Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm MAX Sleeping Pad

We recently tested the Thermarest NeoAir 4-Season pad, which has a high mid-range R-Value of 5.7, and we consider it to be the best sleeping pad in its class.  

Oftentimes, people will layer an inflatable pad on top of a foam pad when winter camping. That’s far from necessary with the NeoAir XTherm Max, as we relied on this pad for multiple nights in Utah’s Wasatch Range. Temperatures dipped below zero, but all three of our XTherm Max testers stayed warm throughout the night in 0-degree bags.

At an ounce over a pound, the NeoAir XTherm Max is a champion in its weight class. Heat loss is reduced thanks to two complementary technologies: ThermaCapture, a reflective fabric that bounces heat back to the body before it even reaches the ground, and the Triangular Core Matrix which compartmentalizes construction into triangular baffles to stop heat from escaping. 

Keep in mind: this isn’t just a winter pad. We’ve also comfortably slept on the XTherm Max with a 45-degree bag in summer weather. At 2.5 inches thick, it’s quite comfy—our only qualm with the pad is that the lightweight fabrics used are crinkly to the point where you might wake up your tent mates if you tend to toss and turn. 

Considering the light weight, year-round versatility and class-leading technologies, our Active Junky gear testers agree that if you are only going to buy one sleeping pad, the NeoAir XTherm Max is the best you can get.