Rating: 4 / 5

I purchased a Regular (72") Neo-Air mattress from REI in April of '09.

In backyard "camp" testing at 40 F I found it to be definitely more comfortable than either my lightweight or regular Thermarest foam-filled mattresses. Using my Western Mountaineering Megalite 30 degree bag and synthetic briefs & T-shirt plus thin polypropelene liner socks I felt quite comfortable.

I did not notice any problem with the Neo- Air being cold. On the contrary, it felt slightly warm at all times. Further I can say the horizontal V-tube configuration was much more comfortable than traditional longitidunal tubed air mattresses.

WARMTH factors:

Shorter horizontal tubes = less convection.

2 layers of V-shaped tubes (top and bottom layers) = less convection

reflective layers = less radation heat loss

Cascade Designs has put several years of testing into this, their first non foam mattress, and the research shows. For example, on my T.T, Contrail's sil nylon floor the Air Core stayed put.
Also my sleeping bag did not slide around on the mattress, all thanks to the tacky finish of the Neo-Air.

So the comfort and relative warmth are the result of this research.
Plus the small 1 liter bottle rolled size and the 14 oz. weight are even more reasons to buy this mattress.

I DO wish Cascade Designs would have given us a stuff sack & repair kit as well, considering this is their priciest mattress. I refuse to pay $15. for the optional stuff sack. OPTIONAL stuff sack? Since when is a mattress stuff sack an option? Rather make one myself.

Now maybe a stuff sack that doubles as a pump? - yeah, I'd fork over $15. for that.

UPDATE:
I'm selling my Neo-Air as it is too thick for my stomach sleeping habits. I prefer my old full length Thermarest Lite for its far less bouncy feel and lower profile. Plus, it doesn't need early morning re-inflating nearly as much as the Neo-Air when the night is cool.

Eric

Edited by Danepacker on 06/10/2009 14:26:46 MDT.

Rating: 4 / 5

Purchased 66 inch (13 oz weight by Thermarest; I have not weighed it yet)
Initial out-of-the-box impression: Wow, can't believe they got in that tiny box.
Actual 1 night usage: Used in local wilderness area on surpisingly warm night of 58 degrees with moderate wind and occasional gusts of around 25-30 MPH. Shelter was SMD Wild Oasis, used ground sheet and GG 1/4 thinlight (mostly for puncture protection as site had small "puncture stuff"). Inflated quickly, was a bit crinkly sounding, but this did not bother me. Excellent comfort, seemed warm wherever my body was touching it. I was figuring on a much colder night than 58 degrees as this area is known for nights in the 30's even in summer.
Sleeping bag stayed put on the pad, pad stayed on the ground cloth. Lenght is a bit long for me, but was very nice to have the extra length.
Initial Impression: Seems well made, well thought out, very comfortable nights sleep. I bit pricey and color is not very "stealthy". I agree with previous reviewer that a stuff sack and repair kit should have been included for the price.
I will add to this review as I use the pad over the next few months.

Have now used the Neoair for total of 6 nights. Temps from low 40's to low 60's. Have had none of the leakage issues mentioned by others. I have slept warm and comfortable. Sleeping bag stays put. Overall, I am quite pleased with its performance. If I have a problem with it anytime over the summer, I will add to this review.

Edited by Trailfrog on 06/26/2009 19:22:39 MDT.

Rating: 3 / 5

I just completed a 541 section hike of the Appalachian Trail in Virginia. I used the 72" by 20" Thermarest Neo-Air for the entire trip. My mattress weighed 14 ounces and it packed small. Combined with a Gossamer Gear 3/8 inch torso pad I found the Neo-Air adequate insulation for temperatures into the upper-30's (I was using a 20 degree bag), but I felt some ground chill when temperatures dropped below 35 degrees) . I also believe this pad to be more comfortable than any of the self-inflating foam mattresses which I have used from Thermarest. However, the pad seemed thinner and was definitely less comfortable than either my P.O.E. Ether Thermo 6 (weight 19 ounces) or my Stephenson's D.A.M. (weight 19 ounces). I will go back to my Ether Thermo 6 for future 3 season long hikes and my Stephenson's D.A.M. when I need a warmer pad. In this case I believe the 5 ounce weight penalty to be worth it due to the greater degree of comfort.

Rating: 5 / 5

I got back from 7 days in the Grand Canyon three weeks ago. I had a regular sized NeoAir under my Montbel UL SS #3 down bag inside a Alpinlite Bug bivy and a GG Spinshelter 2.

I slept great!!!

Edited by malndman on 05/11/2009 17:52:27 MDT.

Rating: 4 / 5

Comfortable and light sleeping pad. However first one I bought had a slow leak. After 5-6 hours my hip would almost touch the ground and it required a couple of breaths to inflate. I got a replacement from the store and it seems fine based on testing at home. Would give it 5/5 if it wasn't for quality control issue.

Rating: 4 / 5

I've spent a total of 5 trail nights on the NeoAir short. It weighs 9 oz on my scales. Very comfortable down into high 40's. Haven't had the opportunity to test lower temps yet. I'm 6'1" tall & the pad reaches from the top of my head to just behind my knees. It doesn't seem that any extra length would be necessary given the extra weight. It doesn't seem to be any louder than other inflatable pads I've used when changing positions. I also appreciate that even when using a quilt, it doesn't feel clammy or sticky. I give it a 4 because it's not as comfy for side sleeping as it is for back sleeping, at least for me.

Rating: 5 / 5

There has been a lot of hype generated around this sleeping pad and I have to say it is very warm and comfortable to sleep on. I used last week in Emigrant Wilderness and the temps got below freezing because when I woke up in the morning there was ice cycles all over my tarp. I used the Neo-Air with a Nunatak sleeping bag. I was never cold and did not notice any noise that I have heard so much about...I was very comfortable the entire night and I usually toss and turn. I really like the WEIGHT: 14oz-WOW!! and I really like small packable size of the Neo-Air and I slept warm and very comfortable..Thumbs Up!!!

Rating: 5 / 5

I purchased the Short version of this much lauded/derided sleeping mat and have to say it proved to be nothing less than exceptional. I'm a smidge over 6 feet and around 190lbs and once I realised that it's better inflated to around half it's capacity it proved to be perfectly comfortable whether I fell asleep on my side, back or even front. It rolls up to nothing too. It won't replace my Exped Synmat when it's freezing but for everything else it looks perfect so far.

Rating: 5 / 5

I was turned off by the price, but the lure of 2.5" of pad, that would operate in 3 seasons- weighing in under a lb was too tempting

I'm currently using a regular, it weighed in at 13.2 oz (0.8 less than advertised)

it's easily the most comfortable pad I've used, the configuration of the pad makes it less likely to slip off

I've slept on it w/ temps into the mid 30's w/ no complaints of cold

it is a little narrow for me, I'm probably going to be trading up for a large and then after reading a thread in MYOG- cut the large pad length down

I debated on a rating of 4 or a 5 due to pricing, but when a product performs this well- to dam(n) w/ the price

Edited by mtwarden on 08/15/2009 07:56:16 MDT.

Rating: 5 / 5

We have now used our small NeoAir pads for 10 nights in Escalante area of Utah and 30 nights in Wales/England.

Compared to Thermarest ProLite and to Z-Rest pads... the Neoair pads are WAY more comfortable for back, belly, and side sleeping. We are both thrilled with these pads.

Haven't used them in temps <50 yet.

One of the pads had a tiny slow leak out of the box. Cascade Designs replaced it. Since then we have had no problems, although we are super careful to clear the ground of anything potentially sharp before bedding down, and we don't use the pads as sit-cushions.

Noise is a non-issue.

We made a coupler to keep them together, which undoubtedly helps avoid the arms-falling-off issue some people have disliked. 83" circumference; 3/4" grosgrain ribbon; one tri-glide.



Amy L and Jim Y

Edited by drongobird on 08/28/2009 10:13:36 MDT.

Rating: 4 / 5

The Neo-Air is (at first glance) obviously a compromise between weight and durability.

So let me first say that I carried mine for 3000 miles on the CDT, slept in it over 130 nights, and NEVER punctured it.

My rule is simple: I've never seen an air mattress pop when it was inside a backpack or inside a tent. So those are the only places mine is allowed to be.

It was warm, comfy, and the noise didn't bother me at all. Really, I though, the only downside at all was the price.

Then, with only two weeks left in my thru-hike the fabric started to wear thin around the valve. NOT puncture, but just wear out. It's so thin, that it started to slowly leak air.

No, not many people sleep on their air mattress 130 times during the entire time they own it. So I suppose for most people it's durable enough. But for me, it dropped from Five stars to only Four when this happened.

But, I'll send it in for repairs, and Thermarest will honor the lifetime warranty. So no real complaints here.

Edited by Dylan_Carlson on 10/01/2009 17:40:43 MDT.

Rating: 4 / 5

I read some initial reviews that suggested it was functionally narrower than the specs indicated so I hesitated about getting it. Then, at Summit Hut in Tucson I was able to do a side by side comparison between what I was using (the Thermalite ProLite-Regular)and the Neoair. The Neoair won hands down, both for comfort and space. I have used it on the AT in north Georgia and in the Cohutta Wilderness and so far I am thrilled. I haven't been into any really low temps yet (I try to avoid them)but it is still my most comfortable sleeping experience and the light weight is great. Of course I treat it with kid gloves. No problems yet but it "looks" fragile. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because of my agreement with previous reviewers that, at that price, it should have included the stuff sack and a repair kit.

Rating: 4 / 5

The NeoAir is light, compact and so far (5 nights) it has been adequately durable. The price is high, but that isn't why I dropped it to 4 stars.

The reason I give the NeoAir a 4 is because I simply don't find it to be the big advance in comfort that I'd hoped it would be. I thought it would be significantly more comfortable than a 1 or 1.5" self inflating pad (ie. Prolite series) but I find it to be about at the same level. Perhaps a bit more comfy, but not way ahead of these pads. I do find it to be way ahead of a closed cell pad though. Compared to those, the NeoAir gives you more comfort and a much smaller packing size for a similar weight (but much higher price).

Edited by dandydan on 11/04/2009 23:21:34 MST.