Last Updated on 28/09/2021
We write this Thermarest Neoair Uberlite review for the people who like to travel far and light and are always on the lookout for the perfect camping spot. Just because camping is considered “roughing it” doesn’t mean you have to be uncomfortable when you’re trying to get some shuteye at the end of a long day in the mountains. When you’re snoozing under the stars, you deserve to get a good night’s sleep.
Unfortunately, the amazingly thin foam sleeping pads many of use in the outdoors usually mean load of back pain and discomfort on the trail. The answer? The Thermarest Neoair Uberlite – the perfect mix of lightweight, packability, and comfort in a camping sleeping pad.
Not sure if the Thermarest Neoair Uberlite is the right sleeping pad for you? Wondering if the Neoair Uberlite really lives up to the hype and if it’s worth spending a significant chunk of change? Thankfully, we’re here to help. Coming up, we’ve got the ultimate guide to the Thermarest Neoair Uberlite so you can find the sleeping pad that’s right for your needs!
- Check out our review of the Thermarest Trail Scout sleeping pad
Thermarest Neoair Uberlite Review: The Basics
Perhaps the lightest inflatable sleeping pad on the market today, the Thermarest Neoair Uberlite has made waves in outdoor gear junkie circles for its incredibly compact size and minuscule impact on one’s overall pack weight.
The Thermarest Neoair Uberlite uses some of the most high-tech materials on the market today and, while it isn’t incredibly “feature-loaded” it is a sleek sleeping pad that’s meant to get the job done in a low-key fashion. Here are the key features (all metrics for regular size) of the Thermarest Neoair Uberlite:
- Weight: 8.8oz (0.25kg)
- R-Value: 2.3
- Materials: 15D Nylon and polyurethane
- Cushion Thickness: 2.5in (6.4cm)
- Length Options: 47in/72in/77in (119cm/183cm/196cm)
- Packed size: 6 x 3.6in (15 x 9cm)
- What’s Included: Pump sack, stuff sack, and repair kit
First Impressions
Upon taking the Thermarest Neoair Uberlite out of the box, it’s easy to see why people are so excited about this new sleeping pad. With a packed size of the size of a regular can of beer, it can be hard to believe that this little piece of fabric is really going to keep you comfortable at night.
When compared with the original Neoair, the Neoair Uberlite feels obviously thinner, which is where the sleeping pad gets most of its weight savings, though it also feels like the product of a quality piece of craftsmanship. How does the Neoair Uberlite compare to the original Neoair and other sleeping pads? We’ve thoroughly reviewed the Uberlite to find out.
Thermarest Neoair Uberlite Vs. Thermarest Neoair XLite
Thermarest Neoair Uberlite Review: Performance
Any piece of outdoor gear is only as good as its performance, and the Thermarest Neoair Uberlite is no exception. To better explain how the Uberlite performed in the real world, we’ve broken performance down into a number of more tangible categories so you can decide if it’s the right sleeping pad for your needs.
Comfort
Perhaps the most important metric when it comes to judging a sleeping pad is its comfort. Indeed, one of the top reasons why any of us bring a sleeping pad into the backcountry, to begin with, is that the added padding provides that little bit of extra comfort when we’re sleeping on the ground.
As far as comfort goes, the Neoair Uberlite provides an ample 2.5” (6.4cm) of cushion, which is perfect for a good night’s sleep. However, when designing the Uberlite, Thermarest purposefully gave it a sleek, narrow design to cut weight. This means that the Uberlite offers minimal (if any) wiggle room, so there isn’t much space to roll around if you hope to stay insulated from the cold ground at night.
That being said, the Uberlite seems to “crinkle” significantly less than the original Neoair designs, which means you can roll over without waking up everyone within a 10-mile radius of your tent.
Compressibility/Packed Size
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Thermarest Neoair Uberlite is its packed size. When rolled up properly, the Uberlite is about the size of a can of beer, so it’s perfect for the ultralight campers among us. The Uberlite comes with a small stuff sack for storage, but we found that it easily fits inside a backpack on its own or can be packed into your sleeping bag’s compression sack for an extra sleek packing system.
Weight
At just 8.8 ounces (0.25kg), the Neoair Uberlite is hands-down the lightest full-sized inflatable sleeping pad on the market today. Indeed, the Uberlite is a solid 3.1 ounces lighter than its similarly-sized predecessor (the Neoair XLite), which means the gram weenies among us can head into the backcountry without fear.
Ease of Inflation
During our field tests, we found that the Neoair Uberlite performed similarly in terms of ease of inflation when compared to the original Neoair XLite. On average, about 20 deep breaths were sufficient for inflating the Uberlite, though this can vary from person to person. However, the Uberlite has a two-way valve, so you have to be pretty efficient when blowing up the sleeping pad to avoid losing air during the process.
That being said, if you really hate blowing up your sleeping pad, Thermarest sells a separate hand pump for inflating the Uberlite. It adds another 3 ounces (85g) to your pack, so we’re not really convinced that it’s worth the added cost and weight for the minimal extra convenience you get with the pump.
Durability
As you might imagine, the Thermarest Neoair Uberlite achieves much of its weight savings by using a thinner fabric. In fact, the Uberlite uses a 15D fabric, which means it’s half the thickness of the older XLite model’s 30D fabric.
What does this thinner fabric mean for the long-term durability of your sleeping pad? Well, we’d certainly avoid placing the Uberlite directly onto any sharp rocks or sticks, if you can help it, and we’d always recommend carrying the puncture repair kit with you in the backcountry. Additionally, pairing the Uberlite with a thin foam sleeping pad can add that little extra bit of padding you need to protect your sleeping pad at night.
That being said, we’ve yet to have any serious problems with the Uberlite and we don’t have any major concerns when it comes to the sleeping pad’s durability. Like any piece of lightweight camping gear, though, you’ll want to treat the Uberlite with care if you want it to be your trusted companion on backpacking trips in the future.
Warmth
With an R-Value (insulation metric) of 2.3, the Uberlite is by no means a winter sleeping pad. The lack of insulation in this pad is one of the reasons why it’s so light, but it also means that you’ll certainly want to bring a second foam sleeping pad for any winter or shoulder season trips. In this Thermarest Neoair Uberlite review we found it is really only warm enough to fly solo on summer backpacking adventures and should always be coupled with a thin foam sleeping pad for winter conditions.
The Verdict
Ultimately, the Thermarest Neoair Uberlite is one impressive piece of outdoor gear. At just 8.8 ounces (0.25kg), it’s the lightest full-sized inflatable sleeping pad on the market and with a packed size of a regular can of beer, there’s no reason not to pack it.
However, the Uberlite is more expensive than the Neoair XLite and, thanks to its thinner fabric, more prone to small rips and tears. Plus, the Uberlite has an R-Value of just 2.3, which means it’s not quite insulated enough to tackle a winter trip all on its own.
Thus, if you’re looking for an ultra-durable winter or four-season sleeping pad, the Uberlite might not be for you. That being said, when it comes to light and fast missions in the mountains, the Thermarest Neoair Uberlite is one of the best sleeping pads on the market today.
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