I'm in the market for a new one. Looking for decent insulation and quite, needs to pack down pretty small...what one do you guys like?

For me, I like a CCF like ridgrest or zrest combined with a torso pro lite. Not the smallest by any means but quick and reliable. Otherwise, I have a couple exped pads I really like, but I have trust issues with inflatable pads and they can slide a lot at times as well

I like the Thermarest Neoairs, on top of a ridge rest. The Neoairs pack down really small, on the order of a 1-liter Nalgene bottle. The ridgerest doesn't but it can ride outside the pack, on the side or underneath. Underneath is good in that it protects the bottom of your pack when you sit down.

NeoAir series, or Exped Synmat UL 7.

Exped downmat is pretty small for how good the R value is. Spensive though.

+1

I like the Thermarest NoeAir best for backpacking. I also own a RidgeRest. However, most of the time I carry a cheap closed cell foam mat in lieu of the Ridge Rest. The closed cell foam pad is so cheap that I don't mind if it gets damaged on the outside of my pack. But I would hate to destroy a $40 RidgeRest.

You have to blow up a NeoAir and that takes about 15-20 minutes. There are several self inflating pads that look interesting and the Thermarest Trail Pro is one example. But all of them weigh about twice as much as a NeoAir. Self inflating pads aren't really self inflating but they fill up in less than half the time of a true air mattress.

KC

Neoair as long as you don't have to worry about punctures. Otherwise, a Ridge Rest. Sometimes, both, if weight isn't too much of an issue.

^^^^ Yep.

>> Exped Synmat UL 7

This may be a good option as well. I picked one up after my summer hiking ended so I haven't tested it yet.

Tom

C'mon KC, live a little!!




Dang, what Neoair do you have, mine takes a few minutes at most?

I bought the 2 ounce air pump for the NeoAir. Turn the little fugger on, go start dinner, keep an eye on it or an ear out for the change of pitch as it starts to "work" as the mattress gets full.

The expeds blow up in a couple minutes with the inflation stuff sack .

I use to be full of hot air. But now I'm deflated.

I have been using a few different models of inflatable pads. They have been 2.5 to 3 inches thick. That makes my sleep so much more more possible since I am comfortable. Big Agnes brand mostly.

I have tried the thin ones and my aches start right away.

I'll bet you could blow it up in 10 seconds or less if we could come up with some sort of fart funnel for you to use!

I've got a NeoAir All Season, and am tickled with it. It's a lot more comfortable to me than even those thick cot pads from Cabela's, though it is a bit noisy.

True, but then you wouldn't have the pleasure of smelling my farts.

For truck camping I love my Exped Downmat 9. For backpacking, the NeoAir Xtherm gets the nod. If using a floorless shelter, I usually also bring a CCF pad to put underneath.

For truck camping I have a Sealy Posturepedic, single width. My buddies always give me crap when I pull it out of the truck, but then they change their minds when I'm the first one sawing logs at night. They gaze longingly, but I just tell 'em I'm not CFVA so bug off.

Sea-to-Summit Comfort Light. The little Jet Stream Pump Sack is fast and easy, and pumps up my pillow too.

For truck camping, I use the REI Coop Camp Bed 3.5 Sleeping Pad. It is very comfortable but too bulky for backpacking. For backpacking, I have a Thermarest RidgeRest but need to pair it with an inflatable. Haven't decided on which one yet. I don't like noisy pads. Had an inflatable pillow that was noisy and didn't even use it an entire night before tossing it aside.

I did appreciate that advance warning system of yours before changing your Depends each night, last thing I wanted to see was old man junk.

I sleep in the raw, you were just playing grab-ass.

It's hard to beat an old down pillow. Shake the down to 1 end and cut it off. It cuts the pack size and it's nice and soft.

I've got a Therm-a-Rest Compressible pillow that works pretty good I've been using, but that's an option I hadn't considered. As for a backpacking inflatable sleeping pad, I'm considering the Klymit Static V sleeping pad . They make them with and without insulation and seem to get pretty good reviews. They're also much cheaper than all the other backpacking brands.

Klymit has some nice light and easy to inflate pads for backpacking...If I can spare the weight, the REI insulated Air Rail has been super dependable, and warm in colder temps

I have both long and short ridgerests and a couple of the short thermorests as I seem to keep buying a new one every time there is a lighter variant.

I generally prefer sleeping on the inflatables but until the neoair, I trended to a short ridgerest (trimmed a bit to save even more weight) just because it was lighter than the inflatable. The neoair is close enough in weight that its a tough choice.

So in moderate temps, its likely to be the neoair, and in the cold I am likely to run the long ridge rest and the neoair

I've got two Neoairs and love them. In colder temps I pack along an Evazote pad that goes over the top. My old Ridgerest's and Z Rest's are covered in dust.

The Neoair, like the Jetboil, are two of the best innovations of the last ten years IMO.

I have the Xtherm and its warmth is incredible.

What I don't like about it is I am a side sleeper and like to curl up into a ball. For this, the regular Xtherms are too narrow for me. I looked into the wide/Max Xtherms but they are north of $220.

What I got instead is the Exped Synmat Winterlite in size "M Wide" that is very comparable to the Xtherm max line in terms of weight, width and R value but costs $100 less.

http://sectionhiker.com/exped-synmat-winterlite-sleeping-pad-review/

The Exped is actually wider than the Max by an inch. The extra width from a regular, 20" pad does not seem like much on paper but it is a huge difference for me when in actual use - nonlonger feeling like I am sleeping on a 2x4.

Brad which Neoair model do you have and are they quite?

Randy, my hunting Neoair is the first Gen Rectangular in size Large. My hunting tent is the MSR Hubba HP (only available in the EU), and the big, rectangular Neoair fits the interior of that tent exactly, side-to-side, keeping me in place. It's just more comfortable than a smaller pad on the long fall tent-bound nights. It weigh's 17.1 oz's, 77" x 25" x 2.5"

My summer backpacking pad is the newest gen Neoair XLite in size "Regualr." This is the newer "shaped" Neoair. It is 5.1 oz's lest than my older Gen 1 in size Large.

I've never gotten the "noise" complaint about the Neoair. My original is the one people complained about, but once you use them most of that goes away. Regardless, I found it to be internet nit-picking by bored first-world hipsters.

The newest Gen has little to no noise.

For an all-around hunting pad I'd get the Neoair X-Therm in size Large. I plan on getting one this year.

But for a bit less weight, the Neoair X-Lite in size Large will be just fine, and you can always pack an additional 1/4" Evazote pad to boost its R-Value for genuine cold. That's what I currently do, though the past couple hunts have been warm enough I left the Evazote at home. You'll save 4oz's/$40 with the Large X-Lite over the X-Therm. I'd stay away from the "SV" models (Speed Valve)... an awful lot of complaints about leaks with those.

And BTW, you'll find a lot of people that think the closed cell pad should go underneath the inflatable... I've tried it both ways, and definitely have found it warmer on TOP of the inflatable.

Evazote: http://gossamergear.com/thinlight-hammock-pad.html

And don't forget Memorial day sales are coming up...

Great info Brad, thanks much!

You bet Randy. And, nice thing about buying from Cascade Designs is it's US built (mostly) and has about the best warranty out there.

Do not mean to be wise ass,
but even if hauling top of the line from REI
really prefer two cool pad saddle blankets
as long as they are half way clean.

That's exactly what I use as well. I pack the Neoair in the pack, and the Thermarest wraps around my tent and goes under my pack lid--never damaged one. I am 49 years old and have backpacked countless times, using only a Thermarest (or, further back, a different foam pad). But a couple of years ago, I started carrying a Neoair as well. I will never go back. I now often can sleep all night without waking up. Before, on just the foam pad, I was constantly turning over and having to squirm around in my mummy bag to get comfortable. I do have to carry another 16-ozs of weight, which I was reluctant to do, but now I am much more rested, alert, and happy during the day (especially important on hunts). As I get older, I always am looking for ways to shave weight, but I will never go backpacking or backpack hunting again without a lightweight air mattress.