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Reddit Reviews
BortEdwardsGreat summary! FWIW my (particularly specific) alternate take on sizing is: having a Neoair Xtherm revolutionized my experience on the trail thanks to a proper nights sleep (including on snow) - HOWEVER my first one was standard width, and my brain never fully shook the underlaying feeling that I was about to roll off (obligate side sleeper, so always a degree of instability). I did use my pack to my back to help ease this, but very suboptimal, especially in a small or shared tent. Getting the wide version was the final peg in giving me a warm stress free sleep - the increased weight was negligible for me in this case. Of course everyone’s mileage will vary wildly, but sometimes it’s the myriad little things that make the difference - I always recommend trying to find a friend or rental you can try your top 2-3 options in the field before sinking the dough :)
Chugachrev5000Consider the Therma rest Xtherm NXT wide. Fantastic pad. Plenty of R for cold weather. Half the weight of those Exped options.
imfromstankoniaMy Thermarest xtherm NXT Max is still going strong after 8 years and I sleep like a baby on it despite being quite noisy
Interesting-Month-97The neoair nxt xtherm or xlite? If it’s not the xtherm or xtherm max 100% dead. If it is probably dead. You are at the max of that system with little wind protection. Best case scenario you are very cold all night. If the temps drop 5-10° below which is possible in the mountains then you are putting yourself in a lot of danger.
StielgranateThermarest neo air xtherm max
moldy-scrotum-soupI never bought the standard narrow ones, I would probably be constantly rolling off of it. I even got the max version of the termarest which has a rectangle cut instead of the mummy cut because I feel like it would be too tippy otherwise. Being exclusively a side sleeper.
FieldUpbeat2174Short pads are widely praised by on r/ultralight. I’ve been combining a full-length thin inflatable (NeoAir X-Term, like it) with a GG torso foam. Put your empty pack or sit pad or whatever under your feet and it works fine.
mgdln_mgdlnI had both. Initially had Xtherm, sold it for Nemo and went to RW Xtherm. Xtherm is definitely warmer and more reliable - it has 70D bottom and there is something about the technology that just make it more warm pad than Nemo. Many people report that Nemo is sleeps colder than it should be and I am one of them. Jupiter Hikes states that the Mylar layers are sticking/freezing together in the Nemo pad so you need to pat it a little bit. I took my Nemo to -5 degrees which is something it should handle pretty well but I was cold and I am a cold sleeper like you. Comfort - do you prefer hard bed or you sleep well in extra soft hotel mattresses? I prefer hard bed so Xtherm is more comfortable for me, but more people prefer Nemo. To me it felt like I was sinking into the mattress and I am not a heavy person (65kg for reference). If you are a side sleeper, consider switching to regular wide version as it has extra space for your knees. It weights more but hey, if you can get a better rest, you can walk more milage easily so it’s worth for me
I had both. Initially had Xtherm, sold it for Nemo and went to RW Xtherm. Xtherm is definitely warmer and more reliable - it has 70D bottom and there is something about the technology that just make it more warm pad than Nemo. Many people report that Nemo is sleeps colder than it should be and I am one of them. Jupiter Hikes states that the Mylar layers are sticking/freezing together in the Nemo pad so you need to pat it a little bit. I took my Nemo to -5 degrees which is something it should handle pretty well but I was cold and I am a cold sleeper like you. Comfort - do you prefer hard bed or you sleep well in extra soft hotel mattresses? I prefer hard bed so Xtherm is more comfortable for me, but more people prefer Nemo. To me it felt like I was sinking into the mattress and I am not a heavy person (65kg for reference). If you are a side sleeper, consider switching to regular wide version as it has extra space for your knees. It weights more but hey, if you can get a better rest, you can walk more milage easily so it’s worth for me
Xlite has only 30D bottom so it’s less durable. How much of an actual difference there is between 30D and 70D fabric is beyond my knowledge but the more durable the better I guess. Nemo is less noisy but I wound not call my Xtherm a noisy pad. These winter pads that use some kind of Mylar or reflective films will always be noisy to some degree but I find it okay
Rankings by Use Case
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Therm-a-Rest - NeoAir Xtherm Series
