I compiled a list of all the sleeping pads on the market I could find and created an r-value/weight coefficient that can help select the best insulation to weight ratio.

The NeoAir xtherm is 14oz for the full length pad and has an r-value of 5.7

http://cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest/mattresses/fast-and-light/neoair-xtherm/product

Curious. What 32 degree bag are you using?

Nice. Well that's the new king of the hill. The only problem is that I don't think an inflatable pad will work well with my hammock.

Durability/reliability is another factor.

I appreciate you taking the time to assemble the data in your file. That's useful info.

While I personally had sufficient funds for a NeoAir X-Therm, and seriously considered it, I ultimately passed on all the NeoAir products because of concerns of durability/reliability.
The R-rating and relatively low weight were attractive, but the whole NeoAir line has just had too many reports of failures/blowouts for me to be comfortable with one for winter use. Perhaps it's a mostly psycholgical thing from reading about the failures, or perhaps not. Either way, I had to go another route.

My "winters" here in the SE are not that severe, and we only get an occasional dip into the low teens or single digits perhaps once or twice a year. Mostly we get in the low 20s at night in the cold months.

This year, I'm trying out a Klymit X-Lite Recon pad with a GG Thinlight 3 ounce CCF foam mat under it. The X-Lite Recon model is their most durable, and it seems quite rugged in comparison to the NeoAir. Also lighter, and can be pumped up more. Doesn't have the R-value of the NeoAir, but with the GG Thinlight under it, it might be enough, and it's only a little over 6 ounces for the X-Lite and about 3 ounces for the Thinlight.
Theoretically, according to the BPL test, the Klymit has R-factor of 2, and R-factor of 2.8 in the "loft pockets" which can be further augmented by the down of my WM Alpinlite bag. And the GG Thinlight might add enough to meet the needs. Plus there will be something there in case there was a blowout of the Klymit.
We'll see how it does. I'll avoid any single-digit nights out, if we happen to have any this year.

I have become totally sold on the idea of having a ccf pad along with any inflatable for winter use, just in case the inflatable fails, and at least I'd have something under me.

@ Kevin, Nice chart, I did one too here but did not have the weight/R value ratio. I need to put it into google docs.

http://40yearsofwalking.wordpress.com/2010/08/30/current-thoughts-on-sleeping-pads/

@ Tom, I completely agree with the two pad system for many reasons including durability.

Kevin,

Great list. Very helpful. I'm a closed cell foam user and seeing the large differences is helpful. All foam is not created equal.

I don't see the square footage of the pads listed. I assume the pads were not all the same size? Was size factored in when the coefficient of r-value to weight were calculated?

Daryl

Just my opinion, but if you're using a hammock you'd be better off with a nice down under quilt, unless you're hoping this pad will pull double duty (ground and hammock).

+1

I was just comparing the 'regular' size matts of all brands.

If they were 3/4 pads I multiplied by 1.33 to make them fair.

Agreed on using an under quilt. The only problem is that I've yet to find my ideal UQ and I need a backup for situations where I can't hammock camp. I'm going to try to make the jump to UQ/TQ here shortly. But it's like $500-700 so I don't want to buy the wrong product.

For top quilts check out Enlightened Equipment Quilts. The Revelation X is the best deal I’ve found on a top quality down top quilt. I have a Revelation and a Revelation X. You can’t go wrong with either. I can give you suggestions on UQ as well if you would like some. Lots of good choices out there.

Is there a reason the Thermarest All Season did not show up on the list? I am looking to buy a warmer pad and that is one of my finalists. Any comments?

While this list is all from major manufactures, it would be great to add Lawson's new pads, discussed here:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=66681

If they are truly the .75 R value advertised, that puts them as the number 1 full length pad in terms of Cost/(R value to weight)–almost by a factor of 2.

Also I'd appreciate seeing the Klymit pads up here for comparison's sake–I will use the 3/4 length X-lite only in summer because they won't work with my (incoming) winter quilt, so I'm curious about where they stand. By a quick calculation using the (admittedly debatable) BPL R-Value of 2.0, the full length X frame seems to be fairly competitive with the others, at an R-value/weight of .0086.

However, this whole system does rather poorly in terms of the total area of the pad–some pads, like the X-frame, save weight by cutting width, which isn't much of a savings in my book–size is a factor, but not when we're trying to compare the cost effectiveness of different materials.
What really matters is density of the pad in terms of grams/square centimeter. For example, the X-frame has a total area of 7020 cm^2 and a density of .0336 g/cm^2. The R-Value to area-density ratio is 59.52 R-value/(g/cm^2)

This does not match up well in relation to the GG thinlight 3/8", for example, which (skipping all the numbers) comes out to an R-value/(g/cm^2) of 68.00.

What this would translate into in plain English is this:
"The Gossamer Gear Thinlight 3/8" pad, if cut to the same size as the Klymit Inertia X-frame pad, is a better insulator for the weight than the Klymit Inertia X-Frame".

I honestly picked a couple pads at random in an attempt to talk about the best way to compare this. I hope I haven't lost anyone along the way.

I unfortunately missed seeing the thread about Lawson's 1/8" pad, and just bought the GG Thinlight 3/16" pad. It seems Lawson's 1/8" pad gives over 10% more results, at a thinner profile.
I am going to have to contact Lawson and try one of these things out.

Regarding the Klymit X pads, I have done a LOT of thinking about this subject.
I think that the Klymit X-Frame or X-Lite pads being narrow have some advantage that some other pads don't have. If you place the X pad inside the sleeping bag, then there is almost zero issue with convective losses and conductive losses to the outside air which plague inflatables. And the 'loft pockets' provide a fair amount of space for the down bag to loft into and preserve at least 'some' of the lofting insulating qualities of the bag underneath you, which you don't really get from other inflatables. This puts the Klymit X pads somewhat in a category of their own, because they utilize designs which pull additional results from things which are actually not part of the pad itself. You really don't get all the pertinent data by measuring just the pad alone.
Also, by using a GG Thinlight(or Lawson's pad) under the sleeping bag, you get some protection for the bag, and a non-slip feature from the ccf pad, along with your r-factor performance increase that the ccf pad provides.
To go underneath it all, a Heetsheets or "space emergency blanket" type of ground sheet adds a thermal reflectivity barrier between you and the ground, which in conjucnction with the Klymit X pad and the Thinlight, now has over an inch of distance between it and the body, which is what the reflective barrier needs to work at its best.

I think factoring all these issues together has the potential to perform at a level which is much higher than what might be construed by looking at just the r-factor of the Klymit pad alone, in isolation.

And, in severe conditions, if the user didn't mind the added expense and a little extra carry weight, the Klymit system can be filled with Argon, and increase the r-factor by 3-4 times what it would have when inflated with air.

I realize that the Klymit pads don't fit everyone, and don't work as well with quilts. But for a person who uses a bag and fits the pad, like myself, there seem to be many potential advantages.

So, toward that end, I will be using a system like this for my upcoming winter outings, to see how well it can do. My 'winters' are not extreme, so I won't have to deal with sub-zero conditions or anything. Low 20s down to low-teens are the likely conditions.

Great list, much appreciated. One pad on the market that didn't make your list is the Pacific Outdoor Equipment Peak Elite AC. When I was looking at various options, I chose that one over the NeoAir XLite, I purchased mine at hikelight.com.

I'm willing to help out with the document if you like, by adding other pads as well as dimensions and the density column(s) described above.

Just PM me and I'll give you my email. I have a little spare time right now, because I can't get back out on the trail until Friday.

you should add the REI stratus in: $80, R= 3.0, 2.5 inches thick, 20 ounces

Also, as far as I know the neo air xtherm is not self inflating

couple of more I offer, all prices include shipping which is the bulk of the price.

plastizote ccf 3/16" r value .9 various widths and lengths, Higher density than most ccf so much higher tear strength than other zote foams.

http://shop.bivysack.com/product.sc?productId=60&categoryId=3

plastizote ccf 1/2" r value 2 various widths and lengths, lower density, but thicker so tear strength not as important, similar to the discontinued Mt Washington pad in durability.

http://shop.bivysack.com/product.sc?productId=80&categoryId=3