After a long day in the field, it's essential to recover from fatigue and refresh your mind and body. The most important thing for that is a satisfying meal, and above all, a good night's sleep. A cozy sleeping bag and a comfortable mattress (sleeping pad) will turn your harsh outdoor bedding into a warm and comfortable bedroom
Therm-a-Rest was one of the first to recognize the importance of mattresses, inventing the first air-filled pad about 50 years ago . The company has continued to release innovative sleeping pad products, and remains a leader to this day. Therm-a-Rest's "NeoAir" series, a long-selling series that was released in 2009 and remains a favorite among many mountaineers to this day, has received updates to some models this season.
The previous models in this series have already received high praise from many for their outstanding performance and ease of use, but what else has changed and evolved? We were able to try out one of the upgraded models, the NeoAir X Light NXT , so we'll be reviewing it right away.
table of contents
- The "that" that has been said about the Neo Air series for a long time has finally been improved
- Other fine details also improve performance
- What about the weight, storage capacity, and ease of use?
- Summary: The ultimate air mattress that not only boasts top-class lightness and insulation, but also ease of use and exceptionally comfortable sleep!
The "that" that has been said about the Neo Air series for a long time has finally been improved
The Neo Air series is known as an air mattress that is highly popular worldwide, combining high quality in many of the elements that are important in a sleeping pad, such as lightness, high insulation, and quick setup
However, at the same time, many reviews tend to point out one thing that bothers them: the rustling and crunching noises that occur when you turn over in bed
To be honest, I personally didn't think it was that unbearable, but after taking a look at general public opinion, it seems that some people find it bothersome...and it's not that difficult to find comments online from people who can't stand the rustling sound
This troublesome "noise problem" that has been talked about for many years has finally been improved with this model change
How sound is reduced
The noise of the Neo Air series is mainly emitted from the aluminum heat reflector sandwiched inside (the center) of the mat. In previous models, this aluminum heat reflector was made of a single film, and the rustling/crunching sounds were made when this film was bent. In this new model, the aluminum heat reflector is now made of three (thinner) films stacked on top of each other. This means that the sound emitted when the film is bent is significantly quieter than in the previous model (see photo below)
How much quieter is the sound actually?
Now that you understand how it works, let's listen to the actual sound. Even though it's an improvement, it's still noise you're making while sleeping, so even though the difference is obvious, it's a very subtle one. Listen carefully to the comparison video below (earphones are recommended for those listening on a smartphone)
In the video below, a smartphone noise meter app has been placed in the center so that the sounds can be compared as objectively as possible, but the environment is an ordinary room and the performance of the app itself is not particularly precise, so please use it as a reference only
When comparing them like this, you can see that the old model had a clearly audible "crunching" noise, but the new model (though not silent) is not as bothersome compared to the average air mattress with insulating film. At this point, I don't think anyone would find it bothersome
When I actually slept with the two models side by side in a tent, I found that (habits are scary creatures) my previous belief that it didn't bother me was a lie, as the noise from the old model was quite distracting.On the other hand, the quieter sound from the new model blended in with other sounds (such as the sound of clothes rubbing against the sleeping bag), so it was no longer noticeable as a noticeable noise
Other fine details also improve performance
In addition to the major improvement in quietness, the new model also offers performance improvements in several other areas
Improved cushioning (thickness) for even more comfortable sleep
Comparison of thickness between the old and new models. *The new model (left) is actually a little thicker near the center, so the dotted line is positioned slightly higher
It's easy to imagine that a thicker mattress will generally provide better comfort, as it maintains loft and provides more cushioning even on rough ground. With this latest upgrade, the mattress's inflated thickness has increased by over 1cm, from 6.4cm to 7.6cm. This allows the mattress to provide a stable, flat surface even on uneven terrain where stones and tree roots are more prominent, and is also good news for side sleepers, who tend to be more heavily loaded
The unique horizontal baffles are still as good as ever. The finely divided baffles minimize excessive rebound, and the shallow grooves (depressions) between each tube provide a smooth finish that barely feels uneven when lying down
Increased insulation (R-value) for even warmer weather
Furthermore, the new version's increased thickness has resulted in a slight improvement in the "R-value," which indicates insulation, from 4.2 to 4.5. While "high insulation per weight" was originally one of the series' attractions, the update further enhances its "lightness and warmth." An R-value of around 4 is a highly versatile range that can be used in all seasons except for the harsh winter. Even by Therm-a-Rest standards, the X-Lite NXT is considered suitable for three to all seasons.
What about the weight, storage capacity, and ease of use?
The size, weight, storage, and ease of use remain the same
It would be no laughing matter if, while many things have evolved, other parts have degenerated. I will also carefully check the other parts that I am concerned about
First of all, the size (apart from the thickness) when unfolded is exactly the same between the old and new models (see photo below). And as for the weight, which is probably the most concerning, it's almost the same: new: 354g, old: 340g, so that's a relief
The size and weight have remained almost the same, and the packing size has also remained the same. The high compressibility is evident, as it still fits into roughly the size of a 1L Nalgene bottle, even with the pump sack included (see photo below)
WingLock Valve which was introduced in the previous model, is still in place. The large, sturdy valve allows for quick air injection and release with simple operation (see photo below).
Summary: The ultimate air mattress that not only boasts top-class lightness and insulation, but also ease of use and exceptionally comfortable sleep!
The updated NeoAir X Lite NXT has successfully overcome the only weakness of the NeoAir series, which was originally highly praised: quietness. Furthermore, while there have been improvements in performance and functionality in various other small areas, there are almost no areas that have worsened compared to the previous model, making it a flawless product. For someone like me who already felt there were no blind spots with the previous model, this feels like dessert has been gently placed on top of my already full stomach.
Of course, there are certainly other options for people who just can't stand air mattresses, don't like horizontal baffles, or are out of their budget range, but in terms of quality alone, it would be difficult to find a more complete inflatable sleeping pad for hikers who prioritize lightness, insulation, ease of use, and durability (which means almost all hikers)
By the way, the NeoAir X Light NXT comes in four different lengths and widths, and the lineup also includes the rectangular NeoAir X Light NXT MAX, as well as the NeoAir X Thermo NXT and NeoAir X Thermo NXT MAX, which offer the highest level of insulation.It's great that there are a wide variety of options available to suit the season, purpose, and preference
We hope you all have a great hiking season with this comfortable air mattress, which has reached a new level of perfection
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