Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite vs. XTherm Sleeping Pad

Therm-a-Rest makes some great sleeping pads and both NeoAir XLite and NeoAir XTherm are popular pad options for 3-season adventures. The XLite is advertised as having the best warmth to weight ratio on the market and being the gold standard for lightweight backpacking comfort. The XTherm, on the other hand, is slightly heavier but it provides a little more warmth for colder nights. Below is the in-depth comparison of both sleeping pads so keep reading for more details.

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite

Type: Air pad
Shape: Mummy/rectangular
Weight: 12 oz.
Thickness: 2.5 in.
R-value: 4.2

The NeoAir XLite inflatable sleeping pad series from Therm-a-Rest is perfect for those who want to shave weight from their pad without sacrificing durability or warmth.

Construction

This award-winning line was built for ounce counting backpackers. It offers more than two inches of thickness and a heat reflecting interior to give you warm nights in cool conditions.

Inside, the triangular core matrix technology decreases air currents within the pad to keep you warmer. Increased stability means you won’t experience that feeling of sleeping on a pool float. The patent-pending internal reflective barrier actually catches some of that body heat you’re losing and returns it back to you something you’ll appreciate on cold nights.

These pads are available in different sizes and shapes so you can fine-tune your backcountry sleeping comfort. For example, a woman-specific model is designed for smaller bodies and offers additional insulation for colder sleepers.

Valve

Therm-a-Rest’s intuitive WingLock valve system facilitates rapid inflation and deflation and makes adjusting the pad simple. The valve doesn’t allow air to escape during inflation and this valve looks very durable and functional compared to its previous version. Also, the valve allows a big volume of air to pass through, which makes deflation and deflation faster.

Comfort

Combined with the inches of thickness and the heat reflective lining give, this pad gives an R-value greater than 4, perfect for 3-season adventures. The pad features horizontal baffles, which feel much smoother and less noticeable than vertical baffles. The surface of the pad is smooth and it’s very comfortable for sleeping. However, the pad does make some crinkling sound when you move around. This is a well-documented comfort-related issue of the XLite series pads.

Stuff Sack

Therm-a-Rest includes a stuff sack with this pad and it packs down in its stuff sack to about a size of 9 x 4 inches, which is pretty small. It also included a pump sack that makes inflation fast and easy with precious little puffing.

Verdict

These pads are popular among those who want backcountry comfort without undue weight. Offering a revolutionary interior baffle design and heat-reflective lining, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite inflatable sleeping pads are a great option for 3-season adventures. If you want to save some ounces without sacrificing too much comfort and warmth, you should go for this pad. The pad is very light and it retains an impressive R-value of 4.2, which is enough for most 3-season adventures.

What I like: Lightweight, provides good warmth for the weight, small packs size, and versatile

What I don’t: Edges are not as stable as some other options on the market.

See the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm

Type: Air pad
Shape: Mummy/rectangular
Weight: 1 lb. 2.2 oz.
Thickness: 2.5 in.
R-value: 6.9

These pads are popular with cold-weather adventurers and mountaineers. They provide heat-reflective lining, durable easy-to-use valves, and innovative construction. The pad provides 2.5 inches of padding while saving weight and space.

Construction

The NeoAir XTherm has a tapered shape and rounded corners to save weight while the NeoAir XTherm Max offers a wider rectangular profile to provide more room. Both of these lightweight packable pads use horizontal baffles, which, unlike vertical baffles, are less likely to make you feel uncomfortable. Inside those baffles, there are double stacked layers of triangular cells. Therm-a-Rest engineers say these pads offer unparalleled performance with more warmth per ounce than many other sleeping pads.

Inside, there’s a ThermaCapture lining material that reflects some of the body heat you are losing back to you. This combined technology gives these pads an impressive R-value of over 7 meaning that they can insulate you even in very cold conditions.

Valve

Both pads use innovative WingLock valves, which have a one-way flow to allow you to quickly inflate them using the included pump sacks. Deflation is also very quick. When you are ready to pack up, just rotate the wings and the WingLock valve opens completely.

Comfort

The XTherm is one of the most comfortable sleeping pads available on the market. The bottom is slightly narrow and somewhat slippery but it provides a good warmth to weight ratio. This pad is available in both mummy and rectangular shapes so you can choose the one according to your need. But if you don’t mind a few extra ounces, the rectangular shape is worth the extra weight. Keep in mind that this pad does make some rustling/crinkling sound when you move around but you still fall asleep quickly with this pad.

Stuff Sack

Therm-a-Rest does include a stuff sack with this pad and it packs down to a pleasantly small roll. This stuff sack can also accommodate the pump sack along with the pad, which is great. This pad can also be stuffed even with the gloves on. This is a huge plus because it is frustrating to take off gloves in winter just to pack a sleeping pad.

Verdict

With durable high performance construction and easy-to-use valves, grab one of the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm sleeping pads for your next cold-weather adventure.

What I like: Excellent warmth even in super cold weather, packs down super small, lightweight, and very comfortable

What I don’t: Narrow bottom, comes with a hefty price tag

See the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm

Comparison Table

Which one is right for you?

Both NeoAir XLite and XTherm are lightweight sleeping pad options from Therm-a-Rest. Both of these provide a comfortable surface for sleeping and they pack down small. They also look very similar and provide a very similar set of features. The only difference between the two is the weight, warmth, and price. The NeoAir XLite is lighter compared to XTherm but it has a relatively low R-value while the XTherm provides a little more warmth but it comes with some extra ounces.

If you want to save some ounces and you also want to compromise on warmth and a little comfort, you should choose the NeoAir XLite. It weighs only 12 ounces and it is also a versatile option that can be used in all three seasons. On the other hand, if weight is not your major concern and you want a pad that is extremely comfortable, choose the NeoAir XTherm. It weighs a little more but provides good comfort and warmth. In addition to 3-season use, you can also use this pad even in some mild winter conditions.