NeoAir XTherm (OG Version)
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Thermarest Neoair Xtherm or Xlite are my picks.
Exped megamat for car camping, thermarest neoair for backpacking
Great 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 :)
For comfort alone i could not do that. Some can. Not me. A comfortable place to sleep is THE biggest luxury on the trail. It’s important to be comfortable. I took a neoAir torso length and a torso length GG evazote 1/8 inch to go under it for more warmth, but mainly protection for the neo air and a something to lay or sit on during breaks. It’s really nice to have a foam pad for laying down on during breaks!!! When you don’t want to inflate your air mattress. It was a nice UL dual pad setup, with my food bag and backpack under my lower legs. I still got a couple holes in my air pad, so having the foam pad helped when i had a slow leak that i had trouble locating for a few days until i had access to a pool of water to put it underwater in to look for the bubbles from the pin hole puncture! I patched it and was good. I now use the neo air winter / 5.7 r / 4 season full length pad and love it! No punctures, even on some sketchy rocky ridge bivy setups.
Xtherm is worth it 100%
I don’t do extended distances anymore so I would probably keep my x-gold and Nemo inflatable for comfort. I mean I do after all want to be able to get up in the morning and hike. LOL
I switched from the Xtherm to the Tensor All-Season last year and found the vertical baffles much better for side sleeping. The weight penalty is minimal for the comfort gain, though the Xtherm is definitely warmer if you're consistently in sub-freezing temps.
For what it's worth, I've had a Xtherm for years and it's the most durable inflatable pad I've owned. No leaks so far
It's pretty hard to beat the Thermarest NeoAir XTherm for weight-to-insulation ratio. It is a little crinkly when you move, but you can feel your bodyheat being reflected back towards you on cold nights. Looks like REI has it on sale in the reg-wide size for $155 right now as well.
Rankings by Use Case
Top recommendations from others in the same boat
Best for Back pain relief

Top pick
Exped - MegaMat Series
Best for Couples

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Exped - MegaMat Series
Best for Maximum comfort car camping

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Exped - MegaMat Series
Best for Side sleepers

Top pick
Exped - MegaMat Series
Best for Winter camping

Top pick
Therm-a-Rest - NeoAir Xtherm Series





