Durability and comfort of Neo Air vs. Big Agnes pads

My suggestion is to buy one and try it on your bedroom floor for a night; only you can answer this. Many people here are very happy with their NeoAir. For me, I kept waking up with bad back pain. One night I spent the first half on a NeoAir (got back pain) and switched to my BA Insulated Air Core and the back pain went away. So for me the weight penalty is simply worth it. I also felt it was easy to roll off (it felt 'tipsy') and the tacky surface was a bit confining (I couldn't just roll on my side without my shirt and pants getting pulled on). Something about the horizontal baffles on the NeoAir really pushed up into my back. Rolling over onto my Insulated Air Core I felt much more comfortable. But that's just my experience, and I'm in the minority here.

I used to bicker about the weight of my pad, but I've resolved myself to the fact that I would't be backpaking without the pad, and can simply appreciate the comfort it affords me. Besides, getting everything else UL allows for a comfort splurge, no?

Still, if you can get the NeoAir to work for you, you'll save considerable weight. But judge by comfort, and don't settle for anyhing less than that which will give you a full night's sleep. Most importantly, try it for a FULL night; 5 minutes at the store will NOT tell you how your joints will feel at 3 am…

BTW I upgraded to the newer burgandy Insulated Air Core and it is even more comfortable than their old black model. Not sure why, but the baffles seem to have a bit more give to them. On the other hand the Clearview baffles had too much give, such that I had to fully inflate the pad to keep my hips off the ground, which was not comfortable. BTW I'm 6'2" 210 lbs.

The insulated air pad to which I can compare the NeoAir is the POE Insulmat Max Thermo (older version of the Ether Thermo). I have no experience with BA pads except the Clearview, which didn't work for me. I've spent 5 nights on the floor with the NeoAir (sometimes moving from it to the POE pad) and find that the POE pad is definitely more comfortable. So far I've gotten a comfortable sleep 3 nights out of 5 on the NeoAir. Last night I couldn't get comfortable on either pad (probably because I took my first real hike yesterday after a month's hiatus in exercise due to illness, and was pretty sore) and ended up in my bed. The other night that I couldn't get comfortable on the NeoAir, I was fine on the POE pad. I'm going to try a couple more nights before deciding whether or not to keep the NeoAir. If it weren't for the motivation of saving half a pound of base pack weight, I'd have returned it already.

I did find that with the Neo Air, while lying on my back, my ample(!) hips push a soft protrubance under my lower back, which is really comfortable. That's because the NeoAir is more flexible than the relatively stiff POE pad. I normally can't sleep on my back without a rolled-up towel or garment under my back at the waistline. This is a real plus for the NeoAir. However, I sleep on my side about 90% of the time.

The production NeoAir (not the pre-production pad reviewed and castigated by BPL) is the same width as my POE pad. When blown up, since the POE pad with its vertical tubes has at about 1 1/2" of steeply sloping tube at the outer edges, the NeoAir actually has more useable width. If you use a quilt, though, any back sleeper on any 20" wide, 2 1/2" thick pad will find their arms falling off the pad. In a sleeping bag, my arms are confined which solves that problem.

The sticky top surface of the NeoAir bothers me because I learned as a child to take my sleeping bag with me when I turn over, and it's harder to do this on the sticky surface.

I strongly recommend several nights on the floor to test any sleeping pad to decide if it works for you. 10 minutes on the floor of the store isn't a sufficient test, at least not for me.

Thanks for the response. I, too, tried the Clearview and wanted to like it, but it just didn't work for me. It was too squishy and the material felt thin, flimsy, and icky. I went back to my trusty old BAIAC.

BTW, could you post some pics of the newer, red BA pad and elaborate on the differences from the older, black one? Mine is the older black one, about 2 years old. BTW, it weighs around 2 oz over spec, around 1 lb, 10 oz for the regular size.

I agree that a good night's sleep makes it worthwhile carrying around the extra weight. I am, however, dropping ounces on other items this year (new tent, new pack, etc.) so this will be my only luxury item…aside from my WM Cloudsrest pillow. I have back problems, so getting comfortable is a top priority in my book.

Hmmm…Backcountry has a 20% sale right now with a 100% guarantee…

I switched from Insulated BA to Neo Air. I find no difference between the two in terms of comfort. I also use BA air core and see no difference there either especially after a long day on the trail.

Mary,

It's reassuring to hear I'm not the only one who finds the BA more comfortable! It is however interesting that you find the lower back bulge on the NeoAir more comfortable, whereas I think it is the source of my pain. Just another example of why pad selection is such an individual choice.

David,

The new BA has a few differences. First, as I mentioned it feels lest plastic-like and more supple. Perhaps this has more to do with the fact that the new pad uses only 7 air chambers which are slightly larger in diameter, whereas the old BA used 8 smaller chambers. This makes each one rise a little higher, which I suppose gives just a bit more support and 'plush-ness.' It also has a brass breathing nozzle, though I honestly don't remember if my old one was plastic or brass.

When I initially purchased the old BA, I had almost bought a POE insulMat. I chose the BA because the internal I-chamber structure provides a flatter surface. A few years later I bought a POE Ether Thermo6 2/3 to save a few oz. I was surprised to find the larger spacing of the welded-through construction more comfortable; having the larger tubes with space in between really let my hips and shoulder sink into the crevices when side sleeping. But I did miss the I-beam construction, which is more comfortable for back sleeping and keeps the pad a little warmer.

I feel that the newer BA pads provide the perfect compromise between the old BA and the POE; the larger, fewer tubes in the new BA provide the crevasses for my hips and shoulder for side sleeping like the POE pad, but the I-beam construction keeps the pad warmer and more comfortable while on my back like the old BA.

Lastly, the pad just seems to have a little more give to it; it is somehow 'softer' feeling. I can't really describe it beyond that, and my old BA developed a leak and I threw it away (not knowing about BA's repair policy), so I can't directly compare.

One final point; bring a scale to the store (assuming you don't buy online) as these pads can vary pretty widely. I was fortunate to find a long mummy at 22.8oz; my last one was 24.7oz.

Impossible! The Neoair is the latest and greatest pad. And it's incredibly expensive! It has to be better! You people must not have tasted the kool-aid that came with it…..

Actually, tasting some of THAT Kool-Aid (Jim Jones actually used Flavor-Aid) would surely make the NeoAir more comfortable…

I took my Neo-Air back to REI. Just could not get used to the bounciness and height (I'm mainly a stomach sleeper).

I do like my old (10 yrs.) Thermarest Lite regular, their 1st light mattress. It's almost as small as the Neo-Air in its stuffsack and is about 6 oz. heavier.

Someday, when a REALLY light foam core is developed I'll replace it. I DO like dem foam core mattreses!

Eric

C'mon Joe, you know you want to try it….

But I have a new found self-discipline, so I am resisting.

I'll be using my Reg. Neo-Air for the first time next week, on a 5 day trip.
I hope and pray I sleep well on it? I bought mine from REI, and I can always return it, for whatever reason, should it not work well for me?
I'll try to post back, on how the Neo worked for me, after my trip.

David,

Sorry I can't compare the two but, FWIW, I have slept a couple nights on the reg. neo air.

1st night I inflated all the way and forgot hints of others' to let out a little air…ouch, sore hips by morning.

2nd night was great (remembered to let out some air). I sleep a lot on my side and noticed by morning, much less turning over through the night (to relieve sore hip & shoulder). No sore hips for first time ever (backpacking)!

re: narrowness; this was on my mind (arms falling/hanging off) when I briefly laid on it at home before the trip. result: not a problem. I typically fall asleep on my back and was afraid this would be a "distraction" and keep me up. Happily, for me, that didn't happen.

If I had it to do over, I would buy the neo air again.

Just got a large (yes,they do exist) today. One of 5 that Backcountry.com got in. It is 17.4 ounces 25 inches wide, 2.5 inches thick Packs down to a liter bottle size package. Almost fell asleep three minutes after laying down. Field tests to come. I would get a large and sleep well as I predict I will on this.

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I love the comfort afforded by 2.5in pads and have been using a B.A. insulated air core for a couple years. Of course, it weighs a ton and I'd like to replace it with something lighter. I went to REI today to compare a BA next to the Neo air and definitely noticed the difference in width. I have pretty wide shoulders and my arms can rest comfortably at my sides on the BA pad while on my back. In contrast, my arms dropped right to the ground on the neo air while on my back. It's a bummer because other than that it felt super comfy and warm.

Mike Did you see this?http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=22054

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I am a long time BA IAC user, having one of the first pads ever. (I waited for it direct from BA after reading about it.) That one lasted four years and I have two newer pads now, rectangular and mummy, and still love them.

I have put 10 nights in so far with the NeoAir regular in temps down to 30 F, most of them with a GoLite Ultra 20 quilt. Here are my thoughts to date. (I will be doing a full review after using it on our fall hike in the northern Sierra.)

It is surprisingly warm. I have had it on a 30 F night that the pad was fine, the supposedly 20 F quilt was not.

I have had it on a lot of rock and other crud. I did take a GG ¼” ThinLight pad for a couple to protect it from sticks and pine needles more then to add warmth.

It is not as comfortable as the IAC by a long shot to me. The IAC’s lengthwise chambers are easier to lay on and the fabric is more comfortable to bare skin when under my quilt. The IAC is also easier to fold and roll up. The Neo does not release its air, half seems to just stay in there.

Neither brand has given me any problems with durability issues, but the Neo is still kinda new.

BUT…

The Neo Air packs so dang small, and weighs so little compared to what it does offer in the way of warmth and comfort that it has a permanent place in my pack. It is not replacing the IAC but as I get more into the UL (Dark) side I may see it in my pack more often than not.

I have been lucky enough this season to use the Neo-Air(R) 16 nights in the backcountry and have been very warm and comfortable sleeping on it. I have been amazed how well I have slept in backcountry since purchasing the Neo-Air. I did the TRT in July and we had record low temps 2 nights in a row near Truckee and I just finished a trip to the cold and windy Humphreys Basin where I slept the best I can ever remember sleeping in the outdoors. I love new material technology!!!

2 Cents Worth

Being of a more diminutive nature I got the medium. Spent five days last week wrestling it into and out of the pad pocket of the hammock, throwing it under the tarp on the ground, and jamming it into the bottom of my Nimbus Ozone. While I must say that an underquilt provides a much warmer/comfy/luxurious hammock experience, when it comes to multipurpose insulation for combined hammock and ground use in subalpine/alpine regions, the NeoAir acquitted itself well in freezing temps.

I like having a down underquilt as it seems to radiate warmth back to you. The NeoAir was not cold, but it was not warm, merely comfortable. I had a wide evazote 1/4" pad in the hammock under it as well, since it was so narrow, and between the two I had condensation on the tarp for the first time in all the many nights I have hammocked. (Underquilts breathe.)

On the ground, it made things tolerable for my womanly hipbones, where the standard thermarests utterly failed. I had the pad about 3/4 of the way inflated and no bony protuberance contacted the ground. I am a side sleeper unless I am in the hammock.

Due to the small pack size, the light weight, and the upcoming increase in high elevation outings, I will be keeping the NeoAir in my gear box. Much easier to justify than a 2-3 pound DAM.