From the above website: "The Triangular Core Matrix contributes to the warmth by creating a multitude of air cells that minimize air movement and convective cooling. This matrix also creates an internal truss system that virtually eliminates the instability generally found on large tube-based air mattresses and assures that the user will shift less while resting comfortably on a 2.5 inch-thick mattress."

Does this mean the surface is flat, like a Prolite 4? Or does it still use tubes that are stabilized with the truss system? A flat 2.5" mattress would be sweet. Can anyone here who has seen it comment?

Hi John,

As I recall it's pretty flat like a traditional Thermarest.

Ryan

Take a look:

According to press releases, Cascade Designs companies will be releasing a bunch of new products in 2009, apparently with a lightweight focus for some or all. Included on the list I saw were several new tents from MSR, four sizes of NeoAir pads from Therm-a-rest, and several new stoves from MSR.

Hi All

This is the guts of the NeoAir.


As far as I know, the membranes are fabric, and the inner membranes are heat-reflective. Yes, you can get condensation inside, but absent any fill this may not matter. perhaps you will be able to drain it out easily.

The picture is from the official Cascade Designs press release. I hope they won't mind my using it here. (Somehow, I doubt it!)

Cheers
Roger Caffin

Edited by rcaffin on 07/18/2008 16:01:19 MDT.

Wow! Looks extremely interesting. This looks like a great solution for those of us who like a cushy mattress but want a minimal weight. I like the way the tubes appear to run horizontally rather than vertically. It seems that would be more comfortable.

I don't want to wait until spring of 2009!

Sounds like it's still not as warm as an insulatedair core. Should be good for all but winter though.

> Sounds like it's still not as warm as an insulatedair core. Should be good for all but winter though.

That's what we review gear for. :-)

cheers

Pray tell, how thick is this air pad?

This is fantastic. Is the $150 price accurate? Does anyone know what sizes will be available? Should I stop hyperventilating and read all of the comments herein, and answer my own questions? If it's as warm as the women's 66" ProLite 3, I want one. If I can afford one of Steve Evans Carbon Fiber/Titanium ice axes, I can afford to have the new Thermarest NeoAir.

That's true Roger. The 3 times warmer than any other non-insulated pad says to me if a BA Clearview has an R of 1 then this should have an R of 3. The BA insulated Air Core has an R of 4.1. 3 is really good for the weight though.

Edited by simplespirit on 07/18/2008 19:08:01 MDT.

Hi All

Clearly I should have included the whole press release rather than just the top half. OK, herewith.
.

.
As you can see, the thickness is 2.5" and the R value 2.5.
The thickness is nice: even thicker than my Therm-a-Rest Deluxe Limited Edition (LE) at 2". The R value is lower, so winter use has yet to be field tested. The big drawback is that you have to blow it up yourself: it isn't self-inflating.

Cheers

Per these weight specs, the Neoair in size Small is the same weight as my RidgeRest of the same length and width.

Blowing it up is what I don't like about the BA mats but it all comes down to how much mileage I've put in. A 10-12 mile day and I have plenty of wind left to blow up some mattresses. After 20+ miles it starts to suck.

>>The big drawback is that you have to blow it up yourself: it isn't self-inflating.<<

When "isn't self-inflating" becomes a big drawback, or anything out of the ordinary, I do hope someone will report on it.

The price alone is enough to stop me.

However, I'm curious about the effect of all that internal structure on the ease of inflating and deflating the thing.

My Big Agnes Insulated Air Core fills reasonably easily, even though I have to blow it up manually, and is easy to deflate in the morning - just open the valve, roll over and go back to sleep until you get uncomfortable enough to wake up. By then, your wife should have breakfast ready.

Thanks Roger.
Note the 25" wide "Large" size, very unusual . I am sure that a comfy 77" long, 25" wide 1 lb 3 oz insulated mat will be very well received. And it looks like I will be able to save 10 oz (compared to my PO) with the medium size.
Franco

Bob
"The price alone is enough to stop me. "
Yeah right. Pull the other one

Why is the 25" wide large pad unusual? That's standard for their other pads. XL is 30" wide.

> Why is the 25" wide large pad unusual? That's standard for their other pads. XL is 30" wide.

I think 20" (51 cm) is the standard width for the Fast&Light series. Maybe the car caming mats are wider.

Cheers