We have taken the XLite on lightweight multi-day off-trail hikes in the Sierra, brought it on expeditions to Alaska and Patagonia where we slept in snow caves and on glaciers, and have used it for single nights in campgrounds.
It does still have a little of the pool-raft feel, and does not have the spongy feel of the self-inflating ProLite or the more mattress-like feel of the Sea to Summit Ultralight Mat, but we think it is an extremely comfortable mat. Several testers reported that their system with the NeoAir was to inflate it fully, and then when laying on it and about to sleep, opening the valve to let out just a bit of air so that the mattress feels a tad bit squishier. We do think it takes a couple nights to get used to sleeping on an inflatable mat like this, since it feels different than sleeping on a bed. We never notice feeling our hips dig into the ground or any uneven weight distribution when sleeping on our sides. The interior of the mat is made up of 2 stacked layers of triangular baffles, which create an even and supportive surface.
Neo air x lite full#
The NeoAir is a firm yet cushioned sleep surface that is a full 2.5 inches thick when fully inflated. When we add the NeoAir to our backpack, we barely notice that it is there. However, it is remarkably warmer as well as a little bit lighter weight than either of those, so in this case we are willing to forgive a little bit of bulk. It is far smaller than either of the closed cell foam mats or the bulky self-inflating ProLite, but it is a tiny bit larger than the Sea to Summit Ultralight Mat and Klymit Inertia Ozone. With a packed size of 9×4 inches, it is one of the smaller sleeping pads in this test. The NeoAir XLite scores high here as well. Packed SizeĪ twin feature to low weight is small packed size. When going through this weight calculation, choosing the XLite is a sure way to keep the pad as the lightest possible option. The best way to reduce packweight is to reconsider every element to your sleep system: tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad.
This low weight alone is what makes the NeoAir so desirable for backpacking, bikepacking, alpine climbing, or any other type of camping trip where weight is a concern. The only way to get a lower weight sleeping mat is to choose smaller length pads. This is lighter than any other pad in our test. It is advertised as weighing 12 ounces, but when we put it on our scale inside its stuff sack, we recorded only 11.8 ounces. The shining feature of the NeoAir is its low weight. However, in this case, we believe that the high price also equals high performance. At $170 for the Regular length, this is not an inexpensive purchase. The XLite is a premium product, and that is reflected in its price. The Women’s version might be our favorite iteration of the XLite because it is even warmer than the Unisex model. It comes in Small (47 in), Regular (72 in), and Long (77 in) lengths, as well as a Women’s model, which falls in between a short and a Regular size at 66 in. It is lighter, warmer, and packs smaller than most of its competitors. The NeoAir XLite is an air construction sleeping mat that revolutionized the camping mattress market.
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