thermarest neoair voyager large

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.css-ryjapq{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;margin-bottom:var(--chakra-space-2);} .css-1g043sj{transition-property:var(--chakra-transition-property-common);transition-duration:var(--chakra-transition-duration-fast);transition-timing-function:var(--chakra-transition-easing-ease-out);cursor:pointer;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;outline:2px solid transparent;outline-offset:2px;color:var(--chakra-colors-btn-brand);font-family:var(--chakra-fonts-base);font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-sm);font-weight:var(--chakra-fontWeights-normal);}.css-1g043sj:hover,.css-1g043sj[data-hover]{color:var(--chakra-colors-btn-brand);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1g043sj:focus,.css-1g043sj[data-focus]{box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-outline);} Therm-a-Rest .css-1oyyk97{color:var(--chakra-colors-txt-primary);overflow-wrap:normal;font-family:var(--chakra-fonts-base);font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-xl);font-weight:var(--chakra-fontWeights-bold);} NeoAir Voyager Sleeping Pad

Out of stock, neoair voyager sleeping pad.

Perfect for those chilly summer nights up in the mountains, the Therm-A-Rest NeoAir Voyager Sleeping Pad has a WaveCore construction with a reflective ThermaCapture layer to give you an especially warm slumber. The baffled construction gives you support in all the the right places and the 2.5 inches of loft eat up any bumpy ground for a stable, comfortable night's rest. By eliminating bulky fill materials, Therm-a-Rest designed the pad to pack small to save plenty of room for the rest of your gear. The tough polyester ripstop construction holds up against whatever ground it's laid upon, and the included stuff sack makes transportation a breeze.

• 50D mini hex polyester ripstop top
• 75D polyester ripstop bottom
• WaveCore construction
• ThermaCapture layer
• Item #CAS003T

Overall Rating

5 based on 1 ratings

Review Summary

What do you think about this product?

November 5, 2020

Surprisingly Comfortable

I've used this twice so far, and I'm surprised at how comfortable an air mattress can be. This mattress feels almost like a firm regular mattress, at least when placed on a smooth surface. It doesn't take much lung power to blow up this mattress, just a minute or two of puffing. The mattress might be a bit narrow for some tastes, but it works fine for me.

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Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Voyager Sleeping Pad, Forest Green, Large/77" x 25"

About this item.

• Wavecore construction and heat trapping thermacapture Technology provide ample warmth without excess bulk
• Compacts Down and eliminates bulky Fill materials to pack small and save room in your pack
• Comfortable at 2.5 in (6.4 cm) of loft with horizontal baffles providing maximum stability and support
• Utilizes durable 75D polyester and proven airtight coatings deliver reliable long term performance
• Weighs in at a light 1 lbs 15 oz and measures 77 in x 25 in

Top Brand: Therm-a-Rest

Product description.

The voyager mattress boosts the warmth offered by our popular neoair venture mattress, making it better-suited for cold alpine summer nights and trips pushing into spring and fall. It combines the patent-pending stability and warmth of Wavecore construction with a reflective thermacapture layer for added warmth. 2.5 inch of loft seals the deal with bump-swallowing comfort to make any camp more comfortable. Stuff sack included. Made in the USA of us and Imported materials.

Product information

Technical details, additional information, looking for specific info, customer reviews.

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To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

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Thermarest Neo-Air Voyager sleeping mat review

The opportunity arose for me to field-test the Thermarest Neo-Air Voyager sleeping mat. I currently use the Thermarest Xtherm Max  which has vastly improved my camping experience. I enjoyed taking a look at how the Voyager differs from the xTherm and how it compares in performance, comfort and weight.

Thermarest NeoAir Voyager sleeping mat.

Winters chill could be felt as I approached the Mourne mountains, an ideal location to try out the Voyager sleep mat. I looked forward to comparing the properties between the Voyager and Xtherm Max mat. The Voyager mat incorporates Wacecore construction and heat trapping Thermacapture technology providing heat without excess bulking. Thermacapture is a series baffles with reflective material that protects against radiative heat loss.

Thermarest wavecore technology.

Simply put, this mat reflects the bodies heat from the mat back into the person using it. I first experienced this effect trying out the Thermarest Max mat and was won over by the heat reflexing technology behind these mats. As I mentioned previously I already own the Thermarest XTherm Max mat which has changed my camping and sleeping experience. The Voyager mat I tested was 51cm wide and180cm in length, more than enough space for anyone. The voyager is available in three sizes; regular, regular wide and large. The ( R-VALUE ) of the Voyager mat is 2.2, basically this means it can be used up to temperatures of minus -7, more than suitable for Irish mountain climate. The Voyager mat is noticeable smaller that the Xtherm Max mat, something I welcomed as I found the Xtherm mat was to big to use for a bivvi.

Thermarest Voyager mat.

When inflated the Voyager mat is 6.3 cm depth, providing a air cushioned distance between you and the cold mountain ground. A welcoming difference was the noise reduction between the Voyager and Xtherm mats. The Xtherm had a crinkling sound when moving around on it, although this was not on the annoying level, you were aware of it. The Voyager mat has no such noise!

                                                                            inflation

The Voyager mat is not a self inflating mat, this leaves a few choices-

– Use a Thermarest battery pump ( this inflates it nearly full )

• Thermarest inflating sack ( not included in this model ) I found this a bit tricky to began with but after about 6 minutes I had the mat inflated.
• Good old lung power ( 52 deep breaths to be exact ) although I have to mention that its not recommended to fill Thermarest mat with hot breath – best to avoid moisture and algae build up.

Just like the Xtherm Max the Voyager inflating valve is a twist and pull style which protrudes outwards about 2cm. I tend to sleep with my head on the valve end of mat, this allows me to adjust air pressure if necessary. It also means I can deflate the mat easier the next morning.

The Voyager mat weights ( 620 grams 1lb 5 oz  regular model.) and packs down to the size of a 1 litre nalgene bottle. As with all Thermarest mats a stuff sack and repair kit are included. The Voyager mat come from Thermarests ” Trek & Travel ” range making it suitable in a range of environments . I found the Voyager mat to be very comfortable with stablished loft throughout the mat. I had no issue with loss of compression or air displacement.

voyager mat- packs down well.

                                                                         durability

The Voyager mat is made from 75D nylon . Having used my Xtherm on varied terrain I can vouch to the toughness of the material. The warmth to weight ratio the Voyager achieves makes it more than suitable for year round use in the Uk. Although targeted towards Autumn use I have used this mat in Winter conditions. I’m more than impressed with the Voyagers performance, Thermarest has created mats with cutting edge technology that reflex the heat of the body. The Voyager mat is also smaller which allows me to use it with a Bivvi bag.

Quite a high score for the Voyager mat, the only slight negative thing I could find was it that it was quite hard to fit into the sack provided.

                                                                conclusion

The Voyager mat offers maximum comfort, coupled with heat retention, low weight and pack size, this mat is a great choice that ticks all the boxes. The Voyager mat is easy to inflate, deflate and store making it a clear choice whether you’re experienced camper or just giving camping a go. If you like the look of this product simply click on the link below for more details about the Voyager mat.

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You look like a hefty guy, like me, some-one who likes his donuts! What weight are you and how would this affect the mattress. I’ve heard these type of mats are known to balloon up if too much weight is put on one section so I’m not sure if this may suit.

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.css-ryjapq{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;margin-bottom:var(--chakra-space-2);} .css-1g043sj{transition-property:var(--chakra-transition-property-common);transition-duration:var(--chakra-transition-duration-fast);transition-timing-function:var(--chakra-transition-easing-ease-out);cursor:pointer;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;outline:2px solid transparent;outline-offset:2px;color:var(--chakra-colors-btn-brand);font-family:var(--chakra-fonts-base);font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-sm);font-weight:var(--chakra-fontWeights-normal);}.css-1g043sj:hover,.css-1g043sj[data-hover]{color:var(--chakra-colors-btn-brand);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1g043sj:focus,.css-1g043sj[data-focus]{box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-outline);} Therm-a-Rest .css-1oyyk97{color:var(--chakra-colors-txt-primary);overflow-wrap:normal;font-family:var(--chakra-fonts-base);font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-xl);font-weight:var(--chakra-fontWeights-bold);} NeoAir Voyager Sleeping Pad

Out of stock, neoair voyager sleeping pad.

Perfect for those chilly summer nights up in the mountains, the Therm-A-Rest NeoAir Voyager Sleeping Pad has a WaveCore construction with a reflective ThermaCapture layer to give you an especially warm slumber. The baffled construction gives you support in all the the right places and the 2.5 inches of loft eat up any bumpy ground for a stable, comfortable night's rest. By eliminating bulky fill materials, Therm-a-Rest designed the pad to pack small to save plenty of room for the rest of your gear. The tough polyester ripstop construction holds up against whatever ground it's laid upon, and the included stuff sack makes transportation a breeze.

• 50D mini hex polyester ripstop top
• 75D polyester ripstop bottom
• WaveCore construction
• ThermaCapture layer
• Item #CAS003T

Sorry, we don’t currently have any of those types of reviews for this product.

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir

Light, comfortable, packs up small.

• Comfortable
• Lightweight

The foamies have been a standard for a long time, combining light weight with decent insulation. They're very cheap, but they are bulky and large enough that they usually have to be strapped to the outside of a pack. For true 3-season use, many backpackers will carry a couple of them for the extra insulation.

The self-inflatable ones include baffles to restrict air flow and a foam structure inside both for insulation and to help them inflate. That offers better warmth, but they are more expensive. They are, however, just as bulky as the foamies, and while they offer better padding, they rarely self-inflate after the first few times. They are also relatively heavy.

It's dead air space that provides the best insulation, and the problem with traditional air mattresses is that there is nothing between the top and bottom surface to stop the heat from getting lost through the ground. No dead air = no insulation. Warm air from your body flows freely away, and dissipates through the sides and bottom. Made of rubber backing a cloth surface, standard air mattresses are also quite heavy. Good for car camping if you bring along a quilt to take care of the heat loss, but not for backpacking.

A couple of years ago, I was doing my annual Backpacking Prep group at Cooking Lake. For a mattress, I was using my old Therm-a-Rest Prolite , comfortable enough but bulky and heavy. One of the people who came along had the new NeoAir, and when I saw it in use, I was amazed!

Very small and light, and it seemed pretty comfortable (or so I heard from the guy who was using it). The design is a cross between an air mattress and the standard Therm-a-Rest, with a thin and very light air-filled mattress (2.5” thick, 12.5 oz.) with connecting baffles and an interior reflective layer to bounce the heat back. The advantages of an air mattress with all the problems solved. Lots of extra air space to keep you off the ground, and if you don't overfill it, you'll find it quite comfortable.

I checked the online reviews, though, and while everybody said it was a great mattress, there seemed to be a few concerns about durability. A few people reported baffles popping or leaks, and I started having second thoughts. I put off buying one, and decided I'd wait until they got the kinks out.

Then at a local Club Night, I saw them on sale for under $100 – with the 10% discount, I wound up paying just $86! I was aware that they were dumping the first model because of the quality concerns but at that price, I thought “What the heck!”.

Best decision of my gearhead life.

I've used it now for a couple of years, and I've had no problems with it. No popped baffles, no leaks, and I've found it to be the most comfortable mattress I've ever had. I'm a side sleeper, and while the 20" width might be tight for some, I don't have a problem with it. The R-value is 3.2 and that's plenty for 3-season use.

The trick is to not fill it too full. I can blow it up with between 30 and 35 breathes, and I usually wind up letting a bit of air out for the most comfort. As others have pointed out, the NeoAir packs up to about the size of a Nalgene bottle, which means I can stow it inside my pack instead of hanging it off the back of the pack to get wet.

I've used it on backpacking trips in the mountains at temperatures down to 0°C, and for general-purpose summer use when camping. No problems and I've always been warm and comfortable.

But of course the model I have is no longer available. Therm-a-Rest wisely redesigned the original to address the quality concerns, and to make a few improvements. In some of the new designs the corners have been trimmed off to reduce the weight by up to 15%, and they've added models that have softer surfaces for more comfort and less noise.

Look for the NeoAir Trekker and All Season , and the Xlite and Xtherm , as well as heavier ones meant for use at a base camp. As you'll see from a quick look at their website, Therm-a-Rest is investing heavily in the new designs – expect to see fewer of the old style in the future.

Source: bought it new Price Paid: $86

This is a very good choice for my needs for MX (plated) dirt bike camping.

• Ultra light, with NeoAir stuff sack wt = 14-1/8oz
• Ultra small packed (rolled) sized, if I roll tightly it is even smaller than stated and I then pack a Cocoon Ultra Light Pillow (2-5/8oz in its own stuff sack) in the top of the NeoAir Stuff Sack.
• I use less air pressure than I thought and the pad is way more comfortable and moves around less.
• to assist with reducing pad movement I added about 2 dozen pea size drops of Shoe Goo tot eh bottom of the pad, strategically placed to help.  I wish that Therm-A-Rest did this with the siliconized dots that use on other pads.
• I have other Therm-A-Rest's, 2x Base Camp, 1x ProLite, 1x ProLite Plus. This NeoAir will replace them all, even if car camping.  Less bulk and less weight to carry is very nice.
• $, a little pricey.
• Could be minutely 5" wider and this would help keep the elbows onboard.
• Yes, I recommend to get one BUT use on a ground sheet or inside a tent/bivy, NOT directly on the ground.

Update: July 21, 2011

This is an OK choice for my needs for MX (plated) dirt bike camping.

• Ultra light, with NeoAir stuff sack weight = 14-1/8oz
• Ultra small packed (rolled) sized, if I roll tightly it is even smaller than stated and I then pack a Cocoon Ultralight Pillow (2-5/8oz in its own stuff sack) in the top of the NeoAir Stuff Sack.
• To assist with reducing pad movement I added about two dozen pea size drops of Shoe Goo to the bottom of the pad, strategically placed to help. I wish that Therm-A-Rest did this with the siliconized dots that use on other pads.
• I have other Therm-A-Rests, 2x Base Camp , 1x ProLite , 1x ProLite Plus .  This NeoAir will not replace them all. Less bulk and less weight to carry is very nice, but the pad is not as stable to sleep on as the ProLites nor the BaseCamps. It could really do with a second blowup cap which would fill side chambers so as to assist with keeping my on the pad rather than rolling off while in my sleep when I get within a few inches of the sides.
• Could be minutely 5" wider and this would help keep the elbows onboard and reducing the rolling off factor.
• NO I do not recommend to get one until a side tube on each side is added.
• Use on a ground sheet or inside a tent/bivy, NOT directly on the ground.

Update: December 10, 2011

Changed my opinion and now 4 stars.

Only difficulty is the amount of breathes to inflate, but a trash bag inflation system is a good and to be tested option.

Update: February 3, 2012

Re-wrote with positive comments. Even used this as my only pad in the snow at 11k ft and 0degF. It worked well and was not where I was feeling the cold from.

Looking forward to trying the plastic bag inflation tool. If the bag inflation trick works I would give the stars rating a little bump up.

Price Paid: REI

I have yet to find more comfort in sleeping rough than can be found on top of a NeoAir.

• THICK comfort
• Super light
• Packs down TINY
• Sooo waaaaaarm
• Limited lifespan
• Bigger footpad than anticipated

The NeoAir changed my ability to sleep out in the wild.

Rewind 6 years and you'd find me hallucinating in the bush on day 20 or so of a major trip. My vision was a complete blur, I was unable to communicate and I would cry one second and laugh the next all due to attempting to survive on less than 1 hour of sleep a night due to being soo uncomfortable.

How I wish I'd had a NeoAir back then.

Using a NeoAir allowed to adventure out without the dread in the back of my mind that every day I would be mentally exhausted and it would only get worse until I was back in a real bed.

• It's actually comfortable. Seriously... it's f***ing amazing!
• It is light, but not foam mat light (but lets be honest, foam sucks)
• It packs down really small, consistently smaller than my Nalgene.
• It reflects a ridiculous amount of your heat BACK up at you.

LIFETIME Warranty.

Any one of those Pros would make a sleeping mat purpose built for some use, but to have all of them in a SINGLE mat is plain ridiculous good. I've been doing the outdoors for 21 years (and counting) and never thought such a thing would exist.

And that being said, the Cons:

• The NeoAir has a limited lifespan, it simply seems to wear out.
• The footpad is bigger than expected.

I'll start with the second one first, because it's a bit of a nit pick. Essentially if you try to put two of these suckers side by side in a 2-person tent, especially tents that taper at one end, they won't necessarily fit. I'm only saying it, because I haven't found that with any other sleeping mat, and mine was STANDARD size.

The reports that a few others here have stated is true, after a while it starts to leak. So how long is a while? It's about 100 days.

Yup, 100 nights of glorious sleep later you'll suddenly notice that you wake up and the mattress won't quite be as firm as it should be (even allowing for cooler air reducing internal air pressure over night).

At 130 days you'll wake up with your ass (I'm a back sleeper) touching the ground. But EVEN THEN IT IS THE MOST COMFORTABLE SLEEPING MAT I'VE EVER USED, it's just no longer suitable for using in freezing temperatures for safety reasons.

So yes, the weld points very slowly leak air, but it's COVERED BY LIFETIME WARRANTY, so I have a new one, and all it cost me was a little postage. Perhaps it shouldn't do this, but I will never ever use something less comfortable than this NeoAir.

In short, if you're going on trips less than 100 consecutive days, forget the cost, GET a NeoAir and camp in the type of comfort you wouldn't have believed possible. 

If you go on trips longer than 100 consecutive days, plan about that time to spend a couple of weeks relaxing in civilization while you send the NeoAir to get replaced under warranty.

Source: bought it new Price Paid: 60 Pounds

Still one of the lightest and most comfortable backpacking pads on the market. It is a bit noisy narrow, but works better than other pads. Great for all activities, but especially backpacking.

• Relatively warm

I have been using the NeoAir mattress (size regular) for over 2 years now. It has served me extremely well through warm summer nights to freezing alpine camps. This is my go to mattress for all trips and only when I am out in the winter do I even think about bringing along something to supliment the ablilities of my NeoAir. 

I love this pad so much I got one for my wife. When we go backpacking together we use a pad coupler so we can cuddle up more effectively under our 2P quilt. We haven't had any warmth issues in this configuration (mostly going April through Oct in UT, WY, and ID below treeline). And this is the only configuration that brings attention to the narrow width of the pad. My wife and I are both side sleepers and when deflated to the right level this mattress is amazingly comfortable!

I also go on climbing trips throughout the year and usually don't cuddle on those trips unless something went severly wrong. I have taken this pad up Rainier, through the Wind River range in the winter, and all over UT through all seasons. The most I have had to do is add some closed cell foam underneath on those occasional -20 deg nights.

The only real downside is the heat reflective layer that is sandwiched inbetween the horizontal air chambers. It crinkles. I remember it being fairly annoying at first — thusly I have mentioned it — but, lately I can move around at night without waking my spouse or really waking myself (I am a light sleeper and wake up a little to turn over). So it isn't a deal breaker for me that I get a little extra noise.

As a side note. We've taken our son backpacking 5 times now and he seems to like the NeoAir as much as my wife and I do. He sleeps soundly and doesn't wake up to the crinkling when one of the three of us moves... and currently have never had a hole (though I have been really careful when crampons are needed for the trip).

Source: bought it new Price Paid: 150

A wonderful, small, light and thick air mattress that can be a little tricky.

I sleep badly in the backcountry. I wish I didn't, but I do. I'm a side sleeper, too, which means that I always bottomed out even on my old Thermarest.

I read good things about the NeoAir: it's thick, it's less than half the weight of my then-current foam pad (but thicker), it's small. But it's pricey. So I waited for the annual REI dividend and used that on the pad.

I've now used it for most of a hiking season on several overnighters and a weeklong trip. It's done well, but not perfect.

The good bits about the pad:

- When blown up thoroughly, it's thick enough to where I don't bottom out, even when I'm sleeping on my side.

- It's light. I haven't actually weighed it but it is far lighter than my old foam pad. More importantly...

- It's small. When packed up, I can cram it into the sleeping bag compartment on my pack and use the sleeping bag straps for other things.

- It's sticky on top. By which I mean I don't tend to slide off of it and onto cold ground.

- It's really quite warm, I never felt cold spots when fully inflated, which I used to feel on my ancient Thermarest 'ultralites'.

- I have not had any of the durability issues reported by others, but I've only used it inside a tent with a footprint.

The bad bits are:

- It takes a lot more air to inflate than the self-inflating ones (duh), which can be a real pain at 11,000 feet (at least for this sea-level dweller).

- It's not sticky on the bottom and more than once I've awakened in the morning to find that I was on a slope and now the downhill side of the pad has made its own little mountain.

- The cooler the night the more the air seems to condense and the less thickness there is by morning. On slightly chilly nights I HAVE awakened to find that I'm starting to bottom out and the pad is nowhere near as thick as when I started. There's a reason this is not recommended for winter use.

For the weight and space savings, this is a great 2.5 season sleeping pad, and worth the price. I'm not sure if I'd recommend it for nights in the 30's or below.

Price Paid: $149

A friend and I have used the Neoair for about 12 months. We noticed that the mattress was losing air overnight and assumed that it was due to the change in air pressure that people talk about. Just the other day I inflated the mattress and placed it in some water, small bubbles were leaking from the weld seams on top of the mattress.

I'm not sure if the latest mats have this problem but the reduction in pressure overnight is due to air seeping through the weld seams at the top of the mattress and I would assume the seams underneath, not a drop in air pressure. I have sent an e-mail to the company for an answer.

The mattress is extremely comfortable and light so I hope that Cascade Designs have/will sorted out the issue. If I can get my mattress replaced with one that does not leak air then I will give it five stars.   

Since my review a few days ago several things have happen which have changed my mind on the Neoair. Cascade Design contacted me to advise that I should check for holes in the mattress, so I did. I have found lots of very, very small holes, all on the welded seams.

There is a major design fault with these mattresses or maybe just the earlier released mattresses, they leak.  

If your mattress is losing air overnight then check that there are not very small leaks along the welder seams, you have to look very carefully to find them. No doubt that the mattresses can lose some firmness due to the change in pressure and the cooling affect but not 50% of the air like mine.  

My friend brought his at the same time as me and has had the same problem with the mattress losing up to 50% of the air overnight. He will be checking his mattress for leaks, if he has the same issue then there is a design issue. 

Price Paid: 150 AUD

I've used this pad, or I should call it an air bed, several times and am continually impressed with the comfort it affords me. I always use it in a one person tent with a coated floor and ground sheet under so I cant vouch for its durability i.e. abrasion resistance but it has held up well so far as air pressure and my weight is concerned and I am a tosser and turner. I could see where, if you are a quilt user the sticky surface would be a discomfort but I'm not.

It takes me around 3 minutes to inflate (3/4 length). I saw initially a lot of reviews before I purchased this pad and see that most people reported a slow overnight leakage. I initially did an in room test the first night I recieved mine and found it indeed did lose some loft overnight. The next morning I blew it up again to its fullest and went to work all day. Upon returning after I discovered it was even tighter. How could this be, I wondered?

After a few more experimental trys I came to the conclusion that it was simply the changing temperatures that caused the difference. When I first inflate it my breath is warm, as the evening goes on it cools inside the pad causing a slight loss in pressure. The reason it got tighter on the day I inflated it with just a couple of puffs after all night is as said it only took a couple of puffs so it was still cool. I had my air conditionar on all night in the bedroom and turned it off during the hours I was at work. As the day was a warm one the air expanded making it tighter.

I'm certainly no physicist but I believe most things expand as they get warmer and contract as they cool, including air. In some circumstances I've had to add a few puffs towards morning when the nights are chilly, but I don`t believe it is from leakage anywhere on the pad.

I would give this pad a 4.5 rating overall for comfort, but as most people also have stated for that price, they could have thrown in a stuff sack and maybe even a repair kit. But all in all I really love mine as I just can't sleep anymore out there without it. The claims of warmth radiating back to you on a cold night seem also to be true, although I have yet to take it below 45deg.

Price Paid: $119

I was excited for my NeoAir! At first, I filled it, laid on it, put into a trekker chair - LOVED IT!

I took it on a 6 night canoe camping trip in the North Maine Woods. The first time I blew it up and put it in the chair, sat down, I hear POP! It was LOUD too. Like a 22 pistol went off in camp. It freaked me out, I frantically searched the mattress for leaking and heard or saw none.

Day two, in the flat position POP, then POP again. Still no sign of a leak. Day three brought two more and I had written it off as the sticky fabric of the mattress getting caught on itself then slipping. By evening of night four, I realized I could barely fit the mattress in the trekker chair, cause of the pillow part of the mattress.

Wait, Pillow? I don't remember a pillow. Turns out the thin horizontal chambers of the NeoAir were separating from themselves. I had to spend night five and six sleeping on only 2/3rds of the mattress because the pillow had gotten so large.

I wish this worked for me. I loved the compactness and weight. But even before it started popping I felt the mattress was way too fragile(being use to the older indestructible style Therm-a-rest). I don't think I'll return it for the same item. I wouldn't want to take chances with on the trail again with my camp chair and most especially my night's sleep.

Price Paid: 140-ish?

So, this is for the NeoAir four season, supposedly the one with improvements over the original design.

Day one, before I take it anywhere. I inflated it for a trial and, yes, it is warming and comfortable. Then I put my hand down to support standing up—and POP. I think it was an internal baffle. I laid back down again ($160 or not, this thing bloody well has to survive my living room if I'm taking it on the trail) and POP at my elbow.

Not a big pop as others have described, but a small pop like popping bubble paper.

I wasn't trying to break it, hell it was expensive. The pad as a whole seems to hold air. But, did I break this thing after sitting down on it? Did I sort of break it and, a week into my hike, it fails entirely?

I am immediately not happy. The old Thermarests were bomb-proof and if you had a hole you could put it in a tub and repair it. Why should I have to worry about my wildly expensive SLEEPING PAD ever—EVER—breaking?

I bought this thing from a shop I trusted, and from a company I trusted. I'm gonna take it on a test hike and make it a point to...well not break the thing, but simply to demand as much from it as an old Thermarest would do. I'm gonna sit on it, maybe on a picnic table, maybe on sand, and I hope I won't have to worry about it.

Bottom line: this thing is advertised as the best of all worlds, packable and light and with a huge insulation rating. I am suspicious of it  for even a light hike, and even after a day I wouldn't dream of taking it where my life depended on it.

Price Paid: $160

Bought this expensive pad to help me sleep, as I don't sleep well on the trail. The pad took longer than I expected to blow up and was a chore every evening, but worth it.

I bought the large which was the perfect size for me (5' 11") and my small tent (Eureka Spitfire). The coating worked well and I never slipped off. It gets a bit sticky with bare skin, but once asleep it didn't matter. I usually used a silk liner as a sheet.

I am a side sleeper and this had plenty of cushion and no hard spots like on my hip or shoulder. I would blow it up full, get in and then adjust the air until I felt comfy. I was paranoid about puncturing it so I also brought an old egg-crate type foam pad to put under it to keep sticks and stones at bay.

If this was a little less expensive I might give it 5 stars. If I have to carry some weight, this is weight well worth it. A luxury, but my legs deserved a good rest.

Price Paid: $130

I have been eyeing reviews of the NeoAir mattress for a while, and decided to give it a try with the help of a gift certificate waiting to be used. I got a medium length pad (I'm a 5'9" male, 175lbs). I used it for the first time this week over three days in the high country of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Washington State.

I must say I was very impressed! Much more comfortable than my Prolite 3 pad. Some folks have thought the Neo fabric was 'noisy,' but that was not my reaction, especially when laying on it.

It took me about 20 puffs to blow up fully. Then, it held volume without any reduction for two consecutive nights in camp. Very nice cushioning. Whatever they coat the surface with is very effective at controlling slippage, yet isn't too sticky either.

All in all, while avoiding the expense for a while, it was a welcome surprise, at least for my 50-something bod.

I have to disagree....

• Nice stuff sack
• Valve is of inferior quality—it sticks
• Thin, porous material—it leaks
• Not as thick and twice the price of competitive brands

I had the older yellow versions of this pad. It was not a good experience. The pad leaked and had to be re-inflated during the middle of each night on its first excursion.

When I sent it back to Therm-a-Rest, they said it was "to spec" and "that's normal". The next time I used it was the last  time. The valve wouldn't open to deflate it, and needed assistance in the form of my multi-tool. I sent it back to Therm-a-Rest. They replaced t and I sold it on that e auction site.

I can't recommend it...

Source: bought it new

Last year we bought two of these (expensive, but oh how light and compact they are) mattresses. We used it to hike through Iceland for three weeks, and they worked great. Compared to the old (original) Thermarest we also had for some other members in our family they certainly are great.

This year on a simple weekend camping, my son sat on on one, and it went POP, and POP, and two of the small chambers delaminated leaving a pillow-like bulge at one end. I brought it back to the store, and got another one without even showing it. Popped?, do you want a replacement, or maybe another type (apparently it wasnt they first one they saw returned).

We decided to have a replacement, and actually bought another one (so we now have three).

Two nights into our holiday this year, I was lying on it, almost sleeping, and suddenly POP, POP, another nice pillow appeared. Eventually this happened 6 more times, making the pad impossible to use for me (I am 1.92m). I exchanged it with my wife's Exped down 7 that we also bought just before our holiday for comparison.

I just loved that one, and am now uncertain if I want to change the broken NeoAir for the Exped, or give the NeoAir another try, just because it is so compact and light.

In short, sleeps great, if it doesn't break. I think there is something wrong with the lamination process, making the pad very vulnerable. You shouldn't have to worry if you want to turn over on it, but just lie down and don't worry, but sleep.

I am not sure if I would like to recommend this one. We had a 50% failure rate on the 4 mattresses we owned so far.

Light, small, comfortable, warm. Loses air about 4 hours into a deep sleep; have to wake up and re-inflate. Really sucky part.

• Loses the bleeding air outta the thing in the middle of the night. grrrrrrrrrrr

Looking for a better product.

Source: bought it new Price Paid: $150

Best ultralight night of sleep, especially in the cold, also doubles as a fun raft!

• Suprisingly durable
• Sticks coating helps it stay put
• Not self-inflating

This pad is an all-around winner, providing excellent support for a side sleeper like myself. I've heard others complain about the noisiness of the lightweight material, but between the floor of the tent, my sleeping bag, pillow and the rush of the wilderness, it's not distinguishable to me.

Another issue that may arise is the extra few minutes of inflating, but with a pump sack, it only takes two and a half pumps. Deflating is made relatively easy with a large, open valve and flexible material to squeeze out every last bit of air.

I've had my XL for several years, pulling double duty as a camp seat on all types of terrain and even a float on a number of ponds, and it's held up without leaking overnight. Using a pump sack instead of your own breath helps with that too. It packs up to the size of a tall boy and weighs almost as little as an empty!

Source: bought it new Price Paid: $130

Who needs self-inflatable? This pad is so light, packs down so small, and is so comfortable. So, so, so...It's just a bit noisy. Oh well.

• Compressible

I bought this pad to replace my traditional self-inflatable pad. I purchased the regular size, and the stuff sack. It floored me that a full sized sleeping pad could be this packable. Inflating is very easy, and the tradeoff of not having to designate the left exterior of my backpack as a "sleeping pad" side is great.  

I would say this pad is more comfortable, albeit more noisy than the traditional Therm-a-Rest self-inflating pad.  Also, I recommend getting size regular. Just let your legs hit the floor. It's ok, they'll survive. Also, be nice to this pad.  It may not last if you mistreat it or let teenagers use it.  

This is about the size of a can of soda, and much lighter. You may find yourself waking up at night and re-inflating it.  

Source: bought it new Price Paid: $110

For a three-season pad it is warm, very comfortable, reliable, light and packs small.

I have used this pad for over a year with no problems. I feel it is the best pad I have ever owned.  Using the NeoAir out in 25 degree weather it preformed well (I purchased the All Season for winter and late shoulder seasons, its great for cold but to warm for summer usage).

Both pads become quite after using them a few times. The NeoAir is great for fast and light packing. The weight affords you the ability to carry a full length pad or reduce significant weight with the short and still have comfort. 

I found using the Big Agnes Pumphouse (weight 1oz) works great with the pad. It eliminates condensation and bacteria in the pad.  Using the pump is not much slower than blowing it up. 

I would not recommend using the pad on the bare ground without something under it. 

This pad is well worth the price.

Source: bought it new Price Paid: $149 @ REI

I recently upgraded my old Therm-a-rest to this model. I have one of the old self inflating pads that they first made. To my surprise, the NeoAir has a lot of added features that my old sleeping pad can't compete with.

First of all, let me tell you that I inflated my old pad and the new NeoAir pad and laid them side by side on my dining room floor which is oak (I figured I would get the effect of a hard surface that way). In comparison, the old pad was harder, bigger to carry when deflated, and weighs much more than the NeoAir.

When I then laid on the NeoAir I instantly noticed that my body heat was radiating back at me which is great since I often get cold when the temps dip below freezing when we are out backpacking. It also was a lot softer than my old pad which is great so that I won't get stiff while camping. The NeoAir is extremely light weight and compacts very easily.

I have only taken it out on one camping trip so far, but it held up great!

Design : 13 ounces

ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS PAD! I have been through Thermarest (both regular and ultralight), Slumber Jack (my first, busted now) etc. and this is, by far and away, the best night's sleep I've gotten under any circumstances. 

I haven't had any 'delamination' issues as others have reported and I've logged about 40 nights on it since purchasing last November. 

The truest test - I camped on snow pack during the East Coast's worst storm at 4250 ft elevation with a recorded temperature of -12 and an apparent temperature of -19.  I did not use any pad underneath or in between my bag and the ground.  I was sleeping in a -20 deg. Big Agnes Battle Mountain (600 fill plus bamboo synthetic).  I was so hot at night w/o long johns that I had to crack my sleeping bag to let out the moisture from sweating.  Since then, nothing has been as cold but I think that speaks for itself. 

Also, I'm a side sleeper and this is the only pad that I've ever gotten comfortable on and STAYED comfortable throughout a night.  It's so pleasing to sleep through a whole evening.

Price Paid: $140

I couldn't find anything about the 3/4 length NeoAir but that is what my review is about.

• Seems very durable
• Still takes a fair amount of air to blow this up

I did have the full size NeoAir and found I couldn't stay on it. So I decided to give the 3/4 length a try and it works perfect for me. I sleep with my head off the top end with my head on my pack and my feet then just rest off the end of the pad and when I turn over it is easy to push off from the ground.

At only 9oz it's very nice to have that 2 inches of comfort to sleep on rather than a self inflating pad which gives you 1 to 1.5 inches that's still very hard and weighs two times as much as this. Sleep well my friend.

Source: bought it used Price Paid: $50

Very comfortable, but it sounds like you're sleeping on a bag of chips—crinkly noises every time I moved on it.

• Very comfortable
• Small rolled up

Easy to inflate, very small packed up, BUT very noisy when you roll over. It sounds like you're sleeping on a bag of chips. I tested it in my living room and it was loud. I can't imagine the noise it would make on a quiet night in the woods. If somebody I camped with had this in my tent I wouldn't be too happy.

I ended up returning it and getting the Therm-a-Rest ProLite Plus . It's a little bigger rolled up and half the thickness, yet makes no noise.

Light, compact, and very comfortable.

• Will insert in Big Agnes bags
• Noisy, outside bag
• Have to blow up

I have used my NeoAir for several years, having purchased it when they first came out. They are noisy when outside a bag but are the most comfortable pad I have packed. It is about 1/4 the size of my old Thermarest standard. 

I now put it in my Big Agnes  down bag pouch where it makes no noise and works beautifully. Blowing it up is not too much work. I leave it inside my Big Agnes, deflating it and stuffing it in the bag sack where it is easily re-filled.

Source: bought it new Price Paid: $125

I love mine and can't imagine backpacking without it! Below is a cut and past from a review I did on my trailpotato blog.

• Very light (19 oz)
• Super compact (takes up about as much space as a Nalgene bottle)
• The insulating thickness (2.5") helps keep you warm
• Way more comfy than sleeping on rocks
• It does not self-inflate… pucker up baby
• The material makes an annoying crinkling sound (I think the newer ones are better)
• It ain’t cheap (about $140 now)

A luxury well worth indulging. Visit the TrailPotato for a more detailed review.

I get the best sleep on this thing.

• Can't think of any

I thought I was sleeping in my bed until I opened my eyes to to find myself in my tent. This is the most I've ever spent on a sleeping pad and it was so worth it. I have other Therm-a-Rest pads that are comfortable, but the NeoAir is like sleeping on a cloud and I've seen others us theirs as a floaty on the lake.

Source: bought it new Price Paid: $135

I can't find much fault with this pad (price, but then again a good night's sleep is worth something!).

I'm a side sleeper and all other pads have always left my shoulders and hips aching- until now that is the NeoAir is very comfy, it also happens to be light- my regular (20x72) weighs in at 13.1 oz, it also is VERY low volume- packs into a tiny bundle.

I've had it down to around freezing and was still comfortable. This is consistent w/ it's 2.5 r value (~ 30 degrees).

I wish it was a little less costly, but I can't complain - comfy AND light AND small - not too shabby.

Price Paid: $125

I waited until the large size was released, which is 5" wider and 6" longer. Suffice it to say that this mattress is incredibly comfortable and provided the best sleep I have ever experienced on a backpacking trip.

Sleeping on your side is no problem with the NeoAir. It is also super light and packs down to the size of a small loaf of bread. I was able to carry it in the sleeping bag compartment of my pack along with my bag. I will never sleep on anything else.

The only caveat is the painful price, but a comfortable nights sleep is almost priceless on the trail.

Price Paid: $170

I've used a Z-rest for as long as I can remember, and I've been very happy with it. 

But eventually I wanted more comfort and a more compact pad. I've now been spoiled by the comfort of NeoAir. I went with the large after trying the regular (I'm 6'). It is well worth the few extra ounces and dollars.

Yes,  I do hate the time it takes to air up and down, but resting after a 5-15 mile hike... You just can't beat this comfort.

Price Paid: $128

I am 6'4" so I got the large size.  I got it for 20% off from Altrec. 

It is very comfortable to sleep on, light weight, tight packing, has to be blown up rather than self inflating, and noisy when you move. The noise is more of bother to others that might sleep next to you. 

What I don't get is why something made of thin plastic costs so much. At most it should be half of what they charge.

Price Paid: $135 for size large

It is comfortable, light and easy to pack and fit into your pack. On the downside the material it is made out of is noisy. You don't notice it as bad with a sleeping bag.

I bought the pad for my daughter and she is 6 so it is perfect. It is so small and light it doesn't add much weight to her pack, and being a kid she sleeps sound enough she never notices the noise.

I took this on a 10-day backpacking trip to Philmont. Very lightweight, worked fine. A little costly but well worth the weight savings.

Your Review

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Rigs of the 2019 Silk Road Mountain Race

This second annual Silk Road Mountain Race kicks off this weekend. Riders will face a long and arduous course through the remote mountain landscapes of the Tian Shan mountains in eastern Kyrgyzstan. Over 40 participants sent in photos of their rigs along with details about their kit. See them all here…

PUBLISHED Aug 14, 2019

Based on our own Tian Shan Traverse , the Silk Road Mountain Race (SRMR) is breathtaking and challenging course through the mountains of Kyrgyzstan. The second edition of the SRMR will feature nearly 140 participants taking on a 1,710 kilometer (1,062 miles) route with some 26,000 meters of climbing. Over 40 of those riders sent in their profile, each featuring a photo of their rig, the name, age, and hometown of the rider, as well as details about their bags and kit. Some of the more interesting finds in these kits include Butterfly Guns and a 3d-printed toilet paper holder. A big thank you to all the participants! Good luck out there, and enjoy the ride!

Shona Oldfield and Richard Naylar

Age 50 and 51 / location manchester, uk.

THE BIKE: Salsa Powderkeg M/S BAGS: Salsa EXP cradles, Salsa front frame bag, Porcelain Rocket custom middle frame bag and Mr Fusion seat pack. Apidura and Bedrock accessory pockets. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Using same tried and tested kit that got us round in the first edition of the race. Sinewave for light and charging, Cane Creek eeSilk seatpost, and Carbon Jones bars.

Duncan Ledingham (Scottish)

Age 33 / annecy, haute savoie, france.

THE BIKE: I’m riding my 3 year old trusty Chumba Stella ti 29er fitted with XT finishing kit. I’m running a SON dynamo at the front, e-werks power system and a Garmin etrex touch20 for navigation. To give a little extra comfort and position change on the long straights, I’ve kept on my profile design aerobars which I also find useful when climbing. BAGS: I’ll be using the same type of bags now for 3 years, the Wanderlust series. A Rattlesnake bottle, Divide frame, Shenandoah seat and a Sawtooth bar bag. The are pretty solid and carry all I needed. I’ve also a couple of dry bags inside for precious cargo. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I guess one of the bigger highlights, which could be a complete game-changer for the bikepacking industry, is the custom gold toilet-roll holder, prototyped and 3D-printed a few weeks before the event. A sure essential for anyone caught short…

Age 25 / East Sussex (UK)

THE BIKE: For the Silk Rod Mountain Race I will be riding my S-Works Diverge set upon 650b Roval wheels and 48mm tyres. My groupset is 1×11 Dura Ace Di2 Hydro with 38T one the front and 11-42 out back. BAGS: I will be running a full set of the Apidura Expedition packs for all of my kit including the full frame bag, front, rear, 2 top tube and 2 snack pouches. For water I’ll be using Camelbak Chase vest. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: For routing I have the Wahoo ROAM to guide me through Kyrgyzstan and a Exposure 6pack front light for when it gets dark.

Age 50 / Gunnison, CO (USA)

THE BIKE: 2009 Gary Fisher Superfly w Niner fork, 2×12, five finger FD, 26/34 x 9/46 BAGS: Revelate frame bag, Apidura seat bag, JPaks tube bag and Ovega Negra sling w Exped backpack in case I wanna go for a hike along the way. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: SP Dynamo hub, 3.5w Voltaic solar panel and battery packs for power. Etrex and inReach for navigation and tracking. Phone for back up.

Age 53 / Lucerne Switzerland

THE BIKE: I will be riding the SRMR on a self built bike based on a MTB Cycletech RAW frame. The bike features a Rohloff Speedhub gear hub, at front a SON dynamo hub, a Magura T8 suspension fork and BB7 brakes from Avid. I will run 2.2″ SmartSam tires from Schwalbe. BAGS: The bags are (custom made) from Alpamayo Design.

Age 28 / Dorking, Surrey (UK)

THE BIKE: This is my XL Brother Cycles Big Bro, it’s a workhorse of a bike and my go-to guide rig for Pannier.cc tours. I have fitted it out with Halo Vapour 35 29er wheels laced into a SuperDrive rear hub and SP dynamo upfront. Teravail Sparwood 2.2 tyres providing the grip and suspension. Aside from a new bar and stem for fit purposes, the rest is pretty much stock. BAGS: Keeping my sleep kit and warm clothes dry are the Ortlieb Waterproof seat and bar bags, plus an accessory pouch for grabables. In the middle I have a massive custom frame bag from Ross at Straight Cut Designs, housing a 4L bladder with inline filter, food, stove and tent poles. Down on the forks are Salsa anything cages and bags storing an MSR Hubba NX tent, wet rain sheet in one, dry inner in the other. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Hidden away on the bike I am using the K-Lite dual charging system, switch and cache battery plus Exposure Revo lights. I know it’s nothing new but being able to generate power and run a self-sufficient set up is pretty cool, I think…

Ciaran Mullan

Age 25 / manchester, greater manchester, uk.

THE BIKE: I’ll be riding the SRMR on a Salsa Journeyman Sora 650b. Only modifications from stock are a switch to Maxxis Ikon 2.20” tubeless tyres, and a fresh equivalent (11-34T) cassette. BAGS: Homemade goods; framepack and bolt-on top tube bag I made out of VX21 (X-pac) fabric, and the saddle pack out of Gore-Tex Pro Shell. The rest; I’ve got a Sea-to-Summit eVent dry bag in a Salsa Anything Cradle on the handlebars, lightweight Cordura dry bags wrapped around large bidons on some fork mounted Salsa Anything Cage HDs, and finally an Apidura Food Pouch Plus. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Waterproof jacket I made from the same sheet of fabric as the saddlepack, strapped on top there it blends in well.

Lieven Schroyen

Age 42 / antwerp, belgium.

THE BIKE: My race horse Canyon Exceed CF SL, 1×12 (34. 10/510 SON hub powering the Klite mtb light. 2 bottle’s 750ml and 1 500ml underneed. Arm rests on the handlebars. Race king 2.2 front and rear. BAGS: Seatbag ortlieb, front roswheel, top tube toppeack bag. I’m driving with a backpack (camelback mule) not for water but for extra stuff I hope I won’t need, and some delicious food! (Dry food Muesli and French fries…NOT) GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My brand new, (way to expensive) Nordisk lofoten 2p tent (extra place for my own stuff). I only used it for two nights on a tour in the Belgian Ardennes (Max altitude 600meters 😉) but it gave me great comfort and a good feeling shelter is only a few seconds away!! Two GPS divices should get me to the finish… Garmin 820 and a etrex 35 as backup…

Jeff Kerkove

Age 41 / eagle, colorado (usa).

THE BIKE: Canyon Exceed (size L) built up with Shimano XTR 2×12, DT Swiss XR391 wheel set, Fox 34SC fork with remote lock-out, Ergon SM Men Pro saddle in size M/L, Ergon GS3-Small grips, Maxxis Aspen 2.25 tires set up tubeless with Stan’s, SP dynamo hub attached to K-Lite Bikepacker Ultra light, Garmin eTrex 30 GPS, Profile Design aero bars, Topeak Ninja water bottle cages on fork legs and frame BAGS: Topeak BackLoader 10L, Topeak FrontLoader (prototype 2020 product), Topeak TopLoader, Topeak FastFuel TriBag, Custom frame bag made by Eagle, CO resident Robert Tadlock, Revelate Design Mountain Feed Bag x2. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My overall goals when building my SRMR race bike was a bike that is fun, reliable, efficient and comfortable. I’m very excited about the wide range that the Shimano XTR 2×12 groupset gives. The front derailleur is back! :)

James Hayden

Age 28 / london, uk.

THE BIKE: Canyon Exceed SL hardtail. Handbuilt DT Swiss EX511 (30mm) rims with SON dynamo, shod with WTB Ranger 2.4. Shimano XTR 12 speed with 4 pot calipers. Jones bars, ergon grips, VCLS seatpost. Exposure lights. FSA powermeter, 30T chainring. BAGS: Rusjan bags; framebag, saddlebag, handlebar roll bag and puch plus backpack. All custom handmade and waterproof. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Everything works together really well, for a slick and great ride.

Alberto Pugno Vanoni

Age 60 / milan (italy).

THE BIKE: I’ll be riding the SRMR on a Canyon Inflite sx. The bike is equipped with tubeless Panaracer Gravel king 43 tires, modified 2×11 Ultrega RX with 46-36 chainrings, Casette 11/42; Shutter Precison Dynamo hub up front. I changed the Canyon H31 Ergocockpit CF with a Bar Deda Gravel 100, arm rests on the handlebars. BAGS: Apidura set GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Ferrino Lightend, Ferrino mat. I’ll use an Garmin 820 edge for navigation and my phone with Komoot offline maps.

Jon Peatman

Age 31 / sheffield, united kingdom.

THE BIKE: I’ll be riding a Sonder Broken Road with a SRAM 1×11 drivetrain and 2.4” tires on Love Mud 29” hobo wheels. I’ll also be using a Cane Creek thudbuster ST seatpost and hoop handlebars with armrests. BAGS: I’m using a variety of Alpkit bags, with a Stingray frame bag, Fiana seat pack, Tivaro and Big Roo upfront, Stem Cell on the bars and Fuel Pod and Touko on the top tube. I’ll also have two litres of water on the forks. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll be sleeping in an Alpkit Ordos 2 tent with a REI Nooksack UL bag and using an Edge 520 for navigation.

Paolo Laureti

Age 43 / silvi, teramo, italy.

THE BIKE: I’ll be riding the SRMR on a 2019 Cicli Elios Code Squadra Corse. The bike features a Continental Race King 2.25” tire and Vee Tire 2.20″, a 1×11 drivetrain with a 32T chainring, and mavic with a SON Dynamo hub up front and rear Miche wheel. One other modification is a bar with arm rests on the handlebars. BAGS: The centerpiece of my bag setup is a Blackburn Frame bag. I am also running a Apidura seat pack, Apidura top tube bag, and a small Apidura Roll/Pocket on the handlebars. Four liters in my bag pack will be available GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Cumulus bivy, a Camp tent and Sea To Summit UL Air Mat. I’ll also be carrying an eTrex 30 for navigation.

Mike Lapcevic

Age 56 / turrialba, costa rica.

THE BIKE: 2017 Specialized Epic Hardtail. Wheels by Waterfront Wheels with SP dynamo hub, Ikon tires, stock 1×11 drive train, Brooks saddle. BAGS: Revelate all around (they should give me a better deal) GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: MEC ultralight tent, Enlightened Equipment quilt and Sea To Summit pillow. Garmin eTrex 20 and 810 for navigation, Steripen for water purification and Supernova front light

Christopher Lapcevic

Age 27 / san jose, costa rica.

THE BIKE: 2017 Specialized Epic Hardtail. Wheels by Waterfront Wheels with SP dynamo hub, Ikon tires, stock 1×11 drive train. BAGS: Specialized seat and front bag with NRS dry bag and Revelate frame and tube bags. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: MEC ultralight tent, Sea To Summit pillow. Garmin eTrex 20 and 810 for navigation, Steripen for water purification and Supernova front light.

Luca Petrinka

Age 39 / trieste, italy.

THE BIKE: I’ll be riding the SRMR on a 2018 TREK Procaliber 9.8, original 1x 12 Sram GX (32T 10x50T); modified Shimano XT brakes; Vittoria Mezcal 2.25″ tires. BAGS: Custom frame bag by https://kickingdonkeybags.com/; Water bags on the handlebar by https://kickingdonkeybags.com/; Tank top tube 1 by Kickingdonkeys(close to the seatpost) and 1 by Missgrape (close to handlebar); Seat bag by MissGrape Cluster https://missgrape.net/; SECRET WEAPON: Butterfly Guns by Vap Cycling with front dry bag (17l) and integrated arm rests!! GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Outdoor Research Helium Bivy, custom Cumulus X-Lite 200 sleeping bag, Thermarest NeoAir X-lite mattress, Garmin eTrex 20x for navigation.

Marco Agnoli

Age 34 / verona (italy).

THE BIKE: I’ll be riding the SRMR2019 on a 2016 Niner RLT 9 Steel. The bike features a new pair of WTB Ridler 700x42c on the rear and KENDA Karma 29×1.95” tires on front, a 2 x 11 drivetrain (36/22 and 11/34 cassette), and a custom CYP Wheels. The fork is the Lauf Grit. BAGS: I ride with Alpkit front bag, Rusjan rear bag and Alpamayo frame bag. I use a small Hydratation backpack in addiction. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I use the following night kit: Seat o Summit Ultralight mat, Therm a Rest Hyperion 32 sleeping bag and Terra Nova Photon 1 tent. I use a Garmin Edge 820 for the navigation. I carry two powerbank (10000 mAh + 24000 mAh) for the Energy supply.

Bengt Stiller

Age 41 / berlin (ger).

THE BIKE: I’ll be riding the SRMR on a 2018 Bombtrack Beyond+1. Actually there´s not much left of the original bike except the frame and the stem. The bike features a new pair of Maxxis IKON+1 2.8” tires, a modified 1×11 drivetrain with a 30T chainring, a Garbaruk 11-50 HG cassette and WTB iScraper rims with a SON Dynamo hub up front. Steel fork was swapped to carbon, seatpost is now a Thomson and the cockpit features a FUNN-Wide dropbar with a Syntace C3 aerobar. Lighting and USB-converting is done with a Sinewave Cycles Beacon. BAGS: All bags are custom bags by Gramm-Tourpacking from Berlin. Tine, the founder of Gramm, is a good friend of mine and that makes putting your own ideas into bags more easy. We came up with an extra-large top tube bag which has a split top, that way you can either open the upper, or the lower, or both…all with a simple velcro closure. Makes handling stuff way more easy when being on the edge of your power… Full cooking set incl. 500g of peanut butter nests on the lower part of the downtube. All insulation incl. sleeping bag is wrapped in a Sea-to-Summit compression bag hold tight to my handlebar by a Revelate Harness. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: This year i´ll approach the challenging nights of Kyrgyzstan with a set of Western Mountaineering Flash Down Booties, Down Flash Pant, a Patagonia Down Sweater and a Western Mountaineering Nano-Lite Quilt. New to me will be the USWE-PACE running vest. It´ll host 2 Liter of water, incl. filtering it while drinking ( I put a SAWYER Filter “in line” of the tube ) and all additional rain gear.

Rollenberg Rudy (riding pair with Jayne Wadsworth UK)

Age 54 / ghent (belgium).

THE BIKE: I’ll be riding the SRMR on a Van Nicholas Revelstoke (titanium). The bike features a pair of Continental Race King protection 2.25, a Shimano XT 1×11 drivetrain with a 30T chainring – 11/46 cassette, and handmade Tune wheels with a SP Dynamo hub up front. One other modification is a VNT multi function aero handlebars. The front fork is a LAUF. BAGS: Revelate Viscacha seat bag, Gas tank, Sweetroll (handlebar), feedbag and jerrycan. 4 x 750 bottles will be mounted to the fork and downtube. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Nordisk Telemark UL 2 tent will serve as my shelter along with an Firefly sleeping bag and Thermarest NeoAir Xlite air mattress. Lights: Exposure; Backpack: Vaude UL (food); Power bank: X-Torm 9000 and 15000mAh; Water filter: Trail shot; Stove: MSR Reactor Stove; GPS: Sigma Rox 12 / iPhone

Age 29 / Salzburg, Austria

THE BIKE: I’ll be riding a 2018 Bombtrack Beyond. Trusting my comfort to some 2.1” WTB Nanos and a 1×11 Setup made up of a SRAM XX1 Crank with 32t chainring and a 11-46t cassette. The Groupset is SRAM Force, I also opted for some profile design clip on bars, to get my hands some rest. BAGS: I got a wild mix of products, using a Blackburn Outpost full frame bag, a Specialized Burra Burra Front Harness paired with a Revelate Designs Egress Pocket and their Mag Tank top tube bag. Last but not least an Ortlieb Seatpack. Two Liter bottles will be mounted to the fork plus a small EVOC CC 3l Race Backpack with Bladder. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: To be sheltered from the elements I’ll use a Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 Tent and Sea To Summit Spark II Sleeping bag as well as an Etherlight Sleeping Matt. I’m also carrying a Wahoo ELMNT Bolt and as a Backup a Garmin Edge 800 for navigation.

Raphael Albrecht

Age 29 / berlin, germany.

THE BIKE: I’ll be racing the SRMR 2019 on a Bombtrack Hook EXT-C. I’ve upgraded the wheels to Maxxis Ikon 2.2 (650 b) and changed the original stem to a Redshift ShockStop suspension stem which give me excellent comfort on longer washboard tracks. It features 1 x 11 SRAM Rival double tap shift with a 40 chainring and 11 – 42 rear and hydraulic disc brakes. I’ve added Profile Designs aero bars on which my Sinewave Beacon Cycles lamp is mounted (draining power from a SON 28 dynamo). BAGS: Ortlieb handlebar-pack (15 l) for a Sea to Summit Spark IV sleeping bag (comfort temperature – 8 degree); Apidura framebag (7,5 l) for food, camping gear, tools and spares; 2 x Salsa Anything Bags (4.5 l each) mounted on Salsa Anything Cages for Firepot expedition high-calorie food; 2 x Revelate designs feedbag (1 l) for drinking bottle, snacks and small accessories; Salsa EXP Series Top Tube Bag (1.2 l) for mobile, power bank and wallet GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Definitely the Sinewave Cycles Beacon light and USB charger as well as the flexible stem. The combination of a Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo tent, an ultralight Sea to Summit sleeping bag and sleeping mattress (also StS) will provide some nice quality sleep in the high mountains. I’ll also be carrying a Wahoo Element Bolt for navigation.

Brandon Camarda

Age 30 / seattle, washington (usa).

THE BIKE: This year I’ll be riding a Titanium, Air Land Sea frame built by Max Kullaway of 333fab, based here in Seattle, Washington. The bike is fitted with 2.2” Maxxis Ikon tires, 32×10/42 gearing, White Industries Cranks, Hunt 650b wheels laced to a SON Dynamo hub and a super fun, 40mm travel suspension fork built by MRP. BAGS: I’m running a combination of bags made by Apidura, Porcelain Rocket & Revelate. My latest addition is the Porcelain frame pack which was newly created for gravel bikes. I have roughly 36L of total bag space on the bike. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m using a carbon reflex single person tent from MSR along with a thermarest sleep system. Three Exposure lights will illuminate the roads at night. My riding kit is fully dialed via the Rapha Brevet line. My Sinewave Beacon will serve as a charger for all my electronics and navigation. This year, I’ve opted to ride with a hydration pack made by Osprey to give extra water carrying capacity and increase my ability to pack food along the route.

David Nicholls

Age 32 / from london, uk, but based in moscow, russia.

THE BIKE: A 2019 Salsa Cutthroat built up by the awesome Shona and Rich at Keep Pedalling. 38/28 rings on the front and 11-42 on the back should help me up the hills, and a SP dynamo hub will power my Sinewave Beacon light. I’ll be rolling on Velocity Blunt SS rims with Maxis Ikon’s, 2.2 at the front and 2.0 in the rear. BAGS: Salsa framebag and top tube bag, Apidura seat pack and Alpkit dry bag strapped to a Salsa cradle at the front. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll be sleeping in a RAB 200 Neutrino bag on a Thermarest NeoAir Xlite with a RAB storm bivi bag hopefully keeping out the rain. Navigation will come from the eTrex20 with Komoot on my phone as backup.

Stefano Crepaz

Age 30 / geneva, switzerland.

THE BIKE: My bike of choice for the SRMR is a freshly bought titanium Reilly Gradient gravel, equipped with SRAM Force 1×11 (42t cassette) and a SRAM X01 (32t) chainring. 700c DCR wheels and WTB 45mm tires will get me through dusty and rocky Kyrgyz roads. My electronic devices will be charged thanks to Sinewave Revolution USB Charger and a SON 28 dynamo as power output. BAGS: 32L of bags will host all my belongings, distributed as follow: 9L Apidura handlebar and 7L frame bags and a16L Ortlieb saddle bag GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Hydration being key, I particularly like my filtration setup composed of a 3L Camelbak with an all-in-one water filtration system integrated in the water tube. Food wise, I opted for Real Turmat freeze dried rations as they are very compact and tasty and jars peanut butter! :) Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1 Bikepack tent and Enlightened Equipement Enigma Stock quilt will complete my night setup!

Age 27 / Birmingham, UK

THE BIKE: I’m riding a custom Vulcan Bicycle Works frame that I made for a trip to the American southwest a few years ago. Despite the 2.6″ Vittoria tyres (Mezcal/Barzo) it’s really a touring inspired design, the opposite end of the bikepacking spectrum to the other, more trail inspired VBW bike being ridden in this year’s SRMR. As a singlespeed rider, I use the incredibly durable Surly Ultra New rear hub and a White Industries trials freewheel, driven by an Absolute Black oval ch ainring and a long-life ebike chain. In the front I have just rebuilt my wheel with the new Shimano DH-UR705 dynamo, which powers either a Supernova E3 Triple light or an Igaro D1 for charging batteries. BAGS: My bags are made by 7 Roads Workshop, and I couldn’t be more happy with how they have endured several long trips and races. The solid saddlebag with mini rack is a particular highlight, but all of the bags are very well designed and made. I’m happy taking a small weight penalty to use more durable bags and eliminate the worry of wet kit or unstable handling. My sleeping kit is kept on the fork legs, leaving the main triangle free for two extra 48oz Nalgenes (plus one on the downtube) and keeping it easy to carry the bike, compared to using a frame bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I usually camp with a tarp but considering the severe conditions I splashed out on a Tarptent Protrail for a bit more protection. My favourite Alpkit Filo jacket is still going strong after almost ten years, so I’m bringing it to add a bit more comfort and supplement my down quilt at altitude. I’m gambling that carrying almost a whole race’s food (Huel and dehydrated Tentmeals) will save me enough time and inconvenience/malnourishment to offset the weight and space penalty.

Jamie Jordan

Age 28 / edinburgh, scotland.

THE BIKE: My friend and fellow SRMR competitor Ben Hudson of Vulcan Bicycle Works made me a custom steel frame specifically for the Silk Road. It’s a lovely smooth ride which I’ve plushed up further with Rockshox SID forks and 2.4 inch Maxxis Ikon tubeless tyres. The drivechain is a mixture of Eagle and Shimano XTR, and DCR made me a bombproof pair of wheels with a SON dynamo front and silent Onyx rear hub laced to DT Swiss EX511 rims. BAGS: Ben’s frame has bosses in the main triangle and on the top tube to take bolt-on bags custom made by Rockgeist for a neat strapless set-up. The seat bag is my old Revelate Viscacha, still going strong after about 20,000 km. Up front my tent (HMG Ultamid) and sleeping bag are held by a Revelate Designs Pronghorn harness. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The custom frame has got to be the highlight, it’s a real luxury having a purpose-built machine which fits me perfectly. Highlight no. 2 is the 18,000 calories of flapjack and nuts hidden away in the frame bag…

Karolis Narkevicius

Age 30 / vilnius, lithuania.

THE BIKE: Salsa Woodsmoke 2017 custom whit Cutthroat rigid fork. Funworks Atmosphere 25XL wheels with Maxxis Ikon rear and WTB Nine Line front tires. Also SP Dynamo hub with K-lite lighting system. On the cockpit I use Deda Parabolica aerobars, Ergon grips and an additional hand position – Spiregrips. Gear system 1×11 / 42 with 34T narrow wide. I also decided to use the BB7 mechanical brakes for easy service. BAGS: This year I will be using the rear Revelate Designs saddle bag, Bike Bag Dude full frame bag & garage bag as well as the 7roadsworkshop TPU front bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Jack Wolfskin Gossamer tent, Alpkit Numo sleeping mat and two Aegismax down sleeping bags. I will navigate with Etrex 30 GPS.

Age 42 / Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria (England)

THE BIKE: I’ll be riding a Sonder Broken Road Ti kitted out with Hope components 12 speed Sram Eagle with 32 oval, Hope wheel set with Pirelli Scorpion 2.4 front and 2.2 rear, Jones Carbon loop bar, Torus Ti seat post. Electronics will be powered from battery cache that will be charged via solar panel. BAGS: All bike luggage is from Alpkit with front dry bag, frame and saddle bag along with two fuel pods on the top tube. I will also be taking Osprey Hydration back pack. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Anker Solar panel, Alpkit Soloist tent and cloud base sleep mat. Navigation will be Garmin Etrex 30x with Komoot for back up.

Age 31 / Fort Wright, KY (USA)

THE BIKE: Santa Cruz Highball CC 29er. Maxxis IKON 29×2.2 front and rear. Shimano XT 2×11 (26/36 up front, 11×42 in back). Shimano XT cranks, brakes, shifter & derailleur. SON dynamo upfront connected to a Sinewave Beacon for light and power. Crankbrothers Double Shot 2 pedals. Fox 32 100mm fork. Ergon GP3 cork grips. BarYak Expedition with EC90 grips and armrests. Rockgeist Spacelink. Spiderflex saddle. BAGS: Custom Rockgeist Dyneema 40 frame bag, Rockgeist Honeypot Feedbag, Rockgeist Cache Top Tube Bag – XL, Rockgeist Medic Top-Tube Bag (saddle side). Revelate Designs Terrapin Seat Bag, and a medium Sweet Roll with Egress Pocket on the handlebars. Endura MT500 Enduro Backpack. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 Bikepack Tent, Endura MT500 Jacket, PEdAL ED Kaido Jersey.

Jeff Kastenbaum

Age 25 / san francisco, ca (usa).

THE BIKE: The bike is an Advocate Cycles Seldom Seen with a Fox 34 fork. The wheels are 29ers with 2.1″ and 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcals on Spank Spike Race rims, SP dynamo hub, Onyx silent rear hub. I’m using the Shimano XT 2×11 drivetrain with 24-34 chainrings and an 11-42 cassette to help me up the many long climbs. I’m using Salsa flat handlebars with Ergon grips and Profile Design aerobars. BAGS: The Seldom Seen comes with a Revelate bolt-on frame bag. I also have a Revelate Terrapin drybag in an Alpamayo Designs holster, a Alpamayo front harness and accessory bag around a Revelate Salty Roll, and Revelate and Alpamayo stem and top tube bags. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m excited about my Enlightened Equipment 20 deg and Thermarest NeoAir Xtherm to keep me warm through cold mountain nights. My lightweight weight Ice Breaker merino zipup will allow me to bike in cool weather and into the night when necessary. A Sinewave Beacon will light the path and keep my devices charged.

Berten De Canne

Age 49 / berendrecht (belgium).

THE BIKE: I’ll be riding the SRMR on a Gilbertson Inferno (titanium bike). SADDLE: Fizik Gobi; PEDALS: Crank Brothers Candy; GEARING: 2×11 BAGS: All bags are from the AGU Venture Bikepacking line (seat pack, handlebar pack, top tube bag, frame pack and 2x snack packs). BACKPACK: Osprey Raptor 10 GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: FRONT LIGHTS: kLite Bikepacker Ultra with Bar switch and USB charger powered by a SON Dynamo hub up front. TOOLS & PUMP: Crank Brothers. SLEEPING: Nordisk Lofoten 2 tent with a YetiWorld Passion Three down sleeping bag in combo with a survival sleeping bag/blanket. CLOTHES: All by AGU. NAVIGATION: GARMIN eTREX 30x. WATER TREATMENT: Katadyn Tactical BeFree Filter and CarePlus Hadex chlorine solution.

Christian Holweck

Age 32 / switzerland via deidesheim, germany.

THE BIKE: I will be riding my new Open U.P. In bright blue with a Shimano Ultegra RX mechanical Groupset and a Rotor Aldhu Crankset. Equipped with a 46/30 in the front and a 11-40 cassette in the rear – I am sure to still run out of gears, haha. Wheelset is my trustworthy Hunt Dynamo 700C wheelset which I will run Tubeless with Rene Herse 42mm Hurricane Ridge Tires. BAGS: I mostly use Revelate Designs bags (sweetroll, framebag, gastank etc.). However the seatpost/saddlebag is my beloved Mr. Fusion by Porcelain Rocket – it allows you to add more drybags and doesn’t move on the bike! GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Can’t decide here but I am super happy to finally own a dynamo powered Sinewave beacon lamp. So far the hurricane Ridge tires were really impressive as well – I will keep my fingers crossed that the endurance plus casing will hold up in the harsh conditions.

Stephen Wyatt

Age 44 / edinburgh, scotland.

THE BIKE: Shand Stoater FT. I first saw this frame at the Bristol bespoke bike show back in 2013, back then “monster cross” bikes were unusual. I brought the frame when it came up on eBay a few years later. It’s been built up with what I had lying around. I’m running an old school 9 speed MTB group set with bar end shifters, I changed to an Exotic carbon fork to make the front end a bit stiffer bus drop some weight. I have 2.2” 700c tyres on there to soak up the bumps. Keeping in simple with cable operated bb7 brakes. It did treat myself to some Hunt carbon wheels which help keep the weight to an acceptable level. BAGS: Apidura bags all round. Plus a small stem pack with spare tubes and tools in. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I have my sleeping system in the tail pack which consists of a super light Nordisc tent, 2 season PHD down bag and a thin foam 1/2 length mat. (That lot comes in at a respectable 1660gm inc. the Apidura bag). This will be topped up with a down jacket and my biking clothes if things get cold. I have my MSR pocket rocket gas cooker, REI Tinpot and clothes in the bar bag. In the frame bag I have 6 days of dehydrated mash potatoes (yum) along with snacks and capacity for 2l of water. I didn’t fit a dynamo hub so also have 25,000 mwh of batteries – I’m hoping that’s enough power for recharging lights and navigation device. I’m liking my old school bar end shifters – I think they help you be more gentle on the gears and chain when moving up and down the cassette.

Age 25 / Brookwood, Surrey (UK)

THE BIKE: For the SRMR 2019 I will be riding my NS Bikes Rag+, although there’s not many original parts left on it. Up front there’s a new hand-built wheelset by DCR Wheels, with a Son hub, Maxxis Crossmark tyres and lauf grit forks. The groupset is a mix of SRAM Force/Rival with a 34t chain ring and 11-46t cassette. BAGS: they’re are a bit of a mix, Restrap saddle and frame bags, Vaude handlebar roll and a top peak top tube bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: KLite Bikepacker Ultra front light, switch and USB charger to light my way and keep my garmin etrex 30x running. I’m also taking a Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL1 Bikepack tent.

Age 32 / Taiwan

I am Terry Hsiu from Taiwan, This is my second time joining the SRMR, I went with my father last time. We rode as a pair but we had an accident; my dad broke his rib and we stopped the race. This was a different experience for us. This year I’m riding again to finish, to learn more from nature and from the outdoors. I hope to meet different people and makes memories together THE BIKE: I ride Kualis cycles Titanium bike, Using Woho bike bags, this time use Lauf fork to make the road more comfortable, in front of tires is WTB Ranger 2.25 rear is 47c venture for the electric power, i using dynamo hub connect with the plug usb to charge power bank.

Age 33 / Hong Kong via Melbourne, Australia

THE BIKE: Handbuilt steel frame by yours truly, Belle Bicycles. Columbus OS MTB tubing & some bent OS road seatstays for compliancy. Custom geometry, 27.5+/29+ clearances. SnS Coupled Downtube, fillet brazed top tube breakaway splitter. XT 11 Speed 1 X. Cable brakes because thermal expansion differences caused a leak with my hydraulics last time I crossed an Alpine lake.. BAGS: Custom frame bag by Able Carry Co. Handlebar Bags in Auscam by H_ngry. 15L seatpost bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: OG full size sleeping mat because Comfort is King.

Hayden Stevens

Age 26 / melbourne, australia.

THE BIKE: Curve Titanium GXR (aka KEVIN), running on Curve’s carbon Dirt Hoops and 27×2.1 Vittoria Mezcal’s. Sram Force 1x with 30t oval chainring (not pictured) and Thomson build kit. Profile design Aerobars. SP dynamo hub powers a K-lite Bikepacker light and charger. BAGS: Full range of Stealth bags, New Zealand’s finest. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My sleep system by Terra Rosa Gear: custom bivy and synthetic quilt handmade here in Melbourne.

Benjamin Herrera

Age 32 / heidelberg, germany.

THE BIKE: Purple Trek Stache 7 2016; Will be running aerobars. Switched to Eagle 12-Speed and fell in love with the 50th Cassette. Better to crawl on the bike than next to it… Decided last minute to switch from a hydraulic brakes to a mechanical BB7s. Unfortunately the rear clearance for the caliper is too small, so now I’m running mechanical in the front and hydraulic in the back… what a bodge. But fingers crossed it’ll work out. Running 2.6. Vittoria Mezcals on 29″ wheels. They might be slower in the beginning, but hopefully will help during the rougher parts. 30 tooth Absolute black oval chainring to save the knees. Hope I will still love the bike after the race. BAGS: Ortlieb bags in the front and back, Blackburn in the middle and Topeak on the toptube.

Ernie Lechuga

Age 43 / little rock, arkansas (usa).

THE BIKE: For SRMR, I’m riding my 2019 Orbea Terra. I chose the custom 650b ROL Wheels with Dynamo front hub, XT rear hub, and have a mix of Panaracer Gravel King SK and the Kenda Flintridge tires, both in 45c. The Terra has Ultegra Di2, and I’ll be using the AbsoluteBLACK chainrings with a 46/30T combo. For rear cassette, I’ve got an XT 11-40. My handlebars are Salsa Cowchippers with Zipp clip-on aerobars. I’ve got capacity for four water bottles by mounting two cages to the fork and two cages to the rear using the WOHO anti-sway bottle cage mounts. BAGS: For packing, it’s Apidura all around for frame pack, seat pack, front roll, and top tube pack. I’ve place a mount for my keg tool kit to the underside of the downtube and will carry and additional top tube small pack for quick-grab items. To light our way in the darker hours, have a K-Lite Bikepacker Ultra mounted to my aerobars. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Racing with my wife Scotti, we’ll share the Big Agnes Copper Fly tent along with 40 degree Pluton Big Agnes bags. We chose their AXL Air sleeping pads, as well. We have the Garmin Etrex that we’ll both share, then she and I both individually have our Wahoo ELEMNTs.

Scotti Lechuga

Age 34 / little rock, arkansas (usa).

THE BIKE: I’ll be racing the SRMR on the 2019 Parlee Chebacco. Since I wanted to run a wider width tire, I chose 650b ROL Wheels to accommodate the WTB Venture 47’s and the Dynamo front hub. I have Shimano DuraAce mechanical shifting and an AbsoluteBLACK chainring combo of 46/30T with XT 11-42 cassette. I widened my normal size handlebars by switching to the Salsa Cowchippers, and then am using clip-on aero bars from Profile Design. I love my saddle, which is the gravel-specific Selle Royale Novus Boost. BAGS: Apidura is my bag choice, and I’ll have a frame pack, seat pack, front roll and top tube pack. I’ve attached two cages to my front fork for water bottles and have more storage for water elsewhere. For riding at night, I’ve mounted the Dynamo powered K-Lite Bikepacker Ultra. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Since I am racing as a pair with my husband Ernie, we’ve chosen to use a Big Agnes Copper Fly tent along with 40 degree Pluton Big Agnes bags with their AXL Air sleeping pads. For navigation, we are sharing the Garmin Etrex and each have our own Wahoo ELEMNTs. Personal gear highlight: not seen in this picture are two very small dream catchers that my twin sons have chosen for me to remember them by as I pedal across Kyrgyzstan!

Stu Edwards

Age 36 / hobart, tasmania (usa).

THE BIKE: I’m riding a Bombtrack Beyond 2 with Hunt 29 MTB rims with a SON up front. Mezcal 2.35 front and 2.1 rear tires. Drivetrain is SRAM Eagle 1×12 with a 30t chainring. Alpkit Confucius bars which have been hacked with a pair of old MTB bar ends to give another hand position. BAGS: Bags are a mixture of old and new from Revelate and Bike Bag Dude. 3 litre bottles on the frame. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Zpacks 20F sleeping bag plus a borahgear Snowyside eVent bivvy plus a Zpacks tarp if the weather turns foul. Navigation is Garmin Etrex 30 with phone for backup. KLite bikepacker ultra light plus sinewave USB charger.

Age 27 / New York, New York (USA)

THE BIKE: Custom Dark Moon Fabworks Steel Drop bar 29er/Monster Cross. Built around a Salsa Firestarter Boost fork. SON Dynamo/Chris King to new Light Bicycle XC rims. Ultegra di2 / XT 1×11 setup 28×9-46 gearing. K-Light bikepacker Ultra light/usb cache. Vittoria Mezcal Tires. BAGS: Bike Bag Dude Custom Frame Bags and Revelate Terrapin 14L with a Porcelainrocket/Hunter demi rack Voile’d for additional stabilization. 20L big river bag up front in the revelate harness. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: All the cold weather and rain gear to keep warm in the Kyrgyz wilderness. Similar to what I bring for cold wet winter days as a bicycle courier in manahttan. 64oz downtube bottle and 4x 1 liter bottles on the Fork and Seatstays with Custom sweet tooth fab brackets for heel clearance and Max water capacity. Wahoo Elemnt Roam for navigation with a Garmin Etrex 20x + Galileo maps on the phone as redundancy.

Markus Stitz

Age 40 / edinburgh, scotland.

THE BIKE: I am riding a 2017 Surly Straggler, the UK version with with Halo Devaura wheels. Modifications include Fibrax Ultra Light rotors, a SP PD-8 dynamo hub with Sinewave Charger and Exposure Revo lights, a 11-42 cassette, Gusset chain, ESI RCT bar tape, Brooks Cambium C15 saddle, HT M1 Leopard M Pedals and Schwalbe G-One Bite tires, 2.0inch on the front & 1.5inch on the rear wheel. BAGS: I am using Apidura’s 14l Expedition handlebar pack with the accessory bag, the small Expedition full frame bag, 14l Expedition Saddle Pack, 2 backcountry food pouches plus and the bigger Expedition top tube bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I am using a Nordisk Lofoten 2 ULW tent, which packs super small and weighs less than 600g. For kit I trust the experience if an ex Formula 1 driver with Aussie Grit’s cycling range, using their Ignite 2in1 bibs. Another favourite is the Source Hipster 1.5l bladder with the Sawyer filter kit, which should make hydration a straight forward thing.

Daniel Hunt

Age 37 / canberra, australia.

THE BIKE: I’ll be pedalling a Hunt Bikes 29er titanium prototype that will become available for order pending a successful SRMR. The bike is rolling on 36mm carbon rims, 2.35” rubber and a SON dynamo that powers a K-Lite bikepacker ultra light. Plenty of hand positions up front with TT bars, Ergon grips and some bar ends mounted inside the grips. BAGS: Ortlieb dry bag under the bars, waterproof Apidura saddle bag, old but trusty Revelate top tube bags and front pouch. 3 x 1L water bottles on the frame GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Ricoh GRiii camera to capture the adventure and amazing landscape, Garmin Edge 810 to keep me from getting lost, Montane down jacket to keep me warm and the Ti Hunt frame to save a few grams.

Stay tuned over the next couple of weeks as we have a lot more coverage of the Silk Road Mountain Race on tap…

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• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best of Moscow by high speed train

By shuguley , February 15, 2014 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.

Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?

My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

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If you are considering this on the 2015 June Baltic cruise on Voyager; my suggestion is don't. There is so much to do in St. Petersburg and although a train is one of my favorite ways to travel the time would be far better spent in St. P.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this would be on the Voyager during the 2015 season but not yet sure exactly which cruise.

We did the Moscow excursion "on a different luxury line", but from your brief description it sounds very much like the same trip, so I will operate on that assumption. It is a VERY long day! We left the ship at 5:30 AM and returned at 12:30 AM. The highspeed train trip is comfortable, and while they call it "Business Class" it does not compare well to the equivalent class on say Rail Europe. When we did it in 2011, we did have highspeed both ways, and the trip back seemed much longer as the adrenaline and excitement had worn off!:D

Moscow itself is not that terribly different from any other big city in the world, but this Cold War kid never thought he would ever stand in Red Square, never mind walk the grounds of The Kremlin, or tour The Kremlin Palace, or see (but not visit) Lenin's Tomb, or visit The Armoury. But he did, and he loved every minute of it! Yes, it is a long day, and you barely scratch a scratch on the surface, but it is worth it. There is a tremendous amount to see in St. Petersburg, but every Baltic cruise goes to St. Petersburg, so you can go back if you choose to. Not every cruiseline offers you the chance to see Moscow.

I have not personally done this tour, but our last time in St Petersburg, the private guide that we hired for a day was leading the regent tour to Moscow on the high speed train the next day. He said it was way better than the previous alternative, which was flying to Moscow and back. He said that you actually got to Moscow faster because you didn't have to deal with airline checkin etc. it did seem like a very long day to me, and there is so much to see and do in st. Petersburg that I didn't consider doing it.

countflorida

We toured to Moscow from St. Petersburg via the hi-speed SAPSAN train last September, from a Baltic cruise on the Oceania Marina. You need to have a two-night, three day port call in St. Petersburg to take this tour because the tour typically leaves the ship around 5:00 - 5:30 AM and doesn't return until after midnight the next day. We didn't take the ship's tour; we made private arrangements with TravelAllRussia for three days of touring, the first and third days in St. Petersburg and the second day the tour to Moscow by train. Our cost for the private tour for three days was about the same as what the ship charged for the excursion to Moscow alone. There are a number of private tour agencies that operate in St. Petersburg and offer the Moscow train tours; we would strongly recommend them over the ship's tours.

All three days had private guides with car and driver. The second day, the driver picked us up at the ship and took us to the train, but we were alone on the train, and met in Moscow by the guide on the station platform. After our tour and dinner, we were brought back to the train and after the return train trip met by the driver and taken back to the ship. Because you are alone on the train you must have your own Russian visas.

If this is your first visit to St. Petersburg, I would agree there is much more to see there. We found Moscow somewhat a disappointment, particularly Red Square. The Kremlin and the cathedral in Red Square were also worth seeing. But the best thing we saw was the Moscow subway! I worked for the Washington Metro system back in the 1980s as it grew from 40 to 80 miles and although I was in the computer area, I learned a lot about the challenges of running a subway system. We used the Moscow system to get across the city from where we had dinner to the train station, and I was amazed at the cleanliness', speed of operation, the short headways maintained, and the courtesy of everyone involved. A very impressive experience!

We had been to St. Petersburg before, and so had the time to take a day and go to Moscow. Also, I really like trains, and the SAPSAN is a German train set running on Russian rails. Seats are like first class domestic air, spacious but not too plush or comfortable, but with enough room. Not too much recline, and almost 8 hours on the train in two shots is a lot for an old man. They come through and sell drinks, candy, etc. but the sellers don't speak English and no one around us helped, so we had just poor coffee once coming, and brought stuff with us for the trip back. Not too much to see from the train either, particularly on the return when it is night the whole way.

If you decide to go, take a private tour and avoid the overly expensive ship's tour. I'm glad we did it, but wouldn't bother to repeat the tour; we've seen Moscow.

Thanks so much to all of you for the thorough and thought insight. Yhe information you have provided is most helpful.

countflorida: Your detailed post is very helpful. We are not quite ready for a Baltic cruise but should do so within a year. Time enough to do our pre travel research, bookings and visa gathering.:) Thank you!

Emperor Norton

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.   Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?   My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

I did this on Seabourn. IMO DONT. Take Aeroflop (er Aeroflot). The train has non folding seats where you are literally knee to knee with your fellow passenger (facing each other). Further they don't believe in air conditioning. It's also the worlds slowed bullet train. I think I would have found more enjoyment wandering around the St. Petersburg and Moscow airports.

Countflorida,

This is a little off topic,, however we had planned a river cruise in Russia but decided we would rather stay on land and have booked about two weeks with Travel-All-Russia using the private guide and driver. I'm curious as to how you found them as a tour company.

The guides they provided were fine. We had a different guide each of the days in St. Petersburg, but both were flexible, pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke English very well, as did the guide in Moscow, incidentally. She was a bit aloof, distant, not too friendly, but otherwise fine. In fact, she was the one who suggested taking the Metro, which unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the Moscow excursion. If I have a complaint with AllTravelRussia, it is with their plan and its execution (more later).

I had requested emphasis on World War II (in Russia, the Great Patriotic War) sites and info. In scheduling us, they weren't careful about dates and a couple of the sites we wanted to see were scheduled on the third day, after we'd been to Moscow. But both sites were closed that day of the week, and that info was readily available, right on web sites describing them. Also, the included meals (lunches in St. Pete, dinner in Moscow) were not what we asked for: light meals with some choices, so we could avoid things we didn't like and choose things we did like. My request was ignored; we were given full Russian meals with a fixed menu, no choice. On the first day, a fish dish was the entre, but I am allergic to fish. Fortunately, I had the e-mail I'd sent with me and showed it to the guide, and she was able to change my entre to chicken, which was very good actually. But we didn't want a 3-4 course lunches or dinner (in Moscow). We had the guide drop the lunch the third day, although we never got any credit or refund. But, particularly in contrast to the ship's tours, the prices were so reasonable we didn't worry too much about it.

The people who were on the ship's tour to Moscow saw us boarding the same train for which they were forced to queue up and wait on the way back, and asked us what we had done. I was candid and open so they were not happy when I explained what we had arranged and particularly what it had cost. Also, when we returned to the ship, we found they had laid on a late supper for those who had gone to Moscow, so up we went and had something. Well, it turns out the late supper was supposed to be just for those on the ship's tour, but we and others on 'independent' tours, there were a dozen or more of us, crashed the party, actually got there first, and they didn't realize it until the larger group arrived and there weren't enough tables/places set. By that time, the 'independents' had all gotten served and were eating; what could they do?

A couple from the larger group sat down with us and asked us about our tour, and they were the ones I told about our arrangement and its cost. They turned to others who’d been with them and announced the details, loudly enough so the whole room heard, which started a lot of bitching and complaining. I gathered they weren't very happy with the ship's tour to begin with, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. We finished up and beat it out of there, but overheard later that one of the excursion staff came to check on something and ran into a real mess. I caught a cold on the trip, which forced me to bed the second day following in Tallinn, so by the time we reappeared we heard about the contretemps' but apparently no one recalled who started it, thankfully.

Because of what happened to us, I would probably not use AllTravelRussia if I were to go again, or if I did, I would be sure to get confirmation of every detail of the tour. They do have good reviews generally, and we were certainly helped by their visa department and liked the guides and drivers. Their weakness, I say now with full 20:20 hindsight, is that once the sales person who plans the tour, sells it to you and collects your money, he (or she) transfers the plan to their Russia office for implementation; there is no follow-up to make sure it gets done right. And that is where our problems arose; we paid for a custom tour but got a standard package with a few destinations switched, and no one checked them out, even to see when they were open the day we were scheduled to go. If you check every detail that’s important to you, it should be OK, but that’s a hell of a way to have to do business, in my opinion.

Thank you for the 20/20 hindsight observation on your Russian tour operator, and better priced than the ship's excursion cost.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

We had the same experience as you so far as price. We originally booked a Viking Cruise but, hearing some things about the river cruises that made us unhappy, looked into other options. T-A-R cost the same or less than a cruise and had us in hotels for 11 days. We opted for the private tour. They have three tour levels, based on hotels. We originally opted for the four star as it did not cost much more than the three star hotels. Finally we decided to throw it all in and upgraded to five star. In Moscow we will be at the newly opened Kempinsky which is two blocks from Red Square. In St. Petersburg it is the Grand Hotel Europe, one of the most vaunted luxury hotels in Russia. Location is important for us as the tours use up only part of the day so being in the center of everything for our independent touring is important. As with many other cities, the less you pay, the farther out of the center of town you are.

We have been working with our salesman in D.C. and he seems to get back to us with the changes we want. He recently returned from Russia so is up on everything. When I asked they said they paid the full TA commission if I wanted so I got my usual TA on board so he is watching our back and giving us that extra level of comfort. He also set up our air, which I know pays him little or nothing, and got us business class for much less than T-A-R wanted for economy, though it took working for a while with a consolidator. He's happy to get his 10 percent on this trip without having booked it. He also took care of the trip insurance. We've been doing a lot of research on the CC sister site Trip Advisor and will write a report there. We will, I guess, become a source of info for CC members after having spent 5 days in Moscow and 6 in SP.

• 4 months later...

scubacruiserx2

Anybody considering a day trip to Moscow from St. Petersburg on the Sapsan may want to look at our travelogue filled with pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1927687

Very informative. Thanks dor sharing. Jeff

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