Alternative to a Thermarest Neo Air

the UL solution is foam earplugs for the family!

I take it your not married with kids or you are the Man of the house.I just say yes Dear..

You could try one of the new covers that Enlightened Equipment makes. I think that would help mitigate the noise, and its cheaper than a new UL pad.

http://enlightenedequipment.com/pad-cover/

Tim Marshall posted that his new pad cover will not tone down the noise.

What is plan “B” then..I guess a Neo Air Xlite with no R value..I think the noise is the insulation..

The X Therm might be quieter. My All Season isn’t very loud. Exped mats are a popular option but I’ve read the top fabric can be squeaky.

I used an Exped Synmat UL 7 S specifically because I didn’t like the noise of the Neoair. Or the feel. The Exped is much more soft in my opinion.

Little heavier than the Neoair, but I’m a light sleeper. Needed some quiet time!

Currently retired my UL 7 S and moved to a Exped Synmat Duo for the lady.

Massdrop partnered with Klymit to make a 20D fabric insulated static V that weighed 16oz for the regular and 24oz for the large, 17 for regular https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-klymit-ultralight-v

SeatoSummit I think have some in the 21oz large range as well.

http://www.seatosummitusa.com/product/?item=UltraLight+Insulated+Mat&o1=3&o2=3&o3=907

Read a post where a guy said the more you sleep on it the quieter it get’s..I’m going to sleep on it for 2 months and see..

Jerry my NeoAir short Square old style was very noisy at the beginning after a month on the trail packing unpacking sitting so forth I don’t think I even think about it now it’s seriously quieted down I also use a woman’s NeoAir x-lite in the shoulder season and it was quieter to start with and again after 6 weeks on the trail I don’t think it makes half as much noise it’s probably a lot more packing unpacking and being in the pack that quieted it, a lot like washing  Tyvek a couple of times to get rid of the noise on a ground cloth

You might want to take another look at Nemo pads, especially their relatively new Tensor line, which they claim is quiet. Unfortunately, it’s a little hard to compare warmth:

Thermarest NeoAir XLite, 25 x 77 x 2.5 inches, 16 ounces, warmth: “R-value 3.2”

Nemo Tensor 25L, 25 x 76 x 3 inches, 18 ounces, warmth: “30 to 40F”

Nemo Astro Lite 25L, 25 x 76 x 3.5 inches, 18 ounces, warmth: “35 to 45F”

Nemo Tensor Insulated 25L, 25 x 76 x 3 inches, 21 ounces, warmth: “15 to 25F”

Nemo Astro Insulated Lite 25L, 25 x 76 x 3.5 inches, 23 ounces, warmth: “15 to 25F”

I’ve used an Astro Insulated Lite 20R for a few years, and it’s comfortable, warm, and quiet.

— Rex

Anyone using a Big Agnes q-core Slx?

It intrigues me but I’m concerned about their clear avoidance of the r-rating.

same goes for the nemo mats.

Rex – what sort of temperatures were you looking at with the nemo?

R-values:. Roger Caffin and Will Rietveld’s 2011 testing (Part 1, Part 2) has lots of gory but important details, even if most of the pads they tested are history. “Just quoting an R-value for a mat does not tell you nearly as much as you need to know.”

I’ve been toasty down to around freezing using a Western Mountaineering Megalite 30° bag with the Nemo Astro Insulated Lite 20R . Definitely didn’t feel the cold through the Nemo, as opposed to most of the pads I’ve used.

— Rex

I went from using a NeoAir to a Sea to Summit insulated mat, and even though it is not a thick as a NeoAir, I find I prefer it.  I have the wide Comfort Light, and while it is not as cushy, I also don’t have the sensation that I’m going to roll off of it, so I relax and get a better night’s sleep.  I also LOVE the extra large deflation valve–so much quicker to pack the mat!  It is a little heavier, but the weight penalty is worth it for better sleep, and it is not such delicate material, so durability may be a plus.

The technology for a 1 lb. WINTER (5 R or better) mat is still “not there” so I’ll continue using my Thermarest Trail Pro before laying out more money for a lighter pad.

For 3 season use my Prolite regular is fine. In colder shoulder season or high altitude weather my outer clothes always go under the Prolite, helping considerably with R value.