New Thermarest Neoair AllSeason looks promising

[Franco]

Hey Nuts
Sales of the All Season/Trekker must be slowing down already because Thermarest has already announced the XTherm...


http://www.outdoor-show.com/od-en/press ... ode=detail
Franco

[Nuts]

Ha ha, yes, your probably right I guess those who did 'hold off' have won out (in an admittedly unexpected way). So, they cut off the corners and added a reflective top? Brilliant!!

[Franco]

and to think that I recently purchased another Exped DM7 after reading all your rave reports about it.
Franco

[Nuts]

the more said the less heard I imagine a few neo all-season returns, they should have let the dust settle perhaps? Are there any other details anywhere, this appears more like a true update to the neo (u/l) whereas the 'all season' was perhaps more an all season version update to the trekker (fabric wise)?

[Earthling]

Hey Nuts
Sales of the All Season/Trekker must be slowing down already because Thermarest has already announced the XTherm...


http://www.outdoor-show.com/od-en/press ... ode=detail
Franco

I just looove when things that are already light just get even lighter
Any idea when these come out?

[Nuts]

ha ha i bet they hope all their customers are as agreeable. lighter is a pair of scissors away, couldn't they loose a bit around the waist

[Franco]

No idea of when this one will be out, I would guess a few months from now.
My impression is that all of the existing Neo mats will carry on.
Franco

[Nuts]

and to think that I recently purchased another Exped DM7 after reading all your rave reports about it.
Franco

I thought this was just a bit of fun and sarcasm, maybe not, its hard to tell, please explain maybe? So far sounding like probably the silliest thing ive read on here (they were not Downmats btw, i was a long time toiling over it before saying anything and in the end mostly let the photos show). For me, your rep will take a dive if its just about this: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=7073&p=90034&hilit=poles#p90034 while i dont want to get anyone Truly upset, your going to have to say more (or less....)

[Franco]

Yes, my comment was supposed to be tongue in cheek.
I did in fact replaced my delaminated Exped DM (bought from a shop that has since closed down and of course I did not keep my receipt ...) so maybe this latest addition to the Neo family could have done the job for me at half the weight and probably less than that in stored size.
Franco

[Nuts]

Fair enough. (sometimes these things help: as ridiculous as they are)

Yes, these appear a simpler more robust design. I would like to see some changes and competition from exped, they do seem like a good company (posting those pics was prompted more by noticing how many people were buying them, not spite or anything).

[Franco]

There was a comment about cutting corners with the new mat.
Hard to tell from that pic but it appears to be very similar in shape to the ProLite type and that works well (shape wise) for me.
Some mummy mats are a bit too narrow at both ends but I don't see the problem with this one.
Franco

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

Now available here

http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/thermarest_neo_air_all_season.html

for $172 AUD landed on your doorstep.

[marangaroo86]

The Thermarest Allseason looks good R 4.9 540g Med

The 2012 Thermarest Neoair Xtherm looks better R 5.7 430g Reg

The 2012 Thermarest Neoair Xlite better still R 3.2 350g Reg

The 2012 Thermarest Neoair Xlite womens best R 3.9 <400g ? R3.9 for winter use.

http://www.thegearcaster.com/the_gearcaster/2011/07/therm-a-rest-neoair-gets-warmer-and-lighter.html

I think the xtherm maybe too warm? R5.7 For all season use
Can you turn the reflective mats upside down , so as not to reflect your heat ? For summer use?

[Earthling]

I think the xtherm maybe too warm? R5.7 For all season use
Can you turn the reflective mats upside down , so as not to reflect your heat ? For summer use?

I would find the All-season too warm for 'all season' use and thats only rated at 4.9r. I would only use it in temps the standard neoair could not handle (or the 2012 Thermarest Neoair Xlite better still R 3.2 350g Reg )

[marangaroo86]

Earthling said

Just laying or even putting your hand on it you can actually feel the warmth radiating back to you...just like he said in the vids!

Earthling , If you turn the mat over do you still feel the warmth radiating back?

[Earthling]

Earthling said

Just laying or even putting your hand on it you can actually feel the warmth radiating back to you...just like he said in the vids!

Earthling , If you turn the mat over do you still feel the warmth radiating back?

I blew part of her up and tried it and yes you can feel warmth radiating back to you. I tried the top to get a 'subjective' comparable reading and I feel it may be a wee bit cooler on the bottom side, but if it is it wouldnt be by much as warmth is still radiating back to my hand.

[marangaroo86]

Thanks Earthling
Was hoping to kill to birds with on stone
I want a new mat especially for winter
Will have to wait and get one of the new thermarest Neoair Xlite

[Earthling]

Thanks Earthling
Was hoping to kill to birds with on stone
I want a new mat especially for winter
Will have to wait and get one of the new thermarest Neoair Xlite

That would be tooo easy
Yes I have my eye on those mats too

[shurik]

So you guys think the AllSeason will be too hot for Australian summer? Is there a mat that is recommended for both summer and winter in Australia? Something light and comfortable. I was thinking of getting the AllSeason or the Neo Air, but reading this, it tells me I might need to buy a separate one for summer after all.

[gayet]

It will depend greatly on where you intend to use it. There is great range of temperatures found across Aus at any given time. You probably would not need a 4 season pad if you were only camping out in the tropics or sub tropics at any time of year. But a 4 season would not go astray in the depths of a Tas winter. Likewise a 2 season would be best for summer in the subtropics but very cold in Tas winter.
A 3 season may be warm up north, but use a lighter bag or quilt, and in the south go for a warmer bag and/or more clothes.

It depends on where you are going and what your priorities are.

[Stibb]

I can't see the logic with having several mats for different seasons when the Xtherm is 430g and covers all seasons. Just get a lighter bag/quilt and save some weight there instead. Or use the bag differently (eg drape it loosely over you). Maybe my logic is not everyone's logic but that's what I am planning to do

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

I agree with Stibb, I think it's just best to have one sleeping pad (must be super comfy, that's the most important bit) that does all four seasons and then adjust other warmth accordingly with other layers.

I know some people bag silk liners, and I don't agree with the over-exaggerated warmth they claim to add, but I do think they are excellent. Keeps everything clean, then can use one four season pad all year round - in summer - just sleep in the liner, in spring/autumn - use liner and unzip my bag fully and use it like a loose blanket, in winter - silk liner with sleeping bag fully zipped up - thermals if it gets really cold.

The size of the neo airs once deflated is the most attractive thing to me... not only light, but less bulk means more compact pack with weight closer to body.

[shurik]

Can you buy the Xtherm yet? I thought it wasn't out yet. We go hiking in both winter and summer, Tasmania and Western Australia Sometimes moving from warm to cold temperatures, but I guess we won't be camping in anything below -10 anytime soon (no European winters).
This is what I was thinking too, when its hot - just sleep without the bag. But the mattress seems to be reflecting your heat, so even just lying on it sounds like will make you sweat all night.
With Xtherm, hopefully it does cover all seasons, anyone has suggestions of a good place to buy one from?

[marangaroo86]

Shurik
Dont think the Xtherm and Xlite are out till January 2012

[Stibb]

But the mattress seems to be reflecting your heat, so even just lying on it sounds like will make you sweat all night.

I fail to see how that could happen. It doesn't produce any heat, it only insulates you from the colder ground so you don't lose your precious heat. You are the heat source and some of it will be lost (from breathing etc) but some of it will be reflected back. You feel good. It is not going to be like sleeping on a radiator. If that would be the case, you should plaster your house with them to heat up your house

[Earthling]

But the mattress seems to be reflecting your heat, so even just lying on it sounds like will make you sweat all night.

I fail to see how that could happen. It doesn't produce any heat, it only insulates you from the colder ground so you don't lose your precious heat. You are the heat source and some of it will be lost (from breathing etc) but some of it will be reflected back. You feel good. It is not going to be like sleeping on a radiator. If that would be the case, you should plaster your house with them to heat up your house

Ive found the Allseason to reflect heat back to me. And it does this very well. You put your hand on it and you can feel heat reflecting back to you.
On a warm summers night when you want to be cool and perhaps even sleep with just your silk liner, the allseason would reflect tooo much heat back to me and would make me uncomfortably hot. On those nights I want heat absorbed away, not reflected back to me. Ive found the low R rating of thin blue foam pads even toooo warm on warm summer nights.
Admittedly I have only tested the allseason in cold temps, not summer, so maybe by some miracle during summer it stops reflecting heat back to me. However, I dont think thermarest have got quite that good yet...so for now I have 2 sleeping pads. The Neoair and the Allseason.

[shurik]

Ive found the Allseason to reflect heat back to me. And it does this very well. You put your hand on it and you can feel heat reflecting back to you.
On a warm summers night when you want to be cool and perhaps even sleep with just your silk liner, the allseason would reflect tooo much heat back to me and would make me uncomfortably hot. On those nights I want heat absorbed away, not reflected back to me. Ive found the low R rating of thin blue foam pads even toooo warm on warm summer nights.
Admittedly I have only tested the allseason in cold temps, not summer, so maybe by some miracle during summer it stops reflecting heat back to me. However, I dont think thermarest have got quite that good yet...so for now I have 2 sleeping pads. The Neoair and the Allseason.

Yeah that's what I was talking about, if it reflects heat - then its not good for a hot summer night, when you are searching for a cold spot. With the Xtherm/Xlite not available till next year, it makes an even harder decision

[Stibb]

*shrug* well, Earthling, if you have actual experience of it being too warm I'll leave it there. I still think it would be great for most conditions. When I lived in Townsville I whinged about being cold when it dropped to 25C so I'll go with the MegaXSuperDeluXTherm

[Nuts]

*shrug* well, Earthling, if you have actual experience of it being too warm I'll leave it there. I still think it would be great for most conditions. When I lived in Townsville I whinged about being cold when it dropped to 25C so I'll go with the MegaXSuperDeluXTherm

But wait there Are more:

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

Received my NeoAir All Season yesterday. It arrived about a month ago from the UK, but my wife has this "wait until your birthday for your present" attitude.

I'm going to take it out and give it a test run, then post a review up here.

Anyone have anything particular they are interested in?