CCF Pad and Neoair

There is a long prior thread on this. I believe CCF on top will be warmer based on my understanding of heat transfer principles. Others differ in their opinions. Regardless, I usually put the CCF on bottom to protect the pad because the combination is usually warm enough either way.

The consensus was CCF pad on top seems warmer, but CCF on bottom will protect the pad (one of the reasons for carrying it) and may be more comfy.

Regardless, 1/8" won't help significantly "when the temperature drops."

It depends wht model neoair. If it has heat reflectors like the xlite then you want that closer to you. Regardless you will be better off with the ccf pad on the bottom in almost every scenario.

It protects your air pad.
It's more comfy to lay on than ccf.

In almost any instance at higher temps I would put the CCF under for the NeoAir for the protection value. At lower temps logic tells me it should be on top (and I did this with the original NeoAir) but as the All Season and new X-Therm rely on the reflective surfaces along with all the dead-air space provided by the chambers for their r-values it makes sense to keep it below then too.

I hope to use the X-Therm this winter.

Providing we HAVE a winter this year. ;-)

Does the reflective coating really make much of a difference? My understanding is that most of the increased R-value comes from the extra baffles inside the pad. It would be interesting to compare whether the system is warmer with the CCF on the top (though losing something from the reflective baffles) or with the CCF on bottom (and missing the extra warmth from the foam on top).

I don't think the reflective coating makes any difference. Basically, as the other comments mention, put the foam underneath to protect the pad or put it on top for maximum warmth. Inch for inch, there is more heat loss on the sides of a NeoAir then there is with foam that has identical (top to bottom) R value. Basically this is because it is thicker (more surface area). If heat loss on the sides (and the top) are non-existent, then it shouldn't make any difference.

Now, it is possible that the new pads are now warmer (inch for inch) as foam. If this is the case, then foam on the bottom makes sense.

Generally speaking, I wouldn't worry about it, and put the foam underneath (which is what I do). There isn't much warmth added either way, but there is a lot of extra protection.

when the ridgerest came out with a reflective layer, the R value increased by a not insignificant amount, so it must make some difference …

i put the foamie under to protect the pad as others have said …

Even if the reflective layer helps a lot, I'm not sure what difference it makes where it is. Either it is warming the sleeping bag or the foam pad. Generally speaking, it doesn't matter where things are with regards to heat loss into the ground. Heat loss out of the sides and top is a different matter.

I can speak from experience that with the Original NeoAir, a ccf pad ON TOP will provide/maintain more warmth than when it is under the NeoAir.

I need to get one of the All Seasons though so I can see if there is a difference with it though… sounds like a good plan… :)