ThermaRest NeoAir Sleeping Pad

When people think of the word “camping”, what comes to mind is rough trekking on the side of mountains, exploring exotic wildlife resources, and sleeping inside a tent. When camping, you should know what items you should and shouldn’t bring. One of these camp supplies that you can’t do without when backpacking or trekking is a sleeping pad. While it seems unnecessary to bring anything soft while you’re “roughing it out” in the wild outdoors, a comfortable sleeping pad, such as a Thermarest Neoair, will greatly improve your conservation of energy, as well as body heat. However, purchasing a pad for you to sleep on is easier said than done. There are several considerations when picking out the appropriate sleeping material, namely the types, the purpose, and the cost.

Before visiting your local supplies store or shopping online, it may be a good idea to be aware of the different kinds of pads.

1. Air mattresses – these are usually a pretty common type of sleeping material because of cost, and it is also very lightweight making it easier to take with you during camping. However, these are made from very thin fabric so you will need to be careful around anything that may poke or jab into it. Also, regularly inflating it and/or long exposure to heat will decrease the durability of the mattress.

2. Foam pads – these pads are quite affordable and they have two basic types: open cell and closed cell. Both are purposely made to be lightweight and bulky, but they differ in material. The former is ideal to use during the hottest times of the year, as it provides little insulation. The latter, on the other hand, is made from thicker pads and provides more insulation.

3. Self-inflating pads – these mattresses are the most expensive and heavyweight thou they may be worth the extra. They are made from special materials like nylon fabrics, solid linings, and extra-insulation sets. Though these sometimes can be quite costly, they are not disposable and can last for more than a few years of regular use. The Thermarest Neoair is a recognized self-inflating pad from Cascade Design that prioritizes the insulation feature for the mattress. It is a lighter weight pad and conveniently folds up to about the size of a football. It comes with a maintenance kit to allow the user to enjoy it for a very long period of time.

Knowing the purpose of why you are in need to purchase a sleeping bag is essential to pick the right one. It is recommended that you buy a mattress a few days before your camping trip. Take note of the current weather and try to determine if there are going to be any temperature changes in the next few days. Colder temperatures would require you to purchase thermal pads. If you’ll be taking your family with you, it might be best to buy the biggest pad that you can afford.

Cost

The cost of these pads varies from the size, the use, and the brand. Neoair products are usually around $75 to $150. Those that are disposable come at $25 to $50 dollars. This is why it is important to know the type of mattress and your purpose in buying, and if comfort and something that lasts a long time is important to you. Then you will know beforehand how much you’ll be spending.

5.0 out of 5 stars Therma-rest NeoAir, November 27, 2010 By Jezza

"Great light & compact hiking matt easy to inflate with a few good breaths. Doesn't need to be fuilly inflated to work at it's best. Would defintitely recomend to anyone looking for an ultalight matt with a bit of comfort."

5.0 out of 5 stars Thermarest NeoAir iso mat, February 14, 2010 By JF
(Camp Lejeune, NC)

"Most comfortable iso-mat I have ever slept on. Kept me warm with my normal sleeping bag that I was freezing in two weeks before in the same overnight temperatures. Doesn't take up even 1/3 of the space of the military issue iso mat."

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