If you’re one who can appreciate the full worth of a cozy night’s sleep after a long day of bicycle touring, then you won’t have much of a problem blowing air into this sleeping pad. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite is one of the most comfortable sleeping pads I have slept on. We spend a third of our lives sleeping so why not do it comfortably while out camping. I know some of my best memories of sleep were spent in my tent after a long day of biking.
Before I started using the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite sleeping pad my nights were spent sleeping on the Ridge Rest SoLite closed-cell foam pad. While that is a great pad for effortless setup, I wanted something more compact and lightweight for bicycle touring trips. Bicycle touring pack mantra is to travel as light as possible – leave the kitchen sink at home and cut your gear in half. Cutting down the weight on certain items can enhance your entire riding experience with a lighter bike.
Space was a concern for me with my Ridge Rest SoLite as it’s not very compact at all. It is rolled up and mounted on handlebars, taking up the entire real estate of the cockpit leaving little room for other items. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite was the answer and weighing in at only 12oz for the regular size pad and about the size of my water bottle. I was able to pair this pad with my tent inside of my dry bag and mount it to my handlebar system during tours.
Recently I went on a bicycle touring trip to the Catskill Mountains, and at night temps were in the mid 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit. With the 3.2R value and ThermaCapture technology that the NeoAir XLite has, I had no problems with keeping warm and cozy in my tent.
If you’re a side sleeper like myself then this is, without doubt, one of the best pad’s out there. I sometimes toss and turn around at night to find the coziest spot in my tent. At 2.5 inches thick, it offers more support then it’s foam counterparts. When tossing and turning, the air pad can make friction noises that can be disturbing to some, however the comfort out weights the noise for me.
Note: This product was purchased, rider tested and reviewed based on personal experience.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Spacious and offered in multiple sizes
- Packable
- Temperature regulating
- Comfortable
Cons
- Noisy when turning
- Takes some time to blow up
- Pricy investment
Parts List Breakdown
Links below to purchase all gear.
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Ridden & Written by
Dwayne Burgess (Manual Pedal)
*This review is based on my personal opinion and experience. All parts were purchased on my own and links provided are affiliate partnerships with Amazon.
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