Therm-a-Rest - NeoLoft™ Sleeping Pad

Thermarest neoloft wide, it’s a bit on the heavier side but is the most comfortable pad I’ve ever used. I carry light weight gear for most items so I can splurge a bit on the really important items.  26” wide 4.7 R value 

I recently bought a Neoloft and I agree it is the most comfortable pad I’ve ever used( and I’ve tried a bunch of them). Have you tried flipping your Neoloft over and sleeping on what is the bottom? I’ve found it seems warmer that way and am trying to find any other Neoloft users who would try this and see if they notice any difference.

Oooh how does the regular size fit your body? Since it has the raised sides would putting two side by side not be comfortable? Hubs and I like to snuggle. But when I saw this at the store and laid on it, it felt soooooo comfy

thermarest neoloft 🙏🙏

I know its not exactly ultralight, but you ranked comfort first so i suggest you take a look at the new thermarest NeoLoft. Just released. I guess it has the best comfort/weight ratio while weighing 850 gramms, but for me, the 400 extra gramms are worth the best sleep ever

I have tried the tensor / helix / ether lite / neo air X lite. A couple I’m forgetting. For me as a side sleeper the neoloft is far and away the most comfortable pad I have ever slept on. No more waking in the night with asleep / sore shoulders. I sleep through the night more often then Not. It’s a bit bigger and heavier than other pads, but man the sleep quality is worth it for me.

I am fortunate enough to have both the mega mat and the new Neoloft I’ll skip to the end and tell you that the megamat wins-that layer of foam right under the surface combine with its thickness is just unbeatable, and it is darn close to a real bed. But I have the Neo loft because it’s really comfortable, it does have a bit more give, and isn’t so supportive in some places as the mega mat. But it rolls up into a very small role that I can throw into my pack, or check on an airplane or whatever. I have back problems and can sleep perfectly well on both pads, but the mega mat is just a bit more comfortable and supportive. But it’s absolutely huge.

Ooh wait! The new Neo Loft in Large would be real nice. https://www.rei.com/product/241039/therm-a-rest-neoloft-sleeping-pad

The neoloft is a game changer!!! Absolutely worth the extra weight.

Hey! I have the Neoloft in regular wide. I haven't been able to test it out in the wild quite yet but initial impressions (testing at home) are great. It's absolutely the most comfortable sleeping pad I've ever tried and, personally, I liked it more than the BA Rapide. It is a bit larger than other pads but it still packs down pretty small and I think the size penalty is worth the comfort.

Thermarest NeoLoft. Packs down to a little larger than a Nalgene. Way less “bounce” than other backpacking air mattresses. You might be able to demo at an REI if there are any near you. (Your user name suggests Australia in which case I don’t know what brands are available.) Compare this one to the Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe. Both are pricey and I haven’t heard first person reviews on the Campmeister yet but it seems pretty excellent for comfort + warmth. For a budget Big Agnes, see if you can find the Boundary Deluxe at a discount somewhere. It’s similar to the Campmeister (which seems to have replaced it) and the quilted baffles are key for no bounce (compared to the cheaper Big Agnes Divide, which is bouncy). And yes Exped is amazing but too big for your motorcycle.

Nemo Tensor, Kilos Gear AeroCloud Elite, Big Agnes Rapide SL, Thermarest NeoLoft. The Sea To Summit Etherlight XT is also comfortable but heavy and bulky for a backpacking pad.

For car camping, an Exped MegaMat. REI Camp Dreamer and there is one Amazon by LostHorizon. They all are all self inflating and combine memory foam with air. Backpacking, the new Thermarest Neoloft, Big Agnes Rapide of Kilos Aero Cloud pad. You can also try a mattress topper and/or closed cell foam mattress over what you have now.

Therm-a-rest neoloft. I’m a side sleeper and it is awesome!

6'3" 390lbs, in my mid 30's and have had two herniated discs for the last 22 years. I injured my back the same year I started really backpacking so sleeping pads are something I've always had to pay close attention to if I want to be able to walk the next morning. I just received a Thermarest NeoLoft a couple days ago for my birthday and had a chance to blow it up yesterday. Haven't camped with it yet but I passed out within a couple minutes of laying it down in the living room. I tried my back, side, and stomach and was loving it. This is at least my 5th pad in 20+ years. My second fully inflatable (is that what we're calling them?) after multiple self inflating models. It's by far the comfiest and thickest, while somehow also being the lightest and smallest I've owned when rolled up.

I'd say it's at the very least quieter than my Big Agnes that I used most recently. In all honesty at 390lbs every thing is noisy when I toss and turn, but I wouldn't say it's extra noisy or anything. As far as better than self inflating, I'd say yes by a large margin. That being said, I've also got to admit the last self inflating pad I regularly used was probably 10 years ago. I'd assume tech has come a long way since my last self inflating pad but I don't know for sure. I never had one that would ever keep me completely off the ground the entire night. there were always high and low spots and not much insulation back then. If you do go that route at the very least I'd try to find the thickest pad in your budget. Also on noise, maybe a pad cover like the Thermarest Synergy may help as well. I'm looking into that as a little extra protection from dog claws but I'm sure it would dampen noise too.

Another vote for this. If you were my customer, that’s what I would first have you try! Also - thermarest makes straps that will keep two sleeping pads together. [Here’s the link for that.](https://cascadedesigns.com/products/universal-couple-kit)

It's super comfortable. I have even used it instead of a regular air mattress when I slept on the floor at my sister's apartment. The stretch fabric on top is killer 👌 If you have more than one of them in a tent though you just need to measure, because they're pretty wide, which is nice for sleeping but can get snug in a tent.

Sorry, just seeing this! I have the wide :)

The neoloft has changed my backpacking sleep to that of car camping comfort levels. I dont see myself buying a new pad anytime soon while this thing holds air.

ThermaRest NeoLoft is the deepest, most plush backpacking sleeping pad on the market right now. It's heavier than almost everything else suggested below, but may be worth a look for you.

I tried the new thermarest neoloft at an REI and I was impressed at comfort. Not real world (would want to be sure temp ratings are good), and I’m currently a happy hammocker, but looking at some western us thru’s where the convenience of ground sleeping may change me up- this pad is definitely best comfort I’ve tried.

It’s 100% not ultralight…. But sciatica and other back problems meant 2025 is becoming the year I say fuck it and pack out a ThermaRest Neoloft.  Yeah it’s heavy. But oh my goodness is it comfy. 

I actually just picked it up for campground camping etc. I tried it out in my living room when it came on Fridays and it’s hella comfy. But it’s heavy af and bulky to boot. It’s definitely bigger than my beloved Nalgene. I’d say it would potentially be packable for the backcountry if someone was willing to sacrifice weight and space elsewhere. TBD!

Thermarest NeoLoft. Of course budget and availability need to be factored in, but if you can swing it this thing is like sleeping on a cloud. I'm a side sleeper and have problems falling/staying asleep in my own bed let alone a tent. Laying on the NeoLoft knocks me right out and I don't wake up with sore hips and shoulders. It's not the lightest or most compact and it certainly isn't cheap, but it has been so worth it for me to enjoy camping and backpacking. It's sub-2lb, plenty warm for most reasonable temperatures and isn't as bulky as you'd think.

I tried that pad at rei and it threw a serious monkey wrench in my plans. It’s so comfy for not much of a trade off for weight. Did you get it yet? What size tent are you using? As much as I want to get one, I’m not sure how much room it will take up volume wise in my two person tent. It’s really just my dog and I, so I dont want to take up too much of his room, he does like to get snuggly.

I tried one out at REI and it is awesome. It’s quiet and super comfortable, it also pack down relatively small. They are about a pound and a half, a little more for the wide version. Might be a bit heavy for UL backpackers, I would sacrifice the weight for comfort since I’m not in my 20s anymore.

I’m pretty UL with most of my kit, but my sleeping pad is not one of those things. And I have a neoloft. Best pad I’ve ever known, rivals my exped Megmat in comfort. Absolutely worth the weight. 

I’ve had problems with pads of all kinds. Switched to a wide neoloft. Definitely not ultralight, but I don’t care. Having a good night’s sleep is more important/useful to me than shaving even more weight outta my pack. FWIW I’m ok the lower end of lightweight (my base weight in the Rockies is 13lbs)

Thermarest NeoLoft is the thickest backpacking pad--comparable in size and comfort to a car camping pad. Big Agnes Rapide SL is plush. Neither is "ultra" light, but they are both legit backpacking pads that emphasize comfort. But I also generally use a hammock due to a fussy back.

I just picked it up and layed side by side on the rapide sl and the neoloft. Honestly, the rapide is still super impressive. If you like firmer mattresses I might say the rapide sl still wins. However if you like a softer mattress the neoloft is pretty amazing and would say it's more comfortable. It's definitely a contender for most comfortable. The stretch nit fabric is def better in every way compared to the plasticky nylon. Definitely glad I have it but if you expecting other worldly comfort compared to the rapide sl you might be slightly dissapointed.

I'm 3 inches shorter and 20 LBS heavier. Also a side sleeper. I finally bit the bullet and bought a Therm-a-rest NeoLoft large sleeping pad. 78x26x4.6 inches. Best $250 I have ever spent for back/bikepacking. I'm in my mid 50's and the size/weight penalty is negligible for me. As I've aged I have been slowly decreasing the number of consecutive nights out because of poor sleep. Just did 5 nights out and 4/5 nights were as close to home sleep as I've ever had. Beyond worth it. I plan on tripling the number of nights I spend out this summer.

J'ai aussi un Xtherm et viens de faire l'achat du Néoloft...je ne sais pas si cela vaut la différence vs mon Topo...je le préfère ferme !

I just recently tested this one out at REI. It is EXTREMELY comfortable for how light it is. And it packs down to a little bit bigger than a nalgene. I'm definitely going to purchase this for backpacking once I have the money for it.

Lots of options if you're okay losing the self-inflating aspect. Thermarest Neoloft or Topo Luxe are two that immediately come to mind. Big Agnes Rapide SL is 3.75"

Look into the thermarest neoloft. The sleep side material is intentionally quiet and soft, the twisting “out” valve allows for precise control when releasing air, and it’s a competitive weight to most other inflatable options out there. I demo’d it at a brand rep’s camp out last month and it was hands down the best night of sleep I’ve had in a tent.

Insanely comfortable (and quiet) pad. But a tiny bit on the heavy side, and a bit bulky. Not for those looking to shave weight. But not bad at all for what you get. If one wants comfort, the Neoloft is like none other.

Have you tried lying on the new Therm-a-rest NeoLoft? This thing is amazing. A bit big and bulky to backpack with (though not compared to years ago), but built for absolute comfort. [Link here. ](https://www.rei.com/product/241039/therm-a-rest-neoloft-sleeping-pad)

[Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft. ](https://www.rei.com/product/241039/therm-a-rest-neoloft-sleeping-pad) Nothing else comes close to being as comfortable and (barely) backpackable.

I'd highly recommend the Thermarest Neoloft if you get shitty sleep. It is by far the most comfortable sleeping pad on the market aside from those memory foam self-inflating pads like the mega mat. It is a bit heavier at 25 oz for the regular, but has a 4.7 R-value. The wide version has truly vertical walls and each size is an inch or two wider than all most other pads and you get. You can actually use the entire width, unlike Neoair pads, because the sides don't collapse, and they are slightly raised to keep your elbows off the ground. So, if you normally use a wide version, you might be able to get away with a regular. I justify the extra weight because I usually carry an extra foam pad to put under my old Exped Synmat, for higher r-value and to protect from punctures. But the weight of the Neoloft is less than that combination, more durable on the bottom with thicker fabric, and feels like sleeping on a normal mattress. Also, if you normally take a sheet or layer to put between you and the pad for comfort, you can leave that home too because the Neoloft has a tufted stretchy felt feeling top which will keep your back from feeling sweaty. It's also great for side sleepers because it's the thickest backpacking pad on the market and has a stretchy top fabric. Sorry for the ramble, I get excited over gear that I love. But if you actually want to get a good night's sleep and can bare the extra few ounces, it's the clear winner.

Sea To Summit Ether Light XR (XT is the old model, definitely go for the XR it's lighter, warmer and pack smaller) is a great all-rounder, one of the best actually when it comes to comfort-weigh-pack size ratio. Other good all-rounders are REI Helix and Zenbivy Ultralight Mattress, both of these has very similar comfort but are slightly heavier. If you seek ultimate comfort there would be there competitors: Zenbivy Flex Air Mattress, ThermaRest NeoLoft and Exped MegaMat Ultra. Each of these are basically best of the class, which one would be the best comes down to personal preferences as each of them using different baffle construction.

Just tested this for 8 nights in a tent, was fantastic! I don’t have the wide but I am smaller and it works fine for me. The most comfortable sleeping pad I have tried so far. It isn’t loud either but did not have to toss and turn because it was so comfy. Easy to inflate too. I have used a Nemo Tensor and X therm in the past. Super happy with it!

I ended up buying! Not tried in the field and I didn’t buy the wide. It does seem great but won’t know until that first trip in the tent!

They might do better with the Campmeister (TBD first-hand reviews) for a 'year round' deluxe comfort pad if they can handle the weight & pack size with it's r-value of 7. I can say that I've never experienced a more comfortable pad than the Neoloft (though have only tested indoors) and it's surprising how decently sized it is when packed up (slightly shorter than my reg-wide Xtherm), but there have been a number of reviews suggesting it sleeps colder than its stated R-value (can't speak to that first hand, but REI has a few people saying it was 35F and they were chilly despite the stated 4.7 r value.) Nemo Quasar Insulated only has an r-value in the 3's (a friend has it and loves it for comfort but even in late spring they were a bit chilly.)

What were the temps like where you were camping? I saw one recent REI review where they said they felt it slept colder than the stated R-value. So far I've only tested mine by sleeping indoors when staying with family over the holidays - definitely the most comfortable plush air mattress I've tried (feeling it'll be worth the hefty extra grams for bikepacking this year!) Even with deflating it for extra squish, there's no bouncing around (and certainly no bottoming out) when turning over - no sense of your head getting shoved up when your hip displaces air - the soft stretch top really does a lot to mitigate any balloon feeling. Silent and soft! Have the reg-wide and it packs smaller than my Thermarest XTherm reg-wide, and shorter (but wider in circumference) than my women's large Sea to Summit Comfort Light. Though at 845g, heavier than both. Also found it easy to inflate (took about 5 bags worth of pump-sack air) and deflate/pack up. Now to find ways to save grams in the rest of my gear :D.

We bought these this year and they are fantastic. I coupled mine with a packable cot on a canoe trip I just took and it was more comfortable than by bed at home.

The Neoloft is your answer. Many reviews say that it is the most comfortable (packable) sleeping pad they have ever tried. Get ine at REI and return it if you feel differently.

I was just hunting around for reviews and this comment came up. Don't know if you have tried the pad yourself yet, but I've got three nights on it so far in temperatures ranging from upper 30s to mid 40s and I have been cold on it every night. It wasn't freezing, but it was noticeably cool and feels like an accurate R-value would be significantly lower. I recently took my Uberlite (R-value 2.3) out on a backpacking trip that was colder than expected and got down to 25º. That night the pad felt a little colder than my nights on the Neoloft have been, but not by much. The Uberlite is like the opposite of the Neoloft, in that it has always felt like it's slept warmer than its R-value rating. I've taken that one to near-freezing and still felt fine on it. I got it at REI and intend to take it back.

Justin outdoors just made a video about the most comfortable backpacking sleeping pads! https://youtu.be/aa-wYHCf6Q8 If you are going down to the 30s, I would not recommend the rapide and the s2s. Both have reports of being cold close to freezing. 3.5R is kinda borderline enough insulation and all of those pads are said to sleep colder than their rating. The tensorlite all season is a great pad if you are concerned about weight. If you don't care about weight as much then I recommend the thermarest neoloft or the REI Helix In summary: Most lightweight/best all arounder: Nemo Tensorlite All season Most comfortable: Thermarest neoloft Best value: REI Helix Either way all of these pads are available to try out inflated at my REI so I recommend you do that and see which is most comfortable to you :)

Nice! I'm 4'24 And yeah the neoloft is insanely comfortable. It's like an ultralight version of the exped megamats.

I do like to sleep comfortably when backpacking, and have spent a lot of time trying to figure out what works best for me. I've tried many pads over the past decades, including these two, along with similar Exped sleeping pads like the Ultra, Versa, and Dura. I am primarily a side sleeper, so that informs some of my sleeping experience on these, and am 190cm and 95kg. Personally I was not able to sleep comfortably on the Exped MegaMat Lite, or its siblings (Dura/Versa/Ultra). A through-line in my testing of these is the vertical baffling: I regularly wake up and find my arm is numb. I think these might work better for me if I was primarily a back or chest sleeper; lots of people like them and recommend them. But in my adulthood I've probably maximum only got about two hours of sleep at a time on a design like these. I have only had to contact Exped for warranty once, and they ended up shipping me a new unit before I even had to send the old one back: top marks here in support. I just picked up the Therm-a-rest NeoLoft before the holidays and took it on two trips in Mt Hood National Forest. Maybe the most comfortable backpacking pad I've personally used recently, even if the large (long wide, 78x26) weighs 2lbs! When fully inflated it is 4.6" thick. One of the few pads I've slept more than six straight hours on, which is kind of how I prioritize pads. Not only comfortable, but has a soft-touch stretchy fabric which feels good against the skin (I tend to sleep with quilts rather than bags). The first night I did wake up to find my arm was numb, so curious if that was a one-off with a weird sleeping position... R-value is 4.7, so I haven't used it at all in the past 45 days because of the cold where I am. It looks like the REI exclusivity is now over in early 2025, and this can be picked up lots of different places. Honestly the thing I dislike the most is the valves; I just don't care for the old-style Therm-a-rest valves. Realizing your question was specifically about those two, I also wanted to recommend what I have found to be my most comfortable pads in recent years: 1. Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Extreme Insulated. This specific pad and its sibling, Ether Light XT Insulated, have been my primary pads the past four-ish years. They are 4" thick and the most comfortable pads I've used, probably tied with the NeoLoft. Never woken with my arm numb, and the only pad I've ever slept seven-plus hours straight-through. In the PNW I use the non-Extreme-variant in the warmer half of the year, and the Extreme-variant in the colder half. The stuff sack with the inflation aid built-in is the smartest I've seen. Extreme version has an r-value of 6.2, and the non-Extreme version r-value is 3.2. The Extreme has that spider-web looking Thermolite insulation, which in my mind is the most reliable winter/cold insulation; it doesn't crinkle and potentially fail like newer thin reflective films in other lighter pads (NEMO Tensor, Big Agnes Rapide, etc). On the flip side that makes the Extreme very heavy, more than 2lbs, and also packs down the biggest of any backpacking pad I've owned. 2. REI Helix. Been using this on-and-off for the past few seasons. One of the few pads that has me sleeping through the night. It is only 3" thick, but I have found the trick is to fully inflate: the dimples do a good jump of evening out my weight and not experiencing any arm numbness. The long wide is 1lb 13oz, and seems pretty sturdy compared to other REI-brand pads I've used in the past; no leaks yet... R-value of 4.9. I always wake up refreshed and feeling good on those mats, baring any environmental issues outside of the pad. I cannot recommend the NeoLoft in that way yet, but will continue to use and test it out in the near future with an additional foam pad underneath to make it safe for snow conditions (as the r-value stacks). And I don't think I will ever recommend an Exped pad for backpacking. Exped does make fantastic foam inflating car-camping pads though!

Grabbed it during the sale. Enjoyed it!

2 things here, time of year is key, the other is age. even late spring, in the uplands in the UK you can get hyperthermia pretty easily without decent ground insulation. You mention student, so i'm guessing circa 17-22. You should be able to sleep on a roll mat just fine at thatt age with, esp after a day's hard PT in the outdoors. For this if you want to save money, forget amazon entirely and look at an army foam matt, or a thermarest one if want to buy from a regular shop. Both will keep you alive and insulated in all weathers. As for airpads, they are a liability. I know i've had most brands over the years and the reality is there is no cutting corners. Sure can get a cheap one from amazon, say trekology one of the better one's but know it will fail, and its not a question of if, but when. Note a non insulated airpad, you will have a very very uncomforable night, as in freezing. I've been all over, all different terrains and super remote, a hard foam matt will never fail and you should always carry one, even if you have a top of the range airmat, because without one, if the airpad fails your screwed. As for air pads themselves. My advice is having tried all leading brands, save up and get a thermorest neoair (avoid uber) and go for a xtherm if wanting winter, and the normal(yellow) one if 3 season. yes they are expensive but if they fail (which out of all the matt's ive had over the years are the most reliable) the customer service is second to none, you will get a replacement. So you can buy x number of cheap pads without any ability to get a replacement a year down the road, but over the seasons it adds up. So best advice, is save up a little, make home brew to save money lol, and buy once, but buy quality. The other thing is sleeping bags, and again that becomes very costly. If your young and thus should be fit and thus your not worrying about every gram, look no further than uk ex military surplus stock for sleeping systems/bags. They will last, are well proven and just work.

Both times I’ve hiked the PCT my thermarests have popped in the desert . The first time it was an older thermarest that had already seen a bit of action . The second time it was early on in my hike and it was the one I’d replaced the previous one with! After that I went CCF pad and was absolutely fine with it. In many ways, I prefer it.

For a rainy bikepacking trip, definitely go for a lightweight, waterproof tent like MSR or Big Agnes. A synthetic sleeping bag and an inflatable sleeping pad like Therm-a-Rest will keep you dry and comfortable. You’ll be good to go with that setup!

The suggestion of a rental is a good idea if you currently aren’t interested in making this a hobby! If you are looking to buy, however, the foam Therm-o-Rest pads are the classic camping pad that everyone owns one of. They z-fold up into a rectangular stack and are relatively light and cheap. I’m 40 and need a little extra cushion on the trail these days, so I use an air mattress. Therm-o-rest has some decent priced air mattresses, but they are a little spartan compared to some of the more expensive air mattresses.

For me the thermarest warranty has been worth its weight in gold, it’s an inflatable product that’s exposed to the elements, they’ll all get damaged eventually but every interaction I’ve had with them has been amazing, no questions asked replacement or repair

Yeah my first was thermarest. Didn’t like. I do enjoy my Nemo tensor and I just ordered a switchback closed foam from Nemo now! Are you a side sleeper??