As we attain a certain maturity, the little things seem to weigh a lot larger on our admittedly shrinking minds. A good night's sleep is near the top of that list, and the more difficult the journey the more important this is. Enter the NeoAir.
Therm-a-Rest has developed its NeoAir series into three different models, and we've used the standard limon-colored model with great success. On the flip side we've heard from friends about the occasional leaking unit, but in our experience that's kind of par for the course when it comes to air pads, no matter the make or model; you just have to live with a certain malfunction rate. Buy it where you can return it, test it before you use it (you don't even have to sleep on it, just inflate it and stack some weight on it overnight), always carry a patch kit (and read the instructions at home!), and finally, if conditions are going to be double-hairy-hobbit-assed-nasty epic!, double up with a second foam pad like our current fave the Therm-a-Rest Z-Lite.
OK, enough with the caveats. The NeoAir All-Season is the warmer version, increasing the R from 2.5 to 4.9, with a corresponding weight increase from 14oz to 19oz for a size regular (20×72, also available in medium 20×66 and large 25×77). All models are 2.5in thick, and the packed size is about the same, roughly equivalent to a quart bottle. The extra five ounces is an easy decision to live with when the going gets bone-numbing-russian-gulag-shitty epic! Stuff sack includes, and as a personal side-note, it makes a handy container for the screaming barfies.
The All-Season is definitely warmer, and super-comfy to boot thanks to the cross-ways orientation of the baffles. One great thing about it is that you don't have to worry about the moisture in your breath compromising the insulation, because it's a kind of space-blanket reflective cell construction rather than down or synthetic based. This saves weight too; did we mention it weighs 19oz? Comfy, warm, light, the NeoAir All-Season is the way to go when the going gets craptastic-barfalcious-pisstabulous epic! Assuming no malfunctions the remainder of the season, the All-Season will get Denali Approved and make the next trip up the big rock.