The SpeedValve truly is a game-changer for inflation. The thought of manually inflating our other mattress was unappealing until we had fully recovered several hours later. I easily inflated the NeoAir XLite MAX SV and we both collapsed onto it. We arrived at our camp along the White Rim trail in Moab exhausted after riding 60 miles in 95-degree heat. Our first insight into this occurred on a recent self-supported bikepacking trip. When car camping, this feeling is merely unpleasant, but following physical exertion it can be downright challenging. Anyone who has ever inflated a mattress with lung power has experienced the accompanying light-headedness. Whether we are on foot or our bikes, we arrive at our destinations absolutely knackered and out of breath. Our typical trips involve long days and large distances. My wife and I love endurance events and this crosses over into our recreational time. The valve was impressive from the start, but the real tests occurred in the backcountry. As soon as it arrived, and although the process felt odd at first, within 4 breaths the pad was inflated. Therm-a-Rest’s website explains it well: “Every breath pulls in surrounding air molecules to amplify the airflow and inflate the mattress faster and with less effort than with traditional valves.” Sounds simple, right? It actually is. When you blow into the valve from several inches away, the laws of physics are such that more air than was contained in your breath ultimately enters the sleeping pad. It’s difficult to describe and best illustrated in pictures, but there is a very large opening at the top with a rubber-like valve that is tucked into the sleeping pad.
The highlight of this pad’s construction is the valve. Having said that, I have had earlier iterations of Therm-a-Rest products and none have ever punctured, so perhaps I was simply unlucky. Despite numerous trips since, it has not punctured again.
Reviews xlite softphone Patch#
Thankfully the pad comes with a repair kit and I was able to patch it. In fact, it punctured on my third night on it.
I am a bit of a weight junkie, but do have concerns about the durability of the fabric. Ultralight products meant for moving quickly in the backcountry delicately balance weight and durability. The R-value puts it solidly into the 3-season designation (you can see our complete discussion of R-value here), but the 30D is quite thin, allowing it to remain lightweight at 1 pound for the regular length. Just like the regular NeoAir XLite, the SV inflates to 2.5-inches thick, provides an insulation R-value of 3.2, and the fabric is 30 denier. There is, however, another difference worth noting: the XLite Max SV is rectangular rather than tapered, giving it a larger sleeping platform but with a slight weight penalty. The valve will be the main topic of this review as it is what sets this pad apart.
Performance Familiar NeoAir Construction in a New FormĮssentially, the NeoAir XLite Max SV is the popular NeoAir XLite pad, but with the addition of the SpeedValve (hence the “SV” in the name) for easier inflation.
Reviews xlite softphone full#
Read below for our full review, and to see how this pad stacks up to the competition, see our article on the best backpacking sleeping pads. We tested the lightest version, the NeoAir XLite Max SV, and came away impressed with the technology but it’s not without quirks. In 2016, they released a game-changing technology: a special SpeedValve that enables one to inflate a large sleeping pad in 4 breaths. Rather than sit back and let the products sell themselves, however, the Seattle-based company remains a leading innovator. In the same way that the words “Velcro” or “Kleenex” are used to describe categories of products, “Therm-a-Rest” has become synonymous with lightweight sleeping pads.
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