Best Ultralight Sleeping Pad

Price: $199.95

Type: Air Construction

Claimed R-value: 2.3

Weight: 8.8oz (249g)

Packed Volume: 0.9L

Thickness: 2.5″ (6.3cm)

LxW: 72″x20″ (1.8m x 0.5m)

Breaths to Inflate: 18-20

What We Like: Incredibly light, Small packed size

What We Don’t: Pricey, Low R-value, Questionable durability

The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite is the lightest sleeping pad in our 2021 review by a significant margin. It also boasts easy inflation/deflation and a reasonable degree of comfort. However, certain compromises were made in other areas to achieve this low weight: it lacks the insulation to act as a year-round pad, its thin fabric makes it more prone to punctures, and at $199.95, it’s also one of the most expensive pads we reviewed. However, for those who have ounces to shed and money to burn, the NeoAir UberLite could be a valuable addition to their hiking arsenal.

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See Our Best Backpacking Sleeping Pad Review HERE!

The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite is the lightest sleeping pad in our 2021 review by a significant margin. However, that may just be its only major selling point, as there were certainly compromises made in other areas to achieve this low weight. At $199.95, it’s also one of the most expensive pads we reviewed. But for those who have ounces to shed and money to burn, the NeoAir UberLite could be a valuable addition to their hiking arsenal, which is why it earned our award for Best Ultralight Sleeping Pad.

Warmth

We were actually a bit surprised by the degree of warmth that this pad delivered, given its featherweight design. It has an R-value of 2.3, which, while not especially warm, makes it capable of taking on moderate three-season temperatures (roughly the mid 40s), and an easy choice for spring and summer camping. However, at a slightly higher weight of 12.5oz, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite boasts an R-value of 4.2 and will cost $20 less (however, it has double the packed size) making it much more versatile.

Comfort

Compared to the closed-cell foam pads often used by ultralight hikers, the NeoAir UberLite is practically a full-fledged mattress. It is 2.5″ (6.3cm) thick with horizontal baffling, and its lack of insulation means it’s also relatively quiet. To avoid bottoming out, you’ll need to make sure the pad is fully inflated. The standard-sized pad measures 72″x20″ (1.8m x 0.5m), but there are three other sizes available: the 47”x20” small ($159.95), the 72”x25” regular wide ($219.95), and the 77”x25” large ($229.95).

Weight & Packed Size

Therm-a-Rest isn’t hyperbolic by calling this UberLite; it is, in fact, überlight at only 8.8oz (249g) for the standard-sized pad. Besides the NeoAir XLite, the only other pad on our list that comes close to achieving this weight is the 12.5oz Sea to Summit UltraLight, which is thinner and colder. The packed size of the UberLite is equally impressive; its compressed volume is 0.9L (smaller than a Nalgene bottle), even with the included pump sack.

Inflation

The UberLite features Therm-a-Rest’s patented WingLock valve system for easy inflation and deflation. Simply toggle the wings to allow for one-way inflation or fast deflation. It will take around 18-20 breaths to fully inflate, but much of this exertion can be averted by using the included pump sack. Connect the pump sack directly to the pad’s valve and blow a full breath of air into the wide end of the sack, then seal the end and push air into the pad by rolling the sack closed.

Durability

There’s really no gentle way of putting this: the exterior fabric on the NeoAir UberLite is a shockingly thin 15D nylon, and we found ourselves being especially ginger when handling this pad. It’s painfully clear that this choice of fabric was intended to shave weight. Although we did not suffer any punctures in our tests, we would not recommend using this on bare ground. We would definitely recommend keeping the repair kit close at hand. As with our other NeoAir pads, we found no faults with the WingLock valve in the durability department.

The Bottom Line

With minimal weight and packed size, easy inflation/deflation, and a reasonable degree of comfort, the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite proves that good things do come in small packages. However, it comes with a hefty price tag, it lacks the insulation to act as a year-round pad, and its thin fabric makes it more prone to punctures. For those who know what they want in a pad and aren’t shy about spending a few extra dollars, it delivers quite a bit of value. Still, we do feel that more versatile pads can be purchased for less than an arm and a leg.

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