemo and thermarest both have good warranties and spare parts, so I’d be leaning towards that. It’s polarizing but both are known to make a lot og noise no matter what they claim.

XTherm seems to be the gold standard currently and is what I have. I have nothing but good things to say about it - super warm, super light, decently comfortable, and (from my experience) durable

The thermarest Neo air mats are lightweight and good quality, if a little pricey. MEC alternatives aren’t bad either. I prefer a foam/air mix pad and have been really happy with the one I have form Sea to Summit. If you want to be on the inexpensive side, look at Woods or Decathalon, but expect more weight.

The idea that you can’t be too hot on a pad is reductive. Anyone who sleeps hot in their home will tell you the kind of mattress they use makes a huge difference in sleep comfort. In my experience an X-Therm is very uncomfortable in 50+ F degree temps. I think the reflective feature makes it more uncomfortable in warmer tempts. In hot temps I want a pad that cools, not insulates. It’s worth having options, just like quilts, to have the best setup for the conditions.

When I was younger I got a 3/4 length therma rest sleeping pad for a backpacking trip to save on weight. It worked it was fine for the trip, I'm really short anyway and didn't notice. 12 years later I used it again and let my bf use the full body one because he had never gone real camping before. Oh man, I can sleep through a lot and pretty easily. That was the most uncomfortable I've been in years sleeping on the ground. Get one. You'll regret it.

I've 200+ nights on my NeoAir. I've patched a couple holes over that time, but it was easy to identify and fix them in the field. Cascade Designs, the parent company of thermarest, will replace your pad if there's a defect in it (I've warrantied an MSR tent with them). Thru hikers use inflatable pads and do just fine. Are you having this problem with multiple brands and models? Are you super heavy? Are you sleeping wearing anything that is metal? Maybe get a gossamer gear 1/8" foam pad and put it underneath your inflatable.