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
VS
Reddit's Pick
80%
B+
Based on
512 Redditors
Winner
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm
~$249.95
288 opinions
tldr; Cold weather XLite. Warmer, heavier. Winter pick.
Check pricesVS
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.
Check pricesβοΈWEI
π§DUR
π¦PAC
βVER
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 XThermTherm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm
Winning by 0 points (80% vs 80%)
Winter capable
R-value 6.9
Heavier
High confidence (524 mentions)
π¬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 524 Reddit mentionsOverall 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
βοΈ
Head to Head
| Topic | NeoAir XTherm | ULA Circuit |
|---|---|---|
Durability | 90% | N/A |
Value | 75% | N/A |
Weight | 65% | N/A |
Versatility | 88% | N/A |
Packability | 0% | N/A |
Organization | N/A | 100% |
Comfort | N/A | 100% |
Build Quality | N/A | 100% |
Category Wins
NeoAir XTherm: 4|ULA Circuit: 3
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 XTherm
80%
80%
ULA Circuit
NeoAir XTherm80%
ULA Circuit80%
Dead heat - too close to call
Key Specs
| Spec | Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm | ULA 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
βοΈ Winter capable
π₯ R-value 6.9
βοΈ Heavier
π Cold pick
ULA Circuit
πͺΆ Ultralight capable
βοΈ Carries load well
π₯Ύ Thru-hike proven
π§ More features
Topic Battles
NeoAir XTherm: 3|Tied: 1|ULA Circuit: 0
βοΈWeight
NeoAir XTherm winsNeoAir XTherm
65%
ULA Circuit
β
π§Durability
NeoAir XTherm winsNeoAir XTherm
90%
ULA Circuit
β
π¦Packability
NeoAir XTherm
0%
ULA Circuit
β
βVersatility
NeoAir XTherm winsNeoAir XTherm
88%
ULA Circuit
β
Based on Reddit sentiment across 4 categories
πWhere They Rank
π¬What Redditors Actually Say
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm
Best Praise
+108 ptsβI 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.β
r/Ultralight
ViewTop Criticism
+11 ptsβThis 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.β
r/Ultralight
View3 more quotes available below
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for ULA Circuit
Best Praise
+2 ptsβMy most recommended brands are none of those mentioned. ULA, Matador, and Goruck.β
r/Backpacks
ViewNo negative quotes found
1 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
NeoAir XTherm
ULA Circuit
πHistorical Price Data
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm
ULA Circuit
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
- βοΈ Winter capable
- π₯ R-value 6.9
- βοΈ Heavier
- More discussed (512 vs 12)
Why ULA Circuit
- πͺΆ Ultralight capable
- βοΈ Carries load well
β€οΈThe 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