Therm-a-Rest’s NeoAir UberLite is an excellent product innovation from the most trusted name in sleeping pads. Weighing less than 9 ounces (0.56 lbs. or 255 g.), the UberLite is ridiculously light, compact, and comfortable. It’s also the quietest pad in Therm-a-Rest’s backpacking line, which is nice because noisiness has been a common complaint among NeoAir pad users in the past. With an R-value of 2 and minimal insulation, this pad is more for summer outings when you won’t expect temps to dip below freezing. If you find yourself backpacking often in sub-freezing temps, you’ll likely want to stick with a 3-season or 4-season pad, such as the NeoAir XLite NXT or XTherm NXT.
Quick Specs
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite
Lightest Sleeping Pad for Summer Backpacking
CleverHiker Rating: 70.3/100
Price: $230
Weight: 8.8 oz.
R-Value: 2.3
Thickness: 2.5 in.
Pros
- Ultralight
- Above-average comfort
- Very small packed size
- Quiet
Cons
- Expensive
- Not warm enough for sub-freezing temps
- Less durable
Pros
Extremely lightweight and compact
The UberLite is the lightest and most compact full-size air pad on the market, and that’s a very big deal in our book. In fact, no other pad even comes close to the size and weight of the UberLite. Having a super minimal pad is great when we’re trekking over mountain passes, and we still get all the comforts of a cushy air pad when we get to camp. Also, no longer do we have to deal with small torso-length pads. We can easily justify the full-length UberLite, and even the wide/long model is ultralight.
Supportive and comfortable
The layered, triangular baffles of the UberLite make it feel very stable and supportive without any bulges or cold spots. Also, you can easily control the firmness of the pad with a quick twist of its valve.
Quietest NeoAir model
A key benefit of eliminating the heat-reflective layer from this pad is that it’s significantly quieter than other NeoAir models. Light sleepers have been bothered in the past by the crinkly, crunchy sound of old XLite models in particular. We’ve tested dozens of sleeping pads, and they all make some noise. There’s really no getting around it. But the UberLite is much quieter than most pads, which makes it easy to get sound backcountry sleep in peace.
Trusted brand with great warranty
Therm-a-Rest is a trustworthy company that stands behind the products they make. We’ve had the pleasure of touring their facilities in person, and it’s honestly a pretty impressive setup. Whenever we’ve had issues with Therm-a-Rest products (rarely), they’ve been gracious and accommodating, offering to repair or replace damaged or faulty products. Read more about their warranty program and you’ll feel just as confident buying from them as we do.
Cons
Expensive
This pad is definitely expensive, but for the extra bucks, we think it’s worth it if you plan to put the UberLite to good use. For a top-of-the-line ultralight backpacking pad that’s as comfy and quiet as the UberLite, the premium price seems worth it to us.
Not good for sub-freezing temps
The lower R-value of the UberLite makes it a better choice for summer backpacking trips, when you won’t expect to encounter sub-freezing temperatures. If you’re looking for more insulation on shoulder-season trips, consider the NeoAir XLite NXT, and if you want an even warmer pad for 4-season trips and chilly sleepers, consider the NeoAir XTherm NXT.
Less durable than some pads
The UberLight saves weight by using 15-denier nylon on it’s top and bottom, which is half the density of the fabric used in the XLite. To ensure it holds up over time, users should take care to protect their pad and always carry the included patch kit just in case.
To us, the lack of rugged durability is a clear downside for the UberLite, but not a total dealbreaker. Almost any air pad will get punctured by a sharp rock or stick, so we’re always careful when we set up to sleep. Always use a groundsheet or tent floor for any air pad to avoid punctures, and check the ground for sharp objects.
Valve design not as good as some pads (slower deflation)
Update: The new wing lock valve on the UberLite is better and allows more airflow, but it’s still not as good as pads with dump valves for deflation and packing up.
One feature we wish the UberLite had was a better valve system. The valve on the UberLite isn’t terrible, but it is a bit outdated. The key downside with this valve design is that it takes longer to deflate because you have to squeeze all the air out of the pad before folding it up for storage. Many new pads have a dump valve, which allows all the air to escape quickly with zero squeezing. That makes folding and packing much easier. Still, while we wish the UberLite had an updated valve system, this isn’t enough of a downside for us to consider it a dealbreaker.
Bottom Line
We really like how light, compact, quiet, and comfortable the Therm-a-Rest UberLite is. This is the pad for ultralight backpackers who are willing to sacrifice some durability and warmth to keep their packs as light as possible for summer trips.
One of the key question to ask yourself before buying this pad is: how often do you backpack in sub-freezing temps? If the answer is rarely, this might be a great pad for you.
For 3-season or winter coverage, check out the NeoAir XLite NXT and XTherm NXT models, which are also exceptional pads. Or consider using a Z Lite Sol in conjunction with your UberLite for a versatile sleep system that can be beefed-up or stripped down depending on how cold your trip is likely to be.
The other key question to ask yourself is: how tough are you on gear? The UberLite is one of the least durable sleeping pads we’ve tested over many years, so you’ll definitely want to treat it with care. It can still be a great pad, but you have to baby it a bit more than the standard backpacking air pad.
The UberLite is one of our our top choices for summer use ultralight backpacking air pads. For more of our favorite sleeping pads, check out our list of the 10 Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads.
