THERM-A-REST "Neoloft" & MSR "Habbahaba LT" Review: The age where you can carry the comfort of your bed with a backpack is finally here. Incredibly comfortable mountain tents and mats that keep weight down

When I think about it, I have experienced a lot of sleep in the mountains over the years. Some of them had a pleasant, sound sleepy night, while others had no sleepiness that I never wanted to experience again. Although there is no single cause for these, there is no doubt that one of the biggest factors was the good and bad sleep system.

THERM-A-REST Neoloft released this season , the first time I was able to get up because it was not flattering, but rather because it was so shocking that it made my hips fall apart. The pads, which maintain their lightweight and compactness at a minimum, offer a unique level of comfort, have the potential to overturn the conventional wisdom of mountain sleeping pads.

we will review Habahaba LT , an updated backpacking tent that can be accommodated without any problems MSR's ever-present masterpiece the Habahaba series , combined with this innovative mattress, change your mountain climbing? What are the standards for comfort for these two that have been opened up? I stayed in a tent at Mt. Yatsugatake, just before the end of the rainy season, so I'd like to dig into it straight away.

Overview: THERM-A-REST "Neoloft (Regular)" MSR "Habhaba LT 1" Main features

THERM-A-REST "Neoloft"

THERM-A-REST 's latest air mattress, " Neoloft ," is a backpacking air mattress with extremely high comfort that completely changes the concept of sleep when climbing. The wide, 56cm square design makes it easy to turn over and over, preventing it from slipping by slightly raised on both sides, allowing for optimal posture for any sleeping style. The 11.7cm thick and stretch knit outer fabric has a comfortable feel and elasticity, providing a comfortable sleeping experience like a bed at home, even on the roughest ground. The latest insulation structures, "ContourCore Matrix™" and "ThermaCapture™", provide an R value of 4.7, which is sufficient for three seasons, and has insulation that can be used all year round except for harsh winters, making it quiet. Despite the ease of use and durability thanks to the TwinLock™ valve system, which allows for easy air in and out, it weighs 710g, making it a realistic weight and compact enough to pack to the size of a 1-liter bottle. Available in three sizes: regular, regular wide and large.

Favorite points

• Unbelievably comfortable sleeping experience for mountain climbing
• The wide, gentle size is both upward and sideways, and features a design that prevents mats from falling off.
• Even when you turn over in bed, the sound is quiet
• High insulation for 3 seasons (although it can be done all year round)
• Durable underside fabric
• Easy setting with a unique valve and large dedicated pump sack

Interesting points

• price
• It's a bit heavy for people who want to prioritize lightness and speed.
• Due to the luxurious thickness and size, the tent must be combined with a model with a size that is reasonably spacious.

Main Specifications and ratings

MSR "Habahaba LT 1"

MSR's Habahaba LT is the latest model in its representative series, which has been around for over 20 years, and is a single-person double-wall freestanding tent with lightweight yet spacious living space and ample weather resistance. The larger floor space was designed based on the large size of Thermalest's sleeping mat " Neoloft ", and by reviewing the hub structure of the pole, there was even more room in the entire living space, including the headspace. The micromesh area of ​​the tent body has been expanded, and the large ventilation positioned at both ends of the fly makes it extremely breathable. It has many practical functions that are easy to use even for beginners, such as a self-supporting structure that is easy to set up anywhere, gear storage that is convenient for organizing luggage, and standard clotheslines, making it the perfect tent for hikers and mountaineers who want to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities such as camping, backpacking, and mountain climbing without compromising.

Favorite points

• Large space and highly comfortable living
• Highly breathable due to inner mesh and large ventilation.
• Lightweight and compact enough to take into consideration high comfort
• Even beginners can easily set up anywhere, making it easy to withstand bad weather
• Abundant and convenient storage inside the tent
• Excellent roll top storage bag that is easy to pack when retracted
• Gutter on the door zipper ("Gutter" with additional flap material) system that prevents rain from collecting rain at entrances and exits
• Linear zipper entrance and exit that can be easily operated with one hand

Interesting points

• It is desirable to use the footprint together, but it must be sold separately.
• A little care is required for side walls that are close to vertical in extreme winds (it is recommended to install the groom line at all times).
• price

Main Specifications and ratings

THERM-A-REST Neoloft: Detailed review

Once you sleep, you'll never want to get up again, so soft and flat, quiet and comfortable sleeping experience

I tried using this mat to stay at Yatsugatake tent in July, but no matter what I put it, I can't help but talk about it because of the honest excitement I felt at the time. Anyway, the sleeping comfort was so impressive that it would be more memorable than any mattress I had slept in (which is suitable for mountain climbing), and that night I was able to experience a bed so comfortable that I wouldn't believe it was a tent spot for mountain climbing. It feels more like a bed than a pad or mattress. Looking into the details to delve into this comfort factor, we can see that no matter where you look, from the material to dimensions, thickness and form, this pad is designed to provide the ultimate in comfort.

For example, the outer fabric that touches your body. The soft stretch knit material has an extremely comfortable feel and fit, and does not have the vinyl feel or crispness that is common with many pads, and gently snuggles up to your body, just like a sheet on top of a mat.

The mat's size and design are as luxurious as the rectangular design, 185cm tall and 56cm wide , which is thought to be a bit over-spec for mountain use, under conventional wisdom. The horizontal baffles provide a uniform sense of support, and the slightly higher side rails create a feeling of gently wrapping around your body, allowing me to turn over in my sleep with peace of mind, without worrying about the edges of my body falling down. Of course, those on their back can enjoy the spacious bed. Incidentally, the sound of turning over in bed is also extremely quiet. It's also nice that there are wide RW sizes and large L sizes overall.

The 11.7cm thicker, which is significantly more thick than any backpacking mattress , is one of the factors that creates this amazing comfort. Of course, it felt different from the cheap air mats that are just thick and sold on Amazon, and the weight was evenly distributed, and there was no pressure or wobbling, giving it a sense of stability like a product that is commonly used at home (this comfort is due to the internal structure of the mat, which will be described later).

High insulation that can be entrusted to you for a year except for the harsh winter season

ContourCore Matrix™ Image (Quote: MSR Official Website)

The global standard R value (ASTM F3340) for the sleeping pad warmth is 4.7 for this mat . This is slightly higher than the 4.5 version of the brand's lightweight air mattress, the Neo Air X Light NXT seasons, and has a high level of insulation that can be considered to be compatible with all-season use if used in mild winter, even on snow or frozen ground. Even after actually sleeping (although it's only a few days), I couldn't really feel any sign of the cold.

The high insulation of Neolofts due to its thickness and its unique chamber structure, the ContourCore Matrix ™ This is composed of triangular chambers stacked in two rows, which allow efficient insulation by minimizing heat loss caused by convection. ThermaCapture" located inside (also used in the Neo Air series) also efficiently reflects the body's heat, allowing for high insulation even with limited weight.

By the way, the two-row chamber structure supports the sinking of the body due to weight, and the lower part maintains bulkiness, minimizing bouncing and rebound when lying down and rebound due to movement, providing a stable sleeping experience.

Although it is not extremely light, considering comfort, it is a perfect passing weight and storage capacity.

Of course, even pads that are so comfortable and heat-retaining, it's completely pointless if they had heavyweight like camping mats. The innovation of this mat is that it packs this comfort into a "convincing" weight and compactness.

Despite its excellent thickness and insulation, this mattress can be stored in a compact stuff sack that is just a size larger than a 1-liter Nalgene bottle.

It also weighs about 710g, which is certainly a bit heavy for a mountain sleeping pad. If you're someone who's addicted to ultralight, you might stop reading reviews at this point. However, for those who don't find weight that problem at the moment, or those who want to place as much importance on comfort as possible, without excessive weight, this weight and storage size can be said to be a level worth considering.

Reliable durability with reinforcement in the necessary areas without being made thin or weak.

Some ultra-light pads are made from thin and weak fabrics so that they must be used with care, but Neoloft is not a mattress that must be handled with such a careful care.

The front side is made of 50 denier stretch knit polyester, while the back panel is made of 75 denier thick polyester. This fabric is the same thickness as that used in models that are above standard durability, so as long as it is used inside the tent, there is almost no need to worry about puncture. I lay it on exposed soil ground for testing and shooting and slept, but there was no particular problem (but be careful of sharp gravel and metal on the ground). Of course, it also comes with a repair kit in case of an emergency.

Easy to use, allowing even beginners to prepare and clean up smoothly without hesitation

At first glance, it may seem like a hassle to inflate or clean up pads with such a large volume, but in reality, this was also a unfounded worry. You can do both setting up and cleaning up without any stress.

the TwinLock Valve System that comes with this mat has an inflation valve and a contraction valve divided into intake and exhaust, and each displays labels "IN" and "OUT" so you won't have to worry about how to use it. The valve can also be fine-tuned, allowing you to adjust it to the optimal hardness level even after inflation.

To fill up the air, you use the large pump sack that comes with it, which is also perfectly large enough to pump a large amount of air in one go, allowing you to fill it with quickly. The pump sack is firmly secured when inserted into the intake valve, and can easily swell if you blow a little distance into the large opening or breathe, and if you roll the opening and seal it, air will not leak unnecessary. After trying it out several times in the test, I was able to completely inflate it in an average of about four times (just under 2 minutes).

When you're done using it and folding, you can easily deflate the air by opening the OUT valve on the opposite side of the IN (photo below).

THERM-A-REST Neoloft Summary: No room for those who want a comfortable bed if it's not too heavy

Neoloft is a backpacking sleeping mat that has the best sleeping experience I've tried in reviews so far. And Neoloft is that it offers realistic size and weight (which could be thought of as a climb) for its incredible comfort.

Certainly not lightweight and expensive, but it is irreplaceable with the best promised rest on any ground. On long trips, weight considerations are certainly important. However, there must be many people like me who have come to an end when they have been able to sleep soundly no matter how harsh a bed is. Neoloft offers new options that have never been seen before for harsh backpacking, where effective sleep is essential

some tents can take up a considerable amount of space , as they have different widths and heights than conventional wisdom . Depending on your height, a lightweight tent with a minimum size may interfere with the ceiling, so be careful when combining it with it.

This is where we'll be introducing the Habahaba LT, a tent with a comfortable space that fits perfectly with the size of this Neoloft , and also delivers high performance, as well as the new MSR product .

MSR Habahaba LT: Detailed Review

Living space is even more spacious and comfortable than the previous model

Habahaba Series which can be considered the face of MSR , was its good balance, combining stable protection and comfortable living on a high level. To put it simply, this update is "it's been further refined in terms of comfort by being compatible with Neoloft I'd like to start writing about what has changed and how it has changed, starting from the perspective of trying out recent models.

It has been widened in all floor spaces, heights and upper spaces

First of all, the expanded size. Neoloft mat in it, the overall interior space of the tent, including the floor area, has been expanded numerically and physically. First, the floor area has been expanded from the previous model's "216 x 76 cm" to 224 x 81 cm This gives you plenty of room in both sides and headspace of the Neoloft

Furthermore, the height inside the tent has been significantly increased from "94cm" to 99cm You can quickly see that they are clearly taller when compared to any of the tents in the market, if you look at the tents set up by others at the tent site.

This size is achieved in the pole structure, which has been reviewed this time. The ridge pole across the vertex is higher, the pole itself is longer, and the Y-shaped part at the end is also longer (= wide), making the side walls in the head and foot stand more perpendicular, and the internal space is much wider than the previous model.

During the test, we found that if you place your backpack, shoes, stove, etc. in the vestibule, and place the luggage you need for your daily life in the side of the mattress or in the enlarged headroom, even a large mat like a Neoloft can have plenty of space for gear. However, Neolofts , the steps are so high that they cannot be ignored, so the contrast in the space where you place your luggage is neat, for better or worse. It feels like a Japanese-style room where you used to sleep on a futon, now has a Western-style room with a bed.

The space at the height of my face was spacious and there was a much less overall feeling of oppression, and of course, it was not surprising that I would end up feeling tired even if I put a mat as thick as a Neoloft Thanks to the poles that rise vertically from the floor, no dead space is created, allowing you to make effective use of every corner of the tent, making it possible to live in a tent without any stress for a single-person size. The vestibule might be a little bigger, but it's still spacious enough to put your luggage on.

Improved breathability, less condensation

The new Habahaba LT has more mesh parts in the inner tent, and the upper half is almost mesh, making it easier for moisture and warm air that tend to get trapped inside the tent, resulting in a significant improvement in ventilation inside the tent. However, it is not that the entire surface is mesh, and the upper half, which is prone to condensation, is mesh to maximize breathability, while the lower part is plain panel to ensure privacy, and by reducing heat loss caused by air convection, it is a balance that prevents cold air from passing through too well.

The rainfly also has a large ventilation system, just like the previous model. The distance between the rainfly and the inner tent is also wide, so air from outside is naturally circulated while keeping the wind tight. With the addition of this breathability to the double wall, there was almost no condensation when I woke up in the morning.

The fly sheet has one ventilation on the head and feet for ventilation. It can be opened and closed with a velcro fastener.

Haba Haba Shield that was released in Japan was sold in Asia as a limited edition model in order to accommodate Japanese mountain and climbing styles, with a special version with a "low mesh area and ventilation" (on the North American model was "with mesh or no ventilation"). This is certainly quite attractive for Japanese mountaineering enthusiasts who prefer tents with small mesh areas, so some people may have been disappointed when the change in specifications was made. However, it is also true that this has lost breathability and heat dissipation, and in that sense, considering the concept of this work, it makes sense in a way that the mesh area has increased (preferred comfort in a warmer environment), and it is not a question of which is correct. Rather, considering the current environment where summers continue to grow longer and more and more, the design concept, which emphasizes breathability in response to heat, is quite a good idea. Personally, I can prevent the cold by wearing it, but I'm the type of person who thinks there's nothing I can do about the heat and stuffiness, so this is a welcome change of specifications for me.

A wealth of storage inside the tent makes it even more convenient

The abundant storage space that is familiar to Habahaba is still in good condition, with a large mesh pocket on the side of the tent (a hole for passing cables through the corners) and two mesh pockets on the ceiling, making it as convenient as ever.

I had a mobile battery, smartphone, portable radio, glasses case, lighter, insect repellent, caps, gloves, etc. in the side pockets, and headlamps, towels, toothbrushes, wristwatches, sunglasses and glasses on the ceiling.

Another great feature is that the new product comes with a standard clothesline where you can dry wet gear, towels, hang lanterns, and sunglasses, as well as a clothesline where you can hang sunglasses. Generally, every tent has a loop for hanging a rope (it was the same with the previous Habahaba), but it's hard to see that it comes as standard from the beginning, so it feels a little bit of a surprise.

Easy to set up and pack, designed and structured with ease of use and security

Although there have been no major changes from the previous model, except for the detailed improvements to the setup, it is still simple and easy to set up. It is a self-supporting dome-shaped mountain tent that is easy to set up anywhere, and the poles and Guylines are pre-set with a hub structure, and eight mini-ground hog tent stakes come with it, making it easy to set up even in harsh conditions, making it easy to set up, even if beginners take it out of the bag for the first time.

The footprint and four corners of the inner tent are fixed with the included pegs (Photo 1). I hang poles on the grommets on the four corners (Photo ②), hook the inner tent (Photo ③), set the ridge poles (Photo ④), and complete the inner tent. Cover the fly sheets and secure the four corners to special hooks (Photo ⑤), and finally secure the various gig lines with pegs to complete the process (Photo ⑥).

Although it is fine, the metal attachment points that connect the fly to the tent have now been upgraded. It is lightweight, durable, and easy to operate (photo below).

On the other hand, one thing that bothered me when setting up the tent or fly was that when setting the poles on the tent or fly, the tent tended to be slightly curled inside due to the tension in the fly, and in order to properly lay it down, it was necessary to spread the corners firmly with pegs and hit them. It's not particularly fatal inconvenient, but this is a tent-specific event that is not often seen in normal freestanding tents, so you need to be careful when setting up the tent. If someone has doubts in a similar situation, it is a good idea to hit the pegs on the four corners firmly.

A rainfly with a sufficiently weather resistant structure and a detailed rain-responsiveness

If you place emphasis on comfort and close the angle of the wall vertically, wind resistance will inevitably be at the expense of this tent, and it cannot be said that this tendency is not at all true. However, the angle of the rainfly itself does not go that steep, and there are standard four Guy Line Points to withstand strong winds, so by pegging these firmly, you can ensure a certain level of weather resistance even in strong winds.

Although we were not hit by that strong wind this time, by pegging the tent and fly firmly to make the tension stronger, we felt a good sense of stability and were able to maintain the tension even when exposed to long rain.

As for protection against rain, the fly material is 20D ripstop nylon, with a water pressure of 1200mm, which is reasonably high. It was hit by the rain overnight, but it was repelling the rain.

the gutter system (a gutter made from extra flap material) located along the fly's door zipper .

As I came and went, the rain that had accumulated in the fly flowed through the edge of the zipper and prevented water from entering the tent, preventing water from entering the tent, preventing water from flooding near the entrance to the tent and no puddles were formed. In the video below you will see how the rain flows along the gutter.

https://outdoorgearzine.com/wp-content/uploads/PXL_20250705_073624357.mp4?_=1

New roll top stuff sack with easy packing compression strap

It's good that a small storage bag is compact in itself, but if it's too close to the size, it can be very troublesome to store tents that have been wet and bulging out of morning dew. In that sense, the new stuff sack that comes with this tent has a playful feel designed to make packing easier, and the side-loading roll top with compression straps that can be compressed firmly if necessary was perfect for the most convenient use.

Even though it was busy in the morning, I was able to pack without any stress and quickly started my morning activities. The horizontal shape makes it perfect for tying it into the bottom of a backpack.

MSR Habahaba LT Summary: This tent can make the most of the comfort of Neolofts, and is an excellent tent that emphasizes balanced comfort on a high level, overall, even when used alone.

The MSR Habahaba LT 1 is not aiming for the lightest weight, but is a double-wall, self-supporting single-person tent with moderate lightness, extremely comfortable, ease of use and reliability. Not only is it optimized for the size of the Neoloft

What I wanted to check most about this test was whether it is possible to carry products that provide the highest level of comfort in their class and take harsh trips such as tent traversing or backpacking. As I have written about it in the main text, I have confirmed that these are not unrealistically "heavy or bulky" and are at a level that can be carried without any problems once you get used to it. Of course, if you're aiming for an ultra-lightweight style, it's not an option, but it's certainly shocking to see how comfortable it is up to that point, so much so that once you know this, you'll be asking yourself, "Is there really a point in being so focused on being so light?" By making this pair your mountain trekking partner, it may not be an exaggeration to say that you can experience a new style of mountain climbing that has never been seen before, with lightness and comfort at a higher level.

Details and purchase of THERM-A-REST "Neoloft" and MSR "Habhaba LT"

For more information about the product, please also check the official Mochizuki website

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