Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Topo Luxe

Pros:

It's no secret that we're fans of Therm-a-Rest's NeoAir series. The XLite is our top pick for backpacking, and the XTherm is our favorite pad for year-round use. Allow us to introduce the new NeoAir Topo Luxe, which is Therm-a-Rest's most plush backpacking pad. It's 4" thick, comfortable (provided you don't inflate it all the way), and still packs down relatively small (9.5" x 5.7", regular size). It also has a 3-season-ready R-Value of 3.7. If standard 2-2.5" inflatable pads don't do the trick for you, the Topo Luxe will likely deliver a better night's sleep.  

One of our favorite features of the Topo Luxe is that it has two one-way nozzles. The deflation valve is easy to fiddle with in the dark, making it simple to let a little air out and get your support dialed just the way you like it. 

Cons:

We tested a regular pad, which is 20" wide. This width is standard for sleeping pads, but because the Topo Luxe stands so tall at 4", it actually feels quite narrow. For that reason, we recommend considering the wide version. Also, like all internally segmented NeoAir pads, the Topo Luxe is quite noisy. 

Bottom Line: 

Calling the Topo Luxe the "most comfortable backpacking pad" or the "most compact car camping pad" is no stretch. It's light enough to take on longer backpacking adventures, warm enough for serious 3-season use, and comfortable no matter where you deploy it.