Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Review

JUMP TO: SPECS  |  PROS & CONS  |  HOW IT PERFORMED  |  FEATURES  |  SUMMARY

Author: Sam Brilleman | Updated: Oct 24, 2023
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For years, Therm-a-Rest’s Neoair XLite Sleeping Pad has been arguably the most popular ultralight air pad for backpacking. Its featherweight design punched far above its class in comfort and insulation, but even its biggest fans always had one major gripe.

The noise.

This thing was the bane of light-sleeping tent mates everywhere. Even subtle adjustments sound like someone eagerly ripping into a chip bag. But for many, the pad’s unmatched weight-to-performance ratio made accepting its obnoxiousness a worthy compromise.

In testing the latest version of the XLite, I was pleased to discover this compromise is no longer necessary. The NeoAir XLite NXT is significantly quieter than its crinkly predecessors. It even adds half an inch of padding and a little more insulation—all while maintaining its lightweight status.

The pad has a few design quirks that may not be for everyone, but with this iteration, Therm-a-Rest has again delivered what is likely the best three-season sleeping pad of the year.

SPECS

HOW IT PERFORMED

COMFORT: The XLite NXT is 3 inches thick, compared to the 2.5 inches of previous models. The improvement in comfort coming from that half-inch is not insignificant. It is enough that even side sleepers like me are unlikely to ever bottom out on hard rocky ground.

The pad’s horizontal baffles are identical to past models. The dips between baffles create a surface somewhat less consistent than something like Sea to Summit’s air-sprung cell design, which may be bothersome to some. But considering the overall comfort of the Xlite NXT relative to its weight, there really isn’t much not to love about this pad.

EASE OF USE: Using the included pump sack, I was a little disappointed with the inflation time for the new XLite NXT. It takes between 10-15 sack fills to fully inflate the pad. For comparison, my Sea to Summit Ether Light XT requires perhaps 3-5 sack fills. It is hard to say whether this inefficiency stems from the pump sack, the valve, or just the size of the internal chambers. It’s really only an extra minute or so, but it does feel a bit tedious at the end of a long day on the trail.

Otherwise, the pad’s WingLock valve adds to its usability. Deflation is near instantaneous, and it is easy to make micro adjustments to air pressure levels.

INSULATION: The R-value of the XLite NXT is 4.5, up from 4.2. It is technically classified as a four-season pad and suitable for temperatures down to about 5 F / -15 C. It won’t cut it for winter camping at high latitudes or in the alpine, where you would be better served with the NeoAir XTherm NXT and its 7.3 R-Value. For everything else, XLite NXT is up to the task, being impressively insulating for its weight.

PACKABILITY: The packed size of the XLite NXT is about the same as past iterations, which was already pretty tough to beat. The regular size packs down to the equivalent of a 1-liter Nalgene water bottle. To get any smaller, you’d have to go with something like the Therm-A-Rest Neoair Uberlite and sacrifice a fair bit of insulation and durability.

DURABILITY: The pad is crafted from 30-denier nylon, more or less the standard for lightweight sleeping pads. Taking time to clear your sleeping area of sharp rocks and branches is the easiest way to maximize the durability of this pad. I’ve had Therm-a-Rest pads reliably hold up for a decade, and with proper care, there is no reason to doubt the XLite NXT as being capable of the same.

NOISE: Therm-a-Rest claims the pad is 83% quieter than past models, which they achieve by reinventing its internal construction. I cannot claim to have officially verified this statistic, but it sounds about right to me. Noise from the XLite NXT is absolutely a non-issue. In fact, the DCF floor of my tent is noisier than the pad itself, which itself is fairly trivial. You have to commend Therm-a-Rest for effectively addressing this pain point without sacrificing any of the performance qualities that have made the NeoAir so consistently great.

NOTABLE FEATURES

DIMENSIONS: The XLite NXT is available in four different sizes:

• Regular Short: 66 x 20 in / 168 x 51 cm

• Regular: 72 x 20 in / 183 x 51 cm

• Regular Wide: 72 x 25 in / 183 x 64 cm

• Large: 77 x 25 in / 196 cm x 64 cm

All four pads share a tapered, mummy-style design. If you like to stretch your legs out beyond the limits of a tapered sleeping pad, there is also a fully rectangular version: the NeoAir XLite NXT MAX.

WING LOCK VALVE: The WingLock Valve has been around for a few years now. But if you're still rocking a pre-2020 Therm-a-Rest pad, the upgrade is noteworthy. The classic valve was simple, rugged, and easily replaceable, but inflating/deflating was often slow and frustrating. The WingLock Valve retains the positive features while adding a one-way check valve manipulated by the “wing”. The new valve makes inflating easier and deflating faster. It is also now possible to make small adjustments, controlling deflation to get the pad to your ideal level of firmness.

PUMP SACK: The pad comes with a pump sack. Like past Therm-a-Rest pads, it is still possible to inflate the XLite NXT by mouth. The pump sack has room for improvement, but it gets the job done while minimizing the risk of bacterial growth inside the pad. It can also double as a stuff sack.

SUMMARY

I’ve been a fan of the NeoAir XLite line for years. For three-season hikers seeking a durable, warm, and comfortable pad without sacrificing weight or packability, it has long been considered the G.O.A.T—a reputation that the XLite NXT improves upon further.

The impressive reduction in pad noise will be a huge selling point for many, as the crinkliness was the only substantial criticism leveled against past models. The new construction is far quieter and sneaks in an extra half inch of padding and a small boost in insulating value, all at the same weight as the previous NeoAir XLite. 

Performance-wise, the XLite NXT is not the lightest, most durable, or most comfortable sleeping pad. Therm-a-Rest’s Uberlite pad is the brand’s true ultralight offering. Competing lightweight pads from Sea to Summit have more padding and a comfortable cell design. And closed-cell pads will always be more durable than air pads. 

But when it comes to balancing all these qualities, no sleeping pad performs better than the NeoAir NXT. With its new quiet design and enough padding for any side sleeper, the pad has earned a place in my three-season kit for years to come.

DISCLOSURE

Therm-a-Rest provided me with a free sample for this review – but the views expressed here are all my own. The review also contains affiliate links, which help us keep churning out more content.

MORE INFORMATION

Looking to go deeper on sleeping pads? Check out our round up of the best three-season sleeping pads or best winter sleeping pads.

Or for more information on hiking and backpacking, be sure to check out some of our other tips and gear reviews:

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• Ultimate Backpacking Gear List

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Or check out our entire Gear Reviews Page, our Knowledge Base Articles, or Destination Guides for more hiking, backpacking, and outdoors related content.

Happy hiking and take care out there in the wild!