The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT is an improved version of the NeoAir XLite inflatable sleeping pad which is now thicker, quieter, and warmer than ever. The NeoAir was the first really viable inflatable lightweight sleeping pad to hit the market some 10 years ago but fell behind competitors like NEMO and Sea-to-Summit which eventually developed thicker and more comfortable lightweight sleeping pads to compete with it.
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Specs at a Glance
- Color: Yellow
- R-Value: 4.5 (ASTM F3340-18)
- Size Tested: Regular (72″ x 20″) = also available in Regular Short (60″ x 22″) Regular Wide (72″ x 25″) and Long (77″ x 25″)
- Shape Tested: Mummy
- Mfg Weight: 12.5 oz
- Tested Weight 13.4 oz
- Optional inflation sack: 2.0 oz
- Optional stuff sack: 0.5 oz
- Width: 20 in / 51 cm
- Length: 72 in / 183 cm
- Thickness: 3.0 in / 6.3 cm
- Packed dimension: 9″ x 4.1″ / 23cm x 10cm
- Top and Bottom fabric: 30d High Tenacity Nylon
XLite NXT Sleeping Pad Updates
This new NeoAir XLite NXT update goes a long way to making the NeoAir XLite NXT a serious contender again amongst lightweight inflatable sleeping pads.
Thicker
The updated pad is thicker, increasing from 2.5″ up to 3″ when inflated, making it much more comfortable for side sleepers because there’s more cushion under the hip bone and less of a tendency to bottom out. The added thickness also gives you more “room” to adjust the comfort level of the pad. For example, I find that letting some air out of the XLite NXT makes for a softer surface that’s more comfortable to sleep on.
I think the main reason Therm-a-Rest increased the pad’s thickness was for competitive reasons. The best inflatable sleeping pads available today are at least 3″ thick, with some as thick as 4″, like the Sea-to-Summit Etherlight XT Sleeping Pad which has been my go-to three-season inflatable pad for the past few years. The added thickness really does make a difference in the quality of sleep you get from the pad.
Quieter
The updated XLite NXT is also noticeably quieter in use The previous version of the pad would make a loud crinkly sound when you thrashed around at night, something that tentmates and sheltermates found annoying to listen or in the morning when you deflated the pad and rolled it up. The updated pad makes 83% less noise according to Therm-a-Rest due to changes in the pad’s internal construction.
Does the XLite NXT still make noise? Yes. But it really is noticeably quieter than the previous model. Personally, this change isn’t that important to me. I sleep alone in a tent and my sleeping pad has never kept me awake at night. If I have to sleep near other people, I bring silicone earplugs (and recommend they do too!)
Warmer
The XLite’s NXT’s R-value has also been improved, going from 4.2 to 4.5. While the difference is modest, it does get closer to making the XLite NXT more suitable for cold-weather trips when combined with a secondary foam pad. We recommend using one or more pads with a minimum combined R-value of 5 for snow camping.
Valve and Pumpsack
The XLite NXT uses Therm-a-Rest’s WingLock valve, first introduced in 2020, which lets you rapidly deflate the pad, inflate it by mouth, or with the included pump sack. The pump sack, which is basically a large stuff sack with a valve at one end, can also double as a protective stuff sack for the sleeping pad. This isn’t a new feature, but a nice convenience all the same.
NeoAir XLite NXT Max
The NeoAir XLite NXT reviewed above is only available in a tapered mummy shape. If you prefer a rectangular-shaped sleeping pad, there is one called the NeoAir XLite NXT Max, which has the same R-value (4.5) as the mummy version. The XLite NXT Max is available in two sizes, a regular (72″ x 25″) and a long (77″ x 25″). Both are also 3″ thick.
Recommendation
The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad is still a reliable, durable, lightweight, and high-R-value sleeping pad good for three+ weather use even though the improvements to the new NXT model are a bit underwhelming. If you’re a cold sleeper or you want a durable pad for three-season use, the NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad still provides a lot of value. It’s just not as competitive as it used to be in terms of weight, comfort, packability, and ease of use as when it first came out and revolutionized the inflatable sleeping pad market.
Disclosure: Therm-a-Rest donated a sleeping pad for this review.
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Last updated: 2023-04-11 17:56:37
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