Thermarest NeoAir Trekker Mattress Review 2013/07/30

I once spent a night out on the welsh hills in the depth of winter. All I had with me was a 1 season three quarter length roll mat. I could hardly feel my feet as during the night it got so cold! I promised myself to never repeat this experience. To this day I always concentrate on my sleep systems as they are vital to health and comfort in the hills. This is a full review and field test of the Thermarest NeoAir Trekker. Let's check it out. 

Introduction

The Thermarest NeoAir Trekker has been with me on many trips now and is proving itself as a very comfortable, warm and spacious wild camping roll mat. Its construction and quality are still impressing me with every trip I take it on.

Design

The Thermarest NeoAir Trekker lacks foam inside so the mattress is only air. As a result it packs down to a size similar to a 1litre Nalgene bottle. Above all even with this small pack size it still manages to be an impressive 6.3cm thick when inflated! Inflating the Thermarest NeoAir Trekker requires a good few minutes if you want to do it without fainting. However with practice it is soon filled with enough air to sleep on. As you get more and more used to using the NeoAir systems then your lungs get stronger and inflating them becomes a lot easier!

Fabrics

The face fabric on the Thermarest NeoAir Trekker is a thick and durable 75D for the top and 100D for the base. For instance at camp sites where the ground may be sharp or prickly the roll mat copes well. Bushcraft, wilderness trekking or canoe expeditions would benefit from a roll mat able to withstand nasty pine needles! However when you go to pitch up and any location always inspect the ground first! Sleeping on the Thermarest NeoAir Trekker is best suited for when you face unpredictable camping situations. For example at night when you cannot check the ground before you pitch the thicker roll mat absorbs stones and bumps really well. So you spend the night in comfort instead of having a little rock poking you in the back.

Insulation Values

In terms of insulation the Thermarest NeoAir Trekker has a 'Triangular Core Matrix'. This is internal baffling that creates over 100 pockets of air which helps stabilise the structure. Resulting in a comfy mattress as well as slowing down heat loss which means you stay toasty too. Compressibility and pack-ability are stars of the show here; the Thermarest NeoAir Trekker weighs in at 730g for the L version. As a 2-3 Season roll mat, it’s not suited for winter use. Quality and attention to detail is excellent, but it’s a Thermarest so no surprises there. If you leave your tent or bivi pitched during the day and leave your roll mat inflated, make sure you open the valve. If the day is hot enough you may have a nasty exploded mat to come back to! Overall the Neo Air Trekker is a tough little roll mat with heaps of comfort! Thermarest NeoAir Trekker is covered by Therm-a-rest's Lifetime Warranty. Highly Recommended

-Sunny