Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Sleeping Mat

[Ent]

Um? Good thread if somewhat brutely honest. How tough is tough and how much care is needed with a Neo Air? I have a Exped and Therma-rest Prolite and found that the Exped is a monster to blow up and get the valves to seal but once the arguement has been had It works a treat. The Prolite is fuss free. I was hoping that the Neo Air would be as fuss free. Sounds a bit like the membrame not been as air tight as needed and like a rubber balloon slowly loses air all over. Will be watching long term users' reports as the Neo Air is extremely expensive and hope it is not like the problems people experienced with the Exped Therma-rest.

Cheers Brett

[Franco]

jez
I have the same problem with the Exped DM 7. Cannot find the holes but they are there alright...
(I have tried the bathtub soapy water thingo 3 times already...)
Franco

[north-north-west]

Hmmm, methinks me shall be sticking to me's Prolite for a while . . .

[Franco]

No, I suspect my cat...

[north-north-west]

You should never have let her pack the gear for you.

[flatfoot]

hmmm .... i'm waiting for a new NeoAir Regular to arrive from the states. I'm wondering if I should sell the NeoAir and buy an Exped Downmat or a ThermaRest Prolite Plus instead ... ?

[nickL]

guys

i love my neo air - very comfy,warm enf for sth australia, very light

it does suck blowing it up but i do it as soon as i get into camp and then have another go before i hit the sack

so far no holes - but i geuss if you set up in a field of prickles any mat will get damaged

so far for probably 20 nights of sleeping i have been happy enf to never look at another mat that way

cheers

nick

[Lindsay]

I have ordered a regular neo-air from campsavers in the US this morning. On special it cost $A192.43 including postage and 'free' stuff sack, as opposed to the price of around $329 in Pallins. Still expensive, however it is getting mostly positive reviews and I think its worth taking a risk on.

[flatfoot]

There are also other good deals around

[Lindsay]

There are also other good deals around

I should check the forum more thoroughly!

[flatfoot]

There are also other good deals around

I should check the forum more thoroughly!

That's free-market competition in action ... I dropped my price! I'd really prefer it if my prices were subject to inflation rather than deflation

[Nuts]

Wow, that Is quick, it hasnt arrived flatfoot and your selling?? (Your not a Libran are you? )
flatfoot. None of these mats last forever. I have mentioned this before but really, they dont. In 'everyday' use they are lucky to last a summer. Thermarest, Exped (those are different companies Brett), all models, at least all the common mats that iv'e seen. Never seen a stand out amongst them, even the self inflaters have a limited lifespan (in general). Some individual mats last longer but all brands/models of inflatable mat have the quandry of trying to keep air in when they Want to let it out. Its only a matter of time. For this reason alone I currently think that the Neo has the advantage. It is thick enough to provide the comfort though light and compact enough to allow you to also consider carrying a second (closed cell) mat (these dont deflate )

[flatfoot]

I've got the mat now. I decided that the NeoAir was not the best choice for me. I'm looking for something that will be warmer at zero degrees. I think the NeoAir is more suitable for warm conditions. It's also a good choice if weight is the key factor.

[Nuts]

If weight isnt an issue the exped mats, synmat and downmat provide the same comfort and more warmth.
Ive used these and the neo (with a cs mat under) well below zero. (The symat is well warm enough from the exped range) Other mats (ie self inflating), as you likely know, have a similar r value but obviously less comfort. None appear much more reliable than each other long term though the expeds do have the 'thicker fabric' factor inbuilt without need for protection (though I would recommend the mat covers just the same, despite claims, being damp is not good for them).

[Tony]

Hi Flatfoot,

I've got the mat now. I decided that the NeoAir was not the best choice for me. I'm looking for something that will be warmer at zero degrees. I think the NeoAir is more suitable for warm conditions. It's also a good choice if weight is the key factor.

This mat by Mont might interest you http://www.mont.com.au/index/catalog/product/454545 I saw one the other day when in the Mont shop here in Canberra, it looked good and is rated for -10C, its weight is 680g, I think the cost was $189.


Tony

[Nuts]

Hiya Tony, (hope all is well..) I see you mention this mat a few weeks back, does look interesting. I wonder how the insulation handles moisture, assume its 'by mouth' inflation?
Been having some sleeping mat 'woes', they are something that takes a little faith, for those that have been 'let down' a cold night can test it!

[Tony]

Hi Nuts,

Hiya Tony, (hope all is well..) I see you mention this mat a few weeks back, does look interesting. I wonder how the insulation handles moisture, assume its 'by mouth' inflation?
Been having some sleeping mat 'woes', they are something that takes a little faith, for those that have been 'let down' a cold night can test it!

Thanks for your enquiry, things are a bit tough at the moment but as I keep telling myself that many men go through what I am going through and I am determined to keep positive. I have just finished reading a book by Lance Armstrong about his battle with cancer mkes me realise that I am one of the lucky ones and do not have much to complain about. I am currently reading a book about a recent trip to the North Pole "To the end of the earth" by Tom Avery, -40C was a good day.

I am thinking about getting the Mont pad but for now I am getting a Neoair regular to try for 3 season use, this will be arriving next week. I recently tried using a 230g prolite xs, but it was too small and I found myself slipping off it a lot, for winter snow I use a Prolite 4 with a closed cell mat, this works very well, I am hoping to get up to the snow at least onece this winter.

Tony

[flatfoot]

Hi Flatfoot,

I've got the mat now. I decided that the NeoAir was not the best choice for me. I'm looking for something that will be warmer at zero degrees. I think the NeoAir is more suitable for warm conditions. It's also a good choice if weight is the key factor.

This mat by Mont might interest you http://www.mont.com.au/index/catalog/product/454545 I saw one the other day when in the Mont shop here in Canberra, it looked good and is rated for -10C, its weight is 680g, I think the cost was $189.
Tony

Hi Tony, Thanks for the tip. It looks like a great mat, however my preference is either a self-inflating mat or one with a built-in pump like the Exped Downmat. I don't mind a little extra weight.

[Ent]

Thermarest, Exped (those are different companies Brett),

Yes they are, did I confuse the two? I have both and so far so good though Pro-lite gets the nod and in the XL sizing the Neo is not that much lighter while being warmer and easier to inflate. More tempting is the small packing size of the NeoAir.

Cheers Brett

[sthughes]

I've had a Neo Air regular for about 5 months now and am very happy with it.

Probably spent 20 nights on it and have had no slow deflation issues (even leaving it inflated for several nights over easter while car camping).

I don't treat it with any extra care, although I never use my Prolite outside on rocks either. 19 breaths to inflate tightly, very comfy, packs up small, not noisy and I've been happily warm down to 0.8 degrees on wet ground.

If you are the sort of person that likes to sit on something around camp then a cut down blue mat works a treat and wont puncture - ever!

If I really were to nit pick then the only thing to be slightly annoying is the way the valve pokes out the side when the mat is rolled up. I just wonder if this might cause the mat to be weakened around the base of the valve over time. Maybe.

Question is: Will I ever use my prolite 4 again? Even if planning to camp on snow I might just take my slightly bigger bit of blue mat and put it under the Neo, I reckon that would do it for me.

[syd]

5 star rating from me.
I'd given up on my 3/4 length self-inflating sleep map & was looking for a full length (but light) alternative. The sales guy showed me the neoair - and after a bit of deliberation I bought it. Went on a 4 day hike in the blue mountains last weekend. overnight lows of 2-3 C (but there were 3 of us squished into the tent so didn't get below 6-8 in there). I bought the Regular (410g) - which came up as lighter than some of the old rolled up foam mattresses we had. I'm 175cm, so the length of the regular (183cm) was heaps. 50cm width was adequate (but not generous). I did find that when I first went to bed, my hip and shoulder on the mattress were really bitingly cold, and I think it took a couple of hours for the air in the mattress to warm up. Might have been better if I had blown it up just before going to bed, rather than when we first set up the tent. After that I was toastie warm the rest of the night until the temps dropped to -1 and -2 at dawn. The air mattress was pushed up hard agains the tent wall, so might have got some heat/cold transfer going on that way. Plus - having splurged on the air mattress, I didn't have the cashola left over to get a subzero sleeping bag - I went with the +5 one I had, so that might have had something to do with it. It does take a bit of lung power - but lets face it, if you are fit enough to be going somewhere that you'll be using something like this - you should be able to inflate it no worries.

[sthughes]

Used mine on snow in sub-zero temps a couple of weeks back. Still excellent although I did put my windstopper under it just in case. Happy retirement prolite 4

[walkinTas]

I see it has an R value of just 2.5. I still carry my Therm-a-rest Toughskin. It has an R value or 5.2. The down side it the 1140g. I'd have traded up already except I haven't found anything better - just lighter.

[Nuts]

Now used it a couple of times also in cold weather (-6/7) Definitely found that the extra closed cell foam is needed. Also agree that it works better (especially for initial warmth) with the extra foam on top of the mattress.

[ninjapuppet]

Hi Nuts,

which type of foam mattress are you using?
I'm looking at pairng my neoair with either a z-lite or a ridgerest, or just to go straight for an exped downmat. From your comments earlier however, it seems better to go the closed cell. Maybe one of those evazote pads, or even a $10 cheapie will do?

[Nuts]

Just the thin black stuff (2mm?) at the moment. I'd say any colder than -5 and thicker would be better though they do start to get bulky. The old style foam would be nice and warm though probably not necessary most of the time. The Z lite mats are good but same story. Wouldnt bother with the exped mats personally.

[Jellybean]

Ninjapuppet,

I just use a thin evazote pad with my Neo - works a treat (haven't had it below 0 degrees with that combo yet, but it's certainly fine to 0-1 degress and I'm a cold sleeper (I've only used the pad underneath my Neo to date, might try the pad on top when I hit sub zero temp's).

Just the thin black stuff (2mm?) at the moment. I'd say any colder than -5 and thicker would be better though they do start to get bulky. The old style foam would be nice and warm though probably not necessary most of the time. The Z lite mats are good but same story. Wouldnt bother with the exped mats personally.

Nuts, why aren't you a fan of the exped mats? (From previous posts I take it you've used them alot when guiding?). Thanks.


Cheers,

JB

[Nuts]

Hi Jelly bean,

I wasnt going to bring it up (but you did ask)....
The pinholing has been mentioned previously?
Here's the other problem (and please, this may take a long time to happen in general use so i dont want to panic anyone. also just to mention that the Aust distributor has been more than helpful) (ive also sold a few and if this happens in the next 12mths just let me know):

[Nuts]

[photohiker]

I've heard you can do that to a NeoAir by blowing it up and leaving it inside the tent in the sun on a warm day.

How did these happen Nuts?