[pct-l] Neo Air & Pack Weight

[Matt Thyer]

Jukebox,

 

Per the manufacture's site the BA pad that I use comes in at 11 oz.  My
scale shows 10 oz, go figure.  According to the Therma Rest site the
lightest Neo Air (small) comes in at 9 oz.  However 119 cm is way too short
for me.  The large, in the same length as my BA pad 19 oz. which in my
opinion is in another weight class all together.

 

As far as the alignment of the tubes goes I'm not sure I can comment on
this.  I don't mind the vertical alignment of the BA pad at all, some might.
It blows up pretty easily and compresses quite well.  I can't see how tube
alignment would have any effect on either the actual temperature of the
inside of my sleeping quilt or the perceived temperature.

 

Heat loss calculations for cases such as sleeping bags and air mattresses
are, while mathematically possible, functionally meaningless.  Conductance
is the primary mode of heat transfer between you and the surface you're
sleeping on.  Because the surface temperature of the ground is generally so
much lower than the surface temperature of your body that big delta must
necessarily become more equalized.  R-values are a measure of thermal
resistance, or the rate heat can pass through the object, and not an
insulation value.  Understanding this we'd be better off sleeping atop
marginally insulated windows with aluminum frames.  The heat that remains in
the pad is the heat of value in this situation (let's hear it for metabolic
cellular respiration).

 

Personally, I feel I get far more value out of adding a VBL or reflective
surface to my sleeping setup.  I have not attempted to measure the
difference between using a space blanket and not.  Maybe something to try
next summer?

 

Matt

 

From: Bradley Issler [mailto:bradley.issler at gmail.com] 
Sent: Monday, December 21, 2009 11:18 AM
To: Matt Thyer
Cc: patti kulesz; pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Neo Air & Pack Weight

 

Matt,

I was curious about your statement so I check the big agnes site and the rei
site to compare.  The clear view pad (72x20) was 15oz. compared to Regular
size Neo Air (also, 72x20) at 14 oz.  The clear view has a r value of 1.0,
neo air r=2.8.  As well, I started with a Big Agnes pad (not the clear view,
but same design) and I always felt like I was bouncing off of it at night,
due to the vertical tubing.  With the horizontal tubing of the Neo Air I was
much more comfortable and warmer.  Actually, those were some of the best
nights sleep of my life.  Though, that may be due to the serenity of the
environment or the fact that I was walking all day!

Jukebox.

On Mon, Dec 21, 2009 at 11:04 AM, Matt Thyer <matt_thyer at hotmail.com> wrote:

My 2 cents on this topic.  The Neo Air is nice, more or less light weight,
and very comfortable.  For about the same money you can lose a few ounces if
you go with Big Agnes Clearview Air Pad.  This pad is nice, holds up
reasonably well, and if you're lucky enough to be able to take a rest day
near a lake its clear so you can use it to float around and look into the
water.  Plus it weighs less.

Matt


-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of patti kulesz
Sent: Monday, December 21, 2009 10:43 AM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net; Bradley Issler
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Neo Air & Pack Weight

yeh I loved mine too and swear by it! I was so dam cold until I got one of
those Neo Air's. Best splurge on the trip!

patti Sugar Moma PCT 09!
www.hikestrong2010.com hiking again in 2010 for cancer! 

--- On Mon, 12/21/09, Bradley Issler <bradley.issler at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Bradley Issler <bradley.issler at gmail.com>
Subject: [pct-l] Neo Air & Pack Weight
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Date: Monday, December 21, 2009, 10:23 AM

Greetings,

So, to the newbies....you fill find your niche with pack weight.  As you
travel along you will realize that you don't need certain items you may have
thought essential (e.g. soap, extra pants etc).  I started last year with
too heavy a load as Ithought I "needed" all this stuff.  Toward the end of
my trip I am guessing my base weight to be about 12-14 pounds; including a
game of Farkle (ain't that right Diamond Dave?).

One thing i will definitely recommend is the Therm a Rest Neo Air.  I
carried this most of the traili and it was the best investment EVER!!!!.  It
weighs as much as the foam ridge rest but gives you 2.5 inches of cushion
and an r value of 2.8.

They appear to be very fragile and flimsy, but I am telling you they hold
up.  I mean, if they can support Diamond Dave's behemoth
self..........Anyhow, they also have a lifetime warranty and if you buy at
REI you got double coverage.  Some might be worried about punctures in the
desert....well, that is what Tyvek is for....and, good site selection.  I
never had a problem.

Jukebox!
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