I’m planning on upgrading my sleeping pads from my old BA Air core and have narrowed it down to:
• Neoair Xtherm MAX (large)
• Neoair all season (large)
I want full rectangles so they pair better with my Accomplice quilt. I want larges for the extra width primarily, but the length can also be used by one of my two dogs (one prefers to sleep at our feet, the other likes his own CCF pad).
My concerns come down to these four key differences:
1. Durability: 75 d vs 30 d top. Dogs have nails, even when trimmed could be sharp. I could potentially add a blanket or sheet to protect the pad which would make durability as wash.
2. Weight: 4 ounce difference (2 oz. per pad). If I have to add protection to the Xtherm then it’s a wash.
3. Warmth: 4.9 vs 5.7. I don’t plan on fully inflating for comfort, quilt is a 20 F, but my wife sleeps cold so I’m leaning towards more warmth if all things were equal. She’s not as keen on backpacking as me, so maximizing comfort is a must.
4. Cost: $100 difference ($50 each pad). I don’t want to spring for the pricier pad if the benefits aren’t there.
Amount of noise is a minor consideration, not sure if they both have the same amount of crinkle.
Note: I’m ruling out Exped since their warmth/weight ratio isn’t as good, aren’t as durable, and don’t seem to fill their insulated pads to the edge.
