Just thought I would get everyone's opinion on this: Should I buy a 66" Thermarest NeoAir All Season, or a 72" Thermarest NeoAir original? The difference is the R value and the weight. The All Season has a 4.9 R value and weighs 18 ounces, and the original has a 2.5 R value and weighs 12 ounces. I'd be paying about the same price. Also, I live in a colder climate (Wisconsin), but I'll be backpacking pretty much exclusively in Summer and Spring (sometimes an early Spring, like beginning of April, though). Any opinions would be appreciated.

Yo, cheesehead! :)

If you keep to the warmer months, the regular Neoair should be fine.

But as you get more comfortable being out there, you may want to venture into the colder months, and then you'll need a more substantial R value.

If you can swing it, look at the XTherm. My 72" pad is comfortable any day of the year and is only 16 ounces. But it is pricey.

You could also get the regular Neoair and supplement it with some CCF to beef up the R value. Much cheaper, but more bulky.

Edited by T.L. on 02/26/2013 16:04:16 MST.

Any one have any more advice?

Elijah, I have both the NeoAir All Season and the NeoAir original. I would recomend the NeoAir original for the seasons you are talking about. I live in Minnesota and I use the NeoAir original until there is snow on the ground. I have used it below 20 degrees with a quilt layed open and had no problems. Only when there is snow on the ground do I take the All Season.

Just after Christmas last year, I went on a trip to Guadalupe Peak in West Texas. The first night, the temperature got down to 16 degrees. I used a NeoAir original short paired with a Western Mountaineering Versalite and stayed toasty warm.

I have no data for this, but I'd bet that camping on snow or ice would require more R-Value than camping on dry ground in similar ambient air temps.

+1 w/Josh I too have both and agree

I've never owned the All Season and not necessarily suggesting it will be the better option for you, but another thing to consider is durability....

"The all season NeoAir will have a much more durable shell material than the original NeoAir, says Kerri Dellisanti of Cascade Designs. The original NeoAir shell has uses 30 denier high tenacity ripstop nylon on its top and bottom. The all-season NeoAir will have a 75 denier polyester top shell and a 70 denier nylon bottom." - http://www.trailspace.com/blog/2011/01/22/outdoor-retailer-all-season-neo-air.html

I don't know but the All season seems less crunchy sounding than the original Neo air. Can anyone comment on this?

Good point about fabric. The XTherm also uses 70D on the bottom.

The All Season fabric is softer and a bit quiter. I am in the camp that find the NeoAir to be no noiser than the fabric on my sleeping bag though too.

Thanks for the advice. I went with the original, because I don't want to be carrying an extra 6 ounces for a shorter pad just because it has an unnecessarily (for me) high R value. I don't think the crinklyness will be an issue as I don't really move when I sleep. Again, thanks for the advice!