4 season neoair available

Can you provide a link?

http://www.trailspace.com/blog/2011/01/22/outdoor-retailer-all-season-neo-air.html

I don't see it on the backwoods site

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Vv_dJ0MVFU

Looks goooooood.

As a matter of interest what would be its rival in r value and weight?

Mountaingear.com has them on their website with an expected ship date of 5/29 (5/30 once you add it to your cart).

No insulation, no closed sell foam and an R-value of 4.9?

I will need BPL to review before I change my feeling that this is a bit of snake oil.

I can believe it.

The current NeoAir achieves its R-value without any traditional insulation or foam.

It's not out of the realm of possibilities to just do more of it.

Well, I believe the current NeoAir to be overrated with respect to R-value so that may be my issue.

That might be OK for base camping. But at 18oz or more it is by no means an ultralight pad.

James, what pad do you use for winter sleeping that is lighter than 18oz? If it's truly R 4.9, that's pretty darn light (IMO).

DownMat 7 S
Size: 163x52x7 cm / 64x20x2.8“
Weight: 780 g / 27.5 oz
Packed: 23×16 cm / 9×6“
Fill Weight**: 150 g / 5.3 oz
Temperature: -24°C / -11°F
R-value: 5.9

Would be the closest?

Well, I believe the current NeoAir to be overrated with respect to R-value so that may be my issue.

I would agree with that. Using mine near freezing in a WM highlite gets a bit chilly – I can feel it radiating out through my back. Deflating helps a little. Substitute a cheap blue foam CCF and I could go to 25F with that same bag before getting cool.

Not sure how this new pad will stack up, but without real insulation I'm skeptical.

I'm always a bit amazed at the giddiness that sweeps the hiking community when a new Neoair is introduced.

Talk to Bender of Kooka Bay before you decide to buy a NeoAir. For similar price and weight, or maybe less, he'll make you an insulated air pad just the way you want it. Mine is in the mail! 60"x20"x3.5", Climashield Apex insulated to R5, 13 oz.

@Justin: The NeoAir's claimed R-value "corresponds" to near 40º. While I (and many others) have pushed them below, it's hard to criticize the NeoAir for getting cold when you might expect it to. When a 40º sleeping bag gets cold at 32º is that an overrated bag?

Fair enough, Stephan.

However, a standard 3/8" blue foam pad is rated to R1.35 and keeps me warmer at colder temperatures than I've ever tested the Neoair. I would expect an R2.5 rated Neoair to perform better. In my experience, it does not – using the same bag anyway.

+1 on Kookabay. There's a wait, but well worth it.

when the BPL staff tested a regular neoair, its R value was higher than the claimed 2.5

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/thermarest_neoair_review.html

so i would think that if thermarest is claiming that it's new pad has an R value of 4.9, i think thats possible. they just need to limit air flow within the pad to increase the R value, thats how down works anyways…

That's fair, Justin.

I don't have a clue as to why, but some do quite well with the NeoAir but it doesn't do a thing for others.

I don't think this is all just in our heads.