NEMO TENSOR Sleeping Pad Review | Best Sleeping Pad? |

[@nichollemiller345]

Thanks for talking about sustainability and ethics concerns! Most of us getting outdoors love the environment and don’t want to see it damaged with the products we use for our adventures.

[@timm7524]

Amen, brother. Finally bit the bullet this year and got one. Absolutely the most uncompromising across the board, and light enough to go for the wide option without much penalty. Very light, compact, stable, quiet and comfortable. Love mine! I almost went regular but listened to a friend. If you have wide-ish shoulders and are a side sleeper who moves around, it's great not feeling like you're sleeping on a plank.

[@KSpakes87]

I have this pad and it is extremely comfortable. I'm 5'11" and 215 lbs. I can lay on my side without bottoming out and I sleep with it slightly deflated for comfort. Doesn't matter where I'm laying on the pad, it keeps me off the ground. Coldest I've taken it is 55F and I stayed nice and warm.

[@scottbecker3485]

Have the insulated version, too (regular size) and love it! Also have the Etherlight XT and love it, too, for added comfort and warmth. But as a side-sleeper the insulated Nemo pad does great, and I, too love the pump sack (totally fast and easy) and the ease of letting the air out. Also had the same issue with accidentally pulling the valve open, and had to pump up the whole pad once again...but even that didn‘t take much time. It‘s the fastest inflate I‘ve ever encountered. Since I got the Etherlight XT - and now the Nemo - my NeoAirs have been sitting in the corner, gathering dust. They are too crinkly, too uncomfortable and take longer to inflate and deflate. Your review is spot-on with my own experience. (I should add that I‘ve had quality issues with the Etherlight XT, but not with the Nemo so far.)

[@JustinOutdoors]

What was the quality issue with the Ether Light? Did S2S take care of you with it?

[@scottbecker3485]

Justin Outdoors The first one I bought (from a shady Spanish dealer who shipped it to me in Germany) was defective the very first night, used only on a smooth floor at home. I simply blew it up once, tested it for comfort, and then slept on my bed. The next day, it was flat! Filled it up again, and it went flat again. Some kind of slow leak(s). Couldn‘t locate them. So sent it back to the dealer...who sat on it for months, and then - only upon great insistence on my part - finally said they had received it back from S2S, repaired for free. They shipped it to me with no fewer than five(!) patches, unprofessionally applied, and in 2 different path colors! I seriously doubt the pad left the dealer‘s hands. They were going to ignore me, and then just slapped some patches on to get off the hook. And guess what? Still leaked! I was fed up by then, and simply tossed it in the trash, taking it as a big lesson in choosing one‘s dealer wisely, and not just based on price. And then I bought a new one elsewhere. So far, so good.

[@maddievictoria4947]

I love that they included a hold tab to fix the problem of dislodging the air dump valve when removing the air bag.. smart!

[@rickfromvirginia]

Great review! Sorry I am late catching your video, not sure how I missed this one? Anyway as always your reviews are awesome because you go into great detail on the pros and cons. That's what makes you the go to channel on product reviews! As a long time subscriber, thanks for taking the time to do this video and helping me make my decision for my next sleeping pad! Rick From Virginia

[@rev.johnpate3231]

Cool video! I bought this and the comparable Sea to Summit at REI, spent a few days A/B testing both. I kept the STS. Two things I didn't like about this Nemo: 1) 20D (polyester fabric not nylon according to their website), lots of not too happy reviews on their site and on REI of pad failures, 2) "Air bed" type lack of support. I felt I was going to fall off of it no matter what I set the pressure at. Cushy yes, but also rolly polly. I'm a side sleeper yet I don't need 3". Nevertheless, mainly from a sales presentation perspective, I can see why the Nemo sells well. Again, nice sales video, but I would not put this directly on the lawn. Gutsy, but I wouldn't do it. I should add I'm a little passionate about quality as I just had a pad failure first night out - yet another brand. So UL no longer is my #1 feature set - durability is.

[@Zapporah85]

I love that you're doing the sustainability and ethics portion. I've been trying to pay more attention to that. I've been stuck on a cooking system recently, not sure if alcohol is more sustainable or not.

[@JustinOutdoors]

Hmm, good question!

[@KarstRats]

Well fbyoure camping you might as well just cook over flame brother man. Save the weight for something else you might need or save it completely and don’t replace it.

[@Zapporah85]

@@KarstRats Lol, not a man ☺️And honestly I would, but so many places don't allow open flames. I'd really love to see a study on what burns cleaner- wood, alcohol, or propane. Best I can see, it's one of the first 2. But again, most places don't want you to have an open fire.

[@Joel_Vikings]

Got the pad this past august. Best pad I have ever used and slept warm. Will be using it on the AT in 4 months

[@johnp0125]

Another happy nemo tensor customer. I found it was tricky to totally deflate the pad, probably due the baffles. Otherwise totally agree with Justin. I bought the regular since I’m on the small size.

[@michaelmcphee2930]

Preaching to the choir here. Love mine. No issues with that all. Thanks for confirming my decision

[@BK-yn7df]

Thanks for the thorough review Justin. I'm on the fence between this and the Big Agnes Insulated Q Core Deluxe. Would love to see you review the Big Agnes!

[@carrjeep7538]

I used my tensor for thru hikes of the PCT and CT. I love it. My valve finally broke in half on the CT, but I kept using it with some duct tape and finished the trail with it. I have the one with the older style valve.

[@toddbales8298]

Just bought mine ! Gonna test her out at dolly sods this weekend ! Looking forward to actually sleeping comfortably on trail

[@jeffrubin8570]

Justin, I bought a Nemo Tensor a few years ago, but didn’t sleep well on it. Just not right for me, I guess. Then I bought the Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated pad (the orange one that’s 2” thick) and just love it. I’m also a side sleeper, 200 lbs., and never bottom out.

[@joshc7200]

They updated these in 2019 and improved them.

[@brittanycollins802]

Great video! I appreciate how unbiased your review is. After watching this I feel confident investing in this pad 😌

[@allenhansen7783]

Great and very fair review. I have a nemo Tensor and love it as well but also have had problems with the exhaust valve releasing my air as I pull off the pump sack. I think this is due more to user error than a design flaw but certainly something to be aware of.

[@mengsquare7561]

Great review! I'm getting one for my backpacking trip next year

[@readyme]

I’d like to see a direct comparison between this and the Sea to Summit you reviewed.

[@JustinOutdoors]

It's coming ;). With a third party joining in on the fun!

[@jprvita]

I'm curious how it compares to the REI Flash 3-season, which has similar specs and is ~35% cheaper. So hopefully that is the 3rd party you mentioned :-)

[@readyme]

@@jprvita I have a Flash insulated...and I am returning it. For me (a side sleeper) it is too thin.

[@axeln48]

That's definitely the comparison I'm waiting for - still undecided which of them to buy. btw squeeking noises between mat and tentfloor should also be mentioned in it. Thanks much for your helpful vids, Sir!

[@FunsizedEarthling]

Oh, no..I just watched your S2S XT review and was considering getting it but now, I’m indecisive again after watching this!

[@JustinOutdoors]

Sounds like you need to watch this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqbde62egsxnbqc haha

[@organizetheppl]

Thanks for the review, Justin. I love how quiet and comfortable my tensor is. But, on the issue of warmth, I have an issue that I think really only impacts quilt users. You didn't mention it so I thought maybe you've got some advice. There's a sizable gap between the suspended heat reflective material and the edges of the pad. I found that cold entered my quilt via those gaps and the edges of the pad are quite cold to the touch. Thanks!

[@prone_wolf8871]

Sounds like a quilt defect🤣🤣🤣.

[@organizetheppl]

@@prone_wolf8871 possibly misuse which is why I asked a question. My quilt isn't the thing cold is passing through. It is passing through the pad. Conduction from the ground up into my quilt via the parts of the pad that lack heat reflective material.

[@TomyHovingtonHiking]

Ben wondering if it might qualify as a manufacturing defect? I haven’t been in really cold weather with mine yet but at close to freezing I personally didn’t have any issues with what you are mentioning.. Might be worth contacting Nemo...

[@JustinOutdoors]

I haven't found that, but the way I set up my quilt has it draping over the sides of the pad a bit and covering the area I think you're having problems with. Might be worthwhile adjusting your pad straps to be more on the outside of the pad and seeing if that helps!

[@organizetheppl]

@@JustinOutdoors thanks. I'll try wrapping it tighter. When you say that the quilt should cover the colder area, I assume you mean beneath the pad. I'll play with that. I've been used to wrapping the quilt underneath just enough to create a sort of seel. Maybe I've been doing it wrong, spoiled by easy temps. Now spending the night higher and colder, I think I'll need to try pulling it further beneath me in colder weather and see if the down compresses too much to insulate that ~4.5 cm border well. I still think the mylar should come much closer to the edges of the pad but it's still my favorite, without question.

[@TomyHovingtonHiking]

Great review Justin. Love and totally agree with your takeaway. For me It is my number one pad exactly for the fact that it is well balanced in all the features... like yourself I wasn’t able to use it as much as I would have liked because of C19 but all the outings so far have impressed me!

[@AdventureHappy]

Awesome review Justin. Our Neoair X-lites are starting to lose air after all these years of use so we're considering replacement pads next year... Thanks for the great info.

[@IPv6Freely]

This is the best sleeping pad, hands down. My wife has been trying countless others and finally agreed to just order another one of these and hasn't had a poor night sleep since she got it.

[@jorisvanlaar]

Thank you for a good review, you haven’t mentioned anything about its durability though. Which seems to be the one major flaw compared to other pads

[@JustinOutdoors]

I have had zero issues with durability and the issues I have seen come up are manufacturing defects that come up right away (first use usually). Unfortunately, that will happen with any product.

[@jorisvanlaar]

Good to know, I’m actually also considering to get a Nemo Tensor. But the only thing that has kept me from doing already is the fact that the Tensor uses thinner materials than comparable pads, thus increasing the risk of punctures, as I have seen many owners comment on.

[@2wheelsandatent]

Awesome buddy, that’s my most viewed video was my review on this bad ass sleeping pad glad to see you are comfortable out camping!!!

[@MrKravmagadude]

really good video - well done. That inflection though... 'and one time, at band camp..'

[@shaunmasters7211]

Great video, good detailing and product reviews. Easy to watch. Made me order this Matt. Thanks

[@JustinOutdoors]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!

[@markford2606]

Happy Tensor Insulated customer. Great review!

[@0045dmoore]

I too am Nemo regular wide owner. I have only used mine a few times. If I would have done my diligence, I would have gone with the Therm-a-rest Extherm.. I watched videos like this and Dan Becker too.. They gave glowing reviews and built up my confidence.. So I then felt confident in investing in the Tensor.. But now after reading more reviews of the Tensor. I feel like I'm sleeping on a ticking time bomb.. My mind races, wondering and hoping this thing does not go flat on me, especially in fridge weather. Then put me in a potentially dangerous situation of hypothermia.. Yes, this sounds over the top.. I lack confidence in this pad.. If I had it to do over again, for the peace of mind, and greater range of use, I personally would go with the Therm-a-rest Extherm... Guys, I wonder if Justin and Dan Becker are getting kick backs from Nemo for these videos! I'm just concerned now... This only my opinion.. Cheers!

[@JustinOutdoors]

Nemo provided the pad for me to review, but they don't give me any kickbacks. I would NEVER let a company influence a review like that. My #1 priority is the people watching these videos. I have had this pad out for dozens and dozens of nights and haven't had a problem. I have heard of people having durability issues though. Luckily, this pad doesn't have a high enough r-value where you'd be taking it out and risking hypothermia. And for winter pads like the xtherm, you want a backup like a foam pad anyways. The Xtherm is a great pad but not nearly as comfortable as the tensor.

[@BackcountryExposure]

Still my favorite pad

[@justinbell937]

Seriously appreciate your content! I have own the tensor insulated along with the either XT insulated. Both great pads, and I tried out the either XT insulated after watching one of your reviews. I’m about to kayak the Grand Canyon, so weight isn’t as large of a concern and I thought I’d try something new. If you have a chance, I highly recommend checking out the Nemo quasar 3D insulated. Haven’t seen a review on the product but it has got to be one of the most comfortable pads I have tested. (Albeit, it’s on the heavy side) Thanks again!

[@JustinOutdoors]

You're not kidding on weight! Almost 50% heavier than the already heavy Ether Light XT!

[@justinbell937]

@@JustinOutdoors Agreed, and for backpacking it isn't my first choice. Why I mentioned it is that the geometry of the pad is unique, at least to me. The pad is thicker towards the head as compared to the feet, and is shaped to cradle or cup the body. I thought this was gimmicky until I tried it. Would love to see Nemo construct the pad with lighter materials, and maybe alter the dimensions of the pad to trim some weight. I know the pad likely doesn't fit your needs, and maybe it doesn't fit the brand of your channel in general, but when I was trying to research the pad there wasn't much out there about it, especially on youtube. (except for videos from Nemo and Enwild)

[@parkerchristian6954]

I just got the regular insulated and i seriously suggest getting the wide version! Its i nice pad!

[@JustinOutdoors]

Love wide pads :)

[@channeldosti]

The most unfortunate part is that we cannot find one available online and I need this sleeping pad for my end to end UK hike.

[@JustinOutdoors]

try now!

[@MegaMastiffman]

Good on you for waiting to do a real review on this pad which is why your in my top 5 sweet hat too

[@xiLyxLoVex]

Purchased!!! Thank you 😀

[@joshpeterson1999]

Great review, thanks for this! That being said, I've always been confused why reviewers often mention stuff so seemingly insignificant as the somewhat finicky valve. It seems like with just the tiniest bit of use, that "con" becomes a completely irrelevant factor in a potentially great product. Maybe I'm off base, and that's fine too, lol.

[@JustinOutdoors]

Thanks Josh! I think there is always personal bias that comes into reviews. If it's something that I end up saying to myself "that is really cool" or "I want to set this product on fire" then it usually makes it into the review. In the case of the valve, there were many times I would finish inflating the pad after a long day on the trail and I would struggle to get the valve into the hole and then once I got around to actually filling it up with air, I'd pull the inflation bag out and the valve would open and dump all that air. It was actually one of the most annoying things out of any piece of gear I tested out in 2020, haha. But that is all personal preference for what bothers me! I get people commenting about things that bothers them with gear that I completely overlook!

[@blomkillen]

Now I wonder what sleeping pad you find the most comfy :)

[@JustinOutdoors]

I have a video all about that! haha

[@tycollyerrealestatewitheng2617]

Hey Justin. What do you prefer, the Nemo Tensor Insulated Regular Wide or the S2S Etherlite XT Large ? I'm 5'11. Can't decide. I'm in BC. One pad

[@JustinOutdoors]

Ether Light XT is more comfortable, but I can't use it when it is colder out, so end up taking the Tensor insulated more often since I live in Canada.

[@tycollyerrealestatewitheng2617]

@@JustinOutdoors What's colder out? I live in Canada. Vancouver Island area. Would it be good down to -6 c or so? Any idea where I can find the Nemo? Sold out on MEC and Valhalla

[@Julus65]

Hi Justin thanks lot for your good review ,I appreciate,this week with a black friday ,I want to buy a new sleeping pad ,I'm a side sleeper,I want a wide pad,but I can't decide between nemo tensor or a sea to summit ether light xt,which do you prefer between this pad? Rectangular or not?? Thanks

[@JustinOutdoors]

If you sleep in conditions warmer than freezing, then the Ether Light XT would be my choice. I like the Large mummy pad because it provides a good balance of size and weight.

[@Julus65]

@@JustinOutdoors thanks 👍

[@adinglis4638]

Hey Justin, have you had any experience with the Tensor Alpine Ultralight Mountaineering pad?

[@JustinOutdoors]

Nope! But the r-value is relatively low for winter.

[@adinglis4638]

@@JustinOutdoors you are right. Initially it launched with none-value published and a temp rating of like -25 C which is what I was looking at. It seems they have updated that now with the 4.something r-value. For high altitude, sleeping on snow in like -20 and below, what would you put on top out of the XTherm Max, the Exped down mat UL Winter, and the S2S Etherlight extreme? (I’m an active side sleeper)

[@JustinOutdoors]

@@adinglis4638 Xtherm is by far the warmest. I actually did a comparison video of those three pads, check it out!

[@_68niou1]

Seemingly this is warmer than the Sea To Summit Ultralight Insulated, but is it more or less comfortable than that pad? I have the STS, but not this and am thinking about switching.

[@JustinOutdoors]

Warmer and more comfortable the the S2S ULI for sure! But not as comfy as the Ether Light XT (for me).

[@_68niou1]

@@JustinOutdoors Good to know, thanks for the reply!

[@delphinelesterlost3285]

My husband loves this pad but it's best to get the long wide version

[@dawnellithorpe9352]

I second what Third Cat says. The pad is VERY loud against my copper spur tent floor.

[@HM-gk3rq]

I like mine a lot. Love having a wide pad and not feeling like I’m going to fall off. I find it fairy comfy but I have not tried a whole bunch of pads. They are too expensive to do that!

[@ericbrenner96]

HI Justin, do you know the difference between the Nemo Tensor UL Insulated & the Nemo Tensor APLINE?

[@JustinOutdoors]

Yup! The big difference is that the alpine has an extra layer of reflective film to add more insulation! It's Nemos winter pad.

[@tcgregory7693]

I Purchased the Nemo insulated tensor specifically because of Nemos lifetime warranty. However, I had eight baffles give out on me and Nemo does not stand behind their products!! I have a completely unusable pad that continues to pop a baffle every single time I use it. Buyer BEWARE!!!

[@JustinOutdoors]

Hey! That sounds terrible! Has Nemo refused a warranty for the pad? Did they give a reason?

[@tcgregory7693]

I bought the pad on trail at an outfitter. It started popping baffles and I called Nemo when I got into the next town. I didn’t save my original receipt. I don’t typically head out on thru hikes with all my original receipts for all my gear. Without the original receipt, they told me I was SOL. I’ll never support that brand again

[@bigbywolf6510]

As a side sleeper, I have been looking at this. Currently, I have mountain equipment inflatable foam mat and big Agnes air-core mat but both them still uncomfortable for me. I keep waking up as too much pressure builds either at hip or shoulder area. Makes me wake up every 2-3 hours over the night. Will this mat fix my problems? Is Thermarest better? any recommendations?

[@JustinOutdoors]

This pad may fix your problem. Personally, I find the Ether Light XT to be a more comfortable pad though. It alleviates pressure points very well.

[@TheGoddessEnternalNursery]

I bought this pad as my first because wanted a quality pad but sadly I never used it for tent camping as I went with hammock camping. I did use this as a faux underquilt for about 4-5 trips before I eventually upgraded to a real underquilt (Warbonnet Blackbird XLC + Warbonnet Wooki ). At least I have a pad for when I do use a tent.

[@OMFGudness]

Do you have recommendations on repair kits to carry with this pad besides the one that comes with it?

[@JustinOutdoors]

I carry the one that comes with the pad as well as some tenacious tape for general kit repairs

[@rogerhuston8287]

You say this isn't the most comfortable pad out there, but you don't say which pad is the most comfortable. Please what is the most comfortable pad?

[@JustinOutdoors]

It's this guy! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWm2foWqe6itY8U

[@AORD72]

I thought it is polyester top/bottom (not nylon)? Isn't the soft brushed surface polyester? Polyester would be nicer to sleep on?

[@JustinOutdoors]

Ya, I made a mistake on that one. it is polyester :)

[@AORD72]

@@JustinOutdoors Thanks, good to know, want to buy polyester as sounds like nicer feel. And I wonder how nylon would cope if it gets wet?

[@shawnr6117]

Nice pad but not within my budget this year, not after having to buy basically everything

[@JustinOutdoors]

That is very fair! It is not an inexpensive item.

[@shawnr6117]

@@JustinOutdoors I finally got all of my most important gear bought just a few minor items left

[@inkblots-life1111]

Love my nemo tensor insulated pad

[@hirotiki9578]

Thanks for posting!

[@gavijal]

I like the feel of the material much more then on Eather light which have that "rubbery" feeling.

[@nickcook8523]

The rubbery surface of the Ether Light can be incredibly noisy when you move around on it, why I switched to the Nemo Tensor

[@JustinOutdoors]

100%! I love the material of the tensor.

[@sk8er5uk]

Nick Cook would you recommend the nemo over the etherlight for a side sleeper in terms of comfort? I have painful shoulders and the thickness is making me debate which one to go for.

[@MG-ke5ex]

Great review :). I've just purchased a Nemo Tensor insulated regular wide, Do you you also touch the ground with your butt when seating on it as it happens to me? i don't touch the ground when i sleep which is very good , but when I spend lots of time inside the tent because it rains or when i eat in the vestibules i spend lots of time seating on the mat, and that feeling of touching the hard ground is bad. Thanks :)

[@JustinOutdoors]

If it's inflated enough, then I don't touch the ground!

[@MG-ke5ex]

@@JustinOutdoors I inflate it as much as the pump sack can go then it just can't pump more air in it even though the mat doesn't seems to me very firm, I don't think you can really do more than that?! Anyhow i still slightly touch when i sit on it, like when i go from lay down position to sit position my butt touch. It seams like these new ultralight mats don't get much firm, you can feel they can take more air inside but the pump sack just doesn't go beyond a certain point. I've tried two already of them, same thing.

[@Tomlofgren]

Tensor alpine?

[@JustinOutdoors]

Just the regular insulated!

[@thinblueline385]

-6°F or C?

[@JustinOutdoors]

C

[@tidakbaguse]

made in Taiwan !!! sold

[@ThetrueJean]

It's a really bad product! Mine leaks and 2 others hikers who had that pad got theirs leaking too.

[@r.w.7232]

Must be user error. These things are widely popular for good reasons.

[@davidlemay8667]

mine leaks as well. order a new one in on warranty and this ones leaks too! always comes up after 2-5nights.first time it let me down on a long bike trip and second time I only tried indoor on my carpet and it leaked the third night. this is crazy.

[@prestonpc]

thumbs up for not asking for a thumbs up

[@carlmueller9701]

Does anyone else find this thing SUPER loud? Loud enough to wake yourself or your partner up in the middle of the night?

[@sloth6765]

Venturi effect, not Bernoulli effect. Bernoulli is canceled, his theory of lift was racist.

[@stae07]

Hey, could you translate or add the metric units as subtiles in your future videos? This could help you reaching more viewers from Europe - and me xD (Yes I know you've already did that in some older Videos)

[@JustinOutdoors]

Other than height and weight, I almost always have metric!

[@davemi3213]

You sound like you asking a question at the end of each of your sentences