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Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Review

By Mac 4 Comments

The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite is the lightest sleeping pad available from Therm-a-Rest and is designed with ultralight backpacking and thru-hikers in mind. It comes in three sizes (small, regular, and large), is made from 15D nylon, has an R-value of 2, and is 2.5 in / 6.5 cm thick.

Compared to Therm-a-Rest's previous lightest mattress, the NeoAir XLite (review), the regular-sized UberLite comes in at 3.2 oz / 91 g lighter but has a slightly lower R-value (2 vs. 3.2) and is made with thinner material (15D vs. 30D nylon); they are the same thickness at 2.5 in / 6.5 cm.

Table of Contents
1 Testing Conditions
2 The Specs
3 The Features
4 The Good
5 The Okay
6 The Bad
7 Who is it for?
8 Conclusion
9 Find It Online
  • Comfort
    (4)
  • Weight
    (4.75)
  • Packed Size
    (4.75)
  • Ease of Inflation
    (3)
  • Warmth
    (3)
Overall
3.9

Testing Conditions

I used the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite for 1,000 mi / 1,600 km of the Pacific Crest Trail and multiple backcountry trips afterward including in the Wind River Range and on Washington's Wonderland Trail. This sleeping pad is available in three sizes (Small, Regular, Large). This review is for the regular (sized) sleeping pad.

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Uber Lite Bottom
Top
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Uber Lite Rolled
Rolled up
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Uber Lite Top
Bottom

The Specs

  • Weight: 8.8 oz / 250 g
  • R-Value: 2
  • Packed Size: 6 x 3.5 in / 15 x 9 cm
  • Thickness: 2.5 in / 6.35 cm
  • Width: 20 in / 51 cm
  • Length: 72 in / 183 cm
  • Fabric: 15D Nylon Face Fabric
  • Sizes: Small, Regular, Large
  • Color: Blue
  • MSRP: $139.95 – $209.95
  • Breaths to Fill: ~14
  • Country of Origin: USA

The Features

  • Triangular Core Matrix construction with two stacked layers of triangular baffles, creating hundreds of individual cells for warmth and stability
  • Packs down smaller than any other NeoAir sleeping pad
  • R-value of 2 provides more insulation than any other sub 10 oz / 284 g mattress.
  • Made in the USA from domestic and imported materials
  • Comes with a stuff sack

The Good

THE WEIGHT | The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite is the lightest full-size, inflatable sleeping pad available (at the time of my writing this). The regular weighs just 8.8 oz / 250 g. If you want to go even lighter, the small weighs in at 6 oz / 170 g; and if you want (need) to go longer, the long weighs 12 oz / 340 g (the same as the regular-sized NeoAir XLite).

THE COMPACTNESS | I pack my backpack in a specific way and typically I need to allot a “spot” to my sleeping pad. However, the UberLite packs up so small that I can just squeeze it in around the rest of my gear. It's surprisingly compact. It's small enough that I can just stick it in my backpack's mesh or side pocket if (for some reason) I forgot to put it in my pack when leaving camp. The UberLite is the most compact sleeping pad I've ever had.

THE R-VALUE | Perhaps the most surprising thing about the UberLite is the 2.0 R-value. An R-value measures something's “ability to resist conductive heat transfer”; the higher, the more resistant. Basically, how well it insulates you; the higher the R-value, the warmer the sleeping pad. For reference, Therm-a-Rest's lightweight 4-season sleeping pad, the NeoAir XTherm, has a 5.7 R-value. The NeoAir XLite has a 3.2 R-value.

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Logo
Logo
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Uber Lite Baffles
Baffles
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Stuff Sack
In stuff sack

The Okay

THE DURABILITY | The UberLite is made from 15D nylon and is certainly not a pad you want to willy-nilly set up wherever without paying attention to the ground conditions. This is the first (and only) pad I've ever gotten a puncture in (that said, I got it when camped in an objectively terrible spot). I've cowboy camped (slept without a shelter) extensively with this pad, and usually just used a Hyperlite Mountain Gear DCF Ground Cloth underneath without issue.

THE WARRANTY | Therm-a-Rest (and their parent company, Cascade Designs), offers a 2-year Limited Warranty. This does not cover “normal wear, puncture, abrasion, misuse, alteration, abuse or taking apart of the product” (i.e. if you're getting punctures, you're going to be fixing them on your own). That said, Therm-a-Rest will repair products that do not fall under the terms of their warranty for “a reasonable fee” (whatever that is).

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Valve
Valve
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Flex
Flex
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Transparent
Translucent material

The Bad

THE VALVE | Perhaps my least favorite thing about the UberLite is the valve. Therm-a-Rest uses the same valve on all their lightweight sleeping pads, and despite being functional, it's certainly a far cry from the amazing two-way valves of some of their competitors' pads (namely, Sea to Summit and Big Agnes). The valve allows air to escape as you fill the pad if you're not careful and at high altitudes or in colder temperatures, getting a full fill can be a bit of a struggle. It's certainly not a dealbreaker, but it's an area ripe for improvement.

THE NOISE | An issue with every lightweight air pad I've used, this pad is loud. I've woken up during the night from rolling over and creaking on top of this pad. If you toss and turn (or just hang out in your tent until late watching videos on your phone) and want to be hated by everyone in your camp (who doesn't have earplugs), then this is the pad for you. It's pretty loud.

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Step
Foot is touching ground
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Laying on Top
I'm 5'10” / 178 cm
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Edge
Edge

Who is it for?

BEGINNER BACKPACKERS | If you're new to backpacking, the Therm-a-Rest UberLite is probably not the best option for you. Investing in a slightly warmer, slightly more durable three-season sleeping pad will probably be a better investment of your money.

WEEKEND WARRIORS | If you're worried about weight and perhaps are looking for something to compensate for the slightly-heavier shelter you might have, then the UberLite might be a good option for you. That said, if you're only going to invest in one sleeping pad, I would probably check out something like the NeoAir XLite (review) instead.

THRU-HIKERS | Despite some users raising questions of durability with the UberLite, I would definitely recommend this pad if you're planning on a thru-hike. Just be sure to warm your hiking companions to bring their earplugs (bug this is the case with most of the pads you'll be looking at as a thru-hiker).

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Tub
How to find a hole
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Patch
How to patch a hole
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Stuff Sack
Stuff sack drawcord

Conclusion

If you're looking for an ultralight, inflatable sleeping pad that still offers up some warmth, then the Therm-a-Rest UberLite is for you. If you don't want to have to be careful with campsite selection, you're sensitive to noisy sleeping pads, or you are going to be doing a lot of backpacking in winter (or colder temperatures), then you might want to look for something a bit more durable or a bit warmer.

That said, I'm very pleased with the UberLite and it's my go-to ultralight sleeping pad at the moment; I've even considering getting a short version as well.

Check out the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite here.

Find It Online

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite
backcountry.com
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite
$142.46
in stock
View
Backcountry.com
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite
amazon.com
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite
$164.89
$219.95
in stock
8 new from $164.89
as of May 27, 2022 01:32
View
Amazon.com
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite
ems.com
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite
$179.95
in stock
View
Ems.com
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite
featheredfriends.com
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite
$189.95
in stock
View
Featheredfriends.com
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite
rei.com
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite
$189.95
in stock
View
Rei.com
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite
thermarest.com
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite
$249.95
in stock
View
Thermarest.com

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Pacific Crest Trail,  Review PCT Gear,  Sleeping Pads,  Therm-a-Rest

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David Poston
David Poston

Any update? I’m on the fence between this and the Xlite (currently using an Exped Hyperlite) for a PCT section hike this summer…I keep hearing reports of punctures, but then people like you recommend it. I’m super careful wtih my gear and a gram weenie. Should I get it?

0
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Mac
Mac
Reply to  David Poston

Honestly, I am back and forth with the two. If I really want to save all the weight I can and am going to be careful about campsite selection, I bring my UberLite. For most things, I am back to the Xlite at the moment since I just don’t have to worry about it as much.

0
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Joshua Cowell
Joshua Cowell

How easy was it to repair?. I do prefer the S2S virtually instant 3m stick on patches.
Also width on this is quite narrow did you have trouble staying on it?

0
Reply
Mac
Mac
Reply to  Joshua Cowell

Repair was easy once I found the hole (was on a flat part of a baffle, not a seam). My arms are usually just constricted by my sleeping bag and I didn’t have any issues with my body rolling off.

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