Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Camping Mat

© Jonathan Fuller
The author enjoying the NeoAir at Camp 3  © Jonathan Fuller
The author enjoying the NeoAir at Camp 3
© Jonathan Fuller

UKC competition winner Jonathan Fuller reviews his prize: the NeoAir XTherm from Therm-a-Rest. More information about the mat is available on the Cascade Designs website here.


The ideal camping mat for me would offer the comfort of an air bed coupled with the low weight and small bulk of a foam mat. Well, it seems that, with the new versions of the NeoAir range, Therm-a Rest have hit the nail on the head.

The NeoAir XTherm marks a step change in the world of four-season backpacking sleeping mats – it weighs a mere 430g (Regular), is 6.3 cm thick, provides a R-value of 5.7 and packs down to the size of a Nalgene. To put that in perspective, a Prolite Plus, what could be considered the benchmark of the Therm-a-rest range, weighs 620g, is 3.8 cm thick and has a R-value of 3.8. The XTherm achieves such warmth for low weight and bulk through the use of patent-pending technology that was developed over seven years. The horizontal baffles are made up of what Therm-a-Rest are calling the Triangular Core Matrix, which are interlocking triangles.

These triangles trap warm air and improve the stability of the mattress. Between the upper and lower layers of these baffles are four layers of Reflective Barrier (also patent-pending). These layers reduce the convective heat loss to the ground by recycling body heat in the upper layer of baffles and improve the efficiency of the Triangular Core Matrix. Not being foam, the materials inside the mat are also not going to absorb moisture and degrade. The mat is, however, rather noisy compared to a foam one, sounding like a large crisp packet. This is at first quite noticeable when moving around, but soon only my tent partner was aware of the crinkling!

The bag supplied doubles as a pump for use when you're short of breath, but I found it to be relatively ineffective and even at over 6000m I was able to muster enough from my lungs to inflate the mat to a reasonable firmness. Another notable positive was how few breaths the mat required to be fully inflated – my tent partner had a Prolite and spent considerably more time and red-faced effort getting it to an acceptable state.

"These reflective layers reduce convective heat loss to the ground by recycling body heat in the upper layer of baffles..."

It's 400 ml thick and packs down to the same size as the bottle, astounding.   © Jonathan Fuller
It's 400 ml thick and packs down to the same size as the bottle, astounding.
© Jonathan Fuller

Horizontal baffles provide plenty of support, making a very cold night bearable  © Jonathan Fuller
Horizontal baffles provide plenty of support, making a very cold night bearable
© Jonathan Fuller
When the time comes to move on, the mat doesn't put up much of a fight and goes quite nicely back in to the stuff sack. Unlike a foam mat it can be deflated so it is completely flat and so much more manageable. It will also fit in the bag if it is folded in thirds lengthways (the recommended method) or, if that proves too much of a faff, in half. I've been a user of Therm-a-Rest mattresses for ten years and have never been disappointed and the NeoAir XTherm has only served to strengthen my faith. It helped keep me warm, even at camp 3 (~6300 m) when everything not in our sleeping bags was frozen solid. I found that, due to the 30d High Tenacity Nylon on the top surface, I could move about in my bag and not risk ending up on the tent floor. The base is made from 70d Soft Grip Nylon, giving some robustness and also provides a slip-free experience.

"The mat is, however, rather noisy compared to a foam one, sounding like a large crisp packet..."

Despite its thickness, which I initially presumed would make the mat quite unstable, I experienced no rocking and rolling or bouncing when shifting around. Admittedly the noise produced during this squirming does make the mat sound a lot less sturdy than it really is. The build quality of the mattress is the excellent that one expects from Therm-a-Rest, but if you are unlucky enough to pick up a puncture, make sure the included repair kit is close to hand: unlike a self-inflating foam mat, if the XTherm deflates there's nothing at all to insulate from the ground.

Summary

In summary, the outstanding warmth to weight ratio achieved with this mattress should make it contender for anyone's next trip. It is aimed at winter use, but as it weighs less than any of the self-inflating mats Therm-a-Rest manufacture, I would consider it for any excursion, including the coldest of snowy camps. Coming in at £150 RRP for a regular length, the XTherm is probably too far over the £100 mark for most of us. One has to consider if spending £40 extra than a Prolite Plus for a saving of just under 200 g is worth it. It is, however, a great deal warmer than any self-inflating mat I've used, and if low bulk and light weight are key drivers and the frequency of use is high enough, then it's definitely worth treating yourself.


For more information Cascade Designs/NeoAir XTherm



29 Dec, 2012
Aye, a great bit of kit, especially if you sleep on your side, but the only other thing I'd add is that if you are tall then you will either have your feet off the end or to find an enormous pile of kit to make up the head end to a decent height!
29 Dec, 2012
"The mat is, however, rather noisy compared to a foam one, sounding like a large crisp packet..." Too right, I nearly murdered a friend who used one of these because of this. If you move about in your sleep then don't buy one unless your friends are more tolerant than me (possibly not hard) or completely deaf.
1 Jan, 2013
One of the welded baffles that go across the mat split on a friends. Ended up with a big lump in the middle. Have there been improvments to the design in the last couple of years?
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