Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm MAX Camping and Backpacking Sleeping Pad

It is really for thur hikers! it was still warm less than 20F but very hot in daytimes. Approved!

If you winter camp, then this is the one... stop looking for alternatives. Due to the high price, it took me a solid 3 months to finally pull the trigger on this pad, but I'm really happy I did. I didn't have anywhere locally to test the pad out beforehand, so I had to rely on reviews spread throughout the 'net.Why do you want this pad? You want it because it'll keep you warm where other pads will leave you wishing you had a warmer sleeping bag. For comparison, I was sleeping on a Big Agnes air core (R-Value of 1) and woke up one night to the very unpleasant feeling of freezing. The coldest part of my body was my entire back, and it felt like the heat was being pulled out from under me. Fast forward a few weeks, with my new my XTherm (R-value 5.7) on an even colder night, and I slept like a baby! I don't know how it works so well, but it honestly feels like you have a small heater on your back.The benefit of a higher R-value pad is that you can get away with a smaller sleeping bag. I have a winter bag and a 3-season bag, and with the addition of this pad, I will be selling my winter bag.UPDATE (8/16/16):I still absolutely love this pad. I've used it many nights since purchased, and it hasn't let me down. The pad is so warm that I've converted over from a 30* sleeping bag to a 50* down blanket... It seriously works that well. Though this is probably seen as more of a cold weather sleeping pad, I've had no issues using it throughout the summer. Since the pad is so much warmer than other options, you'll have to lighten up your sleeping bag in the summer. This is very beneficial to me, because a lighter sleeping bag means more space and less weight in your backpack! Another benefit for me is the ability to side sleep. I don't ever remember sleeping so well on my side with any other pad. Despite the Big Agnes air core being 3.25" tall, it was still not as comfortable for side sleeping.

I just took this pad out for a overnight trial on the trail with a low of 24F. First, this pad is the first and only pad I've ever laid on where I was warm immediately. Holy cow! I don't know what you guys did, but this pad should be classified as a 'lay on heater'. I put this down in my tent with my down quilt over it, came back later and it was still just as inflated as I had left it. I slept with the pad inside the quilt so I wouldn't have to worry about rolling off. I've never, ever, slept as well as I have with this pad. It was cold (at least to me) at 24F, but I crawled in and fell asleep in minutes.The best part about this IMHO is the air fill bag that converts into a chair. This saved me 24 oz when compared to the 17.1 oz chair I normally carry with the 7 oz ground/sand sheet. Seriously, this bag turns this pad into one awesome chair!! This got me to a base wight of 9.6 lbs.Just a lesson for some of you out there. You WILL NOT find a better pad. Period. Seriously, stop buying the cheap ones that just don't quite work how you expect, or that don't provide you with the comfort to sleep on your side. This pad beats every other pad I've ever owned. That's 11 pads in 6 years. If I would of listened to my backpacking buddies who told me to just go with this pad, and that I would never regret it... I would of slept better for years, had more peace of mind, and never been cold.I can't say enough good about these pads. Where have 'you' been my whole life :)

Inflated for the first time last night in my spare room to try it out - plenty big (I'm 5'11" and 230) and comfy. I could feel the heat immediately. Not too noisy as the NeoAirs (the orange ones, anyway) can be. At 50 I'm not going back to the Ridge Rest (which was plenty warm for 3 season) - this is my little bit of luxury in the northeastern forests.It worked fine for back and side laying and with CCF pad under it, suspect it will be perfect for winter camping as well. Not the lightest, but easily as light as the Exped I had. The reason I switched from the Exped to this product is that the Exped has an annoying inflation nozzle and this does not.Like all mats, it needs to be cared for to avoid punctures. I pack mine in a bivy rolled up with my sleep gear. It is never in direct contact with an outdoor surface.Updated - I've spent 5 nights on it so far - down to 25ish two nights. Warm, very comfortable. Saw another on the trail as well and that guy loved it as well. It's a real commitment to blow it up, but once inflated worth every penny and ounce. This will be my go-to pad for the next couple of seasons, I suspect.Update: 7 years in, still using this awesome pad. I imagine the newer one is just as good (better, probably) as they have changed the location of the air valve to the side and have made it a little thicker. Great pad. Wouldn't hesitate to buy the newer model when this one finally (if ever) dies.