Scooby dooby Uberlite

[Lamont]

Alright it's about time, put away the CCF, forget about the Zlite, shelve the Xlite, because there's a new kid in town and its name is UBERLITE.
It's been out for a while and I have been following it's progress-it's time to think about the TR Uberlite. No really.
There's been some use in the last few months but hard to get hold of (even in the US of a)-I suspect it won't sell well here or will it?
No failures yet reported, but I suspect use is limited due to availability issues and hesitancy.
Float away on gossamer wings...........
15D RipStop/top and 15D bottom! YYYYYowza! Bottom 15D a concern -the biggest for certain.
340 grams for the large- WWWWWhacko!
250 grams for standard -CCCCCCowabunga!
6.4 cms (goldilocks height/thickness for me at 1.79m!) of juicy goodness. Huzzah!
A teaser -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oXFCJi0TII
Morkel is somewhat taken by it's R value performance- take with a grain of salt?
Bound to sell here for at least $450.
Pair with a Torso Onda for about 5R and 440 grams in the large for cold weather?
I reckon I could baby it to last.
Good to about 4 degrees alone should be okay, which would suit many users who only walk in the milder months and other users who walk all year -put a piece of polycryo at 25 grams under for added protection?
Who's game?
Or in the interest-S of science fund me to test it

[Zapruda]

I think you should be our resident Uberlite tester and reviewer!

To be honest I haven't read much about this pad. I find I am either on my xtherm half the year in the cold or on the zlite when its hot. I'm super thankful of that insulating snow grass I sleep on!

I am keen to see how people like it. it definitely could take the place of an xlite in a two pad quiver.

[Lamont]

I think you should be our resident Uberlite tester and reviewer!

To be honest I haven't read much about this pad. I find I am either on my xtherm half the year in the cold or on the zlite when its hot. I'm super thankful of that insulating snow grass I sleep on!

I am keen to see how people like it. it definitely could take the place of an xlite in a two pad quiver.

Yes, I think it won't appeal to, or suit most applications, but it is strangely appealing. It is the size of a can of Melbourne Bitter rolled and how light is the large!
But the 15D youch-would it take my not indelicate weight without spitting my own Carbon dioxide straight back at me when I turn over in the night?
I have always been put off by the compact foam ones only because of the space taken, but I sleep on them fine and like the 'flat' set up. And that weight!
I would much rather they made a 'wide mummy regular length' shape. That would be a champion idea and probably get away with 350-380 grams?
I think it is made for the American backpacker with towns nearby, which all the tracks that seem well known, are near? Pop it -get another one? Don't know.
I would be happy to be the tester, just need to start one of those things-what do you young folk call it -'come on and fund me' or 'buy me a mat, mate' or something.
ps FYI https://backpackinglight.com/thermarest ... ad-review/
I hope there is no affiliate link/referral attached to that. If there is I didn't mean to do it.

[Stew63]

I'd be tempted to test one out before my TJAR attempt but its really only a 60gm saving compared to my 230gm/R3.2 XLite in the stronger 30D nylon.

[Mountain Rocket]

Hmm interesting. It certainly won't tempt me away from my Xtherm with the 15D bottom but is cool to see Thermarest still pushing the limits.

[Lamont]

Hmm interesting. It certainly won't tempt me away from my Xtherm with the 15D bottom but is cool to see Thermarest still pushing the limits.

I don't think the bottom will be the weak point when I really think about it, your shelter floor adds much protection there. A few grams of polycryo if in doubt.
Much more concerning would be the top-sharp elbows and especially knees and bum concentrating weight in focussed points when you move around and especially getting onto and off (sitting up) the mat-that's when I would really be most gentle.
Might have to do a modified commando roll off the mat! A la Van Damme or Jacky Chan.
Lying down would not cause (me) much concern as your weight is more evenly distributed over the mat. Even the hip weight is a lot more evenly spread and I feel this would not be a concern.

[Mountain Rocket]

As Morkel said (or was it the similar BLP video?) it's long-term durability re resistance to abrasion is my main concern with such a light-weight bottom (and top for that matter!). Particularly in focused points caused from elbows, sitting up etc as you mention. Obviously people are willing to do 'interesting' things to save weight, but being paranoid every time I sit up on lie down on my sleeping mat is not something I'm keen on just to save a handful of grams

Happy to be proven wrong though. Time will tell how they stand up to pro-longed field use...

[Ms_Mudd]

I think you should be our resident Uberlite tester and reviewer!

Yes, go on!!!! Buy it, if you can, you know you want to.
The plush thickness tickles ma fancy, the weight-yes,the potential price poin- not so much.

[enlightened0ne]

It’s amazing that the regular weighs the same as my torso length Xlite. I wouldn’t feel comfortable taking it on an extended hike without some kind of protection though, so I would probably want to add in a 1/8” CCF full length under it. A torso uberlight plus a CCF pad might still be lighter than my xlite though...

[Lamont]

I think you should be our resident Uberlite tester and reviewer!

Yes, go on!!!! Buy it, if you can, you know you want to.
The plush thickness tickles ma fancy, the weight-yes,the potential price poin- not so much.

I shall get a small , regular and large
please send donations to fund this purchase to the -
Societe' de Lamont Cranston,
Cackleberry Road,
Hobart (next door to the Ponds Institute).

[Ms_Mudd]

I shall get a small , regular and large
please send donations to fund this purchase to the -
Societe' de Lamont Cranston,
Cackleberry Road,
Hobart (next door to the Ponds Institute).

What about if I sent you a balaclava? Could rob a bank? Or the Ponds institute?

[Mark F]

As a (non)recovering ultralight enthusiast, I suggest you change your view on how to value uber light offerings. Think of them in terms of dollars per gram (bit like drugs). On this basis a Hilleberg Nallo tent is around 50c per gram while a Zpacks Duomid is almost $2 per gram. In the normal world the Hilleberg would represent far better value.

[Lamont]

Please, I encourage all tax free donations.
We have been forced to move.
The rent in Hobart has gone through the roof-all those ruppies and ripsters.
The Ponds Institute! Can't get even get a cup of International Roast from those pillocks, they have all their money in Lichtenstein.
New address as follows
Give early and give often!
Societe' de Lamont Cranston,
Home for the Fiduciarily Deranged,
12b Tartufo Lane,
Upper Crawley west (don't send it east-we at war with those two over there and they have access to my bank account!)
3999
ps I am eating a baklava and wearing a balaclava now as it happens.
Buona Pasqua.

[Ms_Mudd]

As a (non)recovering ultralight enthusiast, I suggest you change your view on how to value uber light offerings. Think of them in terms of dollars per gram (bit like drugs).

Is there ever any real recovery, or just denial of an active addiction?

I will send you a balaclava if you send me your baklava, Lamont. Much sweeter deal for me.

[wildwanderer]

15d is pushing it in my opinion.

I use a nemo tensor mummy 3/4 It's 230grams and 20D. I also have the insulated version for winter 265grams.

At 20D I need to be careful with it. Strictly tent only (or tarp with grnd sheet) Even then I put a hole in it 12 months ago when a tiny twig that had snaggd on my shirt got bought into the tent.

15D... I wouldn't be relying on it for anything more than 3 season use within a days walk to the car.

Last edited by wildwanderer on Sat 20 Apr, 2019 10:10 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Lamont]

I will send you a balaclava if you send me your baklava, Lamont. Much sweeter deal for me.

Sorry, don't have a square to spare.
Babka for the balaclava? Can't manage baklava.

[emma_melbourne]

And the bad news...

DURABILITY OF UBERLITE PADS

It appears people are having problems with the Thermarest Uberlite pads, in relation to durability. Which was something I know a number of us had variously speculated on.

Dixie from Homemade Wanderlust has just posted that she had not 1 but 2 pads go flat on the first night - both her mother's and her own. Now you could speculate on the surface they were putting the Uberlite pads on, but keep in mind she's an experienced hiker who's done thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail.

Also she said there were no visible leaks, nor the sound of a leak. Just a gradual very slow going flat of the pads over the course of the night.

The video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkKs8VC7ZFU at around 6.54 mins in.

And what's worse, Thermarest when phoned provided terrible support. That it would take 4-6 weeks for when they got the pad for them to evaluate the pad and send out replacements. (Given how enormously popular her Youtube channel is, by so many viewers around the world, that's a policy which is going to be pricey to their reputation and sales results from here on in, I suspect. Clearly the phone support person didn't know the significance of who they were dealing with.)

We'll soon hear how all the thru-hikers are going with their pads, but it's sounding like it may be worth paying the 100 gram weight penalty and having the Thermarest NeoAir Xlite (or even the higher R value XTherm pad, depending on conditions) rather than cutting weight and going with the Uberlite.

We shall wait and see...

[Bubbalouie]

This is good news for my bank account, I was wanting a lighter/cooler pad for spring later this year (I have an xtherm right now).

That said, it is a little disappointing.

[Lamont]

Interesting re the American lass's failure of two mats. That makes four that I have heard. I have also read of quite a few being used with no issue. On snow on several instances with light ccf support. Couple of lads even chopped theirs with no issue. Of the small number of failures heard -wont hold air early on (immediately replaced no questions asked) or even on first inflation-seems miniscule against the Exped failures(which reportedly was a past issue -amended with newer models). I likely wont get one soon as they shut my go fund me page for lack of action and the fact that it some how went into debit.

Last edited by Lamont on Mon 01 Jul, 2019 11:32 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Zapruda]

Isn’t that the same person that slept on top of her duplex causing the material to abrade and then leak when it rained?

A few anecdotal reports should hardly rule a product out.

Sleeping pads leak. Expeds, S2S, xlites, xtherms, prolites... They all do it.

And I have had great experiences with the people that handle Therm-a-Rest here in Aus.

Let’s not get too caught up in the drama of YouTube personalities and their desperate need to create mountains out of mole hills.

[Ms_Mudd]

Isn’t that the same person that slept on top of her duplex causing the material to abrade and then leak when it rained?

I believe so.

Lamont, sorry the baklava didn't obscure your face enough to rob the bank to buy one in every size. If it were me, I would have a face full of sweet pastry and pulled off the heist with no issue.

Keen to hear how others get along with them, the (lack of) weight is amazing.

[Lamont]

Isn’t that the same person that slept on top of her duplex causing the material to abrade and then leak when it rained?

I believe so".



Whacko! Interesting concept. Sleeping on the ($900) tent. Strange way to avoid internal condensation? Hey big spender?

I'm too busy watching this bloke https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yesqy-8gIYY
or this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSLe_gq2tno

[Bubbalouie]

That video is great, so relaxing, I also love the way he uses the ambient sounds to make it more... immersive. Thanks for sharing.

Sleeping on top of a cuben tent does seem odd, the 0.5oz stuff isn't known for its abrasion resistance.

Whilst I'd say the jury is still out, I did see this today:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ultralight/comments/c9wr3t


Personally I'll not be rushing out to buy one of these until they've been out for at least a year. I am seeing reports of higher failure rates than the xlite and xtherm from people that I expect would know know how to care for their gear (xlite owners for example). It may be a sampling problem, a short term manufacturing issue or a dodgy batch, either way it's enough to give me pause.