Therm-A-Rest Boost 650 Sleeping Bag and Neoloft Sleeping Pad Review

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I’ve been a part of the backpacking culture for about 20 years now. I’ve transitioned from inexperienced to wanting to be super light to settling into my comfy place. With thousands of miles under my feet, many pieces of gear have come and gone. One thing that has stayed consistent is Therm-A-Rest. When it was time for a new sleep system this winter, I did my research and chose the Therm-A-Rest Boost 650 Sleeping Bag and paired it with the Neoloft Sleeping Pad.

Finding the Right Size for You

Both the Boost 650 Sleeping Bag and the Neoloft Sleeping pad come in multiple sizes. The sleeping bag is offered in short, regular and long with a wide option available in each of those lengths. The Sleeping pad comes in regular, regular wide, and large. See the technical specs below for the exact measurements.

I took into consideration my physiology (6 ft tall, sorta thin) and how I sleep. As a side sleeper who occasionally flips to my stomach, I needed something that would keep me on the pad. I chose the long bag and the large pad. Both added a tiny bit of weight to my pack but it was so worth the comfort! Backpacking trips just aren’t that fun without a good night’s sleep.

Therm-A-Rest Boost 650 Sleeping Bag

Materials:

The Boost 650 is so fluffy and soft, not to mention quiet, that I seriously did not want to get out of it. The bag is made with 100% recycled nylon ripstop. It is PFAS-free and water repellent. You have the option of a 32 degree bag or a 20 degree bag. I chose the 20 degree bag because I’m from Michigan and tend to camp in the winter. The 20 degree bag is a pastel blue which I worry will look dirty after a while, but it’s not offensive looking and the water resistance promises to make it easy to clean.

The fill is 650 water resistant and certified duck down obtained through responsible down standards. It is super lightweight and well distributed throughout the sleeping bag. The warmth is incredible and the down is soft without a single pokey feather.

So Many Zippers!

The Boost 650 was made with oversized YKK zippers. The entry zipper smoothly zips and never snags on the bag’s material. It has large zipper pulls that are easy to find and grasp, even in the dark. The main zipper also unzips at the feet in case you desire some extra ventilation.

This is the first sleeping bag that I have owned that also has armhole zippers. They are amazing! I was able to sit up, get my gear ready, play cards and even get the morning coffee without getting exposed to the cold. The armholes have puffy draft sleeves to keep the cold air out and your body heat in. In contrast, the armholes can also be a great vent if you are getting too hot inside the bag and wanting to stick your arms out. The armholes have zipper pulls on the inside and outside of the bag so you can manipulate them from any position.

The last zipper is probably my favorite and the primary thing that sets this sleeping bag apart from all others. The Boost 650 has a center zipper that changes this rectangular bag into a mummy bag with a single zip. The purpose of the zipper is to draw in the sleeping bag around you in colder weather and loosen it up during warmer weather. The center zipper adds up to 10 degrees of warmth with one zip. It also allows for more leg room if you don’t care for the confines of a mummy bag. I found this zipper easy to use and useful for extra room in the bag when sitting up.

So Many Fine Details

Aside from the many cool features mentioned above, Therm-A-Rest added many details to the Boost 650 Sleeping bag that I want to highlight in this review. The drawstring hood has a draft collar completely surrounding the opening and extending to around the back of your neck. Not only did this keep me warm when the hood was up, but allowed me to shed the hood during the night and avoid a draft sneaking into the bag. There is a small snap closure on the zipper side of the hood to assure that the hood stays in place and the zipper secure.

Inside the bag, there is a small sleeve pocket. This is a great place to store anything you don’t want getting too cold such as your cell phone or other electronics. It has a small hood to keep your items from sliding out as you move around in the bag.

Despite what sounds like a ton of bells and whistles on this sleeping bag, it is surprisingly light and small. The bag weighs in at 2 lbs., 4 oz. for the short bag and 3 lbs., 13 ounces for the long, wide bag. This is a very reasonable weight for a winter bag with so many extras. Included with the bag is a cinch sack and a vented loft bag for storage.

The Ultimate in Sleeping Comfort: The Neoloft Sleeping Pad

To partner with my new Therm-A-Rest sleeping bag, I also picked up the Neoloft Sleeping Pad. The four-season promise in a lightweight package was a real selling point with me. When you look at the pad, you would never guess that it is a backpacking pad because it looks so thick and heavy. I trusted Therm-A-Rest’s promise and ordered it.

The Neoloft Sleeping Pad is 4.6 inches thick when inflated with slightly higher side rails for stability on the pad. The knit surface of the pad feels nice next to the skin and will flex and curve with your shape. The pressure relief in the horizontal baffled design is wonderful. No more waking with sore back, hips, and shoulders. It is literally exactly what I was looking for in comfort and warmth. The pad is very quiet for an inflatable pad. Additionally, it shed water and dirt easily when tested, despite the knit, stretchy top.

Neoloft Insulating Features

The Neoloft pad is designed with a contour core matrix that traps heat in smaller spaces for retention. The interior surface is a Therma-Capture foil that reflects and retains your body heat. The R-value of the pad is 4.7 which makes it a great all-season sleeping pad. I have only had the opportunity to sleep on it in 30 degree weather but I felt no cold spots. I’m excited to use it this winter as we venture into the Upper Penninsula of Michigan for some ice climbing adventures.

Ease of Use

The Neoloft Sleeping Pad has dedicated inflation and deflation valves. The inflation valve is larger than the old Therm-A-Rest valves you may be used to. As a result, this made inflation quick and easy. The valve will fit most standard micro-pump attachments or you can use the included pump sack. It took me 4 fills of the bag to completely inflate this beauty of a sleeping pad. Due to the large volume of air needed to fill the pad, I would not recommend blowing it up with your lungs (It’ll take a while).

Because you don’t have a ton of thick insulation inside of the pad, it was very easy to deflate using the deflation valve. I did roll it up once to get the air out and re-rolled it to make it neat and tidy. The pad, repair patch and inflation sack all fit neatly into the included storage bag.

Technical Specs from Therm-A-Rest:

Boost 650 Sleeping Bag

	Short	Short Wide	Regular	Regular Wide	Long	Long Wide
Length	73 in (188 cm)	73 in (188 cm)	80 in (203 cm)	80 in (203 cm)	85 in (216 cm)	85 in (216 cm)
Girth Shoulder	63 in (160 cm)	75 in (191 cm)	64 in (163 cm)	76 in (193 cm)	65 in (165 cm)	77 in (196 cm)
Girth Hip	59 in (150 cm)	73 in (185 cm)	60 in (152 cm)	74 in (188 cm)	61 in (155 cm)	75 in (191 cm)
Girth Foot Box	61 in (155 cm)	61 in (155 cm)	61 in (155 cm)	61 in (155 cm)	61 in (155 cm)	61 in (155 cm)
Packed Dimensions	9.5 x 6.5 in (24 x 17 cm)	10 x 6.5 in (25 x 17 cm)	12.5 x 7.5 in (32 x 19 cm)	13.5 x 7.5 in (34 x 19 cm)	13 x 7.5 in (33 x 19 cm)	14.5 x 7.5 in (37 x 19 cm)
Fill Material	650-Fill Duck PFAS-Free Hydrophobic Down, RDS	650-Fill Duck PFAS-Free Hydrophobic Down, RDS	650-Fill Duck PFAS-Free Hydrophobic Down, RDS	650-Fill Duck PFAS-Free Hydrophobic Down, RDS	650-Fill Duck PFAS-Free Hydrophobic Down, RDS	650-Fill Duck PFAS-Free Hydrophobic Down, RDS
Fill Weight	1 lb 4 oz (565 g)	1 lb 11 oz (768 g)	1 lb 7 oz (649 g)	2 lb (909 g)	1 lb 10 oz (733 g)	2 lb 4 oz (1030 g)

(20 Degree) Neoloft Sleeping Pad

Sleeping Pad Type	Air
Sleeping Pad Shape	Rectangular
R-Value	4.7
Repair Kit Included	Yes
Stuff Sack Included	Yes
Packed Size	Regular: 5.7 x 9.5 inches Regular Wide: 6 x 11 inches Large: 6 x 11 inches
Sleeping Capacity	1-person
Pad Thickness (in.)	4.6 inches
Dimensions	Regular: 73 x 22 x 4.6 inches Regular Wide: 73 x 26 x 4.6 inches Large: 78 x 26 x 4.6 inches
Weight	Regular: 1 lb. 8.9 oz. Regular Wide: 1 lb. 14 oz. Large: 2 lbs.

Final Thoughts on My New Therm-A-Rest Sleep System

Pairing together the Therm-A-Rest Neoloft Sleeping Pad with the Boost 650, 20 degree bag was a great choice. The warmth, comfort and versatility of this combo is unmatched. I feel like I’m bringing car-camp comfort with me on the trail. I may have sacrificed a few ounces of weight to make the change, but I am assured appropriate rest for the strenuous days of backpacking. I love that the sleeping pad keeps me up off the ground while still keeping me warm. The bag locks in the heat but also allows me to move and change as my needs arise. Both items are quiet and peaceful. Thankfully, I won’t be waking up my buddies with a squeaky pad and swishy sleeping bag.

The cost of the pair is quite an investment, but if these last as long as my last Therm-A-Rest duo, I will get at least 15 years of use out of them. Therm-A-Rest has long been dedicated to the comfort of the outback community and it’s continued innovation is evident with this pair. The Boost 650 sleeping bag ranges in price from $299  -$375, depending on the size of bag. The Neoloft Sleeping Pad ranges in price from $239 – $259, also depending on the size. If you would like to customize your own comfort with the wide variety of options with the Boost 650 Sleeping Bag and the Neoloft Sleeping Pad, visit cascadedesigns.com, rei.com or amazon.com.