How to Choose the Best Sleeping Pad for Camping and Backpacking

Think of it as the chaise longue of sleeping pads. With a slightly elevated head baffle and curved, body-mapped baffling, the NEMO Quasar 3D Insulated Air pad keeps you comfy, even on uneven terrain.
Imported.
View all NEMO Air PadsBest Use | Camping Backpacking |
---|---|
Sleeping Pad Type | Air |
Sleeping Pad Shape | Rectangular |
Insulated | Yes |
Insulation Type | Synthetic |
R-Value | 3.3 |
Repair Kit Included | Yes |
Stuff Sack Included | Yes |
Packed Size | Regular: 8 x 4.5 inches Regular Wide: 9 x 5 inches Long Wide: 9 x 5.5 inches |
Sleeping Capacity | 1-person |
Pad Thickness (in.) | 3.5 inches |
Dimensions | Regular: 72 x 20 x 3.5 inches Regular Wide: 72 x 25 x 3.5 inches Long Wide: 76 x 25 x 3.5 inches |
Weight | Regular: 1 lb. 9 oz. Regular Wide: 1 lb. 14 oz. Long Wide: 2 lbs. 1 oz. |
Gender | Unisex |
Sustainability | Contains recycled materials Product meets the bluesign® criteria |
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As a side sleeper it is far more comfortable than my nemo tensor. Added thickness and the shape keeps your hips and shoulders off the ground and in the middle of the pad. It’s well worth the extra bulk in a pack for the extra comfort. It’s slightly heavier than the tensor but it’s negligible, the big factor for most will be the added space it takes up in a pack. For me it’s worth it, the vast majority of the time. I’ll keep my tensor for occasions when I need the extra pack room but other than that, this will be my go to pad. R values are very close between the two so it’s a non factor for me when deciding which pad to take on a trip
I just finished the JMT last week with this pad. Not a single issue. It's thick, warm and very comfortable. I'm a side sleeper, and toss-n-turn quite a bit, but neither was an issue on this pad. I have another pad that has a higher R-value, lighter, but this one is much thicker and quieter. I highly recommend it, and plan to use it on future thru-hikes hopefully for years to come.
Took this on a 5 day self support kayak trip. Excellent balance of weight to comfort. Both of us are side sleepers and this pad did great. packs small enough for our whitewater boats and is not too heavy. Thanks NEMO
We were using one of those cheap Intex sleeping pads for awhile, but that thing was so uncomfortable and bulky that my wife and I needed something else. We initially settled on a self-inflating pad, but it just didn't work out for us. Based on reviews, we landed on the Nemo Quasar 3D. We wanted something that was decently portable since our car camping equipment was slowly growing. We also wanted something that would also insulate us from the ground, and also something that was comfortable. It was a bit spendy, but all-in-all it is perfect. Coupled with our sleeping bags, we were exceptionally warm. It was also very comfortable (for us). The only negative is that we should have gotten the wider version. If you like to roll around, something a bit wider is probably what you will need. Once we got used to it (2 nights or so), we found the Nemo Quasar 3D to be perfect. So far we have used it for about 40 days and no issues.
I liked the pad, but it started leaking air from the valve after less than a year. When I contacted the company about it's "forever guarantee" it put me through several weeks of back and forth emails and wasn't super eager to replace or send a fix. I was really disappointed in how they handled the problem for what turned out to be an obviously defective product.
This has a couple very poorly-engineered components, which makes me think it did not undergo much hands-on testing before release. To inflate it, you need to snap a one-way valve into a tightly fitted gasket on the body of the mat. The gasket is flexible and sits directly on the fabric of the mat, so there isn't any spot you can grab onto in order to finagle the valve into it. Since the valve is rigid and the fit of the valve into it is very tight, it's a clunky process. It's like trying to snap a plastic bucket lid onto a wet paper bag. When you deflate it, it's difficult to actually force much air out, since they didn't put in any holes or other airflow routes in the baffles, so any air that gets trapped in the center of the mat is trapped there unless you unroll the whole thing and try again. Other than that, it seems good. It's comfortable, and it inflates quickly.
I use this Nemo pad on a recent trip and I would agree that it is super comfortable. But it was much larger than my existing Nemo pad. Be aware that it is really heavy for backpacking. The picture compares two different sizes.
Female stomach sleeper here. Previously used a Powerlix ultralight sleeping pad because it was very light, had an R value of 4.4, and was easy to self inflate. Like any cheapish inflatable it began to lose air causing my boobs to smoosh uncomfortably right onto the cold hard ground. Was looking for an inflatable over 2” thick that was durable, light, and waterproof. This tics the boxes…I’m a happy camper..(que the drum and cymbal noise) Got the regular size though and do wish I would have gotten the wide so I could roll without concern.
I'm a little on the "bigger guy" side, so I was a little concerned about how well this little air mattress would work for me. Honestly, it's been absolutely fantastic. I swear, I often sleep better in my tent on this air mattress than I do in my king-size memory foam bed at home. I'm not a backpacker, so I don't need the most ultimately tiny, lightweight pack volume, but I do a lot of motorcycle camping, and for how little space and weight this thing takes up, it works really surprisingly well. I was very pleasantly surprised at how comfortable it is.
Used the Nemo Quasar 3D on my camping trip this week and had best nights sleep since I started camping again. I had used a thinner inflatable the previous 2 years and it wasn't as comfortable. I'm a Side Sleeper and I got the Regular Wide and had no issues with sliding off or overhanging the pad. I'm 66 so comfort is important to me and the Nemo Quasar 3D meet all my expectations.