First impressions: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite and Marmot Plasma 40
A brief trade-show tryout introduced the NeoAir XLite sleeping pad and Marmot Plasma 40 sleeping bag, alongside news of the XTherm.
At Inköpsdagarna Outdoor in 2011, we had a brief opportunity to try the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite and Marmot Plasma 40 in the show’s tent display.
The lightweight NeoAir XLite weighed 350 g in Regular, measuring 51 × 183 cm. The announced R-values were 3.2 for the men’s version and 3.9 for the women’s.
Therm-a-Rest also presented the NeoAir XTherm, described as the world’s lightest four-season sleeping pad. It had a quoted R-value of 5.7 and weighed 430 g in Regular, also 51 × 183 cm.
Marmot’s Plasma 40 was the newest lightweight bag in the range. Its low weight and comfort impressed us during the brief tryout. With 900-fill-power down, it weighed 530 g in Regular, for users up to 183 cm tall. The announcement quoted a men’s comfort temperature of 6.4°C, positioning it as a summer bag for those minimizing pack weight.
Both the XLite and Plasma 40 made a very good initial impression. This was a short trade-show assessment, and prices were not yet known.
