my prolite (and prolite plus) shorties have held up well, although I to take the patch kit along when I take them.
I have yet to bite on the neo-air for reasons of the prolite plus. If I'm not in my hammock (which is bliss but not possible up high) on the ground I'm very decently comfortable with a shorty prolite plus and my pack under my feet. I also have the non-plus - depends how soft I think the ground will be and how hardcore lightweight I feel
I tend to baby my gear so no air mattress failures. That's not to say I don't go prepared to patch a hole. On long trips or bushwhacking I go with CCF.
However......my has Montbell UL Comfort System Pillow has failed miserably. Multiple leaks along the seams. I must have six patches on that thing. Too bad it's so darn comfortable.
_________________________ If you only travel on sunny days you will never reach your destination.*
* May not apply at certain latitudes in Canada and elsewhere.
Thank you all for the information and shared experience on the durability of my soon to be delivered ProLite Plus pad.
I've got the universal patch kit. Maybe I'll carry it in my pack as a good luck charm and never have a problem with my pad.
I too tend to baby my gear. I usually take one long hike a year and do a few weekenders whenever I can get the time. Somehow I believe based on what I have heard on this thread my new pad should last me for many years.
I just sold my Neo air (too noisy for me) plus I didn't like having to add a puff or two of air in the middle of the night, and bought the Exped 7UL downmat w/ cover. Really like the looks of it, and am looking forward to using it this weekend.
I have had very good experience with the Exped Down mats...this one is just lighter and more compact.
Registered: 12/16/11
Posts: 230
Loc: Orange County, CA, USA
Really interesting how different the reactions to the NeoAir are. I freaking love mine. Most comfortable pad I've ever had. My wife? Thought it was too noisy. I guess I sleep like a rock.
When we moved, I used the NeoAir several weeks until we got a bed. I might add a breath once a week, but otherwise the NeoAir held air very well. I didn't miss the bed at all, however, 50% of the husband and wife team didn't agree. Apparently that was the voting 50%.
HJ
_________________________ Backpacking stove reviews and information: Adventures In Stoving
I really scratch my head about complaints about noise. only thing I can figure is the complainers have never slept on the Big Agnes pads - which have sometimes been so noisy we can hear them all the way across the campsite as the user tries to get comfortable.
Two years, no noise. No leaks either. When my NeoAir does leak, I'll just get another one. Everything has a lifespan.
_________________________
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities. In the expert's mind there are few." Shunryu Suzuki
Registered: 02/26/02
Posts: 301
Loc: The Southwestern Deserts
Originally Posted By Franco
And yes I do have one with a mysterious slow leak that can't be found ...
The dreaded slow leak. I got a couple of Exped Synmats for us several years ago. We have well over 100 nights on them in the various deserts with their thorny plants and sharp little rocks. Finally on our last trip mine developed a slow leak, so slow it took four hours for my hip to start contacting the ground. I blew it back up and slept till morning but every night became a pain. No way could I find it out there.
When we got home I lay it out on a tarp and sprayed soapy water over it. That did the trick. There was one spot where a very, very slow bubble came up. I had to double the mat over and put extra pressure on it so the bubble would form. It was the most difficult leak ever to find, easy to patch though.
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