Therm-a-Rest - NeoAir XTherm NXT MAX Sleeping Pad

Personally (I’m in my 40s and a side sleeper) an Xtherm or Xlite is one of my favorite purchases. But everyone has different needs. I’m a fan of not buying new things until you actually need them. Or you are sure that your goals will outgrow your gear. A cheap inflatable is definitely not worth it.

If you have something you’re happy with, decline to participate in outdoor culture’s fascination with over consumption. That said, getting an expensive XTherm pad completely changed the range of temps I’m stoked to be out in.

It depends on your conditions. I have a full length Xtherm for 40f nights but the half sized Xlite (now discontinued?) for 60f nights. It’s great, good weight savings. Sometimes put my backpack under my feet, but generally I’m not that fussy.

The Xtherm was a total game changer for me. The warmth from the reflective technology makes a huuuge difference

Thermarest Xtherm for me.

15F frequently or “just in case”? This is my set up: Xtherm Thermarest, 0F Enlightened Equipment Enigma (bought in 2021, I’ve heard their quality is decreasing), 90gsm alpha fleece sleeping layer. SMD’s Gatewood Cape , which offers minimal heat trapping. I feel good to 20F. I’d be uncomfortable but ok at 15F. If my tarp isn’t cutting the wind well enough, I’ll also sleep in my rain layers. There’s no one “true”/“best” way. It’s going to depend on your body, your baselayers and how much comfort you want. Alpha fleece is incredible, but only if you take care of it and have a wind layer. 850 or better down is going to be a good thing to look at. Lighter materials need more care/are more fragile. Thicker material on a sleeping bag will also cut wind better, but be heavier. Managing sweat and condensation is also going to be a big part of being warm. https://preview.redd.it/ql5u7bcm7b6f1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3447a515da55f7c7c722dd870512568afebd5473

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xtherm NXT MAX in size L https://preview.redd.it/adrxi4ds933f1.jpeg?width=1500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3a380cabe37f19451709b6d8c96159f859ecbdf4

Holy shit!

It's 250€ in Europe

What is your start date? I used a Thermarest xtherm and was warm and comfy. YMMV.

Therm a rest neo air xtherm long/wide works great for me.

I used two inflatable sleeping pads during my 2024 NOBO AT thru. My Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT MAX during colder weather and the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Venture for warmer months. I never used a pad underneath, but if I was not laying on the pad inside my tent or shelter I would put my Tyvek tent footprint underneath for protection. The shelters always seemed pretty smooth, but I would always check the area before putting my pad down. I only slept in shelters for no more than 10 nights. Was mostly in my tent. My venture ended up getting a small leak which was small enough I was able to use until I got my xtherm sent back to me in Vermont. The leak seemed to be in the valve. Haven’t really tried to fix it yet, but seems like it could be a tough fix. My xtherm was a beast and is still working very well today. Overall I would say no extra pad is needed, but would recommend a tent footprint if laying the pad somewhere on the ground or other place that may be risky. Also, would bring something to patch up a hole. If you’re in a tent or shelter the inflatables hold up well from my experience. Best of luck!!

It depends on specifics. Three season is easy, winter season is another 60 degrees difference. Alaska winter gets to -30, Phoenix winter stay in the 20's (but hits +120 in summer). Two quilts, usually works (20/30+40/50). The tensor or xlite is probably good enough, the xtherm sucks in hot summer. I got an xtherm reg.wide max and used it 5 times, thinking the same thing as you, and swapped out. If you wanna buy it though, it's like new and I'd sell it for $160 shipped.

Late last summer I bought a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT MAX Sleeping Pad for shoulder hikes in the same areas as you’re planning. Very happy and warm on a late Sept hike into Assiniboine last year with sub-zero C temps overnight, snow etc. A little heavy for UL purists maybe, but worth it for the comfort and warmth in my opinion. Also outside your budget slightly, but it might allow you to continue with your current bag for much of the season if you otherwise find it not quite warm enough with a colder sleeping pad.

I've used a Thermarest NeoAir XTherm sleeping pad, wide version, for a few years. No puncture issues, I think it had an R value of 5.7 at the time, now i see current models are 7.3. Weight is around 1 lb, and packs easily and compactly on the bike. The ground gets cold at high elevations, even down in the desert, don't skimp with this layer. I'm using an Enlightened Equipment 10 degree down quilt. My main tent is the BA Copper Spur 2-person tent, around 2.5 lbs. I leave the stuff sack at home, just stuff the tent and fly at the bottom of a pannier. Poles get stashed on top of my rack or in my harness at the handlebars. These are the normal poles, not the bikepacking version. I also have a first gen. Durston Xmid 1-person, but have yet to try it. I also bought his carbon fiber tent pole because who takes trekking poles bikepacking? None of these were purchased at full-price, thankfully.

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm MAX, which is perfect for cold weather, has an R-value of 6.9 and provides excellent warmth.

How are you defining "often"? Mine got a (very slow) puncture once in the 10 weeks I was on the trail for and I got a replacement sent to the next town without issue. I can't say it took a lot of babying either - it took a few seconds to move sharp stones etc out from under the tent each night (and I didn't have anything underneath it to protect it).  If you're happy to lie on foam then I'm certainly not criticising it, but training your body to get "used to it" seems pretty unnecessary. I'm significantly more comfortable on a good inflatable mattress than foam. 

Well that's a ridiculous calculation as one single event (for a pad that had already been well used beforehand) can't possibly be extrapolated like that. You've ignored the question - what is your definition of "often"? I know I certainly didn't meet a single person who mentioned they had often had issues with their pad, or that they regret having it.  As you say, HYOH. If you find spending a couple of minutes rolling up a pad particularly arduous I'm not going to argue - I was disputing your claim that there are so many issues with them that even people who prefer them should train their body to like sleeping on foam.  Obviously the tent floor is below the pad - I was talking about having an additional mat/sheet underneath it for protection. Which I'm sure you fully understood given you're one of the people suggesting it! 

Ha, same. Started with the 'ol cheapo Klymit Static V, moved to the small mummy Therm-a-Rest XLite NeoAir for a couple years, then figured I'd get a wide to see if that helped with side sleep comfort so my butt and knees weren't off the edges (& went extra warm because may as well eliminate redundancies) with the Therm-a-Rest XTherm in reg wide. No dice. Tried a friend's Nemo Tensor, and wasn't for me. Tried the large women's Sea to Summit Comfort Light Insulated air - dimples felt odd and was too thin; no better than my old mummy xlite for overall comfort even with the wider shape. Running out of budget to throw in for the S2S Ether Light XT test and given my experience with the Comfort Light, wasn't convinced it was the move. Still haven't tried vertical baffles like the Expeds, and maybe that'd do fine, but instead just went all in on the reg wide chonky Neoloft... and good god. With that soft knit stretch top, slept a like the coziest dreamy log for 8.5 hours first time I took it out (and then 6 the next, but only thanks to a disruptive woodpecker. Nature!) I hesitate to mention/recommend it here as it kinda undermines the whole forum topic (ultralight) with its extremely-not-ultralight weight. But packs just as small as my reg-wide XTherm and as a bike camper, pack size matters more than strictly weight so I'm sticking with it.