How to Choose the Best Sleeping Pad for Camping and Backpacking
NEMO Tensor Insulated Air Pad
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Featuring the lightest weight fabrics from NEMO and PrimaLoft® insulation, the NEMO Tensor Insulated Air Pad provides comfort and stability for a restful night's sleep in the backcountry.
Shop similar productsKey Details
Pad Thickness (in.)
3 inches
- Thermal mirror, metalized film layer reflects radiant heat while maintaining an ethereal weight
- PrimaLoft highly compressible insulation offers downlike performance for added warmth
- Minimal weight and compact packed size is ideal for fast-and-light backpacking
- Undulating lateral baffles offer the most comfortable and unobtrusive topography for sleeping
- 3 inches of cushioning is great for sleeping in any position
- Constructed with low-stretch fabric baffles to eliminate elasticity
| Best Use | Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Sleeping Pad Type | Air |
| Sleeping Pad Shape | Rectangular |
| Insulation Type | Synthetic |
| R-Value | Unavailable |
| Repair Kit Included | Yes |
| Stuff Sack Included | Yes |
| Sleeping Capacity | 1-person |
| Pad Thickness (in.) | 3 inches |
| Gender | Unisex |
Buying Advice
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Most Helpful Favorable Review
Soft, supportive, and comfortable.
M.R.B.9 years ago
Now, I've never been someone to invest in a high end inflatable pad before. I've always slept on the ground or closed-cell foam pads. But, when my dividend came in this year, I decided I was tired of waking up with stiff shoulders and a crick in my neck. I tried out several pads in store, including the Big Agnes pad that the green vest at my local REI recommended. This one just felt most comfortable to me; the bubble-shaped baffles feel close to a soft mattress at home. I tested it out in Shenandoah and awoke feeling more refreshed and energized than I ever have before on a camping trip. It's super light to boot. I'm very happy with my choice in this pad.
M.R.B.
Washington, D.C.
36 people found this review helpful
Most Helpful Critical Review
Great... until it's not
DaddySam8 years ago
I bought this is the spring in anticipation of a long trek this summer. I used it on a total of six 2-night weekenders and absolutely loved it. Much quieter than the Thermarest pads, extremely comfortable - it was just great. I never slept better.
Then, on day 3 of my 12-day trek, it leaked. I had been very careful with it but there was a slow leak somewhere - I could reinflate but two hours later I would wake up cold and on the hard ground. I inspected but could not find any hole to patch... there was some sort of microleak somewhere (still not sure where).
I loved the pad so much when it worked that I might still just swap for a replacement, but that might be a mistake. I know all pads can leak but I was really disappointed that despite shakedowns, and with its relatively high price, it failed near the start of a long trek. I am still hoping to find out more about the cause of the failure to help me decide whether to stick with it.
Maybe I just had bad luck or did something wrong (although I have no idea what)...
DaddySam
Mid-Atlantic
26 people found this review helpful
Customer Images
LanceNHarris
Des Moines, IA, United States
Great Pad, but on my 2nd one :(
8 years ago
This pad is replacing my 10 year old Therm-A-Rest ProLite. It's lasted the test of time but is not comfortable at all. This pad is very light weight and extremely comfortable. It doesn't make crinkle noises when you move like some of it's competitors do, which I find extremely annoying. I slept one night on it in my bedroom and it was a great night sleep. Then I took it camping and somehow between my room and camping it got a micro leak. It comes with a patch kit which is cool, if you can find the leak. Luckily REI is awesome and swapped it out, so I'm giving pad #2 a chance on a week long trip to Costa Rica. I have high hopes I never experience another leak.
Yes , I recommend this product
M.R.B.
Washington, D.C.
Soft, supportive, and comfortable.
9 years ago
Now, I've never been someone to invest in a high end inflatable pad before. I've always slept on the ground or closed-cell foam pads. But, when my dividend came in this year, I decided I was tired of waking up with stiff shoulders and a crick in my neck. I tried out several pads in store, including the Big Agnes pad that the green vest at my local REI recommended. This one just felt most comfortable to me; the bubble-shaped baffles feel close to a soft mattress at home. I tested it out in Shenandoah and awoke feeling more refreshed and energized than I ever have before on a camping trip. It's super light to boot. I'm very happy with my choice in this pad.
mkcg
Ohio
Compact & Comfortable
7 years ago
This pad is about the size of a water-bottle rolled up. I personally wanted a pad that didn't require an air machine - it only takes less than two minutes to blow it up. When blown up it's a good two inches off the ground. I'm 5'10'' and wanted to feel like my body could fit comfortably without falling off. Upgrade yourself to the bigger size if needed, you won't regret it. When moving around in the middle of the night, it contours to your body without you ever hitting the ground. When I'm ready to deflate it, I just pull both plugs and it's ready to be rolled back up again in a second. Great pad to have when you're away from your bed!
Yes , I recommend this product
EastBayBackpacker
Received free product
Los Angeles, CA
Best of my SIX sleeping pads!
8 years ago
Ok, if you only read one review, read this one. I have a bad back (slipped disc) and finding the perfect pad for me has been an immense challenge (plus expensive, given how I now own six pads). After nearly giving up backpacking altogether because of waking up in pain after every trek, I luckily found this pad and it is perfect. What caught eye initially was how small it compressed down to; a little bigger than a soda can. It's a little tight getting it back into its stuff sack, but that's certainly worth the trade-off of having something so compact and comfortable. If you're only going to have one pad in your equipment trunk, take this one.
Yes , I recommend this product
LanceHarris
Des Moines, IA, United States
Best / Worst Pad
7 years ago
This is a follow up to my previous review. Today I returned my 2nd NEMO Tensor pad to REI since April. My first one sprung a small slow leak right away, so I returned it in April. My second one lasted a week in Costa Rica, a week on RAGBRAI, and several other camp outtings, but recently, again, sprung a small slow leak. When it worked, it worked great! It packs small and light, and it is extremely comfortable to sleep on. It's also very quiet, in my opinion. But after going through 2 pads, it's time to try something else. I think it might have been the valve that was the problem. I do not like the valve system on this pad.
No, I do not recommend this product
Walkacrosschina
Noisy, Mold Prone and Hard to Patch Sleeping Pad
7 years ago
My husband and I recently walked the entire length of China, but only had to camp 15 or less times. In those short experiences, his pad spontaneously got over 20 holes and both pads had a lot of mold growing on the inside which smelled. Those were our main concerns, on a minor note, these are very noisy pads, every move squeaks, but if you are tired enough from hiking, this might not matter to you. Bottom line: aside from the holes, these will keep you warm on cold ground, but to us the smell, noise and patching were not worth it.
No, I do not recommend this product
TotheTetonsandBeyond
Denver, CO, United States
Amazingly Comfortable!
8 years ago
I just bought this pad and brought it with me on a two week camping trip into several national parks. I have loved all aspects of this pad (extremely comfortable, super lightweight, relatively easy to inflate, fairly quiet to lie on, rapid deflation) except two. First, the pad is a bit of a pain to get back into the bag, so you'll have to get better at compressing gear into small drawbags. Secondly, the pad would slightly deflate over several hours (but never lose air entirely) but still remained very comfortable. These are the only reasons I didn't give the product 5 stars, and one of them may have been user error.
Yes , I recommend this product
GearSnob
Portland, OR, United States
Great pad only if you're a motionless sleeper..
8 years ago
This pad appeared to have everything I wanted: good R value, comfy, lightweight, compact. Until I started using it... I'm one of those sleepers that moves around a lot of night. Toss on my side, return to my back, over and over again. The material of this pad is paper thin and crinkles every time you adjust your position. This became so loud and constant that it woke me and my tent partner up every time I moved. Since I move around a lot, this became a deal breaker. I wish the insulating material was made of something different because this is what I believe to be the noisy culprit. If you don't move in your sleep, then its a great pad.
No, I do not recommend this product
radicalkiba
Jersey
perfect pad
8 years ago
I bought this right before my Appalachian Trail thru hike in 2016. I cannot stress how great this pad was!! It's below a pound, and it's incredibly comfortable for it's weight. I didn't realize it was insulated, but it made sense considering I slept in 16 degree weather with high winds in Tennessee (in April) and again, in The Whites of New Hampshire, (in October) and it kept me warm. If you're careful with this pad, you WILL NOT get holes. I got two, because the first time I laid on a thorn patch, and the second I lay to close to a fire and it caught an ember. Both times were entirely my fault, and REI was fantastic about the replacement. I can't say enough great things about this pad!!
Yes , I recommend this product
KHSG
Madison, WI
Comfortable until it started leaking
7 years ago
This pad was comfortable and warm enough for my 3-season camping while I used it. However, within a few months of occasional use, it developed a slow leak and I would wake up in the middle of the night touching the ground. I have three Nemo sleeping pads - an Astro from 2011 that is still going strong, and a Cosmo from 2016 that developed the same leaking problem after about one year of occasional use. Both leaking pads seem to be losing air from around the valve. Overall, I can't recommend this product due to the quality issues that I experienced.
No, I do not recommend this product
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