Therm-a-Relaxation NeoLoft Backpacking Sleeping Pad Overview

Backside Line

We’ve examined the Therm-a-Relaxation NeoLoft from the consolation of our residence to frigid nights tenting by means of Colorado snowstorms. Thus far, we predict it’s well worth the hype.

The NeoLoft achieves a ridiculous degree of consolation for its sub-2-pound weight. The stretch knit material and 3D design conform to your physique, whereas the 4.6-inch thickness floats you properly above the onerous floor.

The NeoLoft is supremely comfy no matter your most popular sleeping place, and the tremendous plush high sheet is good and smooth towards the pores and skin. It’s additionally heat sufficient to make use of all 12 months spherical, assuming you’re not tenting within the Arctic Circle.

In case you’re able to preserve perusing, no worries. Our full information to backpacking sleeping pads contains extra choices, together with ultralight pads that may higher fit your wants.

How We Examined

We’ve been racking up the Z’s on this pad from automobile tenting to backpacking to changing our mattress at residence. We even examined its cold-weather limits by tenting in Colorado spring snowstorms. We’ve gained deal with on how this pad performs, however we’re excited to proceed testing this new design from Therm-a-Relaxation.

Consolation

The Therm-a-Relaxation NeoLoft is marketed as probably the most comfy backpacking sleeping pad ever made, and we predict they could have succeeded. It’s plush, thick, supportive, and even is available in a number of completely different sizes. 

The key phrase in its lofty declare is “backpacking.” The NeoLoft can’t evaluate with heavy, high-density foam and air hybrid pads made for plush automobile tenting, however it comes about as shut as potential whereas staying within the backpacking weight vary.

The NeoLoft is by far the thickest pad on our checklist at a whopping 4.6 inches thick. The total rectangular form offers a bigger sleeping floor over tapered mummy shapes and is even a few inches bigger than most rectangular pads at 73 inches lengthy and 22 inches extensive for the common model. 

The built-in vertical sidewalls, together with the facet rails, assist to cradle your physique and cut back the sensation that you just’ll roll off the pad in the course of the night time. The NeoLoft is a superb alternative no matter what place you wish to sleep in, and the horizontal baffles enable for a firmer really feel than different designs.

Lastly, the highest of the pad is made out of an ultra-plush, stretch knit material much like the bottom layer material. It’s very smooth towards the pores and skin, and the stretch additional enhances the pad’s physique contouring capabilities.

Weight

As you might need guessed, this premium degree of consolation comes at a big weight value, however the NeoLoft isn’t even the heaviest pad on our checklist. 

We measured the NeoLoft at about 23.5 oz, not together with the stuff sack or pump sack. These numbers put it properly on the heavy facet for backpacking pads, which is why devoted ultralights will in all probability cease studying this evaluation. However hear us out…

The NeoLoft’s consolation far outweighs the additional ounces. It’s nonetheless lighter than the heavy hybrid pads of yesteryear and packs all the way down to a bit bigger than a one-liter Nalgene. 

Plus, weight will be minimize in different methods. The thickness and heat of the NeoLoft means you may carry a lighter sleeping bag or perhaps a quilt. If cash isn’t an object, there’s probability you may shed an additional pound or two by springing for an ultralight tent or backpack. A restful sleep within the backcountry results in a extra comfy, energy-filled day of mountain climbing. Lastly,  should you worth sleep as a lot as we do, there are methods to compensate for the added weight.

Sturdiness

The NeoLoft presents an honest stability of sturdiness and weight financial savings. Within the ultralight backpacking world, sturdiness is straight tied to weight – lighter sleeping pads are often made out of thinner, extra fragile material that requires extra care. 

The NeoLoft is made out of 50-denier polyester on each the highest and 75-denier polyester on the underside panel. That’s thicker than most ultralight tent flooring! Some might argue that this quantity of safety is overkill for a sleeping pad, however the additional thickness contributes to the pad’s assist and offers additional peace of thoughts that you just received’t get up on the bottom in the course of the night time because of a puncture.

Within the case of a puncture, the pad comes with a useful restore equipment for patching holes within the subject.

Heat

One other advantage of going with the NeoLoft over lighter and cheaper pads is its four-season heat. With an R-value of 4.7, the NeoLoft offers loads of heat for shoulder seasons. It’s a bit underwhelming for winter tenting on snow (devoted winter pads have an R-value of 7-8), however it’ll do the job in gentle winter climates. 

We suggest including a foam pad beneath when tenting straight on snow to bump up the pad’s heat and preserve it from sliding round. We camped with the NeoLoft all the way down to about 28ºF with a heat sleeping bag and stayed good and comfortable.

The NeoLoft’s heat comes from its thickness and building. Therm-a-Relaxation’s ContourCore Matrix options two layers of triangular air chambers, so even when your physique compresses the highest layer, the underside layer stays lofted to proceed insulating. Their ThermaCapture is basically a foil material that displays physique warmth again at you, and the stretch knit material conforms to your physique form to reduce chilly spots.

Ease of Setup

At first look, a thick, beefy sleeping pad appears to be like like a ache to explode each night time and pack away every morning, however it’s not that unhealthy. 

The NeoLoft comes with an enormous, seam-sealed pump sack to help with inflating. The total-sized opening permits you to blow into the again from a number of inches away or scoop air, simply filling your complete bag. 

On common, we will totally inflate the NeoLoft in just below two minutes, or about 4 full fills of the pump sack. The pump sack attaches securely to the air consumption valve, and the sealed seams be sure that no air leaks and goes to waste. The enter valve lacks a fine-tuning button, however a swift twist of the knob permits you to expel small quantities of air to dial in your most popular firmness.

When it’s time to pack up within the morning, the output valve quickly dumps air, and the versatile polyester material is straightforward to fold and roll up. We significantly admire that Therm-a-Relaxation has allowed a bit wiggle room within the stuff sack, so it’s not simply barely large enough to suit the pad.

Ought to You Purchase the Therm-a-Relaxation NeoLoft Backpacking Sleeping Pad?

The Therm-a-Relaxation NeoLoft is a hefty funding, however it might be price the additional expense should you battle with getting night time’s sleep within the backcountry. 

Its plush consolation is second to none because of its thickness, smooth materials, and revolutionary stretch knit building. The pad gently cradles you to sleep so you may get pleasure from an energy-filled, pain-free day of mountain climbing.

Though its 23.5 ounce weight may scare away ultralight backpackers, the NeoLoft nonetheless achieves wonderful weight financial savings, contemplating its sturdiness and heat. It’s heat sufficient for shoulder seasons in all climates and even average winters. The 50D polyester offers the proper stability of light-weight sturdiness.

The price of NeoLoft is kind of steep, however it’s onerous to place a value on feeling good and rested. There’s positively one thing to be stated for optimum weight financial savings on lengthy journeys. Nonetheless, for a few of us, our youthful days of deep sleeps on the onerous floor are ending, and restful sleep is changing into more and more elusive. This is likely to be the ticket to conserving your thoughts and physique comfortable on the path.

What Different Backpacking Pads Ought to You Take into account?

We get that the NeoLoft isn’t for everybody. In our full information to backpacking sleep pads, you’ll discover choices which are cheaper, extra sturdy, and lighter weight.

NEMO Quasar 3D Insulated Overview: The Quasar delivers related consolation with its rectangular form, first rate thickness, and contoured horizontal baffles. Nonetheless, its supplies favor sturdiness over plushness and weight financial savings. 

Sea to Summit Ether Mild XR Overview: We actually benefit from the sprung cell design of the Ether Mild XR over horizontal baffles. They don’t really feel fairly as agency as horizontal baffles and naturally conform to your physique form. The Ether Mild XR can be extra reasonably priced, extra sturdy, and lighter than the NeoLoft.

Therm-a-Relaxation NeoAir XTherm NXT Overview: In case you’re searching for a real winter sleeping pad to maintain you heat within the coldest temperatures, take a look at the XTherm NXT. It has the very best r-value of any pad on our checklist at a formidable 7.3.