neoair + backpack as sleeping pad

Also plan to buy it.

However I do generaly the opposite away, I use a small thermarest for body and legs (ok feet are outside) and I use the backpack for upper torso and head a bit like a pilow.

I think I would go for the small neoair; 1m20 lenght is minimum for me. I tried the torsolite (80cm) but it's too small for me.

get the short and buy a bit of foam to make a sitpad to suit.
We only use a top bag, so in winter we need continuous insulation under us. We have short down mats for our bodies and knees, with a rucksack and a foam pad ontop for our feet. If the rucksac is wet the foam is closed cell so the bag stays dry. We have inflatable pillows and clothes, if spare, for our heads.

I don't think that 66" length makes much sense unless you are 66" tall or shorter. If you are taller than that, it's only ONE little ounce to get the full 72" length. I can see the argument for the 47 – that's a full 5 ounces lighter, which is much more justifiable.

This pad is so much lighter than my BA insulated air core that it's not even funny. I'll be taking the 72" for comfort the day it's released, and I'll cut 13 ounces from my pack (for some reason my 72 mummy BA is 27 ounces).

"I don't think that 66" length makes much sense unless you are 66" tall or shorter. If you are taller than that, it's only ONE little ounce to get the full 72" length. I can see the argument for the 47 – that's a full 5 ounces lighter, which is much more justifiable."

I am 66 inches but when I get one of these it will be the 72 inch. Its only one ounce and gives me more room to move around.

Wow, $80 to save 7 ounces, over an ether thermo 6. You guys are definitely in the UL club.

After a long day of hiking I sleep way better with my hips, thighs, and knees supported on the same plane. I also like something soft under my heels/ankles.

A 48" pad works from my shoulder to knee, but then I need a pillow to bring my head up- I want my head supported about 2" above the pad level. If my pillow is on the ground then I would need it to be 5" thick. With my head on the pad I can make do with my rain jacket as pillow. Otherwise I might need to carry a separate pillow.

I would go with the full length model. I see absolutely zero advantage for the 66" length unless you're less tall than that. It only saves an ounce from the 72" size. (Of course if you're much over 72" tall then it wouldn't be full length and then maybe you might as well go shorter)

I'm hoping that REI gets the NeoAirs onto their web site before the 20% coupon expires on 3/27.

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Good point.

Fellows,
Certainly using a 47" neoair pad is lighter than using a 60" or 72" B.A, insulated air core pad. The neoair has no comparable Big Agnes 47" pad to compare weights and R-values, but…

Let's compare the weight per R value for the ones that are similar in size:

B.A. insulated air-core R = 4.1, wt. of 72" mummy = 21oz.
21 / 4.1 = 5.12 oz per R.

NeoAir R = 2.5, wt. of 72" = 14oz.
14 / 2.5 = 5.6 oz per R.

So which is the lightest?

Marty Cooperman

The AirCore is actually 24 oz is the regular 72" size….

I'm going to get the LARGE neo-air, since it's only 19 oz, and huge, it will allow me and the dog some insulation, hopefully.

I have a POE max thermo, which supposedly has an r value of about 6, but doesn't really seem all that warm. I suspect the insulation may have broken down, and have a much lower R value now. Perhaps the Neoair has another advantage in this sense; I would imagine it's insulation won't decrease. Any thoughts?

That's really what is going to make this pad worth the money….

If it provide the same insulation as a nightlight coupled with a Clearview, it's not worth it to me….but they are being very mysterious about the insulation.

So which BPL'er is going to cut it open and find out?

There is a site with a guy who already did that…I guess he got his hands on one and cut it open to see inside. I was looking at it this morning but now can't find it….

From what I understand it uses small air chambers and IR reflective materials rather than traditional insulation, but yes, in the interest of science somebody needs to carve one up!

AHA!

http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/news/article/mps/uan/5506

1/4" Bubble Wrap also has tiny little air chambers. You can cut it to lengh and $80.00 buys a lifetime supply.

You can also play with it and scare away things that go bump in the night.

Now that you folks have focused my attention on these NeoAir pads, they may be an acceptable solution to a long-standing problem I have had with air mattresses. That is, I'm a side sleeper and pull my knees up so the width of the pad has always been my complaint. In this position, my rear and my knees are barely hanging onto opposite sides of a 20" wide pad.

I use a 48"x20" POE Max Thermo weighing 15 oz. and I don't have any problem with completing the length with a CCF pad, just the width. There are a couple of pads that are wider but 78" inches long and (most importantly) weigh a ton, which I'm not ready to make that compromise.

The Large 77"x25" NeoAir at 19 oz. just might push me over the limit of my resistance however. The only remaining resistance could be removed by another 40% discount code at Backcountry :-)

Michael – I saw that too… a BIG comfy 25" wide and 78" long for 19 oz.

Must be a dream to sleep on, although likely much less fun to inflate. I would still cut a full 1/2 pound from my pack over the BA. It's just that, well, I could cut 5 oz more at the regular size.

To those assuming stated weights on a BA Insulated Air Core are accurate, put yours on a scale. Mine is a full 27 oz for a 72" mummy. My wife's a a few ounces less for a non mummy 72". Their weights are all over the place. I called and complained and a customer service guy went and weighed a ton of them in their inventory for me and then called me back. The lightest mummy he could find at the time was 24 ounces. They are still claiming 21 ounces on their site, which is laughable. I'm sure there might be some out there that weigh that, but there is no excuse for me having on that's 6 ounces over spec – that's 29% over spec.

I happen to like the idea of a 66-inch length. I am 6-2 and have used a 72-inch POE, and a couple of 60-inch BA's. I use a Thermarest foam pillow and like to place it on top of my pack or any clothes I'm not wearing to give it more height (helps negate the height of the pad). I don't put my pillow directly on the pad because I really hate it when the thing slides off and my head is still on it.

So, in use I find that I don't need a full 72-inch length. 60-inch is OK, but the BA's have those angled corners at the head and my shoulders tend to drop into them. Hey, I'm a light sleeper and these little things bug me (my wife, in comparison, can sleep through just about anything).

The NeoAir 66-inch is more rectangular, and it'll be the perfect length for me once my pillow is in place. Sure it's only an ounce less than a 72-inch, but blowing it up will be a little faster and I'm hoping it will be lots warmer than my Clearview. Looking forward to hearing some reviews!

When is REI or any other outfitters going sell the NeoAir?
25 x 77 x 2.5 at 19oz that could replace my bed!!! I know what my dividends is going too!!

I'm curious how the height of the NeoAir will affect using pack under your feet. If your torso is 2" off the ground, wouldn't your feet be kinda hanging down a bit with most packs?

I am getting the large. Need that width. As with blowing it up, I have to breathe anyway. Going to save me over a pound and a huge amount of space replacing my current Therm-a-rest. 42.7 ounces for my '98 camplite xl. Lightest full size pad they made that year.

Hi Lynn,

I don't want to presume too much about the NeoAir, having never seen one, but if it works like every other air mattress it will deflect where your legs hang off the edge, so the drop is pretty minimal. That is, if it's not inflated like a drum :-)

I use a shorty POE insulated mattress this way and it works fine. Packs incredibly small compared to most pad options; the NeoAir should be even better in this regard.

Cheers,

Rick

Wait for the Review – it's coming. You never know what funnies might be found.

Cheers