cites the inflatable pad as being approximately three times warmer than anyother un-insulated air mattress on the market. While the pad isnt yet available for testing -- and itwont ship to stores until April 2009 -- the NeoAir is newsworthy for its Replica IWC watches bigclaims as well as the fact that this is Therm-a-Rests () first foray into the un-insulated air mattress category.NeoAir pads will come in four sizes, but the smallestiteration -- which measures 20 x 47 inches unrolled and packs to the size of theaforementioned Nalgene bottle -- will weigh a scant 9 ounces, or less than theaverage trail-running shoe.
Testing via ASTM International standards, Therm-a-Restgarnered an R-value thermal resistance measurement of 2.5. According to DougJacot, the Therm-a-Rest business director, comparable un-insulated inflatableair mattresses often register an R-value of less than 1.So how does NeoAir work? Therm-a-Rest engineers developedan air-bladder swiss replica watches technology -- the Triangular Core Matrix -- which isa welded-nylon grid of chambers that, according to Jacot, increases the numberof individual aircells by 10 times when compared to a traditional air mattress. This minimizes air movement within the pad and the resultingconvective cooling, Jacot said.In addition, an aluminized urethane film holds theTriangular Core Matrix together while reflecting heat back to your body anddeflecting cold air from the ground.
The final product -- 2.5 inches thick, ribbed, puffy andsporting a bright yellow Limon color scheme -- looks more like apool toy than a revolutionary piece of outdoors gear. But Therm-a-Rest, which committed five years to thedevelopment of NeoAir, seems to have the data to back up its hyperbole. Thecompany has applied for multiple patents on this product and invested in amanufacturing process in its Seattle factory. NeoAir Replica Ulysse Nardin watches debuts next year for $120 - $170, depending onsize. If all is as the company claims, this pad could be a panacea forbackpackers looking to cut bulk and save weight while still sleeping cozy in abag on the cold hard ground.--Stephen Regenold writes The Gear Junkie column forseveral U.S. newss; see ://thegearjunkie.com for an archive ofRegenolds work.
