Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm MAX

Best sleeping pad I ever owned. Never cold. Packs small, weighs about a pound. Have mastered the inflation sack and it's much faster than by mouth, drier too. I'm 6 foot, 215 pounds and have the max version, plenty big for a large restless sleeper.

All the reviews extoll its warmth, and I agree. Slept on frozen bare ground at about 20 degrees, felt warm on the pad all night. Others have complained about the noise, I haven't heard it, but neither have I heard myself snore, which I aim told I do loudly.

Everyone complains about the price. I recently paid $175 to stay at a Best Western motel, for one night, so similar price for the XTherm seems reasonable as I have over 50 nights on it now and going strong. Take the time to learn the inflation sack, place pad on ground with sack attached opening up, puff lightly into sack to fill it out, pinch the top closed and press down, nothing to it and around 20 cycles to inflate the max.

Started hiking in the dim past with a 3/8" blue foam pad, much better than sleeping on just the ground. Moved up to a Therm-a-Rest Trail Pro about 20 years ago and thought it was the best thing ever to sleep on as it kept me totally off the ground and much warmer, but was bulky.

Finally got an XTherm for a friend headed to Nepal, then decided what the hell, and got a max for myself. Have never regretted it even at the price. I roll over many times at night and am generally a side sleeper, have not had any issues with falling off the pad.

The rest of my gear is old school, Kelly pack, Snow Lion sleeping bag, Moss tent, like that. This pad is one piece of newer gear that is really an innovation. You will choke on the price once, and you will sleep comfortable and happy many many times. My daughter used one on a through hike and developed a slow leak. Returned to Cascade Designs, and they sent her new pad. A company that has that kind of warranty is one worth doing business with.

Background

Started hiking in the '70s, don't go as far or for as long but still spend 20 or 30 nights a year in a tent, including wintertime.