Therm-a-Rest

NeoAir Venture Sleeping Pad

Incredibly Comfortable!

My first sleeping pad for camping and I found it to be incredibly comfortable. Valve is great for adjusting firmness for comfort. Great for side sleepers.

A - 1 Highly luxurious

Very comfortable and easy to use. The surface is quite slippery and I find blankets easy go missing in the night. Overall a very sound night's sleep, with exceptional temperature regulation

Beware, it's Not Self-inflating!

Size Bought:

Regular

Height:

5' 8"

Weight:

140

Although the description of the NeoAir labels this pad as self-inflating, it is not. I don't know how Therm-a-Rest can even remotely claim that as a feature of this pad. It comes with a "pump sack" which is a nylon sack (about the size of a sleeping bag stuff sack) that attaches to the valve. Closing the top of the sack and rolling it toward the valve pushes air from the sack into the pad. You can also blow it up manually. I haven't used it in the field yet, but it seems like it will be comfortable for 3 season use.

Sleeping pad trials

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

Size Bought:

Wide

I?ve used many different pads over the years and tried several new ones in the last few months. This includes much thicker pads of various types. Using them sometimes on hard surfaces, such as tile floors, or worse. I thought this would be terrible when I first took it out of the package. But, so far it is the best I?ve found. And I did not have the noise issues done have mentioned (though I believe them!) I only noticed the noise at first. I am a light sleeper who usually wakes up frequently.

Medium Size Venture Pad

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

Size Bought:

Medium

Height:

5' 1"

Weight:

114

I was looking for just a simple, inflatable pad. Decided to go with this Thermarest and got the shortest option (medium), as it was cheapest and I'm only 5'1. FYI, the medium size is definitely small! at 66" (5.5'), I would not suggest it if you're any taller than me (it's also a bit narrow, which I don't mind since I don't move around much while I'm sleeping). For a 5'1 person, it works great. It's also no big deal, in my opinion, that this pad does not have the self-inflating feature??it's very easy to blow up. I didn't even see that it said "self-inflating" in the tech specs before purchasing. This pad is lightweight, only 1-2 R-value, and packs up pretty small. Although best as a summer pad, could definitely use this with a good sleeping bag and an extra layer under me during the colder months. Overall a good purchase.

used it 2 times only

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

The mat is ok... too noisy. TWO holes in it already and I used it two times only. Please include MORE PATCHES because you will need them if you dont want to turn around and head back home because the mat is punctured. I would not buy again.

Mislabeled - Not Self-Inflating

Familiarity:

I returned this product before using it

The quality looked fine but this sleeping pad is NOT self-inflating even though the website is labeling it as such. Not what I thought I was buying.

Does NOT self inflate

Familiarity:

I returned this product before using it

The mat may be fine but the product descriptions states that it has a self inflating valve. It does not have a self inflating valve and customer service confirmed the description is incorrect.

I would never buy this product again

I am disappointed. I bought this sleeping pad four months ago and started to use it on the Pacific Crest Trail on last April. I did not use it on the whole period and still two days ago I would always woke up on the ground on a deflated mattress. Afters hours on checking any tiny hole and putting it in the water I've found a micro spot and used the repair kit but nothing have worked. I am now on the trail in the middle of nowhere and nothing to sleep on :(

Easy to carry, can be used for shoulder season backpacking

Inexpensive for what it is, R1.8 is definitely summer but could be used for spring in some regions. Used this in 2C Deg for a few nights, I wasn't cold, but definitely cooler to the touch versus my coupled NeoAir All Season (R4.9). Packs well, and light enough to carry easily.