Therm-a-Relaxation NeoLoft Backpacking Sleeping Pad Assessment

Backside Line

We’ve examined the Therm-a-Relaxation NeoLoft from the consolation of our residence to frigid nights tenting by way of Colorado snowstorms. To date, we expect it’s well worth the hype.

The NeoLoft achieves a ridiculous degree of consolation for its sub-2-pound weight. The stretch knit cloth and 3D design conform to your physique, whereas the 4.6-inch thickness floats you nicely above the exhausting floor.

The NeoLoft is supremely snug no matter your most well-liked sleeping place, and the tremendous plush prime sheet is good and comfortable in opposition to the pores and skin. It’s additionally heat sufficient to make use of all 12 months spherical, assuming you’re not tenting within the Arctic Circle.

In the event you’re able to hold perusing, no worries. Our full information to backpacking sleeping pads contains extra choices, together with ultralight pads that may higher fit your wants.

How We Examined

We’ve been racking up the Z’s on this pad from automobile tenting to backpacking to changing our mattress at residence. We even examined its cold-weather limits by tenting in Colorado spring snowstorms. We’ve gained an excellent deal with on how this pad performs, however we’re excited to proceed testing this new design from Therm-a-Relaxation.

Consolation

The Therm-a-Relaxation NeoLoft is marketed as probably the most snug backpacking sleeping pad ever made, and we expect they could have succeeded. It’s plush, thick, supportive, and even is available in a number of totally different sizes. 

The key phrase in its lofty declare is “backpacking.” The NeoLoft can’t evaluate with heavy, high-density foam and air hybrid pads made for plush automobile tenting, however it comes about as shut as doable whereas staying within the backpacking weight vary.

The NeoLoft is by far the thickest pad on our listing at a whopping 4.6 inches thick. The complete rectangular form gives a bigger sleeping floor over tapered mummy shapes and is even a few inches bigger than most rectangular pads at 73 inches lengthy and 22 inches huge for the common model. 

The built-in vertical sidewalls, along side the facet rails, assist to cradle your physique and scale back the sensation that you just’ll roll off the pad in the midst of the night time. The NeoLoft is a superb alternative no matter what place you prefer to sleep in, and the horizontal baffles permit for a firmer really feel than different designs.

Lastly, the highest of the pad is comprised of an ultra-plush, stretch knit cloth much like the bottom layer cloth. It’s very comfortable in opposition to the pores and skin, and the stretch additional enhances the pad’s physique contouring capabilities.

Weight

As you might need guessed, this premium degree of consolation comes at a big weight price, however the NeoLoft shouldn’t be even the heaviest pad on our listing. 

We measured the NeoLoft at about 23.5 oz, not together with the stuff sack or pump sack. These numbers put it nicely on the heavy facet for backpacking pads, which is why devoted ultralights will most likely cease studying this overview. However hear us out…

The NeoLoft’s consolation far outweighs the additional ounces. It’s nonetheless lighter than the heavy hybrid pads of yesteryear and packs right down to slightly bigger than a one-liter Nalgene. 

Plus, weight may be reduce in different methods. The thickness and heat of the NeoLoft means you’ll be able to carry a lighter sleeping bag or perhaps a quilt. If cash isn’t an object, there’s an excellent likelihood you’ll be able to shed an additional pound or two by springing for an ultralight tent or backpack. A restful sleep within the backcountry results in a extra snug, energy-filled day of climbing. Lastly,  for those who worth sleep as a lot as we do, there are methods to compensate for the added weight.

Sturdiness

The NeoLoft presents an honest steadiness of sturdiness and weight financial savings. Within the ultralight backpacking world, sturdiness is instantly tied to weight – lighter sleeping pads are often comprised of thinner, extra fragile cloth that requires extra care. 

The NeoLoft is comprised of 50-denier polyester on each the highest and 75-denier polyester on the underside panel. That’s thicker than most ultralight tent flooring! Some could argue that this quantity of safety is overkill for a sleeping pad, however the additional thickness contributes to the pad’s assist and gives additional peace of thoughts that you just gained’t get up on the bottom in the midst of the night time as a result of a puncture.

Within the case of a puncture, the pad comes with a useful restore equipment for patching holes within the discipline.

Heat

One other advantage of going with the NeoLoft over lighter and cheaper pads is its four-season heat. With an R-value of 4.7, the NeoLoft gives loads of heat for shoulder seasons. It’s slightly underwhelming for winter tenting on snow (devoted winter pads have an R-value of 7-8), however it’ll do the job in gentle winter climates. 

We advocate including a foam pad beneath when tenting instantly on snow to bump up the pad’s heat and hold it from sliding round. We camped with the NeoLoft right down to about 28ºF with a heat sleeping bag and stayed good and comfy.

The NeoLoft’s heat comes from its thickness and building. Therm-a-Relaxation’s ContourCore Matrix options two layers of triangular air chambers, so even when your physique compresses the highest layer, the underside layer stays lofted to proceed insulating. Their ThermaCapture is actually a foil cloth that displays physique warmth again at you, and the stretch knit cloth conforms to your physique form to attenuate chilly spots.

Ease of Setup

At first look, a thick, beefy sleeping pad appears like a ache to explode each night time and pack away every morning, however it’s not that unhealthy. 

The NeoLoft comes with an enormous, seam-sealed pump sack to help with inflating. The complete-sized opening lets you blow into the again from a number of inches away or scoop air, simply filling all the bag. 

On common, we are able to totally inflate the NeoLoft in slightly below two minutes, or about 4 full fills of the pump sack. The pump sack attaches securely to the air consumption valve, and the sealed seams make sure that no air leaks and goes to waste. The enter valve lacks a fine-tuning button, however a swift twist of the knob lets you expel small quantities of air to dial in your most well-liked firmness.

When it’s time to pack up within the morning, the output valve quickly dumps air, and the versatile polyester cloth is straightforward to fold and roll up. We notably admire that Therm-a-Relaxation has allowed slightly wiggle room within the stuff sack, so it’s not simply barely large enough to suit the pad.

Ought to You Purchase the Therm-a-Relaxation NeoLoft Backpacking Sleeping Pad?

The Therm-a-Relaxation NeoLoft is a hefty funding, however it might be price the additional expense for those who battle with getting an excellent night time’s sleep within the backcountry. 

Its plush consolation is second to none due to its thickness, comfortable materials, and revolutionary stretch knit building. The pad gently cradles you to sleep so you’ll be able to take pleasure in an energy-filled, pain-free day of climbing.

Though its 23.5 ounce weight may scare away ultralight backpackers, the NeoLoft nonetheless achieves glorious weight financial savings, contemplating its sturdiness and heat. It’s heat sufficient for shoulder seasons in all climates and even reasonable winters. The 50D polyester gives the right steadiness of light-weight sturdiness.

The price of NeoLoft is kind of steep, however it’s exhausting to place a value on feeling good and rested. There’s undoubtedly one thing to be stated for optimum weight financial savings on lengthy journeys. Nonetheless, for a few of us, our youthful days of deep sleeps on the exhausting floor are ending, and restful sleep is changing into more and more elusive. This could be the ticket to maintaining your thoughts and physique completely satisfied on the path.

What Different Backpacking Pads Ought to You Contemplate?

We get that the NeoLoft isn’t for everybody. In our full information to backpacking sleep pads, you’ll discover choices which might be cheaper, extra sturdy, and lighter weight.

NEMO Quasar 3D Insulated Assessment: The Quasar delivers related consolation with its rectangular form, first rate thickness, and contoured horizontal baffles. Nevertheless, its supplies favor sturdiness over plushness and weight financial savings. 

Sea to Summit Ether Gentle XR Assessment: We actually benefit from the sprung cell design of the Ether Gentle XR over horizontal baffles. They don’t really feel fairly as agency as horizontal baffles and naturally conform to your physique form. The Ether Gentle XR can be extra reasonably priced, extra sturdy, and lighter than the NeoLoft.

Therm-a-Relaxation NeoAir XTherm NXT Assessment: In the event you’re on the lookout for a real winter sleeping pad to maintain you heat within the coldest temperatures, try the XTherm NXT. It has the best r-value of any pad on our listing at a formidable 7.3.