How to Choose the Best Sleeping Pad for Camping and Backpacking
NEMOÂ Tensor Extreme Conditions Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad
$249.95 – to $279.95
Warm, quiet and extremely comfortable, the NEMO Tensor Extreme Conditions Ultralight Insulated sleeping pad provides 3.5 in. of stable cushioning with an astounding 8.5 R-value.
Key Details
Insulated
Yes
Pad Thickness (in.)
3.5 inches
Weight
Regular Mummy: 1 lb. 1 oz.
Regular: 1 lb. 2 oz.
Regular Wide: 1 lb. 6 oz.
Long Wide: 1 lb. 7 oz.
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- Apex™ baffle design suspends more insulating layers than ever before, strategically spaced for a high 8.5 R-value
- 4 layers of floating Thermal Mirror™ metallized film provide quiet insulation with an unprecedented warmth-to-weight ratio
- The strategic placement and number of layers combine to produce incredible warmth at as little as 1 lb., making the pad a winter-worthy companion that won't weigh you down
- 3.5 in. of stable, cushioned loft for incredibly comfortable nights
- Floating construction prevents annoying crinkling noises so you and your camp partners can sleep soundly
- 40-denier nylon bottom protects the pad from tougher terrain; 20-denier nylon top offers a soft, lightweight sleep surface
- bluesign®-approved premium nylon fabrics shave grams while offering superior puncture and tear resistance
- Included Vortex™ pump sack provides easy and fast inflation, saves breath at elevation and minimizes moisture entering the pad
- Improved zero-profile, multifunctional, microadjustable Laylow™ valve offers customized inflation control, even at -20°F and below
- Protected by the NEMO Lifetime Warranty
Imported.
View the NEMO Tensor Product LineView all NEMO Air Pads| Best Use | Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Sleeping Pad Type | Air |
| Sleeping Pad Shape | Regular Mummy: Mummy Regular: Rectangular Regular Wide: Rectangular Long Wide: Rectangular |
| Insulated | Yes |
| Insulation Type | Synthetic |
| R-Value | 8.5 |
| Repair Kit Included | Yes |
| Stuff Sack Included | Yes |
| Packed Size | Regular Mummy: 4 x 10 inches Regular: 4 x 10 inches Regular Wide: 4.5 x 10.5 inches Long Wide: 4.5 x 10.5 inches |
| Sleeping Capacity | 1-person |
| Ultralight | Yes |
| Pad Thickness (in.) | 3.5 inches |
| Dimensions | Regular Mummy: 72 x 20 x 3.5 inches 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 Mummy: 1 lb. 1 oz. Regular: 1 lb. 2 oz. Regular Wide: 1 lb. 6 oz. Long Wide: 1 lb. 7 oz. |
| Gender | Unisex |
| Sustainability | Contains materials that meet the bluesign® criteria |
Buying Advice
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Most Helpful Favorable Review
Wow, like sleeping on a bouncy house.
Julia1 year ago
Wanted something warmer but ultralight like this for an upcoming winter thru-hike. But, after a short shake-down trip on a wilderness hike, I am going to go back to a humbler, less-racy pad. It looks sleek. Love the colors. Weight is good for its high R-value. It is very warm and comfortable and really amazing when lying perfectly still. But, yippee, any movement and it is like a bouncy house, and the surface is very slippery! My WM Versalite bag just kept sliding off it even though I was on a flat tent site. Tried to deflate a bit to no avail. Tried to deflate more and fold top down to make a pillow out of the excess (for me) length. That worked for a bit with clothes bag and my arm holding the top folded down. It is so long for my tent (BA UL Copper Spur), it leaves no room for back pack at feet, top of pad keeps pushing up against tent wall, making condensation possible. By 4 am, after bouncing and sliding off all night, it ended up propped up on inside wall of tent, and I just was using my Nemo Switchback under me. I needed a short wide, but Nemo doesn't seem to make that size yet. If they make a short version and make the material on the top-side less slippery, I would buy it again. Don't try to do any camp chores inside tent just sitting on it. Use something else for insulation under you while organizing gear, etc. This pad would be great in large tent with a group of campers on extreme trip. Too big and bulky for needs of ultralite solo thru hiker, but some may think differently. Super warm, so 5 for warmth, 1 for sliding and bouncing, so 3 overall.
Julia
PA
46 people found this review helpful
Most Helpful Critical Review
Wow, like sleeping on a bouncy house.
Julia1 year ago
Wanted something warmer but ultralight like this for an upcoming winter thru-hike. But, after a short shake-down trip on a wilderness hike, I am going to go back to a humbler, less-racy pad. It looks sleek. Love the colors. Weight is good for its high R-value. It is very warm and comfortable and really amazing when lying perfectly still. But, yippee, any movement and it is like a bouncy house, and the surface is very slippery! My WM Versalite bag just kept sliding off it even though I was on a flat tent site. Tried to deflate a bit to no avail. Tried to deflate more and fold top down to make a pillow out of the excess (for me) length. That worked for a bit with clothes bag and my arm holding the top folded down. It is so long for my tent (BA UL Copper Spur), it leaves no room for back pack at feet, top of pad keeps pushing up against tent wall, making condensation possible. By 4 am, after bouncing and sliding off all night, it ended up propped up on inside wall of tent, and I just was using my Nemo Switchback under me. I needed a short wide, but Nemo doesn't seem to make that size yet. If they make a short version and make the material on the top-side less slippery, I would buy it again. Don't try to do any camp chores inside tent just sitting on it. Use something else for insulation under you while organizing gear, etc. This pad would be great in large tent with a group of campers on extreme trip. Too big and bulky for needs of ultralite solo thru hiker, but some may think differently. Super warm, so 5 for warmth, 1 for sliding and bouncing, so 3 overall.
Julia
PA
46 people found this review helpful
Customer Images
matty_matecito
Revelstoke, British Columbia
Best Winter Inflatable Sleeping Pad
11 months ago
The Tensor EC is a great balance of warmth + comfort in a lightweight, packable size. I have used the "regular wide" version in combination with a foam Nemo Switchback for ski expeditions in Patagonia, British Columbia, and Iceland. When skiing with a partner, we can easily fit two pads in a Nemo Chogori 2p and provide a comfortable buffer from the snow on the tent floor. I particularly appreciate how easy it is to roll up the pad to a similar size it originally shipped in--it actually fits quite easily in the bag it came in, which feels like a rarity among most inflatable pads. Would recommend this to anyone winter camping / climbing / skiing!
Age:25–34
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Height:5'8"
Yes , I recommend this product
Anonymous
San Francisco, CA
Warm and packable!
1 year ago
I tend to be a cold sleeper. I already have the Nemo Tensor Insulated pad and thought it was just a bit too chilly when temps dipped below 40°F. I upgraded to this pad and just tried it out for a 2 night bikepacking trip where lows got down into the high 30s. I was so comfortable, I never got cold once. Nemo did upgrade the valve on this pad so it’s much easier to open and close compared to the Tensor. It does seem to take more air than the Tensor, but the included pumpsac makes that easy. It is a little bulkier than the Tensor, but only marginally. I was also impressed with how quiet it was. I move around a lot and it doesn’t make much noise at all.
Height:5'7"
Yes , I recommend this product
Steve M
Olympic Mountains Region
A Gient Step Forward in Sleep Systems
1 year ago
This is the sleeping pad I've been looking for. I was seeking a pad that could provide a level of comfort in cold conditions, yet be compact and light enough to carry in my pack without taking up liters of room. This pad is sturdier than the original Tensor series because NEMO used more robust materials in the shell design. This makes the Tensor Extreme heavier than the ultralight Tensor model, but the extra weight from material changes is still worth it (note: I try to stay as light as possible, but i'm not an ultralight backpacker). The Tensor extreme when rolled and packed if about the size of the Grayle water bottle. This is the sleeping pad I've been looking for.
Age:55–64
Weight:200–225 lbs.
Height:6'0"
Yes , I recommend this product
Chazz2
Wonderfully light, comfy and insulating.
6 months ago
This is the most comfortable tensor model I own, of 3. I Bought this used at a new/used outdoor store in Denver. It had a leak,I patched it successfully. The original purchaser ( 1 star reviewer G.M. JUST UNBOXED AND IT'S ALREADY LEAKING) was correct in their assessment of Nemo's quality control. Here is their original Pic of the defect and then of my patch job.
Age:65–74
Weight:200–225 lbs.
Height:6'0"
Yes , I recommend this product
Kearys
Light / Warm / Comfortable / Durable
1 year ago
I took this for a late season backpack deer hunting trip where nightly lows were in the teens. It performed fantastically. I am so impressed with how light it is for all of the features that it has. Perfect Backpacking pad for when it's cold and you need that warmth underneath you, but you still need to keep your gear light and compact
Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on nemoequipment.com
Matty_Matecito
Best Winter Camping Inflatable Pad
11 months ago
The Tensor EC is a great balance of warmth + comfort in a lightweight, packable size. I have used the "regular wide" version in combination with a foam Nemo Switchback for ski expeditions in Patagonia, British Columbia, and Iceland. When skiing with a partner, we can easily fit two pads in a Nemo Chogori 2p and provide a comfortable buffer from the snow on the tent floor. I particularly appreciate how easy it is to roll up the pad to a similar size it originally shipped in--it actually fits quite easily in the bag it came in, which feels like a rarity among most inflatable pads. Would recommend this to anyone winter camping / climbing / skiing!
Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on nemoequipment.com
Kevin23
Weight is inaccurate
1 year ago
I ordered the long wide version of this pad, it was advertised as 1lb 8oz packed, but as you see in the pictures, mine was 2.4 oz heavier than the listed weight! I’ve come to accept that sleeping pad weights will never really be accurate on retail sites, but a variance of over 2 oz is crazy! These high end companies make some great gear overall, but they can’t keep getting away with misleading listed weights for items that are hundreds of dollars. I will say, I do love the design, and the nylon material does make it feel more durable. I have not used this pad to it’s limit yet, but I don’t really think Nemo can claim best warmth to weight ratio with this one, especially if you go dollar to dollar with the xtherm.
No, I do not recommend this product
Originally posted on nemoequipment.com
Andrew
A good pad, but not as warm as expected
5 months ago
When first learning of the Tensor Extreme I was super excited, as I love my warm weather Tensor pad. Having used a ThermaRest XTherm for my cold weather excursions, I was looking forward to a quieter option. However, after having both pads down to -10°, I hate to say I slept much warmer with the XTherm, and will revert back to it when going out in extreme cold conditions in the future. Aside from the cold effect, I find the pad to be very lightweight and extremely quiet. And like usual, Nemo did a great job of making a well thought out piece of gear.
No, I do not recommend this product
Originally posted on nemoequipment.com
Cowpie
I Slept Cold
1 year ago
I finally had a chance to use my new Extreme pad last night. Temperatures got down to 25F, I was in a tent, my sleeping bag is a Western Mountaineering Antelope rated at 5F. Mine has 2 ounce overfill so probably a 0F bag. I slept on snow. I was cold. No matter how I slept my pad side was always cold. I tossed all night to warm up my cold side, to only get cold again. I could easily feel a chill. I have at least 10 pads. I'm one of those guys. I have one other with an R-6 value that I know is warmer. I'm glad to hear others were warm. I didn't get that experience. My regular wide weighed 24.90 ounces out of the box.
No, I do not recommend this product
Originally posted on nemoequipment.com
Curious George
The Ultimate #1 Sleeping Pad
1 year ago
I love winter backpacking and I also guide winter backpacking trips. I always have to put a foam pad under my sleeping pad to prevent cold spots on my back while in my sleeping bag just in case. This pad is AWESOME! NO cold spots. SUPER comfortable. Withstands in EXTREME COLD temperatures. Inflates in 1min 23sec with the Vortex. INCREDIBLY light weight. Packs SMALL. I would not sleep on anything but this sleeping pad, GUARANTEED! And perfect for a game of UNO during a winter storm and needing to stay in the tent. I LOVE my Regular Wide Tensor Extreme Conditions Ultralight Insulated sleeping pad.
Yes , I recommend this product
Originally posted on nemoequipment.com
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