While my go-to camp mattress has long been of the super-light, puncture-proof closed foam variety, many camping enthusiasts rightfully complain about limited comfort such pads provide. And for backcountry journeys where packing space is limited, like extended backpacking trips, fastpacking adventures, or bikepacking excursions, bulky foam pads can create packing challenges. Therm-a-Rest’s NeoAir UberLite Mattress, the absolute lightest insulated air mattress available (8.8-ounces), steps up to provide comfort and insulated warmth in an extremely compact package. This mattress seems much tougher than its early predecessors, sustaining nary a micro leak over multiple nights of thorn and cactus riddled desert campsites. I also tend to endlessly flip from side to side like a rotisserie chicken at night, and the NeoAir UberLite thankfully refrains from announcing each roll with a cacophony of crackling that can sound like you’re thrashing around on a bed of Rice Krispies, an unfortunate and frightening nighttime sound I’ve heard other ultra-light mattresses make. MSRP: $139.95. Thermarest.com.
