New Thermarest NeoAir X-Lite and X-Therm NXT’s now available

Sold out of everything but large.

The X-Lite NXT regulars are available, just click on Lemon Curry color first. Solar Flare not available though.

X-Therm regular, regular-wide and large are all in stock but only in the grey color.

What, no more womens pad with the higher R value?

Correct, no more women’s version. Xlite NXT regular short is somewhat similar.

Darn, the old womens Xlite had an R-value of 5.4. It was a great pad! New one (NXT) is only 4.5. Not good enough for winter snow camping.

Any reason the NXT upgrades would not be offered in the Uberlite versions?

supplement with ccf or thinlite.

Women’s was r5.4 but so small, most likely not large enough for most hikers, especially active sleepers. Most REI reviews said it’s not big enough, returned, etc..

below 15F – xtherm for me, above x-lite and thinlite

Ive noticed per the T-rest PR release 3-4 months ago that Xlite and Xtherm are on clearance, as expected per NXT. But Uberlite is not on clearance. No doubt some profit ratio cannot be realized with a NXT Uberlite. Just my speculation. Perhaps they will do so next year. My speculation only.

There might be engineering challenges which make it impossible for the Uberlite to evolve into an NXT. The super thin materials and design may not lend themselves to it, I don’t know. There are reports of baffles blowing on the Uberlites so making them thicker might exacerbate the problem even more. Just guessing mind you. I have one I’ve slept on for 5 nights and no problems yet. However I’m still not convinced that 15D nylon isn’t just a bridge too far. https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/uberlite-durability-survey/

Thoughts:

1) I find it strange that they came out with the pads in two nearly identical yellow colors. I’d love to know more about that decision. Please note I don’t care about the color of my sleeping pad, I’m just curious how they arrived at the marketing strategy.

2) Argh I wish they would make it in a 25×51. I’m 5’6” and I sleep on my side with my knees curled up.

3) I should probably just buy regular/wide and slice/seal it but it gives me anxiety because it’s such a critical piece of kit and sealing a problem on the edge in the field isn’t going to be repairable.

Matthew, regarding 3), I’ve put well over 3500 miles and months on my xlite pad AFTER I sliced and sealed it. I would not be concerned the least bit!

Yes, there are a number of tutorials on how to cut down and reseal a NeoAir X-Lite. You could take a rectangular NeoAir X-Lite NXT Max (25″ X 72″) and shorten it. All you need is an iron. But I can see how doing that to a $229 pad might be cause for reservation.

I should probably just buy regular/wide and slice/seal it but it gives me anxiety…

…But I can see how doing that to a $229 pad might be cause for reservation.

Jiminy Christmas sleeping pads have gotten expensive, no?  My first-gen NeoAir cost $149.95 in 2010, and I could barely stomach that.

The bad news though…

– They dropped the old design all together. People with limited tent space will now have even less head and foot room with thicker pads. I find that sleeping pads can’t just be deflated to lower them without negative effects to comfort and/or temp rating. These mylar sheet pads get much colder, very quick when deflated too much. More so than other pads, in my experience.

– They also dropped the regular sized Max version. Now you can only get a max square pad in wide or large. I use a max xtherm in regular size and it great for a little more head and foot room without going to a larger pad.

That acceptable, assuming they actually reduced the noise my huge margins. They should be able to sell a lot more of these pads now that one of the most common complaints might have been fixed.

This is bad news for me, 6’2″ and barely squeaking by in my shelters with my 2.5″ pads. I need thinner pads, not thicker.

I’d have rather seen them expand the product line to include a 22.5″ wide pad. The 20″ is SO narrow, and the 25″ is a bit wide to have two of them in a 2 person tent.

 .. sold out

I can wait as I almost touch most shelter walls at 6 ft, and the extra thickness means leaving the net tent behind.  So it’ll change my non-summer shelter system.

Uberlight

Hope they can maybe incorporate “old” Xlite tech into a new Uberlite, updating the latter.  Those returns to REI, etc.. have gotta hurt.

Uberlite with 30d bottom and 3″ thickness would be a nice improvement at minimum weight gain.

You could take a rectangular NeoAir X-Lite NXT Max (25″ X 72″) and shorten it.

I’m thinking about it. I figured I’d start with the regular/wide mummy shaped one to save a little weigh with the curved top. What’s your thinking for starting with a rectangle?

I’d rather they went down to 2″ thick instead of up to 3″…

The height takes up some headroom in tents. I don’t see the need for the extra thickness.

Personally I find the 2.5″ thickness of the last generation X-Lites to be optimum, yet there are lots of backpackers who I’m sure want the extra half inch for a more plush bed. One of the reasons Exped has remained relevant (also flat valves) is because they’ve maintained 3″ plus thick pads in their lineup. Whether it was a good move on Thermarest’s part in terms of sales to go with more thickness on the X-Lite and X-Therm NXT’s only time will tell. However it’s the big reduction in noise which could be the main selling point of these new pads.

With a true elongated A frame shelter like the TT Protrail, Yama Cirriform or tarps I don’t think the 3″ pad will matter much in regards to head and foot room. But with mids that already make it seem like the fly is in your face anyway, the thicker pads could be an issue for sure, especially if you’re taller.

Matthew, as far as rectangular vs mummy shape on cutting down an X-Lite I don’t know. I’ve only modified a Klymit pad, but for a better idea of what to do I’d PM Eric Blanche who posted earlier in this thread because he’s actually done a successful X-Lite mod and the guy is very savvy at DIY.

Not sure if you specifically had in mind the new NXT version Matthew, but if the last generation X-lites are adequate then right now campsaver has the regular/wides for 30% off. https://www.campsaver.com/therm-a-rest-neoair-xlite-sleeping-pad.html?_iv_code=2XV-SLP-THR0226-13214

Matthew here is what a large wide looks like cut down to a height (66″) that might be about right for you. Weighs a hair under 15 oz. You cut it one baffle longer than the length you want (important) then remove the insulation from the end baffle. Iron on hot, let cool then test. After that trim any excess fabric. Easy peasy. Did help that I bought an irregular for a discount:)

Ah, just noticed you want it at 51″. Just cut it further. Starting with a large still makes for a more square pad. Or buy the heavier square one they sell. Maybe its the same once you cut it down.

Did anyone else order a (extra) women’s pad immediately? It’s such a sweet spot for R-value + length vs weight for me (and I’m 6’2″). Bummed on that piece of news.