Neo Air vs Ether Thermo 6

I would guess they are roughly the same. Performance wise, I sure don't see the NeoAir having twice the performance, since it is twice the price. Although I know the magic Thermarest name probably adds 10 to the R-value just by itself. My Max Thermo (now the Ether Thermo 6) has worked great for me, for the last 4 years, in temps down to 22.

Might not have to guess much:
* Backcountrygear.com lists the 47" neoair at R2.5 and weighing 9oz.
* rei.com lists the 48" Ether Thermo 6 at "R6.8 and R7.8" and 16oz.

I don't know what "R6.8 and R7.8" means but the tradeoffs seem clear.
* They are both 2.5 inches thick and probably similar cushiness … although it is claimed that the NeoAir's construction might make a more comfortable pad (mainly speculation since it is not widely available yet).
* The NeoAir is a loser if the cost is too high for you or your use will require more than R2.5. insulation.
* The NeoAir is a winner on weight if R2.5 is adequate for your use and you can (gulp) swallow the cost.

I have the Ether Thermo and can tell you it is nowhere close to R6. I find it disappointingly cold at ground and air temperatures still above freezing.

I'll gladly send this off to anyone wanting to test it. I'd guess that $10 would cover shipping both ways.

PM or greg at smgm dot org

Greg,

Thanks for the user experience info. It'll make it a bit less painful to queue up to shell out for a NeoAir.

For a change I didn't join the queue/bandwagon on this one. The NeoAir may be a great pad, but I'll wait to see how it works out in actual use. I'm more than a bit leary that there may be puncture problems on a pad with this lightweight a material. If it works out I'll be in the second wave of buyers. In the meantime I'll be using my Nightlight, UL 90, or Torsolite.

If I ever got on the Neo Air bandwagon (indicating that h*ll has frozen over), it would be for the Gen II model. And I seriously doubt that the Ether Thermo is an R of 6.8, but it works for me.

Hey Greg, what would you sell your Ether Thermo for?

A detailed review of the NeoAir is coming soon. Always wise to read the BPL reviews before buying.

Cheers

Roger,

You are either trying to drum anticipation for the review or hinting that the NeoAir has some problems we should be aware of (or both)….this is the second time you've cautioned us to wait for the BPL review….

Roger –

"…real soon…" ?

Days, Weeks, or Months?

This is BPL you know, and sometimes I don't think we're all operating on the same clock or calendar. Maybe because we're moving so fast "out here" things "in there" seem to go a lot slower…. ;-)

Roger, all I say is that it would be helpful to subscribers of BPL to offer that review before the NeoAir is actually released for sale (shipping, not pre-order). As long as it's before that happens, I'm a happy camper. Looking forward to the review.

Wait for Gen II. Of any product.

Roger:

Thanks VERY MUCH .. . for the words of wisdom

Sounds like this should be one of the Ten Comandments of BPL ..

Thou shalt Always wait for the BPL review before purchasing …

Another vote for that review to come out by early April when the NeoAir is supposed to hit the stores.

I will be one of the bodies on the floor at REI in April testing out the NeoAir, but I'm skeptical. I can sleep very comfortably on my old POE InsulMat Max Thermo (good down to around 20*F for me) by pumping it up about halfway, so that when on my side my hips (wide) and shoulders (also wide but narrower than my hips) sink in almost but not quite to the ground. This keeps my spine straight when on my side while providing enough cushioning for those sensitive joints. Only if the NeoAir allows a similar configuration and is similarly comfortable will I get it. The temptation to save 8 oz. (on the short pad) is considerable, but a good night's sleep is far more important. I tried the BA Clearview last summer and gave it up because with its more numerous smaller tubes I couldn't get a happy medium between a hard, unyielding surface or my hips hitting the ground. With the many small tubes in the NeoAir, I strongly suspect the same thing will happen.

But I would like to see that review before making a final decision! Any chance of including a wide-hipped female side-sleeper or two in your testing? All the feedback I've seen from those with early release NeoAir mats claiming how comfortable they are has been from men, which is no help whatsoever for my half of the population!

> Wait for Gen II. Of any product.

In the software world that is written as
'Never buy V1.0 .'
:-)

Cheers

I had the same exact problem this very week with the Clearview. Had a great trip planned…excited to try it out….and woke up with the worst sore back I've had. Ruined it for me and I'm back to the Aircore.

I just hafta have a good nights rest or I'm a monster.

"In the software world that is written as
'Never buy V1.0 .'"

As a veteran of 23 years in the software world(retired), I heartily concur. Nuthin' but grief. It's actually one of the basic laws of the universe, IME.

I find this conversation interesting, especially as Chris Townsend (scroll down to the 2nd entry) stated in his blog that “The Therm-A-Rest Prolite 3 Short has been my first choice in mats for many years but I must admit that it is likely to lose that place to the new Therm-A-Rest Neo Air Regular Mat which is more comfortable yet weighs less.” Now Chris is a well respected gear reviewer and also writes for BPL. So do we need to keep an open mind until we can actually see and touch a Neo Air?

Don't confuse me with the facts. I know the truth when I hear it.

> So do we need to keep an open mind until we can actually see and touch a Neo Air?

There's hype, and there's actual field testing.

Cheers

So, is it reasonable to expect a BPL review of the NeoAir for our perusal BEFORE the product is actually released for sale?

FWIW, LL Bean shows availability of the NeoAir at April 16.

Roger (Brown), I've been testing a Neo Air Regular since last autumn and have reviewed it in the UK magazine TGO. I haven't changed my mind from the comment on my blog. I like it.

Can we access your review on line ?

If not, does the BPL staff have any objections with a fellow member sharing his view ( i.e. post .. or "cut and paste" . portions of his review in the UK publication ? )

Scott, my review isn't on line I'm afraid. It was part of a gear test trip report where a selection of gear is tested together so it's not a comprehensive review. I think the Neo Air section is around 500 words long. I'm happy to post parts or all of it here but I don't want to preempt the BPL review so I won't do so unless I hear it's okay.

Well if Chris Townsend likes it I have no worries. I trust his judgement.