Sleeping Pad

The right sleeping pad is highly important for a good night’s sleep outdoors and with its compact design and quality fabrics, Thermarest is the top sleeping pad provider of the outdoor market for years. Its XTherm series is the most suitable option for four-season backpacking, in this article of Thermarest NeoAir XTherm vs XTherm Max, I’ve compiled everything you should know about both pads to help you pick the suitable one for you.

The quick answer is, Thermarest NeoAir XTherm Max has a rectangular form to provide you a bigger room and a warmer condition, NeoAir XTherm on the other hand has a tapered design to save weight. So if you’re willing to sacrifice 2 oz of weight for a bigger area especially around the feet side Thermarest NeoAir XTherm Max is the better option for you, if you want the weight to be as low as possible but still want to enjoy 4 season camping then Thermarest NeoAir XTherm is the suitable option for you.

Thermarest NeoAir XTherm Review

• WEIGHT: 15 oz / 425 gr
• DIMENSIONS (REGULAR): 72″ (Length) x 20″ (Width) / 183 x 51 cm (TAPERED)
• PACKED SIZE: Ø 4.0″ x 9″ / Ø 10 cm x 23 cm
• R-VALUE: 6.9
• FABRIC: 30D rip HT Nylon (Top) / 70D Nylon (Bottom)

Thermarest NeoAir XTherm is a mummy shaped four-season backpacking sleeping pad. It’s considered as a high-end, luxurious sleeping pad due to its price, but it gives you everything you should be looking for on an ultralight sleeping pad.

When it comes to air sleeping pads, there are several factors to take into consideration but the main things you should look for are; weight, packed size, dimensions, durability, R-Value, and sound.

The unique thing about the Thermarest NeoAir XTherm is its great balance between durability, weight, and warmth.

• Weight: With a weight of 15 oz, it’s very light for a sleeping pad (not the lightest though check the 8.8 oz Uberlite)
• Warmth: It offers an R-Value of 6.9 (very high for an air sleeping pad) which is more than enough for 4 season camping (down to -15 °F)
• Durability: Top and bottom layer of the pad is respectively made of 30D and 70D Nylon, which is very denier fabric for an air sleeping pad

There are sleeping pads that offer the same durability and warmth but they’re twice the weight of XTherm, likewise, there are sleeping pads that have the same weight but they’re not as durable or as insulated as XTherm. This uniqueness makes it the best 4-season sleeping pad in the market (I will include a table of other alternatives below).

Also, Thermarest NeoAir packs down quite small with the dimensions of Ø 4.0″ x 9″ it packs down to the size of a 1-liter water bottle.

But just like everything else in the world, XTherm has some cons too, firstly, it’s not the most comfortable sleeping pad out there, it has a thickness of 2.5″ which is not the best option for overweight side-sleepers, if that is the case there’s a slight chance that you might sink in and feel the ground, in that case, I can recommend Nemo Tensor (read my review or view on Amazon) not only it’s thicker, it also sounds much lesser.

Another con of XTherm is, it makes crinkly sounds when you move on the pad, it’s not loud enough to wake you up in the middle of the night but still, it’s worth mentioning for light sleepers.

Last but not least, it has a tapered form, if you like a bigger room especially around the feet area XTherm wouldn’t be suitable for you, this is where XTherm Max comes to save the day.

View on Amazon

Thermarest NeoAir XTherm Max Review

• WEIGHT: 17 oz / 490 gr
• DIMENSIONS (REGULAR): 72″ (Length) x 20″ (Width) / 183 x 51 cm (RECTANGULAR)
• PACKED SIZE: Ø 4.0″ x 9″ / Ø 10 cm x 23 cm
• R-VALUE: 6.9
• FABRIC: 30D rip HT Nylon (Top) / 70D Nylon (Bottom)

Thermarest NeoAir XTherm Max is a rectangular shaped four-season sleeping pad, and the great thing about this pad is, it’s the only rectangular pad that offers less than 20 oz of weight and still offers an R-Value of 6.9.

Also, another thing I liked very much about the pad is although it’s rectangular, it still packs down to Ø 4.0″ x 9″ (same as XTherm).

The general opinion about rectangular sleeping bags is that the only advantage of rectangular sleeping bags is that they are more comfortable, but it’s not true, since they provide a full cover between you and the cold ground, they perform better in cold weathers too.

Thermarest NeoAir XTherm Max’s top and bottom fabric are respectively 30D and 70D nylon. Compared to its alternatives (for instance Nemo Tensor: 20D Polyester, Exped Synmat: 20D Polyester), it’s very durable for an air pad, nay it’s durable enough to directly put on the grass, I don’t recommend it though, the warranty doesn’t cover this kind of damages. If you want to lay it on the ground to tan or to watch the stars, I recommend putting a foam pad under it like Thermarest Z Lite (read my review or view on Amazon).

View on Amazon

Detailed Comparison of XTherm vs XTherm Max

Shape

Starting with the most obvious difference, Thermarest NeoAir XTherm has a tapered design, wider around the shoulder area more narrow around the feet area, this cut is specifically made for saving weight to make the XTherm even lighter, the main trade-off here is the comfort, the indirect trade-off here is the warmth (which I’ll cover below).

Size

The second difference for the XTherm vs XTherm Max comparison is the size, Thermarest NeoAir XTherm offers only two sizes, Regular and Large, XTherm Max on the other hand offers one more size too Regular Wide.

Therefore, with XTherm you don’t have too many options, if you’re tall you go with the large model if you’re not you go with the regular model. But that is not the case with the XTherm Max.

If you have an average length but want a wider room around the shoulder area I recommend getting XTherm Max Regular Wide (Check the price on Amazon), it would be the perfect option for you.

Warmth

Nothing is worse than trying to sleep outdoors in cold weather, 3 years ago I went camping in Budapest with only summer camping gear (most of them was lent from a friend), and the temperature hit down to 5 °C (40 °F), it was a nightmare trying to sleep at that weather. After four cold nights, I realized that there are some gear you shouldn’t be stingy about money.

Thermarest NeoAir series are a bit expensive compared to other air pads on the market but they’re worth every penny.

And with an R-Value of 6.9, Thermarest NeoAir XTherm is the warmest air pad in the NeoAir line, and not only it’s the warmest one, but it’s also the most efficient one (it provides the maximum Warmth to Weight Ratio as you can see at the table below).

For those who’re not familiar with the term, R-Value is a reference to understand how warm a sleeping pad is, the higher this number the more insulation you obtain, and an R-Value of 6.9 can keep you warm down to -15 °F.

But for the XTherm vs XTherm Max comparison, although they both offer the same R-Value, XTherm Max performs better in the cold weather. Compared to mummy-shaped (tapered) sleeping pads, rectangular pads are better since they cover a bigger area on the ground.

Durability

In the durability department, there is no difference at all, Top fabric of XTherm and XTherm Max is 30D Nylon and the bottom fabric of the pads is 70D Nylon (bottom fabric is more denier than the top fabric because the bottom side is often the side where pads get damaged).

It’s important to mention that 70D Nylon fabric is considered very durable for an air sleeping pad, but after all, it’s an air pad and air pads are the most fragile type of sleeping pads. If you want an even more durable sleeping pad I would recommend Thermarest Prolite Plus (read my review or view on Amazon) for backpacking, it’s more durable and easier to use but the trade-off here is the weight and packed size (also self sleeping pads are thinner, I wouldn’t recommend for side sleepers).

Sound

Too many people make the same mistake and don’t think of sound before purchasing a sleeping pad and end up being unsatisfied with the pad.

So, to help you not become one of those people I wanted to include this factor too. You must know Thermarest NeoAir series are loud, they make a crinkly sound when you move while laying on them, it’s not high enough to wake you up in the middle of the night, but it’s loud enough to disturb you if you want a perfect silence.

If you want a very quiet ultralight sleeping pad, I would recommend Nemo Tensor (read my review or view on Amazon) it’s also 0.5″ thicker which is better for side sleepers.

Ease of use

Over the years all Thermarest air sleeping pads including Thermarest NeoAir XTherm and XTherm Max are inflated by mouth (manually), but last year Thermarest featured a new and innovative valve called the Winglock.

And if you buy the Winglock version of a Thermarest pad (you can still find the classic valve options in the market) it comes with a compact pump sack (which can be packed in the sleeping pad stuff sack). So if you go with a Winglock model you don’t have to inflate the pad with your mouth.

BUT, here is the cool part, you might not want to carry the pump sack for going even lighter, Winglock Valve version of pads also can be inflated three times faster than classical valve versions, and with Winglock it’s much easier to deflate.

View XTherm (Winglock Valve version) on Amazon

View XTherm Max (Winglock Valve version) on Amazon

Pack Size and Weight

Both Thermarest NeoAir XTherm and XTherm Max packs down to Ø 4.0″ x 9″ / Ø 10 x 23 cm which is considerably small (not the smallest though check Uberlite and Exped Synmat). So there is not a winner in the pack size department.

BUT, when it comes to weight, there is a significant difference, with a weight of 15 oz the XTherm is 2 oz lighter than XTherm Max (17 oz).

If you want to go even lighter (those who don’t camp in winter don’t necessarily need a sleeping pad that has an R-Value of 6.9), you can go with the Thermarest NeoAir XLite (read my review or view on Amazon), it weighs 12 oz and with an R-Value of 4.2, it can keep you warm down to 15 °F.

Nemo is one of the first brands that pop into mind when talking about quality and convenient camping gear, and the company’s Tensor and Astro models are the two most popular sleeping pads in its line. In this Nemo Tensor vs Astro article, I’ve compiled everything you should know about both of the pads before selecting the suitable one for you.

If you want the quick answer, Nemo Tensor provides the perfect optimization of weight, packed size, insulation, and comfort which makes it the most suitable option for those who like ultralight camping adventures but still need a good night’s sleep. On the other hand, Nemo Astro is heavier, less insulated, and bulkier than the Tensor, but it’s more durable and pocket friendly, it still offers good comfort. If you’re a car or base camper and tight on the budget, Nemo Astro would be a suitable sleeping pad for you.

If you’re already familiar with the sleeping pads skip my reviews and go straight to the detailed comparison.

Nemo Tensor Review

With the options of 5 different sizes, Nemo Tensor is the most popular backpacking sleeping pad in the company’s line.

This popularity is based on its great comfort with a considerably low weight. It’s the lightest sleeping pad that has a 3″ of cushion depth.

I pointed out the 3″ of thickness because with thinner sleeping pads it’s very common to feel the ground, especially if you’re a side sleeper, but with Nemo Tensor it’s nearly impossible to sink in and feel the ground even when you’re sitting on it.

One of the great things about Nemo Tensor is, it offers several sizes of both insulated and uninsulated versions to allow you to pick the suitable one for you.

For instance:

• If you’re into ultralight warm weather backpacking trips you can go with the Uninsulated Regular Mummy version, it only weighs 15 oz and packs down to 8.0″ x Ø 3.0″.
• Or, if you’re a big fellow who needs a sleeping pad for 3 season car camping, you can go with the Insulated Long Wide version, it weighs 1 lb 8 oz and packs down to 9.5″ x Ø 3.0″ but it offers you an R-Value of 3.5 (which can keep you warm down to 20 °F).

Also, even though it doesn’t strike the perfect balance among warmth, weight, and durability as Thermarest NeoAir XTherm, it still provides a good balance considering its deep cushion.

One con of the pad is, it’s made of low denier fabric, therefore it’s not the perfect option if you wanna just lay it directly on stones and grass, you need to be extra careful with this pad, or you can also purchase Nemo Switchback and lay it under the Nemo Tensor, not only it will protect it from the stones and sticks on the ground, it would also provide better insulation for colder weathers.

Check the latest price of Nemo Tensor on Amazon

Nemo Astro Review

For those who like a big cushion and willing to sacrifice some weight and packed size, Nemo Astro is the perfect option.

Firstly it’s important to mention that if you’re looking for a backpacking sleeping pad Nemo Astro would be bulky for you, it’s mainly used for base and car camping.

• It offers only two sizes: Regular (72″ x 20″) and Long Wide (76″ x 25″)
• Warmth-wise it features two types: Insulated (R-Value: 2.6) and Non-insulated (R-Value: 1.5)

It features a built-in pillow, this pillow is very comfortable for back sleepers but it’s a bit low for side sleepers, you might need to carry a small pillow if you sleep on your side, but rather than that due to its 3.5″ of cushion, the pad itself is perfect for side sleepers.

It’s one of the thickest sleeping pads on the market, in addition to being deep, being plushy and offering a built-in pillow make it very comfortable.

But I should add that some people find Nemo Astro a bit bumpy to sleep on. The common idea about sleeping pads is the thicker the sleeping pad the more comfort it offers. That is true up until to some level (roughly 3″) but after that, it starts to feel bumpy (some people like it though). But if comfort is your first priority Nemo Tensor would be a better option for you.

And the most important feature of Nemo Astro is its durability, with 75D PU Polyester on both the bottom and top layer, Nemo Astro is as durable as it gets when it comes to air sleeping pads.

Check the latest price of Nemo Astro on Amazon

Nemo Tensor vs Astro Detailed Comparison

Specifications: Tensor vs Astro

I’ve prepared this comparison table of insulated regular sizes of the Nemo Tensor and Astro, so you can get the main difference of the sleeping pads, but below I will get into the details for both insulated and non-insulated versions of every size.

Sizes

Nemo Astro offers only 2 different sizes, Nemo Tensor on the other hand offers different 5 sizes, which makes it the clear winner in this department.

Sizes of Nemo Tensor

• Short: This size can be used by children or thru-hikers.
• Regular Mummy: This size has a tapered design to save on weight and the packed size it’s recommended for ultralight outdoor events.
• Regular: This size has a Rectangular design, offering you more room at the feet area, it’s a little bit heavier but still can be used as a backpacking sleeping pad though.
• Regular Wide: This size has the same length as the Regular size but it’s 5″ wider, if you move around when sleeping or if you like a bigger room it would be the better option for you.
• Long Wide: This is the biggest size of the Tensor, offering you a 76″ of length and 25″ of width, if you’re a big fellow (more than 6′ 2″) you would be more comfortable with this size.

The left values show the specs of the non-insulated version, and the right values show the specs of the insulated version of that size.

Sizes of Nemo Astro

Nemo Tensor offers only Regular size and Long Wide size, Regular is recommended for normal size people, and Long Wide is recommended for people taller than 6′ 2″ or for those needs more room when sleeping.

The left values show the specs of the non-insulated version, and the right values show the specs of the insulated version of that size.

Weight

Since it’s made for mainly ultralight camping adventures Nemo Tensor is by far the winner in this department. With a weight of 16 oz, the Uninsulated Regular version of Nemo Tensor weighs %20 less than Nemo Astro (20 oz).

But if you think you would need an even lighter sleeping pad, I would recommend Thermarest NeoAir Uberlite it only weighs 8.8 oz and offers better insulation than Nemo Tensor Uninsulated. Check the price of Uberlite on Amazon or to get a better idea read my review about the Thermarest Uberlite.

Packed Size

Because it’s made for ultralight outdoor adventures such as backpacking, Nemo Tensor packs down smaller than Nemo Astro.

The packed size difference of non-insulated versions are not big, Non-insulated Nemo Tensor (Regular) packs down to 8.0″ x Ø 3.0″ whereas Non-insulated Nemo Astro’s packed sizes are 8.0″ x Ø 3.5″ (36% bigger)

Because they use a different type of insulation, there is a big difference between the insulated versions though. Insulated Nemo Tensor (Regular) packs down to 8.0″ x Ø 3.0″ whereas insulated Nemo Astro‘s packed sizes are 8.5″ x Ø 4.5″ (2.4 times bigger).

If you’re on a budget and looking for a backpacking sleeping pad, you can go with the non-insulated Nemo Astro, but the insulated version would be too bulky for backpacking.

For the Nemo Tensor, in the packed size department, there is almost no difference between the non-insulated and insulated versions, both pack down small enough for your backpacking, thru-hiking experiences.

If you want a sleeping pad that packs down even smaller than Tensor, I would recommend Thermarest NeoAir Uberlite with a Ø 3.6″ x 6″ packed dimension it’s the smallest sleeping pad on the market. Check out my review about the Uberlite, or view at Amazon.

Durability

This is where Nemo Astro shines, with a 75D PU Polyester material, it’s one of the most durable air sleeping pads on the market.

Therefore, if you don’t mind the extra weight and packed size, Nemo Astro offers you great longevity for years of use.

Nemo Tensor on the other hand is made of 20D PU Polyester (not very durable) to be ultralight. If you’re planning to use your pad only in your tent or other places where it can’t face sticks and stones directly, then 20D PU Polyester would be enough for you.

BUT, if you’re planning to lay it directly on the ground or grass, you need to be extra careful with Nemo Tensor since it can be damaged much easier than the Astro.

One trick here is, you can buy Nemo Switchback separately and put it under the Nemo Tensor to increase both durability and insulation, it would cost you an extra 14 oz though.

Warmth

For the comparison of Nemo Tensor vs Astro, Nemo Tensor is again the winner in this department.

Both sleeping pads offer insulated and non-insulated versions. The insulated and non-insulated versions of Nemo Tensor respectively have R-Values of 3.5 and 1.6

The insulated and non-insulated versions of Nemo Astro on the other hand respectively offers R-Values of 2.6 and 1.5.

You can see the correlation between the R-Value and Lowest Temperature below:

If you want the direct answer, the insulated version of Nemo Tensor can keep you warm down to 20 °F whereas the insulated version of Nemo Astro can protect you from cold only down to 30 °F.

The non-insulated versions of Nemo Tensor and Astro don’t have a noticeable difference though, they both can keep you warm down to 45 °F.

I have pointed it out above, but since we’re talking about insulation, it’s important to mention that there is no packed size difference between the insulated and non-insulated versions of Nemo Tensor.

That is not the case with Nemo Astro though, it’s insulated version packs down approximately %75 bigger than its non-insulated version.

If you want a lighter sleeping pad that offers an even higher R-Value, Thermarest NeoAir XTherm provides the highest warmth to weight ratio on the market. It weighs 15 oz but it can keep you warm down to -15 °F (R-Value: 6.9). Check out my review of XTherm or view at Amazon.

Comfort

To be fair, both sleeping pads are highly comfortable, also Nemo Tensor and Astro are respectively 3″ and 3.5″ thick therefore both are deep enough for side sleepers.

It’s impossible to sink in and feel the ground with neither of the pads. The only differences here are, Nemo Astro comes with a built-in pillow and also some people tend to find the pad a bit bumpy.

In my opinion, you would find both Nemo Astro and Tensor very comfortable, but there’s a slight chance that you might not like the bumpiness of Nemo Astro. Nemo Tensor on the other hand is less risky, if you don’t have the chance to test them out, I would recommend the Nemo Tensor.

Going backpacking doesn’t necessarily mean that you will sleep on uncomfortable sleeping pads. Thermarest provides great comfort with a very low volume, in this article, I will compare the two of the lightest backpacking sleeping pads in the company’s line, Thermarest NeoAir Uberlite vs XLite

In summary, Thermarest NeoAir Uberlite is the lightest sleeping pad on the market, and it packs down half the size of the XLite, also Uberlite is much quieter than the XLite. Thermarest NeoAir XLite on the other hand is a little bit heavier than the Uberlite but it offers better durability, insulation, and more size options.

If you’re already familiar with the two pads skip the reviews and go straight to the detailed comparison.

Thermarest NeoAir Uberlite Review

• WEIGHT: 8.8 oz / 250 gr
• PACKED SIZE: Ø 3.6″ x 6″ / Ø 9 cm x 15 cm
• R-VALUE: 2.3
• FABRIC: 15D Nylon

With an 8.8 oz of weight Thermarest NeoAir Uberlite is one of the lightest sleeping pad on the market, and not only it’s feather-light it also nearly packs down to the size of a 0.5L water bottle.

It’s perfect for summer and early spring backpacking, thru-hiking trips, since it has an R-Value of 2.3, it’s not made for cold weather camping, but still, 2.3 of R-Value while weighing only 8.8 oz is a great performance.

If you’re not familiar with the R-Value I can say that this insulation can keep you warm down to roughly 40 °F (I will get into details below at the detailed comparison section).

With its compact design and feather-like weight, Uberlite is great, but as you might guess there are some trade-offs here, it’s not the most durable air sleeping pad on the market, it’s made of low denier (15D Nylon) fabric therefore if you decide to go with the Uberlite you need to be extra careful.

And as I’ve already mentioned it’s not a sleeping pad for 4 season camping. If you’re planning to camp below 40 °F, Uberlite shouldn’t be an option for you (Uberlite can be used in cold weather only if you mix things up a little bit, I will get into this below in the insulation section).

Check the latest price of Thermarest NeoAir Uberlite on Amazon

Thermarest NeoAir XLite Review

• WEIGHT: 12 oz / 340 gr
• PACKED SIZE: Ø 4.1″ x 9″ / 23 cm x 10 cm
• R-VALUE: 4.2
• FABRIC: 30D rip HT Nylon

The big sister of Uberlite (if you will), Thermarest NeoAir XLite, strikes the perfect balance among the weight, durability and insulation.

It’s not the lightest backpacking sleeping pad on the market, but with a 12 oz of weight, it’s in the top 5. But the great thing about this sleeping pad is not its weight, it’s that it offers excellent insulation and durability even though it weighs only 12 oz.

With an R-Value of 4.2, Thermarest NeoAir XLite offers the second-highest Warmth to Weight Ratio on the market after Thermarest NeoAir XTherm (check out my review or price on Amazon). If that number doesn’t mean anything to you, a sleeping pad that has an R-Value of 4.2 can be used roughly down to 15 °F.

For the backpackers out there, NeoAir XLite packs down to Ø 4.1″ x 9″, if you can’t imagine this size, it’s roughly the size of a 1L water bottle.

Another good thing about this pad is it’s made of considerably durable material (for an air pad) therefore it offers you a great longevity for years of use.

The one con of this pad is, it makes crinkly sounds due to the insulation material used in it.

Check the latest price of Thermarest NeoAir XLite on Amazon

Detailed comparison of Uberlite vs XLite

Specifications: Uberlite vs XLite

Weight & Compactness

With an 8.8 oz of weight, Thermarest NeoAir Uberlite is the lightest high-end sleeping pad on the market, it’s the perfect option for ultralight backpacking, mountaineering trips for the summer.

On the other hand, Thermarest NeoAir XLite weighs 12 oz. Even though it’s 3.2 oz heavier than the Uberlite thanks to Thermarest’s innovative design, it’s still one of the lightest sleeping pads on the market (I have a table of other alternatives below so you can get the main idea).

If you only do summer camping and if you think you would be careful to your sleeping pad, don’t hesitate, go with the Uberlite (I said “be careful” to your sleeping pad because, Uberlite is made of low denier fabric, and it’s not exactly the best option in the durability department).

If you’re thinking of using your sleeping pad in relatively colder weathers than, in that case, XLite would be the better option for you.

But before jumping into the insulation of the pads, there is also one other department where Uberlite shines, with the dimensions of Ø 3.6″ x 6″ it roughly packs down to the size of a 0.5L water bottle.

Thermarest NeoAir XLite on the other hand packs down to Ø 4.1″ x 9″ which is 94% bigger than the Uberlite. So, I have to give credit to Uberlite, it’s the most compact sleeping pad on the market.

But to obtain that low weight and small packed size, you need to make some sacrifices. With that being said, let’s dive into the first sacrifice, Durability…

Durability

Firstly, I should mention that air sleeping pads are the least durable type of sleeping pads, they’re not the perfect choice if you want to use them outside the tent (on open ground where they can face sticks and stones).

If you think a more durable sleeping pad would be better for you, check out self-inflating sleeping pads, for backpacking I recommend Thermarest Prolite, with the weight of 18 oz, it’s the lightest self-inflating sleeping pad on the market, and it offers very cool features, you can also check out my review about Thermarest Prolite and Prolite Plus.

For our comparison, Thermarest NeoAir XLite is the clear winner, both top and bottom of its fabric are 30D rip HT Nylon (which can be considered as a very durable material for an air sleeping pad). Thermarest NeoAir Uberlite, on the other hand, is made of 15D Nylon, it’s not the best, but it does the job.

But since we’re talking about durability, I must give credit to Thermarest NeoAir XTherm, it’s top layer is 30D rip HT Nylon just as the XLite but its bottom fabric is made of 70D Nylon. It’s an extremely high denier fabric for an air pad.

There is a small trick though, in order to protect your pad from sticks and stones on the ground, you can also buy the Thermarest Z Lite foam sleeping pad (14 oz) and lay it under your air pad. Not only it will protect the sleeping pad from sharp objects it also will increase the insulation.

Insulation

In order to understand how warm a sleeping pad actually is, there’s a term called the R-Value. The higher the R-Value the more the insulation.

Here’s a quick table I’ve created for you to understand the correlation between the R-Value and the minimum temperature you can use the sleeping pad.

XLite is the clear winner for the comparison of Thermarest NeoAir Uberlite vs XLite. Uberlite offers an R-Value of 2.3 whereas the R-Value of XLite is 4.2.

If I have to put it another way, Thermarest NeoAir Uberlite can keep you warm down to 40 °F, NeoAir Xlite on the other hand can keep you warm down to 15 °F.

Therefore, Uberlite is only good for summer times, XLite on the other hand provides the versatility to be used in 3-seasons. But as I’ve mentioned above, you can always buy a foam pad separately and lay it down under the Uberlite at slightly colder seasons.

But if you think that you might be camping at extremely cold conditions, in that case, I would recommend Thermarest NeoAir XTherm (can be used down to -15 °F), with an R-Value of 6.9, it provides the highest Warmth to Weight Ratio on the market.

Below I created the table where you can compare Thermarest NeoAir series to other alternatives, so you would understand Warmth/Weight-wise how efficient they actually are.

Enter One way to understand how efficient a sleeping pad is to look at its Warmth to Weight Ratio.your text here...

Sound

In order to increase the insulation, sleeping pad manufacturers place a thermal film between the top and bottom layers of the pads and that film makes a crinkly sound.

Therefore, due to the insulation materials used in the XLite, Uberlite sounds much lesser, Therefore if you’re a light sleeper Thermarest NeoAir Uberlite would the better option for you.

Ease of use

There isn’t any difference between Uberlite and XLite in this department, they’re both air pads that need to be inflated with your breath or a pump. Inflating the Thermarest NeoAir pads is not really hard, it generally takes 5 to 10 minutes to inflate the pads by yourself.

If you want a sleeping pad that offers an even easier setup, you can go with a self-inflating sleeping pad such as Thermarest Prolite or Thermarest Trail Lite, you just need to open the valve and let them do the inflating job themselves. BUT self-inflating sleeping pads are much heavier and bulkier compared to air pads.

One important thing to mention is, Thermarest created a new innovative valve called Winglock, and you can purchase the NeoAir Series with the new Winglock valve or with the classical old valve. The difference here is, not only with Winglock its easier to inflate and deflate but also NeoAir Series with Winglock comes with a pump sack, so you don’t have to inflate them with your breath.

View Uberlite (Winglock version) on Amazon

View XLite (Winglock version) on Amazon

Comfort

There’s not a clear winner in the comfort department, they’re both good enough for a backpacking sleeping pad.

Both sleeping pads offer a 2.5″ of thickness which is enough for the side-sleepers as well, but there’s a chance that some side-sleepers might feel the ground, especially the ones that are overweight, in that case, I would recommend going for a thicker sleeping pad such as Nemo Tensor Ultralight.

Sizes of Thermarest NeoAir Uberlite vs XLite

Last but not least, NeoAir Uberlite features 3 different sizes: Small, Regular, Large; NeoAir XLite, on the other hand, offers 4 different sizes: Small, Regular, Large, and Regular Wide (which is the same length as Regular but 5″ wider for those who wants more room on the pad).

Sizes of Thermarest NeoAir Uberlite

Sizes of Thermarest NeoAir XLite

When you’re outdoors a convenient sleeping pad is a necessity for a good night’s sleep. Since 1972 Thermarest is one of the biggest ultralight, convenient sleeping pad producers in the outdoor community. And the company’s Prolite design is still the lightest self-inflating sleeping pad on the market. To help you to pick the most suitable Prolite model, I compiled this comprehensive article of Thermarest Prolite vs Prolite Plus.

In summary, both are self-inflating sleeping pads, therefore they’re very easy to use. With an 18 oz of weight, Thermarest Prolite is the lightest self-inflating sleeping pad on the market, it also packs down very small, but the trade-off here is the comfort and warmth. Thermarest Prolite Plus, on the other hand, is 5 oz heavier and packs down %15 bigger than Prolite but it’s half an inch thicker, therefore, it’s more comfortable for everyone and more suitable for side sleepers, and it has better insulation, unlike Prolite you can use Prolite Plus in 3+ season.

Specs of Prolite vs Prolite Plus

Detailed Comparison of Thermarest Prolite and Prolite Plus

Weight

The best and main feature of Thermarest Prolite is its weight. If you’re familiar with sleeping pads, you might know that self-inflating sleeping pads are much heavier and bulkier than air sleeping pads, therefore, they’re not usually used at backpacking trips.

But Thermarest Prolite broke this cliche, with a 1 lb 2 oz of weight it weighs nearly the same as an air pad (1 lb 2 oz is roughly the half the weight of most of the self-inflating sleeping pads on the market).

Thermarest Prolite Plus on the other hand, with a weight of 1 lb 7 oz, weighs 5 oz heavier than Thermarest Prolite, and this sacrifice on weight provides a thicker cushion, resulting in more comfort and insulation (I will get into details after this section).

So in order to help you better understand how light this sleeping pad is here is a comparison table of this pad with the other alternatives:

Packed Dimensions

Weight and packed dimensions generally are directly proportional, when one is small, generally, the other one tends to be small as well. And that is the case with Thermarest Prolite, not only it’s the lightest it’s also the most compact self-inflating sleeping pad.

Thermarest Prolite Plus (Ø 6.8″ x 11″), on the other hand, packs down 1″ wider than Thermarest Prolite (Ø 5.8″ x 11″).

Comfort

Thermarest Prolite is not the best option if you’re looking for the coziest sleeping pad. It’s only 1″ thick which is not enough for uneven, rough surfaces. Regardless of which sleeping pad you have, you are most likely to feel the stones and sticks on the ground with a 1″ of cushion depth.

This is where Thermarest Prolite Plus comes in to save the day, it consists more foam (%50 thicker than the Thermarest Prolite). With the 1.5″ of cushion depth, Thermarest Prolite Plus is the clear winner in the comfort department.

BUT, if you’re a side sleeper, 1.5″ thickness still wouldn’t be enough for you, since side sleepers lay on their side, more pressure is being made to the pad, and therefore they dive in deeper. In that case, if you need a sleeping pad for backpacking, go for an air sleeping pad, I would recommend Thermarest NeoAir XTherm, it offers 2.5″ of thickness. If you need a sleeping pad for car camping, I would strongly suggest Thermarest Mondoking or Exped Megamat, they’re much heavier but they offer a bed-like comfort.

If you’re a side-sleeper and if you insist on the Prolites you can:

1. Buy also the Thermarest Z-lite foam pad with the Thermarest Prolite, and lay it under the Prolite for more cushion depth, it would also provide better insulation for cold weathers.
2. Go with the Thermarest Prolite Apex (I will get into this below) it’s cushion is thicker than the Prolite Plus

Sizes

Both sleeping pads come in 3 sizes: small, regular, and large. Small size is for children and thru-hikers (going for an air-pad is a better option if you’re a thru-hiker though). Regular is used for average size people and lastly, the large size is recommended for people taller than 6″.

Insulation

Thermarest Prolite offers an R-Value of 2.4 which is enough for 3 season camping (it can keep you warm down to roughly 35 °F), Thermarest Prolite Plus, on the other hand, has an R-value of 3.2 it’s not exactly a four-season sleeping pad but since it can keep you warm down to 23 °F it can be rated as 3+ season sleeping pad.

It’s definitely not a sleeping pad for extreme cold, in that case, I would recommend going for a sleeping pad that has an R-value higher than 6.0.

One way to understand how convenient and efficient a sleeping pad is to look at its Warmth to Weight Ratio. Air Sleeping Pads have a higher Warmth to Weight Ratio.

Durability

So far, I have basically told you that going with an air pad is more efficient, however, there are a number of reasons people prefer self-inflating sleeping pads, and durability is one of those reasons.

Unlike air pads (which are useless when they’re damaged badly), self-inflating sleeping pads are harder to damage and compared to other self-inflating sleeping pads, Thermarest Prolite Series is even more durable.

Both Thermarest Prolite and Prolite Plus are made of 50D mini hex rip polyester (which is a very durable material compared to their alternatives).

Although there is not a clear winner for the Thermarest Prolite vs Prolite Plus durability comparison, I can fairly say that both sleeping pads offer great durability for years of use.

One advantage of self-inflating sleeping pads is, you can just lay them down to open ground without thinking about whether it would be ripped or not.

Ease of Use

Just like durability, ease of use is one of the main reasons why people go with self-inflating sleeping pads. There is no setup process, all you need to do is laying down the pad and opening the valve, and let the pad do the job for you.

As you can guess from their name, self-inflating sleeping pads inflate themselves up to %80 and depending on how firm you like your pad, you can blow 2 or 3 breaths to inflate it to its maximum level of firmness.

For the comparison of Thermarest Prolite vs Prolite Plus, there is no difference between the two models, both are very easy to use, it generally takes around 10 minutes for them to inflate themselves.

Bonus: Thermarest Prolite Apex vs Prolite Plus

The Thermarest Prolite series does not only consist of Prolite and Prolite Plus. There’s also another model, Prolite Apex. This sleeping pad packs down to the same size as Prolite Plus and it weighs 1 oz less while providing higher insulation and better comfort.

Thermarest Prolite Apex can keep you warm down to 15 °F whereas Prolite Plus can only keep you warm down to 23 °F. And Prolite Apex has 2″ of cushion depth which is 0.5″ thicker than Prolite Plus, therefore, it’s more suitable for side-sleepers and more comfortable than Prolite Plus.

Also, one other difference is, unlike Prolite and Prolite Plus, Prolite Apex offers the Regular Wide size (5″ wider than the Regular size) for those who need more space around the shoulder area. It doesn’t feature a small size though.

Thermarest is, without a doubt, the biggest high-end sleeping pad manufacturer in the outdoor market, and it has a very wide range of products. But in this article, I will focus on its two most popular models, Thermarest NeoAir XLite vs XTherm.

In summary, Thermarest NeoAir XLite weighs less and it offers 4 different sizes (small, regular, large, and regular wide) whereas XTherm only offers two sizes (regular and large). Small is for ultralight camping (weighs only 8 oz), Wide Regular is for those who want an extra room on the pad. Thermarest NeoAir XTherm on the other hand offers better insulation and it’s made of more durable material while packing down to the same size as XLite, its only con is it weighs 3 oz heavier than NeoAir XTherm.

Specs: XLite vs XTherm

Detailed Comparison: Thermarest NeoAir XLite vs XTherm

All the specs I use in this article are the specs of regular versions of the sleeping pads, but even if you’re a big fellow looking for a large size sleeping pad, you can still use this guide, the differences between Thermarest NeoAir XLite vs XTherm are the same for both regular and large sizes.

Weight & Packed Size

Thermarest is most backpackers’ favorite sleeping pad brand because the weight department is where it shines the most. And for our comparison, XLite (12 oz) is the winner in the weight department, the difference is not big though, XTherm (15 oz) is only 3 oz heavier.

They’re also much lighter compared to their alternatives on the market (I’ll get into this below).

For the packed size comparison of XLite vs XTherm, there is almost no difference at all both sleeping pads pack down to approximately Ø 4″ x 9″, which is perfect for backpackers it’s roughly the sizes of a 1L water bottle.

Sizes

One big difference between XLite and XTherm is, NeoAir XLite offers 4 different sizes (small, regular, large, and regular wide), NeoAir XTherm on the other hand only offers the two standard sizes (regular and large).

Small size XLite’s dimensions are, 47″ x 20″ x 2.5″, it has the same width and thickness as the regular model but it’s much shorter (25″ shorter to be exact), this version weighs 8 oz and packs down to 9″ x Ø3.5″, it’s made for ultralight campers and toddlers.

Insulation

If you’re not familiar with the sleeping pads, there is a term that helps us to understand how warm a sleeping pad is, and it’s called the R-Value.

As you might guess, the higher this number gets the more warmth sleeping pads provide.

For our comparison, Thermarest NeoAir XTherm is the winner in the insulation department with an R-Value of 6.9 (which can keep you warm down to -15 ºF). NeoAir XLite, on the other hand, has an R-Value of 4.2 (it can keep you warm down to +15ºF)

One way to see how efficient a backpacking sleeping pad is, looking to the Warmth to Weight Ratio. If a sleeping pad has a high number that means, this pad provides this warmth with a low weight.

As you can see in the list Thermarest NeoAir XTherm Provides the highest Warmth to Weight Ratio on the market, that’s what makes it unique among the cold weather backpackers.

Comfort

Thickness is an important factor for comfort, especially if you’re a side sleeper. Both Thermarest NeoAir XLite and XTherm are 2.5″ thick. They don’t have the biggest cushion in the outdoor market but still, it’s good enough to get a good night’s sleep.

But if you’re a side sleeper and if you’re overweight, I recommend going for a sleeping pad that is at least 3″ of thick. Because when you lay on your side you go deeper, closer to the ground compared to regular sleepers (since the weight concentrated on a narrow area for side sleepers). And if you’re also overweight you can even feel the ground.

Therefore, if that is the case, thicker sleeping pads such as Nemo Tensor Ultralight or Big Agnes Air Core Ultra might be a better option for you.

But if you’re a regular sleeper, both XLite & XTherm offers great (and equal) comfort for a backpacking sleeping pad.

XLite & XTherm are backpacking sleeping pads, but if you’re a car camper or in any other way if weight is not big issues for you, then I strongly recommend Thermarest Mondoking & Exped Megamat, you can check out my review about them, both offer a bed like comfort, but the trade-off here is the weight and the packed size.

Sound

It might be the first time you see that someone talking about sound for sleeping pads, but believe you me, it’s very important, especially if you’re a light sleeper.

The sound is not an issue for self-inflating and foam sleeping pads, they don’t make any sound when you lay on them. But air sleeping pads do, and the main reason is, most of the sleeping pads have a special kind of film between the top and bottom layers to increase the insulation.

And that film makes a crinkly sound when it moves. And for our comparison XTherm is the winner in this department, to be fair, they both make a little bit sound, but XTherm sounds less.

Durability

First things first, both sleeping pads are air sleeping pads. Air sleeping pads are light and comfortable but they have a disadvantage. They’re the most fragile type of sleeping pads.

If the rip is small it can usually be fixed (both Thermarest NeoAir XLite and XTherm come with a repair kit), but once air sleeping pads are damaged big, there is no way to fix them, you just need to purchase a new one.

So, in order to avoid this situation, high-end air sleeping pads are generally made of high denier fabric. But the higher the denier of fabric the more the weight. Luckily Thermarest strikes the perfect balance there.

For the XLite vs XTherm comparison, the top material of both sleeping pads is 30D rip HT Nylon, but for the bottom, XTherm’s is made of 70D Nylon while XLite’s bottom material is 30D rip HT Nylon

Damages mostly happen at the bottom sides of sleeping pads since that side is facing the ground, that is why XTherm has a higher denier bottom fabric. Therefore Neoair XTherm is the clear winner when it comes to durability.

Also, 70D Nylon is considered as a very robust material for air sleeping pads, here is a quick table of other alternatives on the market, so you can get the idea:

Note: If you’re thinking of using your sleeping pad in damp or wet conditions as well, Thermarest sleeping pads are not TPU laminated, in that case, I would recommend Sea to Summit Comfort Plus (more comfortable) or Exped Synmat (Packs down the smallest) for you, they’re both TPU laminated (waterproof).

Features

Since both sleeping pads are Thermarest, there isn’t any difference in the features department, but in case you’re not familiar with the features they offer, I will briefly explain each one of them.

Winglock Valve

The Winglock Valve is the new and improved valve system of Thermarest, thanks to its new design, it’s more durable, inflates 3 times faster, and also with Winglock it’s very easy to deflate the sleeping pad.

Prices of XLite with Winglock

Prices of XTherm with Winglock

Pump Sack

Thermarest includes a durable pump sack to save your breath, and to be more convenient the pump sack also features drawstrings to be used as a normal bag for storing your gear.

The pump sack only comes with the Winglock model though, if you decide to go with the classical model and still want the pump sack, you need to purchase it separately.

If you’re not new to outdoor adventures, you might know that inflating your pad with your mouth is bad for your sleeping pad, since breath contains moisture it causes mold in the pad after a while. But you don’t need to worry about that with Thermarest sleeping pads, even though if you go with the classic valve, you can safely blow your pad with your mouth, Thermarest valves’ prevents the moist coming into the pad.

Sizes of Thermarest Neoair XLite and XTherm

Thermarest NeoAir XLite Sizes

Thermarest NeoAir XTherm