Thermarest NeoAir Sleeping Mat Ranges Explained
Apr 01, 2025
For over 50 years, Therm-a-Rest has led the way in outdoor sleep innovation, setting the benchmark for warmth, comfort, and packability. The NeoAir range continues this legacy, offering ultralight performance with the XLite NXT, extreme cold protection with the XTherm NXT, and unmatched comfort with the Topo Luxe. Whether you're counting ounces on a thru-hike, braving alpine conditions, or prioritising a plush sleep under the stars, there’s a NeoAir mat designed for your adventure.
Fast & Light Sleeping Pads
This is our backcountry-focused category comprised of lightweight, warm, compact and durable sleeping pads. Featuring advanced materials and construction techniques, Fast & Light pads showcase why Therm-a-Rest has defined the cutting edge of sleeping pad innovation for over 50 years.
NeoAir® XLite™ NXT Sleeping Pad
The award-collecting, best-selling, standard-setting sleeping pad for lightweight backpacking performance. From ultralight purists to casual weekenders, everybody benefits from the XLite NXT's low weight, compact packed size and high degree of comfort. Internally, the XLite NXT is built with Triangular Core Matrix construction, which returns the best warmth-to-weight ratio of any pad construction in the industry. Externally, it's made of 30D ripstop nylon that keeps things lightweight with long-lasting durability.
At 3-inches thick, the XLite NXT is comfy and supportive for side sleepers. With its 4.5 R-value, it delivers year-round warmth. For broader campers and those that prefer more sleep surface area, the MAX version provides a full rectangle of insulated comfort. Both versions pack down to about the size of a 1-liter water bottle. To top it all off, the high-flow, one-way inflation of the WingLock Valve makes setting up and packing up a breeze. Plus, it comes with a breath-saving pump sack.
Bottom Line: If you need a light, compact, warm and reliable pad for your backcountry-going sleep system, there is no better choice than the XLite NXT.
NeoAir® XTherm™ NXT & NeoAir XTherm™ NXT MAX
For years, the award-winning XTherm has provided the best warmth-to-weight ratio of any sleeping pad on the market. The latest NXT edition doubles down on that to maintain its reputation as the absolute go-to ultralight pad for alpinists and winter backpackers. While it’s slightly bulkier than the XLite NXT due to thicker materials and added warmth features, it still packs down plenty small to be a frequent choice for thru-hikers. We commonly hear from customers that the XTherm is their go-to pad for every trip, not just the cold ones. For a few extra ounces they get the added durability and assured warmth.
The XTherm NXT's top mandate is warmth, packing a R-value of 7.3. Like its yellow sibling, it has a 3-inch thick side-sleep-worthy profile and is available in a rectangular MAX version. Internally, Triangular Core Matrix construction integrates with two layers of reflective ThermaCapture™ material (one in the middle and one near the bottom) to maximize heat retention while minimizing bulk.
Externally, the top of the pad is made of 30D ripstop nylon, while the bottom is 70D to improve its heat retention and puncture resistance. Like the XLite NXT, the WingLock Valve breezes inflation and deflation especially when combined with the included pump sack.
Bottom Line: The XTherm NXT is a cold-weather specialist in a league of its own, but the qualities that make it great are useful on any trip.
Trek & Travel™ Sleeping Pads
The modern adventurer rarely restricts themselves to a single lane of adventure. Weeks spent sleeping in a tent deep in the backcountry are followed up by weekends car camping with friends and family. Our Trek and Travel pads are built to bridge that gap. They're light and compact enough for the backpack, while still bringing the premium comfort features you want in the frontcountry.
NeoAir® Venture™
A classic NeoAir design, the Venture air pad provides access to the benefits of our most advanced air pad technology and benefits at a great price. WaveCore construction makes it supportive and compact, and its rectangular cut and 2-inch-thick profile offer the outstanding air pad comfort with a 2.2 R-value that is ideal for summer backpacks, road trips, or anywhere cold is not a major concern. And of course, our WingLock valve keeps inflation and deflation quick and easy.
Another important aspect of the Venture is its durability. If you prioritize durability over light weight and are willing to bag a few extra ounces for extra peace of mind, the NeoAir Venture could be your pad.
NeoAir® Topo™ Luxe
As the name suggests, the Topo Luxe takes the backcountry comfort profile of the Topo and goes all in. A full 3 inches thick, with a balanced and supportive rectangular sleep surface, means restless nights searching for a comfortable position at camp are a thing of the past. Premium materials and Triangular Core Matrix construction make this comfort-conscious pad compact and backcountry ready, but with the chops to be the envy of any car campsite.
Unlike its sibling (Topo), the Topo Luxe uses the TwinLock Valve system. This system features dedicated one-way valves for deflating and inflating all that deluxe loft super-easy. Our unique, Triangular Core Matrix construction gives the Topo Luxe plenty of warmth for three-season use and unrivalled air pad stability.
Pro Tip: Layer a Z-Lite SOL underneath, to boost your Topo Luxe into the four-season range.
Luxurious Backpacking Comfort
When you've defined and entire category by making the lightest, warmest and smallest-packing sleeping pads ever made, applying that technology to create what is arguably the most comfortable backpacking sleeping pad ever made is the logical next step. Just looking at the new NeoLoft kind of makes you go, "Ooooooh!"
NeoLoft™ Sleeping Pad
The Thermarest NeoLoft is, without doubt, the most comfortable mat I’ve used. At 833g for the Regular Wide, it’s not ultralight, but it still packs impressively small given its 11.7 cm thickness and generous shape. The stretch-knit surface has a soft, almost quilted feel, and combined with the deep sidewalls, it cradles the body beautifully, especially welcome for side sleepers like me. The extra thickness reduces headroom in lower-profile shelters, something worth considering if you plan on using this in a compact tent.
Inflation is quick using the TwinLock valve and the included pump sack, which, at 63g, is large enough to double as a dry bag in your rucksack—a nice touch for anyone looking to streamline kit. Once dialled in, the firmness stays consistent, and the R-value of 4.7 is enough for three-season use, dipping into winter use.
If your priority is all-night comfort, the NeoLoft delivers in a big way without completely abandoning packability.
For over 50 years, Therm-a-Rest has led the way in outdoor sleep innovation, setting the benchmark for warmth, comfort, and packability. The NeoAir range continues this legacy, offering ultralight performance with the XLite NXT, extreme cold protection with the XTherm NXT, and unmatched comfort with the Topo Luxe. Whether you're counting ounces on a thru-hike, braving alpine conditions, or prioritising a plush sleep under the stars, there’s a NeoAir mat designed for your adventure.