NEMO Tensor Insulated Review: The Best Backpacking Sleeping Pad?

[@williampennjr.4448]

for me the most important aspects are, size, weight, insulated down to freezing, packable, comfortable, durable and not over priced. All are equally important. I have yet to find one.

[@sueb860]

Nemo actually has 3 Tensor Pads, the Uninsulated, the Insulated, and the Alpine. I've had the Alpine (long/wide) since 2020, it has a 4.8 R-Value.

True!

[@giftedfox4748]

They did updated the Tensor in 2022 and gave it a 4.2 R-Value rating which makes it suitable for light winter. If you put a pad under it then you can increase the R-Value more. For that kind of value I would say it is a good choice as an overall sleeping pad minus winters and above (still good in light winter and below). I don't understand why someone won't get the insulated pad because you can still use it during summer just fine.

[@sueb860]

@@giftedfox4748 when I got my first uninsulated Tensor, it was because of price. I think I paid less than $110 for it in 2019 which was a great price. Last year, it started leaking at the air valve so they replaced it with the newest version (the updated 2022 one) and where the 2019 model had about a 1.5 R value before, it's now more like 2.5, which is great!

[@JohnClimber]

Nice review but isn't the R value for the 2022 Tensor 4.2?

[@TheAdventureJunkies]

Yes. We will look at the newer version to see if it's worth a separate review :)

[@danieldominiak647]

@@TheAdventureJunkies please make detailed review about new 4.2 version

[@giftedfox4748]

@@danieldominiak647 Overall, nothing much changed beside the new R-Value. The way they did it was added some extra film inside that makes the cube of air split in half from one corner to the next. Everything else functions the same way so no real reason to make a full detailed review.

[@levosgiendesforets]

if ur minimalist , u buy the xlite. BUT ! i m a side sleeper .and i choose a 2cm thicker pad, for that reason, but i would like so much to compare the other xlite.

[@OldBenjaminKenobi]

Solid review. Nice presentation style

[@atomicpsych0]

2022 version has 4.2 R value now

[@atomicpsych0]

Not sure what happened but mine didn't come with a repair kit

[@Adi-hj3nd]

No repair kit included

[@jhassiv]

Have a couple of these. My understanding is you don't want to blow into the vortex bag.

[@atomicpsych0]

There's specific instructions that tell you how to use. You blow into the vortex bag with it held 6 in or more away from your face

[@jhassiv]

@@atomicpsych0 Blowing into the bag introduces moisture which can lower the insulation value.

[@atomicpsych0]

@@jhassiv not when you do it far enough away from your face

[@tonyhurt5600]

Great vid

[@TheAdventureJunkies]

Thanks. Glad you liked it

[@helpfulcommenter]

Sure it’s the “best” until it pops. And it will pop. You might get a few days out of it or if you’re lucky a few month. It’s so delicate that it will pop if a piece of rice lands on it wrong

[@BigDawgCAM]

Such a good point. I use the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT and that thing is bomb proof and ridiculously comfortable

[@TheAdventureJunkies]

Good points here. It's definitely a bit more delicate than others, so thanks for mentioning that.

[@Kowabrass]

The Sea to Summit Ether Light XT practically ruined my last summer tour as far as the nights were concerned. It had several punctures from day one, so tiny I could almost never make them out to apply a patch, and I woke up every morning on a deflated mat.

[@helpfulcommenter]

@@Kowabrass That's so weird, I used the S2S Etherlite XT for over 150 nights on the PCT and it only developed one leak. I'm guessing you got a bad one. That's why you always gotta get your pads from REI.

[@MB-uf6xu]

Was that a puncture from a pointy thing or rather an internal delaminating issue/failure with your pad?

[@hikingwithcaptdoug137]

It says made in Taiwan on the pad itself.

[@TheAdventureJunkies]

Cool!