New ThermaRest Pad

I've posted some info on this pad in the past, but recently was informed that ThermaRest will introduce the pad in January, instead of April, 2009. Some of the online stores are gearing up for its arrival, so I thought I'd post a link to one of them.

http://www.campsaver.com/itemmatrix.asp?GroupCode=thr0039&MatrixType=1

For those of you who are looking to lighten your base pack weight a bunch, this would certainly be a big step. I plan to get one as soon as they become available.

UL

2.5" Thick?!?

To think I've been using a Small 3/4-Length Prolite 3 which is only 1" THICK and for the same amount of weight I could have a full length pad that's 2.5" thick!

For crying out loud.

Thanks for the heads-up UL. I'll be watching for it.

Wow, I may have to look into the small one for my hammock It looks very light and very warm, and since I am such a cold sleeper I need all the warm I can get.

okay okay...yes thermarest is doing these, but Big Agnes has been doing them for years!

Non self-inflating, 2.5" thick, insulated sleeping pad.

You can have one today from Big Agnes, they're even using 100% recycled polyester for the fill.

BigAgnes.com

oh, and the B.A. pad is CHEAPER!!!

And the Big Agnes weighs a ton compared to this new pad. I have the B.A. and I love it, so don't get me wrong. The comparable B.A. Insulated Air Corep ad (I have the Dual Core) at 20" x 72" weighs in at 24 ounces! The Thermarest of the same size is 14 ounces! The B.A. is 10 ounces heavier. And my Dual Core pad weighs 38 ounces, so I am really carrying around a brick with me.

I will be replacing my pad with this one ASAP.

The only thing that the B.A. pad has over the Thermarest is r-value. The Thermarest has an r-value of 2.5 where the B.A. has 4.1. This is a significant difference if you are a cold sleeper. I am not, so this will not be a big deal for me. For that matter, the B.A. just standard Air Core with no insulation at all and an R-value of 1 weighs 22 ounces at that size.

Well I use a Insulmat MaxThermo. Have had it since 04 and it is very comfortable. Don't know what the R-Value
is but I have never slept cold with it. This is a mummy pad. Weight is aprox 25oz. I see no reason to change, if it aint broke don't fix it. I don't have the money to change every time something new comes around. I know that I am probably in the minority here but just my two cents worth. Reviews here

OH

I decided to replace my Prolite 3. I think age and my height to weight ratio is starting to catch up. The one inch pad is starting to cause aches and pains in the morning. I have tried to find a update on the Neoair pad release and cannot find one. UL have you heard anything. Anyone have additional input on a favorite pad.

HBH

Hillbilly.. I think you may find that everyone is waiting to get their hands on this sucker. Myself included. I "WILL" grab the first one I see hahahaha. Also the first one to get the NEO AIR MUST do a review on it... lol

HBH:
Like so many others, I'm also waiting for its release. I know that its in the '09 Cascade Designs Master Catalog, but apparently they are going to wait until April, like originally reported, to release it. I imagine there is going to be a rush for these things when they do become available.
UL

I've been flipping back and forth between the link UL posted and the prolite 3's page, and it looks like if I switch pads will be a ton of positives. I'll save 2 oz (my pad is one of the old orange prolite 3 short so I may save even more), have a higher R-value, and sleep more comfortable with the added 1.5 inches of thickness. Also, the baffels (sp?) will be nice too. Only negative is shelling out another $100...oh well!

Yeah and I have been trying to figure a way to do a DIY for one of these. Who ever gets one first should tear it apart so we can look at it more closely

OK, TM. We'll be sure to look forward to your post after you get yours and are able to tear into it.
Or perhaps you'd settle for a schematic on how its made.

Please let us know which way you decide to go.
UL

Oh.. well I was going to wait till you set yours up and somewhere btween then and bed time was going to have a closer look at yours