Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft Backpacking Sleeping Pad Review

Bottom Line

We’ve tested the Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft from the comfort of our home to frigid nights camping through Colorado snowstorms. So far, we think it’s worth the hype.

The NeoLoft achieves a ridiculous level of comfort for its sub-2-pound weight. The stretch knit fabric and 3D design conform to your body, while the 4.6-inch thickness floats you well above the hard ground.

The NeoLoft is supremely comfortable regardless of your preferred sleeping position, and the super plush top sheet is nice and soft against the skin. It’s also warm enough to use all year round, assuming you’re not camping in the Arctic Circle.

If you’re ready to keep perusing, no worries. Our full guide to backpacking sleeping pads includes more options, including ultralight pads that might better suit your needs.

How We Tested

We’ve been racking up the Z’s on this pad from car camping to backpacking to replacing our bed at home. We even tested its cold-weather limits by camping in Colorado spring snowstorms. We’ve gained a good handle on how this pad performs, but we’re excited to continue testing this new design from Therm-a-Rest.

Comfort

The Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft is advertised as the most comfortable backpacking sleeping pad ever made, and we think they may have succeeded. It’s plush, thick, supportive, and even comes in several different sizes. 

The keyword in its lofty claim is “backpacking.” The NeoLoft can’t compare with heavy, high-density foam and air hybrid pads made for plush car camping, but it comes about as close as possible while staying in the backpacking weight range.

The NeoLoft is by far the thickest pad on our list at a whopping 4.6 inches thick. The full rectangular shape provides a larger sleeping surface over tapered mummy shapes and is even a couple of inches larger than most rectangular pads at 73 inches long and 22 inches wide for the regular version. 

The built-in vertical sidewalls, in conjunction with the side rails, help to cradle your body and reduce the feeling that you’ll roll off the pad in the middle of the night. The NeoLoft is an excellent choice regardless of what position you like to sleep in, and the horizontal baffles allow for a firmer feel than other designs.

Finally, the top of the pad is made from an ultra-plush, stretch knit fabric similar to the base layer fabric. It’s very soft against the skin, and the stretch further enhances the pad’s body contouring capabilities.

Weight

As you might have guessed, this premium level of comfort comes at a significant weight cost, but the NeoLoft is not even the heaviest pad on our list. 

We measured the NeoLoft at about 23.5 oz, not including the stuff sack or pump sack. Those numbers put it well on the heavy side for backpacking pads, which is why dedicated ultralights will probably stop reading this review. But hear us out…

The NeoLoft’s comfort far outweighs the extra ounces. It’s still lighter than the heavy hybrid pads of yesteryear and packs down to a little larger than a one-liter Nalgene. 

Plus, weight can be cut in other ways. The thickness and warmth of the NeoLoft means you can carry a lighter sleeping bag or even a quilt. If money isn’t an object, there’s a good chance you can shed an extra pound or two by springing for an ultralight tent or backpack. A restful sleep in the backcountry leads to a more comfortable, energy-filled day of hiking. Finally,  if you value sleep as much as we do, there are ways to compensate for the added weight.

Durability

The NeoLoft offers a decent balance of durability and weight savings. In the ultralight backpacking world, durability is directly tied to weight – lighter sleeping pads are usually made from thinner, more fragile fabric that requires more care. 

The NeoLoft is made from 50-denier polyester on both the top and 75-denier polyester on the bottom panel. That’s thicker than most ultralight tent floors! Some may argue that this amount of protection is overkill for a sleeping pad, but the extra thickness contributes to the pad’s support and provides extra peace of mind that you won’t wake up on the ground in the middle of the night due to a puncture.

In the case of a puncture, the pad comes with a handy repair kit for patching holes in the field.

Warmth

Another benefit of going with the NeoLoft over lighter and cheaper pads is its four-season warmth. With an R-value of 4.7, the NeoLoft provides plenty of warmth for shoulder seasons. It’s a little underwhelming for winter camping on snow (dedicated winter pads have an R-value of 7-8), but it’ll do the job in mild winter climates. 

We recommend adding a foam pad underneath when camping directly on snow to bump up the pad’s warmth and keep it from sliding around. We camped with the NeoLoft down to about 28ºF with a warm sleeping bag and stayed nice and cozy.

The NeoLoft’s warmth comes from its thickness and construction. Therm-a-Rest’s ContourCore Matrix features two layers of triangular air chambers, so even when your body compresses the top layer, the bottom layer stays lofted to continue insulating. Their ThermaCapture is essentially a foil fabric that reflects body heat back at you, and the stretch knit fabric conforms to your body shape to minimize cold spots.

Ease of Setup

At first glance, a thick, beefy sleeping pad looks like a pain to blow up every night and pack away each morning, but it’s not that bad. 

The NeoLoft comes with a huge, seam-sealed pump sack to assist with inflating. The full-sized opening allows you to blow into the back from a few inches away or scoop air, easily filling the entire bag. 

On average, we can fully inflate the NeoLoft in just under two minutes, or about four full fills of the pump sack. The pump sack attaches securely to the air intake valve, and the sealed seams ensure that no air leaks and goes to waste. The input valve lacks a fine-tuning button, but a swift twist of the knob allows you to expel small amounts of air to dial in your preferred firmness.

When it’s time to pack up in the morning, the output valve rapidly dumps air, and the flexible polyester fabric is easy to fold and roll up. We particularly appreciate that Therm-a-Rest has allowed a little wiggle room in the stuff sack, so it’s not just barely big enough to fit the pad.

Should You Buy the Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft Backpacking Sleeping Pad?

The Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft is a hefty investment, but it may be worth the extra expense if you struggle with getting a good night’s sleep in the backcountry. 

Its plush comfort is second to none thanks to its thickness, soft material, and innovative stretch knit construction. The pad gently cradles you to sleep so you can enjoy an energy-filled, pain-free day of hiking.

Although its 23.5 ounce weight might scare away ultralight backpackers, the NeoLoft still achieves excellent weight savings, considering its durability and warmth. It’s warm enough for shoulder seasons in all climates and even moderate winters. The 50D polyester provides the perfect balance of lightweight durability.

The cost of NeoLoft is quite steep, but it’s hard to put a price on feeling good and rested. There’s definitely something to be said for optimum weight savings on long trips. Still, for some of us, our youthful days of deep sleeps on the hard ground are ending, and restful sleep is becoming increasingly elusive. This might be the ticket to keeping your mind and body happy on the trail.

What Other Backpacking Pads Should You Consider?

We get that the NeoLoft isn’t for everyone. In our full guide to backpacking sleep pads, you’ll find options that are cheaper, more durable, and lighter weight.

NEMO Quasar 3D Insulated Review: The Quasar delivers similar comfort with its rectangular shape, decent thickness, and contoured horizontal baffles. However, its materials favor durability over plushness and weight savings. 

Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Review: We really enjoy the sprung cell design of the Ether Light XR over horizontal baffles. They don’t feel quite as firm as horizontal baffles and naturally conform to your body shape. The Ether Light XR is also more affordable, more durable, and lighter than the NeoLoft.

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT Review: If you’re looking for a true winter sleeping pad to keep you warm in the coldest temperatures, check out the XTherm NXT. It has the highest r-value of any pad on our list at an impressive 7.3.