 Whats the the better bed for three season camping? Thermo rest Neo Air or Pacific Outdoor Peak Elite AC?
|
 |
I have one of Pacific Outdoor's earlier models (Ether Thermo 6) and have always found it very comfortable. So far as the Thermarest goes there is obviously a big price difference between the two and, so far as I know, you're only really paying the extra for reduced weight rather than increased comfort. Whether that's worth it is up to you I guess. I know there are some NeoAir users floating around who can probably give you more specifics - Kate, where are you?!
|
|
 i use a TAR NeoAir and find it spot on. Was put off buying for ages by the 'crisp packet' sound when squeezing the shop samples but i dont notice this when lying on it (and i probably will more than most others). Its also warmer than i expected, it feels much warmer than my previous Airmat. I find the horizontal tubes more comfortable the vertical but the only slight disadvantage of this is you can sometimes feel like your sliding off if the ground isnt level (which i didnt notice on the vertical tubes). This hasnt been a major issue though. I was put off the POE by the mummy shape, i dont think my legs would stay on the bottom properly.
|
|
 I'll stick my hand up as a NeoAir user. I've not used the other mat you mention but have had no problems in the comfort dept with the NeoAir. Had a bit of a problem with the first one I bought in that it had a slow leak SOMEWHERE! After my 10th odd outing just bought another one and have had no problems.
I know a fair few people with NeoAir's and have not heard any serious complaints about them other than people tend to be a bit careful in terms of placement surface as they have almost zip puncture resistance.
|
|
 Another vote for NeoAir. I haven't tried any other airbed, but I guess the NeoAir is about the lightest there is, and the comfort far surpasses any other mat I've ever used.
|
|
How far into the colder months can the Neo Air be used?
|
|
 I have to confess to having owned a Pacific Outdoor Ether Thermo Thingy and then forked out for the NeoAir. After one trip with the NeoAir the POEThingy, with which I actually had no complaints at all, got sold. I just found the NeoAir more comfy than the POE, I suspect, as El Manana reckons, because of the horizontal baffles rather than the vertical ones. It provides really good lower back support for my creaking lumbar region! As far as 'colder months', as a human iceberg, my opinion on that is irrelevant 
|
|
 Another NeoAir fan here, I use an Exped downmat sometimes in winter on canoe trips and the NeoAir is virtually silent in comparison.
The short is insanely light and packs to nothing
|
|
I have to confess to having owned a Pacific Outdoor Ether Thermo Thingy and then forked out for the NeoAir. After one trip with the NeoAir the POEThingy, with which I actually had no complaints at all, got sold. I just found the NeoAir more comfy than the POE, I suspect, as El Manana reckons, because of the horizontal baffles rather than the vertical ones. It provides really good lower back support for my creaking lumbar region! As far as 'colder months', as a human iceberg, my opinion on that is irrelevant
Your opinion is most relevant. Please comment on your winter usage. 
|
|
 I've used mine at around zero and it was ok (just). Any lower though and I'd be taking the downmat. You could easily take it lower by combining it with a foam mat and the combined package would still be pretty light.
|
|
  like he says; I've used my NeoAir at -6ish with a GG thinlite (1/8th inch) and it was fine....I was in a -23 rated bag though!
|
|
 I need a new comfortable mat, having destroyed my lightweight mutlimat this weekend. I use a Exped Down Mat in winter which is ace, but a little overkill at the moment, got a couple of thermarest, Robens, type mats which aren't that comfortable. Don't fancy a NeoAir looks like i would spend all night falling off it! So it's between the POE Ether thermo 6 or Peak AC or might try an Alpkit Airbed which is only 40 quid????
|
|
As far as 'colder months', as a human iceberg, my opinion on that is irrelevant
Your opinion is most relevant. Please comment on your winter usage.
That's the point - I've got a Downmat, so I don't usually try to use the NeoAir in the colder months. I used it in Scotland on 10th October last year, but with a -11 rated sleeping bag, and down jackets and trousers 
|
|
i have the poe either thermo 6 i got it from amazon.co.uk for 32.99 this year , which i was pleased with.i have been looking at the full length and the 2/3 length poe peak elite ac ? but as the thermo is a thicker fabric ie more durable and cost less than half the price of a new poe peak elite ac !.for the sake of 195grams im tempted to stick with the thermo
|
|
Which of all of these would you use down to just above 0C and lay it directly on the ground in places like the Lakes? I can't fit these inside a bivvy bag and don't carry a ground sheet.
|
|
you would have to use a multimat adventure superlite
|
|
or the poe either thermo 6 would go down further than that
|
|
