Neoair Uberlite – Any Problems??

I’ve only used my  V1 2018/19 version a few nights so far, all good. Slept well. I’ve seen a few YouBubes by well respected UL hikers with many nights on them with no problems. My take is that it is a UL/SUL product and requires a bit of common sense to prevent damage and some on VueGuber are more about making lotsa quick vids and may not be UL savvy even if they may be thruhiker experienced. Note that the new V2 one maybe not yet available will have a different 2 part valve for faster inflation/deflation.  Expensive, but a winner.

One BPLer, in a different thread, has had two failures with two Uberlites, FWIW. I’ve only had mine out a couple of times, no issues yet. I also use a 1/8″ thinlite pad under it when I take it.

Mine has ~10 nights and working well. Only issue is that it seems hard to get all the air out of it when rolling up compared to my XLite and XTherm. Perhaps there is something different in the baffling that makes it harder for air to escape.

So, what’s the consensus on the R-Value? It’s listed as pretty low… any noticeable issues in this regard?

I only have 4 nights so far, but things are fine. It’s quieter than my other Neoairs. No R value concerns, but then it is summertime and this is a summer mattress. I too find it a bit harder to deflate fully and chalked it up to breath condensate causing the supple fabric layers to stick together inside the mattress and not allow air to move as freely at the end of deflation.

It is scary light and probably needs extra care. That said, in many years of use I have only gotten a single hole in a Neoair.

We bought 2, one of which very slowly lost air when left inflated overnight as a test before it was actually used and was replaced. I was surprised that they came packaged in a box with an open window leaving part of the actual pad exposed.

They’ve survived 4 nights out so far. Used with a thin (2mm?) aluminium-covered ccf mat underneath they kept us warm at minus 5C.

where does one find a 2mm thick aluminum covered CCF pad?

• There are plenty on eBay. AliExpress too.

No problems with mine so far. But I’d remember to take your belt off/keys out of pockets etc before getting on it too.

I bought a much patched xtherm, all the holes were on the top side, about waist level….

Just used two UberLite pads for two weeks on the GR-10 between Andorra and the Mediterranean Sea. Had no issues at all and was very happy about the weight savings compared to my old XLite pads. After this good experience I will take them next month for three weeks on the JMT.

I just got out of the Winds on a 29 night trip with mine. No issues. It was used inside a BD mega bug with a 50in ridgerest underneath to add r-value for a cold, snowy first half of the trip. At 6oz the torso sized pad was perfect for me and packs away easily.

I’ve used mine about 10 nights in a variety of conditions, with thin polycro ground cloth.  I found that it seemed to loose a small amount of air overnight, either from a pinhole leak or from breath inflation cooling.  I normally use a pump sac to inflate my xtherm, so I’m not sure how much warm condensation affects the internal pressure.  Either way, I think if you’re careful with ultralight gear, its a good pad.  As far as R-value, I got it to substitute for my xtherm during warm months.  I think it works great, and have slept on it comfortably in the mid-30s with a quilt and jacket.

Four Nights  on mine. No issues. Summer temps. Though I also use a gossamer gear 1/8 cuff pad for emotional comfort.

UPDATE 8/18

I brought this pad on the second course of my summer, a 3 week trek through the Winds. Under the same setup above (inside a tent, over a CCF pad) I experienced a pinhole on the bottom of the pad that I fixed with SilNet on about night 34 of total use, and by night 40, had blown two internal baffles. By night 48 on the Uberlite, four internal baffles had blown out (all on the underside of the pad) and had rendered it essentially useless. I just sent out the pad to Cascade Designs for a warranty repair/return. Sorry, I didn’t take any photos.

If you are a heavy user (lots of nights in the field) and heavier (I’m about 6’2″ and 200lbs) I’d be strongly considering the possibility that the Uberlite wasn’t designed adequately for your needs. FWIW.

If you are a heavy user (lots of nights in the field) and heavier (I’m about 6’2″ and 200lbs) I’m strongly considering the possibility that the Uberlite wasn’t designed adequately for your needs. FWIW.

I’m 5’10” sub 150 lbs… I don’t think that matters. Based on your experience I’m out. Thank you for the update.

There’s “light” and there’s “stupid light” – this product sounds like it belongs in the latter category.

I’ve only used mine five nights so far, all fine, very comfortable and quiet. I found it easy to inflate and deflate after watching the manufacturer video on the topic, some nice hints there tomake it easier. No trouble at all. No idea how long it will last, but I’m careful with all my gear.

Chad –

Sea to Summit are claiming that it’s not possible to achieve a reliable weld with a 20D fabric, so the 15D on the Uberlight is really pushing it. I’m not surprised to hear that baffles are blowing after moderate use.

Dixie of Homemade Wanderlust and her mom both had uberlites have leaks they couldn’t repair. Thermarest’s customer service response was not very helpful for someone on a long hike.

I used the Uber light this summer and on my 2nd night of use it began losing air. Never did find a hole. I sent it back to REI and bought the NEMO closed cell foam pad for my summer sleep system. I have the Thermarest trekker and XTherm both of which have been reliable. I’ll not trust the Uberlight again.

Yeah, I was worried they would be trouble. Light is right, too light is no good. It needs to work and be reliable for more than 40 nights. That isn’t even a full hiking season for me. But, in Therm-o-rests defense, we (as hikers) have asked for a lighter pad. Like the originals, they are finding the weak points through their sales, and, they WILL correct things. As Ron Bell was saying, V2 will have an improved valve. This could very well be the source of the problems. Like the old Neoairs that only had a ring of plastic to bond the valve to, they corrected this with a side laminated larger piece of plastic improving the mount on the XLights.

I started this thread after seeing the Homemade Wanderlust video and thought I would share my experience on my recent 10-day  Sierra hike.  I’ve never shaved so much weight…got the food almost perfect, 8×10 HMG tarp, MLD bivy w/cuben bottom….and the Uberlite. It performed flawlessly, and unlike Ryan Jordan, I’m of the 6′ 2″, 225 lb. variety. I did inspect every campsite thoroughly,  and I also used a 1/8 inch GG foam pad as additional protection.

Maybe I got lucky….blown baffles (experienced with an Exped pad) are something that would kill a hike like that. Not as comfy as my insulated pad but I certainly enjoyed the weight savings.

I purchased from REI and will likely continue to use for weekenders and will  return if something happens. For now I’m good, but the mixed reviews certainly leave a tiny niggling doubt. I do like to hike in confidence.

Russ

I also used a 1/8 inch GG foam pad as additional protection.

I guess I’m not following the logic here…

A Neoair Xlite is 12oz’s, R3.2

A Neoair Uberlite is 8.8oz’s, R2

Add the GG pad (2.5 oz’s / R0.5), and your Uberlite now is 11.3oz’s… you shaved a whopping 0.7 oz, but have a bulkier, more fragile sleeping pad system with lower R value.

Bradmacmt –

Sorry for the confusion…my previous pad was a long/wide X-therm….r 5.7…a beast at 23 ounces. The Neoair for the same size is 19 ounces (hope I got that right), and the Uberlite in the same size is 12 ounces.

I should add that the GG pad was a total after-thought…packed to my fears and all. Shouldn’t have to do that so the 2.5 ounces was never in the original equation.

Again, these  are long and wide comparisons. Maybe 6 or 7 ounces is not worth losing sleep, pun totally intended! Maybe I should just lose 5 or ten pounds!

Russ

No worries Russ,I was just using the sturdier, warmer XLite as a better comparison… a more “apples-apples” comparison to the Uberlite.

I used the size regular as a standard to understand the differences, not as a reference to the size you use.

I should have been more clear too!

Either way you look at it, I think the Xlite is a better alternative… my guess is, like the Big Agnes fragile Dyneema tent offerings, the Uberlite will go the way of the Dodo bird.

But I’m often wrong :)