NEMO - Tensor Series

I have the Tensor All Season, my brother has the Rapide and I�ve had the Dura 3R in the past so I have a decent idea of what they�re like. For one thing those specs are off, the Nemo packs the smallest and it�s definitely lighter than the Rapide at the same length and width. I use 25in wide pads though. As for comfort, these are all comfortable pads, it�s really going to come down to preference. The Exped and BA have more of a vertical baffle feel while the Nemo is more dimpled. If I had to rank them I�d go BA, Nemo, Exped. But it�s close, they are all good. For durability only the Nemo and Exped list the denier, w Nemo being 20 top, 40 bottom nylon. The Exped is 20d poly which is not only the thinnest but Poly isn�t as strong as Nylon. The BA doesn�t say the material but it seems durable. All of them should sleep true to their R value, so Nemo would be the warmest, and I�ve heard the Rapide has complaints of cold spots but my brother never experienced that, though he hasn�t tested it when it�s been cold enough. I really like that Exped uses synthetic fill rather than reflective film as it will be more comfortable in summer. So maybe go w the Exped if you�ll do a lot of summer camping and either the Nemo or BA depending upon what�s more important, comfort & durability -Rapide or weight & warmth - Nemo. Also look into warranty terms, being in Germany the Warranty won�t be the same buying from either US company.

Tensor is the best all around UL pad. The S2S isn�t meaningfully more comfortable, none of the ultralight options are. Try it next to a pad like the Megamat Ultra that has vertical sidewalls and you�ll see what I mean by meaningfully more comfortable, but it�s much more bulky and about a pound heavier. I use mine on all my rafting/kayaking trips. For backpacking it�s the Tensor every time.

The Featherstone Calcatta is also supposed to be a good budget pad. I have a Tensor All Season, the lifetime warranty justifies the extra cost imo.

No the sleeping bag won�t help much. To get a significant bump in comfort you�ll have to jump into some heavier pads that are still compressible enough to bring backpacking. Pads like the Thermarest Neoloft or Exped Megamat Ultra. I have a Tensor All Season and find it comfortable, however my Exped Synmat 3D (older version of the Megamat Ultra) is definitely more comfortable. My brother has the Rapide SL which is similar to the Tensor in comfort.

I don�t think that�s a noticeable improvement in comfort to make the switch from the Tensor.

OP has a medical issue and if they can�t get by with an already comfortable pad like the Tensor, chances are they�re probably not going to do well with the Either light either, which is a marginal improvement at best in comfort. UL means being as light as possible while still being comfortable, it�s not necessarily just about sacrifice, but being smart with what you choose not to take. Both the Megamat and Neoloft pack reasonably small, and maybe an extra pound is well within their carrying capacity and worth it if they can sleep soundly. The whole point of UL was to make life on the trail easier, but if the camp experience sucks then what�s the point. A pissing contest on base weight? I think you might be confusing UL with the show Naked and Afraid. Because that�s your endgame.

Second for the Megamat Ultra. It�s a big jump in comfort over any ultralight pad. Depending upon how far I�m hiking I�ll bring it over my Tensor All Season which is a decently comfortable pad in its own right.

Go with the Tensor all season. It�s a buy once, cry once type of item. The cheap pads for half the price come with very limited warranties. Nemo has a lifetime warranty, and when it comes to air mats in particular, there�s a good chance you�ll have an issue at some point that you can�t repair. Nemo replaced my mat twice over a 7 year period, once for a valve issue and the other was the baffle failure that many of their older pads had. Each time I got the updated version. To me the warranty alone is worth the extra cost, just make sure you get it from an authorized retailer. REI is really nice because you can access your purchase information as a member making any warranty claim a snap. The All Season also happens to be the best overall pad for its blend of comfort, weight, durability and warmth. It�s R value will get you through most of the year on its own, and the full year when combined w a ccf pad if you dare to camp in the middle of winter.

The Nemo is more comfortable,and its 5.6 R value is plenty warm down to around -10 or so which would mean your sleeping bag would be the bottleneck. They are releasing the Elipse soon though which is a less expensive version of the Tensor and has some impressive specs including a 6.2 R value, so if you don�t have a trip soon it might be worth waiting a little longer.

Get the all season, it�s more comfortable then the Xlite especially if you move a lot and are a side sleeper. One thing to note is that the Tensor Elite is going to be released soon in a wide version. If you are really concerned about weight that may be the way to go, but I think it will be wide mummy, not wide rectangle.

This pad is worlds more comfortable than the fully inflatables and it has a good r-value (5.1). I returned the Nemo tensor everyone loves so much and replaced it with this and I think it was well worth it. Yes, the weight and packability are worse, but I just can�t find an inflatable that is comfortable enough for me to think the weight/size savings are worth it.

This inherently does not answer your question, because it is only R2.4, but I've been using the new Tensor Elite which packs to the size of my fist and weighs 7oz. I've used it on multiple 32F nights on shaded ground. I have used my torso-length 1/8" pad to supplement sometimes, but not all the time, and have not perceived a difference in warmth. I've mostly used it for grip. In summary, I've been impressed by it and would currently not consider anything else for a sub-20L pack system Edit: meant to say Elite, not Extreme

Yeah I'm kind of in the same position. It's about what you'd expect, it's comfortable within the limits of a short, regular width pad. It's very slippery. I've used it for about 10 nights, mostly in Grand Canyon, and it hasn't leaked yet. I'm pretty good at fixing sleeping pads, so I bought it knowing that if a leak is fixable I can handle it in the field, and if it's not fixable they will warranty it for me and I could ask for something different. Like I said I've used it in combo with 1/8 ccf because that's part of my pack but I don't think that's necessary. So, in summary, I'm skeptical of it but I have yet to be given a reason to believe it's a stupid product. It's a huge gain in comfort:weight ratio compared to my Xlite.

I have about 10 nights on one. It's comfortable and hasn't failed yet. It's very easy to use compared to Neoair because of the valves. It is definitely slippery and I sometimes use a 1/8" foam under it to mitigate this. I have yet to be cold on it, even with a few nights around freezing on shaded ground. I have a similar philosophy about its durability. I'm pretty good at fixing pads in the field so if occasional leaks are fixable I'm okay with that. If something stupid fails that's not fixable, I'll be asking for a different one when I warranty it. They are pretty great at customer service and if they are going to launch a product like this I'm not ashamed to hold them accountable

It's the quietest pad I've used, except for occasional little squeaks against the CCF I use under it

The Tensor Elite has thinner material than the Uberlite

Slightly more comfortable and completely silent unless you put it on something squeaky in my 10 nights of experience

I agree but also more slippery, and obviously less durable

10 nights here so I'll help -It is not noisy at all unless you put it on top of something squeaky. -It is quite slippery, moreso than a Neoair. I often struggle to decide between putting my 1/8" foam below (protection and grip) or above (body grip). I think ultimately I will stick to below and put some Seam Grip on top for body/sleeping bag grip -It's the easiest pad to inflate and deflate in existence IMO. This is because the valves are excellent, mine is the short version so it just doesn't take much lung time, the dump valve is wide open, and the material is so supple so you don't have to be careful about folding it nicely. I was actually struck right away by how all of these things contribute to its ease of use

I mostly agree with you. I was already carrying a Thinlight on 98% of trips even with a heavier inflatable. So that's actually why I decided to try the Elite. I personally got it for less than 200 as well.

I hate my NeoAir, I don�t find ThermaRest pads comfortable at all. I�d take a CCF over a Thermarest. For trips where I want an inflatable over a CCF, I just got a Nemo Tensor since they�re on sale at REI (25% off). At least in store, it felt a lot better than my NeoAir or CCF.

Comfortable, I have one now. Before I had a Nemo pad I returned and honestly, kind of wish I had kept it. Only downside was it took forever to inflate. Also, these things go on sale/get returned all the time. I�d look for one second hand if possible.

The therm-a-rest is the most popular and i have the blue one but depending on the conditions you camp in you could pick the lighter one (yellow). That being said this one and the nemo extreme conditions will have higher denier material underneath which makes them less prone to puncture. I don�t know about the other ones on top of my head. Nemo and thermarest both have good warranties and spare parts, so I�d be leaning towards that. It�s polarizing but both are known to make a lot og noise no matter what they claim.

This! I started buying tensors because they were the only reg/wide rectangle pads at the time.� They work great and are comfy enough for side sleeping for me.�

I�ve got 2 BA pads for my kids but haven�t had any issues with them at all, but they don�t seem anywhere as nice as my Nemo Tensors. A buddy has an BA pad and did get it replaced via warranty.� With that said, my Nemo Tensors have been amazing and one of them lasted over 7 years. Got it replaced very easily with Nemo, too!

I think the Nemo Tensor Trail should be fine for you. I spent the last few years backpacking in the Ohio river valley (and elsewhere in the east coast and south) on a pad with a 2.5 R-value and was never once cold. I sleep notably warm as well, so I even used that pad down to 5F, but the reality is that winter in Virginia is rarely cold enough that this pad (especially if paired with a foam pad) would not be sufficient for you.

nemo tensor. buy it on amazon.

Nemo Tensor Alpine is what I run it's good

I�ve got 2 BA pads for my kids but haven�t had any issues with them at all, but they don�t seem anywhere as nice as my Nemo Tensors. A buddy has an BA pad and did get it replaced via warranty.� With that said, my Nemo Tensors have been amazing and one of them lasted over 7 years. Got it replaced very easily with Nemo, too!

Feels the same, except quieter.

I don�t think that�s a noticeable improvement in comfort to make the switch from the Tensor.

So my girlfriend and I have been through a couple different sleep systems for backpacking and car camping, and I figured I�d share what�s worked (and what hasn�t). **The old setup:** We used to run a pair of Big Agnes bags with pad sleeves that zipped together. It was great in theory�we could cuddle, and she could steal my body heat (I�m basically a furnace). Each of us had our own EXPED DownMat, which fit into our bags, but the problem was the gap that always formed in the middle. That little cold trench would wake us up and force us apart, which killed the whole �together� vibe. **Backpacking setup (current favorite):** Now we�re running a Sierra Designs Backcountry Duo 20F down bag (4 lbs 10 oz), and holy crap�it�s a game-changer. It�s like a hybrid between a quilt and a mummy bag, but zipperless. At the foot end, there are slots so either person can pop a foot out if they�re overheating without messing with the other. The top half works more like a comforter at home, which is a dream for me since I�m a side sleeper who likes to stick an arm out. I can just fold my corner down and sprawl without pulling the cover off her. Bonus: it�s got this little hand pocket in the corner that keeps your hand warm while you�re stretched out. Paired with two NEMO Tensor pads (78� x 25� x 3.5�), it�s insanely comfy. The pads fit perfectly in the sleeves (can even go up to 30� wide if you�ve got bigger ones). All in, the bag + pads are around 7 lbs, but honestly? It feels like we�re sleeping on a queen bed in the backcountry. I�ve never slept better outside. **Car camping setup:** For car camping, I use the same bag but swap the two NEMOs for an EXPED MegaMat Duo LW (78� x 52� x 4�). The Duo doesn�t slot into the bag sleeves (since it�s just one big pad), but it�s wide enough that the bag doesn�t really move. I rigged a simple strap through the head/foot sleeves to keep it centered, since the bottom of the bag isn�t insulated. Works great, super comfortable. That said, I�m thinking about upgrading to the Sierra Designs Frontcountry Duo Queen 20F bag. It�s synthetic, a little bulkier, but it�s designed for a single big pad up to 60� wide�basically a perfect fit for the EXPED. **Final thoughts:** The Big Agnes setup was fine, but the new Sierra Designs system feels like a massive upgrade�especially for side sleepers or couples who hate the �cold gap.� Backpacking version feels like a queen bed at \~7 lbs, car camping version feels like glamping. Honestly, I don�t think I�m going back. https://preview.redd.it/jjbie317nyqf1.jpeg?width=1857&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0e10676b44eb56cd5bb48b50e1f7dba11f45b541

I've only slept on it for one night with a Thinlight underneath, where it got down to 35F and I felt the cold under the pad for sure but it was fine. A coworker that also bought the pad who is going on the PCT soon slept on it for a month indoors to test it out and had his rip open. He claims he just rolled over and heard it pop. [Here's a video of the damage.](https://imgur.com/a/lGLgBd3) I would *never* use it without a Thinlight.

Is it noisy? The tensor I bought a couple of years ago is still going strong but man it�s like sleeping on top of a potato chip bag. I�m a guy that moves from side to side so it can be a problem some nights.

Second for the Megamat Ultra. It�s a big jump in comfort over any ultralight pad. Depending upon how far I�m hiking I�ll bring it over my Tensor All Season which is a decently comfortable pad in its own right.

Nemo Tensor Alpine is what I run it's good

The Nemo Extreme is a winter pad. I have it. If you're a 3-season camper you absolutely don't need it. Its larger than a standard insulated pad in the \~4r range, but impressively not by much. Tensor extreme comes in at a whopping 8.5r and isn't needed unless it's winter and very cold.

I�m a side sleeper as well and I stopped using my Nemo tensor so much because of the potato chip bag noise effects heh. This past winter, I�ve used the Sea to Summit comfort plus. It is easily the most comfortable pad I�ve ever used for side sleeping. And inflates and deflates easily. Highly recommend!

Have you considered a camping cot? There are a lot of ultralight options now which are about the same price as a good sleeping pad for side sleepers. The only difference being is the weight, you�re looking at around 1.5kg for a cot bed which would be double the weight of a sleeping pad. For me, the extra weight is worth it for the comfort. For context I�ve tried Therm-a-Rest, Big Agnes and Nemo mats. If I�m going for comfort, the cot bed wins every time.

I just got back from a weeklong canoe trip in the Allagash and this one from Nemo was what I used. Awesome� comfortable, lightweight, has a bag to help you inflate the pad. https://amzn.to/4nJxOjW

I've had a broken spine and pelvis so I researched and tested a lot for a sleeping pad. Any thick self inflating pad was either WAY too heavy, bulky, or had bad reviews... So I ended up with a Nemo Tensor. I know you prefer self inflating but I'd give this pad a try, maybe go to a store and lay on it. I find it quiet, warm, and supportive. I sleep all night and no body aches.

I think the Nemo Tensor Trail should be fine for you. I spent the last few years backpacking in the Ohio river valley (and elsewhere in the east coast and south) on a pad with a 2.5 R-value and was never once cold. I sleep notably warm as well, so I even used that pad down to 5F, but the reality is that winter in Virginia is rarely cold enough that this pad (especially if paired with a foam pad) would not be sufficient for you.

This! I started buying tensors because they were the only reg/wide rectangle pads at the time.� They work great and are comfy enough for side sleeping for me.�

Tensor Elite Short Mummy is 7.6 oz. With the stuff sack and patch kit it's 8.04 oz. With the included pad inflator that I doubt literally anyone will use, it's 10 oz. Source: I own it.

The Featherstone Calcatta is also supposed to be a good budget pad. I have a Tensor All Season, the lifetime warranty justifies the extra cost imo.

Looking at this one as well - although just the regular 25� wide version. I have a Nemo tensor and I�m not totally in love with it. For the size and weight, sure. But my wife and I just got back from a pretty short 3 day backpacking trip and I just couldn�t get comfortable on the tensor. I probably have 15-20 nights on the tensor and I�m just not sold. Typically a UL believer, but I�m really considering ponying up for the bulk and weight of this ultra mat - if it would result in better sleep. We have a mega mat queen size for our car camping kit, and it�s a dream. Haven�t used any other Exped mattresses yet, though

I mostly agree with you. I was already carrying a Thinlight on 98% of trips even with a heavier inflatable. So that's actually why I decided to try the Elite. I personally got it for less than 200 as well.

Love my tensor all season. It checks all the boxes. Very comfortable

I tried both and went with the Ether Light XR. It came down to what felt good. I didn�t think the baffle design on the Tensor AS was comfortable or distributed weight well and much preferred the baffling on the Ether Lite as a side/stomach sleeper. I plan on upping the R value with a Z-lite pad if necessary.

No the sleeping bag won�t help much. To get a significant bump in comfort you�ll have to jump into some heavier pads that are still compressible enough to bring backpacking. Pads like the Thermarest Neoloft or Exped Megamat Ultra. I have a Tensor All Season and find it comfortable, however my Exped Synmat 3D (older version of the Megamat Ultra) is definitely more comfortable. My brother has the Rapide SL which is similar to the Tensor in comfort.

The therm-a-rest is the most popular and i have the blue one but depending on the conditions you camp in you could pick the lighter one (yellow). That being said this one and the nemo extreme conditions will have higher denier material underneath which makes them less prone to puncture. I don�t know about the other ones on top of my head. Nemo and thermarest both have good warranties and spare parts, so I�d be leaning towards that. It�s polarizing but both are known to make a lot og noise no matter what they claim.

nemo tensor. buy it on amazon.

The Nemo is more comfortable,and its 5.6 R value is plenty warm down to around -10 or so which would mean your sleeping bag would be the bottleneck. They are releasing the Elipse soon though which is a less expensive version of the Tensor and has some impressive specs including a 6.2 R value, so if you don�t have a trip soon it might be worth waiting a little longer.

Nemo tensor all season has a 5.4 r value, packs quite small, and weighs 16 oz which I think is certainly pretty light for that level of warmth

This pad is worlds more comfortable than the fully inflatables and it has a good r-value (5.1). I returned the Nemo tensor everyone loves so much and replaced it with this and I think it was well worth it. Yes, the weight and packability are worse, but I just can�t find an inflatable that is comfortable enough for me to think the weight/size savings are worth it.

My Nemo pad is more comfortable than my Purple bed ??

The released specs are exactly the same. Your assumption that "most" people will use all the extras that come with pads is flawed. At best I would include both minimum and full weights when available.

Get the all season, it�s more comfortable then the Xlite especially if you move a lot and are a side sleeper. One thing to note is that the Tensor Elite is going to be released soon in a wide version. If you are really concerned about weight that may be the way to go, but I think it will be wide mummy, not wide rectangle.

I had a Tensor and it was uncomfortable for me as well. I�ve found Exped inflatable pads comfortable. My favorite right now though is the Neoloft.

Go with the Tensor all season. It�s a buy once, cry once type of item. The cheap pads for half the price come with very limited warranties. Nemo has a lifetime warranty, and when it comes to air mats in particular, there�s a good chance you�ll have an issue at some point that you can�t repair. Nemo replaced my mat twice over a 7 year period, once for a valve issue and the other was the baffle failure that many of their older pads had. Each time I got the updated version. To me the warranty alone is worth the extra cost, just make sure you get it from an authorized retailer. REI is really nice because you can access your purchase information as a member making any warranty claim a snap. The All Season also happens to be the best overall pad for its blend of comfort, weight, durability and warmth. It�s R value will get you through most of the year on its own, and the full year when combined w a ccf pad if you dare to camp in the middle of winter.

OP has a medical issue and if they can�t get by with an already comfortable pad like the Tensor, chances are they�re probably not going to do well with the Either light either, which is a marginal improvement at best in comfort. UL means being as light as possible while still being comfortable, it�s not necessarily just about sacrifice, but being smart with what you choose not to take. Both the Megamat and Neoloft pack reasonably small, and maybe an extra pound is well within their carrying capacity and worth it if they can sleep soundly. The whole point of UL was to make life on the trail easier, but if the camp experience sucks then what�s the point. A pissing contest on base weight? I think you might be confusing UL with the show Naked and Afraid. Because that�s your endgame.

I would probably not pick MEC products anymore, they have dropped in quality. So MH or Nemo for a sleeping bag. And since you�re a fellow Canadian, go for the higher R value, especially since your bag only goes to -9. The Nemo tensor is a good option here.

I have the Tensor All Season, my brother has the Rapide and I�ve had the Dura 3R in the past so I have a decent idea of what they�re like. For one thing those specs are off, the Nemo packs the smallest and it�s definitely lighter than the Rapide at the same length and width. I use 25in wide pads though. As for comfort, these are all comfortable pads, it�s really going to come down to preference. The Exped and BA have more of a vertical baffle feel while the Nemo is more dimpled. If I had to rank them I�d go BA, Nemo, Exped. But it�s close, they are all good. For durability only the Nemo and Exped list the denier, w Nemo being 20 top, 40 bottom nylon. The Exped is 20d poly which is not only the thinnest but Poly isn�t as strong as Nylon. The BA doesn�t say the material but it seems durable. All of them should sleep true to their R value, so Nemo would be the warmest, and I�ve heard the Rapide has complaints of cold spots but my brother never experienced that, though he hasn�t tested it when it�s been cold enough. I really like that Exped uses synthetic fill rather than reflective film as it will be more comfortable in summer. So maybe go w the Exped if you�ll do a lot of summer camping and either the Nemo or BA depending upon what�s more important, comfort & durability -Rapide or weight & warmth - Nemo. Also look into warranty terms, being in Germany the Warranty won�t be the same buying from either US company.

I only use pads that are too short for me. I currently use an XLite Womens (66") and a Tensor Elite (63"). I like having my feet hang off the edge after a long day of hiking, it feels better. If I'm on a longer pad or in a bed, I will do the same thing.

Currently I think the Tensor Insulated is the best choice. It's definitely more comfortable for most. Importantly, it's more reliable when it comes to product failures (baffle delamination etc.). The Therm-a-rest is certainly still good in this regard comparing to other brands but we see about 50% less incidents with the Nemo in our store.

If I ever buy another inflatable pad, it'll be a [Nemo Tensor Trail](https://www.nemoequipment.eu/collections/sleeping-pads/products/tensor-trail-insulated-ultralight-sleeping-pad). Of all the inflatable options, it's simply the best blend of comfort/weight (assuming you avoid cold temps like I do) The horizontal baffles on the XLite are nowhere near as comfortable

Tensor is the best all around UL pad. The S2S isn�t meaningfully more comfortable, none of the ultralight options are. Try it next to a pad like the Megamat Ultra that has vertical sidewalls and you�ll see what I mean by meaningfully more comfortable, but it�s much more bulky and about a pound heavier. I use mine on all my rafting/kayaking trips. For backpacking it�s the Tensor every time.