By the point I used to be 15, I used to be nicely conscious Santa wasn’t placing presents below the tree for me. However that didn’t make Christmas Day 1997 any much less magical — particularly given all the brand new backpacking gear I had requested “him” for. Brimming with pleasure, I tore by the crinkling, colourful wrapping paper. All the colours of our tree’s lights splashed reds, greens, and yellows over my keen fingers.
Even earlier than I might see it, I knew: The unmistakable form of a tube — a tube that held my very first inflatable sleeping pad.
For 3 years main as much as that joyful morning, I had lugged round an open-cell egg crate sleeping pad on my in a single day outside adventures. It afforded many nights of sleeping comfortably below the celebrities or in my tent (even on rocks and roots).
However it was the dimensions of a soccer tackling dummy when it was rolled up. It by no means match inside my pack. As I sat in my flannel pajamas on that fateful morning, I spotted these nights had been over.
Sadly, I quickly realized that the sacrifice for packability was an excellent night time’s sleep. I’ve since accepted sleeping on compact, light-weight sleeping pads that preserve me up off the chilly floor, despite the fact that all of them appeared to let the bumps seep by.
This summer time, Therm-a-Relaxation introduced the NeoLoft sleeping pad, a 4.6-inch-thick rectangular backpacking sleeping pad. The pad promised to deliver consolation to the backcountry, with an R-value of 4.7 for year-round use and the flexibility to pack right down to the dimensions of a Nalgene bottle. The considered comfy nights got here dashing again. I needed to check it out.
In brief: Therm-a-Relaxation has made an enormous step ahead for backcountry sleeping pads. The NeoLoft packs down ridiculously small for its inflated dimension, and its insulation makes it applicable for year-round use. Better of all, the thickness and development make for a really comfy night time’s sleep for space-conscious backpackers.
Should you’re available in the market for backpacking sleeping pads, take a look at our information to the Greatest Backpacking Sleeping Pads.
- Common (mannequin examined)
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Weight
1 lb., 9 oz. -
Size
73” -
Width
22” -
Packed dimension
5.7” x 9.5” -
R-value
4.7 -
Thickness
4.6” -
Materials
50d poly knit (high), 75d poly knit (backside) -
Value
$240
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4.6” of soppy loft -
4.7 R-value for year-round consolation -
Quiet
-
Rolling off this sleeping pad hits totally different -
Solely out there by REI as of proper now, and their inventory is promoting quick
Therm-a-Relaxation NeoLoft Sleeping Pad Overview
Design & Options
The core of the NeoLoft sleeping pad is an progressive course of that Therm-a-Relaxation coined the ContourCore Matrix. In line with the model, this refers back to the mixture of design and supplies — a mushy, sturdy, stretchy knit material — that enables the pad to contour, cushion, insulate, and pack down small.
In relation to the texture of the NeoLoft, the closest factor I can evaluate it to is a gel ice pack. In a phrase, I’d name it “supple.”
The NeoLoft features a high-volume pump sack. Nevertheless, I like to recommend you save that for a backup. As a lot as I admire a pump sack as an alternative of utilizing my breath, it’s not sensible in all situations. Additionally, it requires extra effort than you may need to exude after a day on the path.
I picked up a Flextail Tiny Pump 2X and won’t look again. The Flextail has a built-in gentle and a collection of adapters for varied purposes. It’ll additionally final you 10-15 inflations earlier than it must be recharged.
TwinLock Valve System
A part of NeoLoft’s packability and luxury derives from its two-valve design. The “In” valve accommodates speedy inflation, whereas the “Out” valve permits fast deflation. And some gentle twists on both valve let you fine-tune the firmness of the pad.
This TwinLock Valve System additionally seems on Therm-a-Relaxation’s premium-tier sleeping pads, just like the MondoKing 3D, LuxuryMap, and NeoAir Topo Luxe. A fast have a look at the MondoKing 3D reveals the place the inspiration for the NeoLoft got here from.
Foundation for Comparability
I’ve been backpacking with a regular-sized Therm-a-Relaxation NeoAir sleeping pad for the final 8 years. At 20 inches large, 72 inches lengthy, and three inches thick, it’s a benchmark for contemporary sleeping pads. I’ll reference it all through this overview as a foundation for evaluating NeoLoft’s attributes.
As Therm-a-Relaxation always updates its sleeping pad assortment, the NeoAir has lengthy since been changed. It’s now finest represented by the NeoAir XLite NXT (which was named GearJunkie’s Greatest General Backpacking Sleeping Pad).
You’ll word that each pads have the identical dimensions. The highest-level good thing about the NeoAir XLite NXT is that it has nearly double the NeoAir’s R-Worth. That’s essential to think about when you backpack year-round.
Within the Area
To cowl each angle in testing the NeoLoft, I spent two nights within the woods, two in my yard, and two in my lounge. This gave me a well-rounded really feel for the way this extra-cushy sleeping pad performs on totally different terrain, and in each heat and chilly situations.
The primary two nights I spent with the NeoLoft had been within the woods. I used to be crashing onerous after I obtained the place I needed to pitch my tent. Between the tent (Nemo Tools Dragonfly Bikepack OSMO) and the sleeping pad, I had camp arrange in about 5 minutes. Utilizing the stuff sack, full inflation took roughly 1 minute.
I spent the following two nights in my yard, with the tent pitched on some lush grass. The primary two nights within the woods had solely gotten right down to the 50s. Nevertheless, this subsequent tour slipped down into the mid-30s. Mixed with my Sierra Designs Backcountry Mattress, the NeoLoft offered probably the most comfy night time’s sleep I’ve ever had with my backpacking sleep setup.
Sleeping in my lounge for the ultimate two nights gave me a management check to check with. The temperature inside was 68 levels, and the wooden flooring and space rug had been each flat and even.
On all six events, the sleeping pad by no means misplaced firmness. Nevertheless, on three of the nights — two within the woods, one in my lounge — I rolled off the pad. In these cases, I wakened cuddling it like a teddy bear.
I’m a much bigger man, and I transfer round rather a lot, particularly when I’m not at dwelling in mattress. Although the built-in aspect rails of the NeoLoft support in its consolation, they couldn’t maintain me in place.
I wakened with my ribs in opposition to the forest flooring at an odd angle and was not a cheerful camper for a couple of hours. This was not a deal-breaker for me, nevertheless. The NeoLoft’s thicker, firmer cushion nonetheless beat hanging off of a 3-inch-thick Therm-a-Relaxation NeoAir (as I’ve for the final 8 years).
So, when you’re somewhat wider, I like to recommend you think about the Common Large or Giant NeoLoft pads. At 5 inches longer and 4 inches wider, the leap to the Giant from the Common will likely be noticeable. Nevertheless, its pack dimension is identical because the Common Large and solely 2 ounces heavier. Sizing up will add a slight price — $10-20 further for the Common Large and Giant, respectively.
I wakened with my ribs in opposition to the forest flooring at an odd angle and was not a cheerful camper for a couple of hours. That being the case, when you’re somewhat wider, I might advocate you think about the Common Large or Giant NeoLoft pads.
At 5 inches longer and 4 inches wider, the leap to the Giant from the Common will likely be noticeable. Nevertheless, its pack dimension is identical because the Common Large and solely 2 ounces heavier.
For reference, the pack dimension of the Common NeoLoft is 5.7 x 9.5 inches and weighs 1 pound, 9 ounces. The Common Large and Giant are 6 x 11 inches with a 2-ounce distinction in weight (1 pound, 14 ounces, and a pair of kilos, respectively).
Professional tip: There’s sufficient room within the stuff sack for the NeoLoft and the Flextail or one other small pump of your selection.
How’s It Sound?
One of many recurring considerations with sleeping pads comprised of light-weight, sturdy supplies is how a lot sound they make — assume swishes and crinkles.
I’m joyful to report that the supplies used on the NeoLoft are a few of the quietest I’ve tried. Does that imply that it’s utterly silent? No. However it’s quieter than the bulk.
Weight Commerce-Off
The common backpacking sleeping pad weighs below 1 pound packed. The NeoLoft weighs almost 2 kilos in its stuff sack. This is likely to be a turnoff for anybody counting ounces. In contrast with these in our Greatest Backpacking Sleeping Pads information, the NeoLoft sleeping pad can be the fifth heaviest.
The NeoLoft, for my part, is a luxurious sleeping pad. It makes use of its rectangular form so as to add extra room, and its double-stuffed quantity is a boon for consolation. The pad is an unbelievable innovation that almost all will welcome with open arms and less-achy backs.
Meals for thought: When evaluating the NeoLoft pad to a pad just like the NeoAir, the NeoAir is the “have to have,” whereas the NeoLoft is the “good to have.” For my cash, it’s definitely worth the improve when you can spare a pound in your pack.
Therm-a-Relaxation NeoLoft Sleeping Pad: Conclusion
Together with the remainder of the backpacking neighborhood, I’ve satisfied myself through the years that I don’t have to be that comfy sleeping after I camp. It’s extra essential that my sleeping pad packs right down to take up as little area as attainable in my backpack.
A sleeping pad that inflates to nearly 5 inches thick might pack right down to be as small as a Nalgene, which might have appeared too good to be true simply a short while in the past.
Nonetheless, I haven’t examined it in below-freezing temperatures. The coldest it ever obtained at night time was 36 levels, however even then, I couldn’t really feel the bottom’s chilly creeping up by the pad. With an R-value of 4.7, the pad ought to suffice for year-round tenting in most situations.
Should you’re searching for a light-weight, compact, comfy sleeping pad that’s good for all seasons, this sleeping pad has your title throughout it. Inside one use, you’ll admire how straightforward it’s to inflate and fine-tune its firmness.
You’ll additionally admire its comparative quietness. And within the morning, after you’ve gotten a beautiful night time’s sleep, you’ll love how rapidly it deflates. All in all, the Therm-a-Relaxation NeoLoft is the entire bundle sleeping pad I’ve been ready for.