GearSleep SystemTherm-a-Rest
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT
An R-7.3 inflatable pad. Overkill for July, and the reason people sleep through a February field session instead of enduring it.
L1-SLP-02 — Sleeping pad R-value
“A sleeping pad with an R-value of at least 3 for three-season sessions, and at least 5 for winter sessions.”
L1-SLP-02 sets a minimum R-value of 3 for cool-weather sessions and 5 for winter. Ground conduction, not air temperature, is what actually ends a cold night, and it is the single most common gear mistake we see on intake. R-7.3 clears the winter threshold with margin for a student who does not yet know how to site a shelter well.
What it does well
- R-7.3 exceeds the winter clause with real margin
- Packs to roughly the size of a water bottle
- Quieter than earlier NeoAir generations
What to know before you buy
- Expensive — the most costly single item in the Level 1 kit
- Puncture risk; carry the repair kit, and know how to use it