Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm vs ULA Circuit

98 facts in comparison

These products are from different categories (Backpacking Gear vs Backpacks), so direct comparison may not be meaningful.

Based on 295 Reddit opinions. Too close to call.

295 opinions
NeoAir XTherm
Reddit's Pick
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm
80%
B+
Based on
512 Redditors
Winner

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm

~$249.95
288 opinions

tldr; Cold weather XLite. Warmer, heavier. Winter pick.

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VS
UC
ULA Circuit
80%
B+
Based on
12 Redditors

ULA Circuit

Limited Data
~$19.69
7 opinions

tldr; Ultralight that carries weight. More features than most UL packs. Best of both worlds.

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WeightDurabilityPackabilityVersatility
βš–οΈWEI
πŸ”§DUR
πŸ“¦PAC
⭐VER
80
Points
100
Points

Score by Category

Weight
65%β€”
Durability
90%β€”
Packability
0%β€”
Versatility
88%β€”

Why is ULA Circuit better than Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm?

  • Ultralight capable
  • Carries load well
  • Thru-hike proven
Based on 524 Reddit opinions
Too Close to Call

Reddit prefers the NeoAir XTherm

Winning by 0 points (80% vs 80%)

Winter capable
R-value 6.9
Heavier
High confidence (524 mentions)

πŸ’¬Reddit Sentiment

Based on 524 Reddit mentions

Overall Rating

NeoAir XTherm
8.0/10
512 mentions
ULA Circuit
8.0/10
12 mentions
DURABILITY
NeoAir XTherm9.0/10
ULA CircuitN/A
VALUE
NeoAir XTherm7.5/10
ULA CircuitN/A
WEIGHT
NeoAir XTherm6.5/10
ULA CircuitN/A
VERSATILITY
NeoAir XTherm8.8/10
ULA CircuitN/A
PACKABILITY
NeoAir XTherm0.0/10
ULA CircuitN/A
ORGANIZATION
NeoAir XThermN/A
ULA Circuit10.0/10
βš”οΈ

Head to Head

Head to Head

NeoAir XTherm: 4|ULA Circuit: 3
DurabilityNeoAir XTherm
NeoAir XTherm90%
ULA CircuitN/A
ValueNeoAir XTherm
NeoAir XTherm75%
ULA CircuitN/A
WeightNeoAir XTherm
NeoAir XTherm65%
ULA CircuitN/A
VersatilityNeoAir XTherm
NeoAir XTherm88%
ULA CircuitN/A
Packability
NeoAir XTherm0%
ULA CircuitN/A
OrganizationULA Circuit
NeoAir XThermN/A
ULA Circuit100%
ComfortULA Circuit
NeoAir XThermN/A
ULA Circuit100%
Build QualityULA Circuit
NeoAir XThermN/A
ULA Circuit100%
NeoAir XTherm80%
ULA Circuit80%
Dead heat - too close to call

Key Specs

SpecTherm-a-Rest NeoAir XThermULA Circuit
R Value
7.3
β€”
Thickness
3 inches
β€”
Construction
Triangular Core Matrix with multiple ThermaCapture layers
β€”
Top Fabric
30D Ripstop Nylon
β€”
Bottom Fabric
70D Nylon
β€”

Key Highlights

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XThermWinner
❄️ Winter capable
πŸ”₯ R-value 6.9
βš–οΈ Heavier
πŸ‘‘ Cold pick
ULA Circuit
πŸͺΆ Ultralight capable
βš–οΈ Carries load well
πŸ₯Ύ Thru-hike proven
πŸ”§ More features

Topic Battles

NeoAir XTherm: 3|Tied: 1|ULA Circuit: 0
βš–οΈWeight
NeoAir XTherm wins
NeoAir XTherm
65%
ULA Circuit
β€”
πŸ”§Durability
NeoAir XTherm wins
NeoAir XTherm
90%
ULA Circuit
β€”
πŸ“¦Packability
NeoAir XTherm
0%
ULA Circuit
β€”
⭐Versatility
NeoAir XTherm wins
NeoAir XTherm
88%
ULA Circuit
β€”

Based on Reddit sentiment across 4 categories

πŸ“ˆWhere They Rank

πŸ’¬What Redditors Actually Say

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm

Best Praise
+108 pts
β€œI don't find this to be the case, at least around the Sierra where I hike. I use an XTherm year round, sleep pretty warm, and don't really have issues. When I'm hot, my inclination is to remove or open up my bag, not change my mattress.”
r/Ultralight
View
Top Criticism
+11 pts
β€œThis is where I would start. Guessing you use an insulated XT version, if so then I have the same pad and I find it starts fading around -2/3C. It's notably colder than my old gen tensor insulated and the new thermarest Xlite NXT. Try testing it with another layer, ccf, reflective sheet, etc, to see how much it helps. It won't matter how good the quilt/bag is if your losing heat from the ground.”
r/Ultralight
View
3 more quotes available below

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for ULA Circuit

Best Praise
+2 pts
β€œMy most recommended brands are none of those mentioned. ULA, Matador, and Goruck.”
r/Backpacks
View
No negative quotes found
1 more quotes available below

πŸ“ˆHistorical Price Data

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm
ULA Circuit
$80$160$240Jul '25Sep '25Sep '25Oct '25Nov '25Nov '25Dec '25Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26Low: $202.46Low: $17.49Current: $249.95Current: $17.49
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm
All-time low: $202.39(2024-08)
ULA Circuit
All-time low: $5.52(2016-02)

Which is Better?

Too Close to Call

Both products have nearly identical approval ratings (80% vs 80%). Choose based on your specific needs and preferences.

Why NeoAir XTherm
  • ❄️ Winter capable
  • πŸ”₯ R-value 6.9
  • βš–οΈ Heavier
  • More discussed (512 vs 12)
Why ULA Circuit
  • πŸͺΆ Ultralight capable
  • βš–οΈ Carries load well

❀️The Love/Hate Breakdown

Sentiment Breakdown

45%Positive
Positive
45%
Neutral
44%
Negative
11%
Based on 512 Reddit opinions

Sentiment Breakdown

58%Positive
Positive
58%
Neutral
42%
Negative
0%
Based on 12 Reddit opinions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm or ULA Circuit?
Based on 524 Reddit comments, both are similarly rated at 80% and 80% positive - too close to call a clear winner.
Should I buy Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm or ULA Circuit?
Both have similar approval ratings (80% vs 80%), so focus on specific features, pricing, and what matters most to you.
What do Redditors love about Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm?
Reddit users highlight: Winter capable. R-value 6.9. Heavier. With 512 mentions and 80% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about ULA Circuit?
Reddit users highlight: Ultralight capable. Carries load well. Thru-hike proven. With 12 mentions and 80% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 524 Reddit comments: 512 about Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm and 12 about ULA Circuit. Data was sourced from Backpacking Gear community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.

295 Reddit opinions analyzed Β· Last updated 7/26/2026