Neo Air as Frame

Mostly not.

I have used my NeoAir partially inflated as a "frame" in my Zpack. It's OK. Can't comment on the Conduit. The NeoAir doesn't work as well as a foam pad or a ThermaRest Prolite as a frame, a least for me.

NOW THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE USE THESE PADS I'D LIKE TO SEE HOW THIS PAD AND OTHER INFLATABLE ONLY PADS WORK FOR PACK WEIGHTS AROUND 20 POUNDS. I'VE TRIED CC FOAM AND ALWAYS WAKE UP AT LEAST 6 TIMES A NIGHT BECAUSE I HAVE GOTTEN USED TO SUCH A SOFT MATTRESS AT HOME. I DON'T THINK A 1 INCH SELF INFLATING PAD WILL BE ENOUGH GIVE EITHER.

I recently did an overnighter with a 16lbs pack weight for my GoLite Lite-Speed (with the internal frame removed) and found it really comfortable. I was amazed. When my Jam2 arrives I anticipate I'll won't be doing anything to create an artificial frame besides avoiding have an axe jamming me in the back.

I recently used my neoair as a frame for my mld zip and it worked great. Wrap around to form tube, possibly inflate a little to take up desired amount of space, insert gear, if necessary inflate a little more to take up remaining space. Works like a charm.

It seems like that would hog quite a bit of your packs volume. No?

I can go frameless with my Ion too but when my Exodus arrives It will probably need a little support. It’s good to hear it has worked for others. Hopefully the medium will be comfy enough for by itself for 3 seasons and warm enough for mild winters under my modified 3/8″ thinlight.

It can take up a lot of volume or none. If your pack is pretty full the need for air to form a frame is less than if it has very little gear in it, so the absence of air in the pad is not really detrimental. The air just fills whatever space is left that your gear does not take up to make a more rigid pack, and thus a virtual frame.

I can't say about the NeoAir, but I use my Montbell UL 90 with my Conduit and find that it works very well. I inflate it more or less depending on how full my pack is.