Carried away with the thought of a 9 oz., 2.5" sleeping pad, I picked up a NeoAir short - and had a horrible night's sleep!

I could not find a comfortable level of inflation, and constantly felt like I was on a bad water bed torture device - When part of me pushed down here, the rest of me went up there!

What's the best level to inflate these things to for a side sleeper?

YMMV, BUT...for me (side sleeper), what works best is to lie down on my back on a fully inflated neoair and let the air out until I "almost" touch the ground. At that level of inflation, if I sit on the neoair, I WILL touch the ground, but not when I spread the weight around while lying down. Test is to then turn on my side and make sure that my pelvis is still airborne!

If I let out too much, it only takes a puff or two to get me back to where I want to be.

Less air is more comfortable for both side and back sleeping. I find that back-sleeping is better on the neo-air because you don't need to let as much air out. When on your side, the hip needs to sink in quite a way so as William says it is really not far off the ground at all. On your back the pressure is spread quite a bit wider, so you can sink into the mat without danger of hitting the ground.

But yep, less air is better. Don't try and use it fully inflated!

I enjoy mine more when it is fully inflated, each to his/her own. Much the same as picking a bed at home, do you like it firm or soft!

Ha, well there you go. Sounds like you're gonna just have to experiment till you find something that feels right. If you don't like the "bouncy" feeling of a water-bed though it sounds like you might prefer it with less air. As William says, when adjusted for my preferred level of inflation I will "bottom out" when sitting up. If I can sit on the pad without hitting the floor then I find it to be not so great (too hard/bouncy) when lying down.

I sleep on a fully inflated neoair. It still has plenty of give (for me).

No consensus here, eh? Looks like I will indeed have to experiment with it.

Maybe a daily afternoon nap until I find the right level? ;-)

Our bed at home is a Sleep Number. The Neo feels about the same - but then I sleep on a very firm number ;-)

It all depends on what you sleep at home on really.....The Sleep Number wrecked me for most pads....

I like my reg. Neo-Air, but have considered going up to a large? The reg. size is as comfy as any of my other pads, but, I'm thinking, I might sleep a tad better, going with the wider pad. Although, I never fell off the reg. Neo-Air either, but it would be nice to have a little extra width for the elbows.

How big are you? I have the Large and I'm trying to decide whether to keep it. It is long enough for me (6'6") which is nice, but my arms easily flop off the sides because it isn't wide enough. I should mention I wear a 52" jacket, so others may not have this problem. I also find my upper body weighs so much that it actually creates a bubble in the center of my back which isn't comfortable. I'm playing with the inflation to see if that matters.

I looked at the weight spec's at prolite.com, going by them the large is 4 oz more than the regular pad. I think I'll stick with my regular pad, at least for now, anyway?

I hate to deviate from the original topic, but Sarah how do you like the sleep number? I have been thinking about getting one because my mattress is old and uncomfortable.

We got it in 2006. You'd have to forcibly take it from us :-D

The husband likes a way softer bed than me and even better, the bed doesn't move if he gets up! We went so far to get the old person set up - magic fingers and the ability to put the bed up and down.

It has been one of those buys we have never regretted.

I have both.

Re: Sleepnumber...best ever! I've had two over the past 20 years. Most comfortable mattress yet (for me, anyway). They're a bit pricey at the front end, but comfort and long life are the payoff.

Re: NeoAir. My new size Large arrived from REI today. I like it so far! Test blow up (takes about 20-25% more breaths to inflate than the regular). Lying on my back, my head and heels are supported AND my elbows. Since I'm 6'5" tall, that's a far better fit than the regular. It packs about 1 1/2 inches longer and maybe 3/4 inches "fatter" than the neoair regular. Still about the size of a Nalgene one liter bottle. I'm headed to the woods tomorrow so I can give a better report next week. I'm thinking that the improved fit and comfort are worth the 5 oz premium in weight. Heck I'll just drink some of my water before starting. ;-)

Edited by Beep on 07/10/2009 19:42:18 MDT.

Ha

Have both too.

I hate the Sleep Number bed. (The wife loves it, so guess what?) I have had a sore back since I started sleeping on it. I have played with the numbers (inflation level) constantly. If I make it stiff enough for my liking I have a step between us and we notice it. Back when I lived in MN our construction company did Select Comfort’s new headquarters and I got to see their entire operations. They offered me a great deal (pre-wifey) on anything they made. I declined. It is just an air mattress. I have more comfortable ones that I use for guests that blow up with 2 D batteries. And it cost about $970.00 less.

I am more impressed with the NeoAir each time I take it out. I do understand where BPL said that there is some edge collapse now as the weather gets warmer and I move around on the pad more. But I won’t dis it as hard as they did. I like the sucker. I want the large size now. I am looking forward to near-winter to see how it really compares to my favorite BA IAC pads.

As I try to keep my 10-year old twins’ pack weights down I have had them on Z-Rest pads. If I can afford it I want to get them on Neo Smalls for next year.

After rigorous scientific testing - two half hour naps, one fully inflated, one "bottomed out" - I'm going with Vladimir: fully inflated feels much more comfortable and supported.

Thanks to all for the suggestions and advice!