Wondering which sleeping mat to choose for wild camping? Therm-a-Rest may be the first name that springs to mind.
Choosing a Therm-a-Rest hiking mat means choosing both the leading brand and a dependable option:
- sleeping comfort (on your back or side, with firm or soft support to suit you, and insulation).
- low weight and compact size.
- ease of use and reliability.
The American brand has long been a global benchmark for high-performance trekking mats.
But which Therm-a-Rest should you choose? Rayonrando presents the entire range of ThermaRest inflatable hiking mats and explains precisely what each is for, its advantages and its limitations. This will help you find the hiking mat that suits your needs.
1) The Therm-a-Rest company
A long-established name in hiking mats:
In the world of hiking sleep systems, Therm-a-Rest has been a benchmark since the 70s. They have invented and progressively developed highly innovative, high-performance mats. Their work covers valves, non-return valves and fabrics, as well as the internal structure that houses the mat's insulation, and even inflation methods, revolutionised a few years ago by applying Benrouilli's principle.
From self-inflating mats to inflatable trekking mats:
Initially a leader in self-inflating mats, which contain expanding foam, Therm-a-Rest introduced a succession of innovations that made inflatable mats dominant and much more attractive than self-inflating ones.
Inflatable mats are therefore more comfortable, more compact, lighter, more reliable and now easier to use. You can adjust the pressure to your liking, for firm or soft support.
Lifetime warranty:
Therm-a-Rest also provides excellent lifetime product support through its lifetime warranty. Manufacturing defects are uncommon, but can occur, sometimes after several years, such as a weld failure or bulging. In these cases the warranty works well, allowing an exchange for a new mat.
An American brand, with European production:
Wondering where your future Therm-a-Rest inflatable mat comes from? Its environmental impact is relatively ‘moderate’ compared with many international companies, as mats for Europe are manufactured in Ireland.
2) Which Therm-a-Rest inflatable hiking mat should you choose?
Therm-a-Rest now offers a wide range of inflatable hiking mats to suit every wild camping need:
- Ultralight inflatable mats for long-distance trips.
- Thick mats for maximum comfort on nights spent wild camping.
- Mats with very tough fabrics for trekking mats that will face all kinds of challenges.
- Inflatable mats with the best insulation for extreme wild camping conditions.
2.1) Which size of hiking mat should you choose?
In most cases, the choice of trekking mat comes down to regular or large.
The regular hiking mat:
These are approximately 51 cm wide and 183 cm long, which suits most people:
- If you count every gram, bear in mind that the weight difference between large and regular can be significant.
- This width is often sufficient for side sleepers.
- In most cases, 2 regular mats fit perfectly into a 2-person tent.
The large hiking mat:
Wider and longer, these measure approximately 64 cm wide and 193 cm long:
- They are the choice for tall hikers, as well as those with a larger build.
- This is a comfortable mat width. When lying on your back, both your 2 arms can rest comfortably on the mat.
- The large mat improves thermal insulation simply through its greater surface area.
At 1m85 and 1m62, two members of the RayonRando team choose a Regular mat. A third, at 1m92, tends to choose a large, although a Regular could just about work with a pillow placed off the mat. Broadly built rugby props will also appreciate the large.
Other, more specialised mat sizes are also available: half-length mats, standard-length but wider mats, and ‘women's’ mats. These are not always useful; we will point out the relevant versions of each of the best Thermarest inflatable mats.
2.2) Choosing from the ThermaRest mat range:
The tough, affordable inflatable hiking mat: Neoair Venture
The Neoair Venture mat is a good choice for hikers looking for highly durable fabric and a standard thickness:
- With 75D polyester fabric on both its 2 sides, this is the toughest mat in the Therm-a-Rest range.
- Weight checked by Rayonrando: 660 g for the regular version, including stuff sack and pump sack, making it heavier than other models.
- A thickness of 5 cm, sufficient for most hikers without risking feeling the uneven ground beneath your camping spot.
- Thermal insulation with an R-value of 2.2, sufficient for summer wild camping, even in mid-altitude mountains.
The comfortable, insulated inflatable hiking mat: Neoair Topo Luxe
The Neoair Topo Luxe inflatable mat offers plenty of thickness and effective thermal insulation from spring to autumn in our region:
- 10 cm thick! Any hiker can sleep on their side without feeling a single bump. A stable mat that is both firm and soft.
- Thermal insulation with an R-value of 3.7, suitable for 3 seasons.
- One of the most durable fabrics: 50D polyester
- Weight checked by Rayonrando: 760 g for the regular version, including stuff sack and pump sack; these are the heaviest in the range.
The ultralight inflatable hiking mat for minimalists: Neoair Uberlite
If your main priority is the smallest packed size and lowest possible weight, the Neoair Uberlite mat will meet your needs. But take care: extreme lightness also calls for precautions. It requires a clean tent and moderate inflation, as its fabric is thinner and more delicate than that of other models:
- Weight checked by Rayonrando: 310 g for the regular version! Stuff sack and pump sack included.
- A packed size of 15 x 8 cm, to slip into the smallest backpacks.
- A comfortable thickness of 6.4 cm
- Thermal insulation with an R-value of 2.3, sufficient for summer wild camping, even in mid-altitude mountains.
Please note that this model is also available in a short version, the Neoair uberlite small, weighing 225 g but only 119 cm long. Minimalist trekkers may be interested, but we do not necessarily recommend it, as the loss of comfort is significant: you need to find support for your legs.
Please note: the brand is discontinuing production of the Uberlite range during 2024. Rayonrando is therefore selling its last Neoair Uberlite mats this year.
The very lightweight, comfortable, insulated 4-season inflatable hiking mat: Neoair Xlite NXT
The Neoair Xlite mat offers the best balance of lightness, durability, comfort and insulation. It is ideally suited to self-sufficient hiking where weight is essential, in any season:
- Weight checked by Rayonrando: 472 g for the regular version, including stuff sack and pump sack
- A very comfortable thickness of 7.6 cm
- Thermal insulation for all 4 seasons: R-value 4.5
- Durable 30D high-tenacity ripstop nylon fabric
The tough inflatable hiking mat with extreme insulation: Neoair Xtherm NXT
Planning a cold-weather trek? Particularly sensitive to the cold? Hike light with peace of mind thanks to this mat for extreme conditions. In the Therm-a-Rest range, this is the lightweight, tough inflatable mat suited to winter conditions:
- Excellent thermal insulation: an R-value of 7.3!
- Enhanced durability: 30D high-tenacity nylon on top and 70D nylon underneath.
- Weight checked by Rayonrando: 565 g for the regular version, including stuff sack and pump sack
- A very comfortable thickness of 7.6 cm
There is a wider version with a standard length, the Neoair Xtherm NXT Max regular wide, to improve your comfort and thermal insulation:
- More surface area for more comfort: 64 cm wide instead of the regular version's 51 cm.
When lying on your back, you can rest your arms alongside your body on the mat.
- More surface area for better insulation: if you tend to change position during the night and end up on your front or back, you can be sure to keep the cold out.
- A larger surface area, but the length remains 183 cm to keep weight reasonable at 760 g.
2.3) How do you inflate a Therm-a-Rest?
If you think inflating your Therm-a-Rest mat will be hard work at the end of a hike, think again. The technique has changed considerably. Where you once needed to blow 30 times, just a few breaths are now enough, around 2 to 6 depending on the mat, without straining:
- The pump sack supplied with every model makes inflating a Therm-a-Rest child's play. No need to blow directly into the valve! You avoid tiring yourself out even more, and protect your mat from the moisture carried in each breath.
- With the Therm-a-Rest pump sack, you blow gently while keeping your mouth several centimetres from the opening, so the sack takes in much more air than the contents of your lungs. You trap the air and push it into the inflatable mat. Very few repetitions are needed to inflate it.
For more information on how this works and a video demonstration, we explain everything here.
Conclusion:
Choosing a Therm-a-Rest inflatable hiking mat is undoubtedly a reliable choice:
- The mats have proved themselves over time, and the lifetime warranty works well for after-sales issues, which are fortunately quite rare.
- Comfort is assured whether you sleep on your back or your side, and you can adjust the firmness or softness.
- The different models cater for all needs, from reasonably affordable, comfortable mats to ultralight or highly insulated models.
- Regular is the size to choose in 85% of cases, with Large for taller people or to improve comfort and insulation. Measure your tent's width carefully if you want to fit 2 wide mats inside.
But Therm-a-Rest is not the only good brand: Némo and Sea-To-Summit mats also offer quality in the same price range.
Other brands generally allow you to spend less, but inevitably at the expense of something: comfort, weight, packed size, durability or practicality. For lasting use, we think a specialist brand such as Therm-a-Rest is a better choice.
