Biting the Thermarest Xtherm bullet

I have the older version.

I bought it because I only own one mat (and one tent, and one pack and one quilt etc etc). So I needed ‘one mat to rule them all ‘ . The X-Therm fit the criteria 😊.

AND was reported to be durable.  My previous mat (different brand) pretty much sprung a new leak every trip. Miserable. The thermarest hasn’t had one leak in the 7 or so years Ive had it. (now I’ve cursed myself and it’ll go flat next trip 😏).

Enjoy!

I have the older XTherm mummy.  It’s not the most comfortable (compared to my Nemo Tensor All-Season), but man is it warm!

I have two of the older X-Therms.  Both large mummies with one cut down to 60” due to an unfortunate crampon incident.   Several hundred nights and no leaks on either one.  I find it super comfy when on my back and mostly comfy when on my side – which is most of the night – flipping from one side to the other.  I use them year round with the shorter one mostly used for motorcycle trips as my jacket’s back armor makes a great pad and insulation for the legs.

I swore off inflatables about 20 years ago for the usual reasons. I’d owned 3 or 4 and all developed leaks after a couple weeks of use. Some were fixable, others defied detection despite my most earnest efforts.

But I’ve heard so many stories like Megan W’s, of pads that went years or entire thru-hikes without a leak. “Surely”, I thought to myself, “pad materials and technology have improved in the last decades. Now I too can enjoy the comforts of an inflatable in my golden years.”

So I shelled out for an NXT before heading to Scotland to hike the West Highland and Great Glen Ways. It was a little heavier than my cut-down Z-lite but more compact and comfy. I slept great.

So great that I took it on my last leg of the PCT (Cascade Locks to Canada) this summer. It lasted 2 weeks before developing a slow leak that I absolutely could not locate either on the trail or on zero days. I spent the rest of the hike getting up every two hours to blow it up again.

I found one slow leak (using the spray-with-soapy-water method) when I got home, but there apparently is another that I can’t find.

I don’t doubt the stories of those who say their pads have gone years without leaking but I apparently will never enter that charmed circle of the chosen. I accept this as my fate. It’s back to the Z-lite for me, although reinforced with a Gossamer Thinlite pad as a concession to age.

Interesting accounts of the older and newer Xtherm mattresses. John’s “unfortunate crampon incident” sounds funny as hell when phrased that way. The leak in my REI Flash R 5.3 “late fall” mattress was the first time in decades that I’ve experienced a leak. Also it was my 1st insulated air mattress as all the previous Thermrests were foam filled. Luckily the REI Flash had a very slow and did not wake me up until 5 AM,  when I usually get up for hunting anyway. As well it was my last day of hunting.

I have more faith in the Xtherm NXT as it has an even tougher bottom fabric than the original Xtherm.

Also it is my first wide (25″) mattress and I got Large B/C my LL Bean -20 down mummy is size Long which I need for storing boot liners, water, electronics, etc. That it is only a few ounces more than my 3 season R 3.5 Flash is fine because most winter camping gear weighs more anyway.

Also the NXT can be good for late shoulder season camping with my overstuffed Western Mountaineering Megalite because some have mentioned that it helps when a sleeping bag/quilt is not quite warm enough on a lesser mattress.