GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. It did great in its "10 Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads in 2022 - 99Boulders" roundup where it was named its "Ranked 1 out of 10", which, in itself, makes it a product worth considering. 20D PU polyester ripstop forms the outer material for this pad. By combining open-cell foam and a space for the pad to expand and fill with air, it brought convenience, decent durability, and comfort. For high-altitude climbers, winter campers, or those who experience sub-freezing temps on their backpacking trips, Therm-a-Rests NeoAir XTherm NXT is worth a serious look. Outside of the extra space and very competitive price, however, the Insulated Static V Lite doesnt really stand out. and packed size (6.5 x 10 in. Updated with a zero-profile, micro-adjustable valve and included Vortex pump sack, NEMO's lightest sleeping pad uses premium 20D fabrics to shave grams without sacrificing plush comfort. Its also worth checking out Therm-a-Rests ProLite Apex ($135), a hybrid pad that adds air chambers to the foam design for a boost in R-value (3.8) and thickness (2 in. Heck, we even use our foam pad to keep dinner or water warm (wrapping it around the pot) in our camp kitchen. but does testify how much faith they have in the product. You can spend $200 (or more) on a sleeping pad, but for budget-minded backpackers or those who only get out a few times a year, the Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Ultra gets the job done for half the cost. Find the one that suits YOU. The non-insulated version is $190. vs. 6.8 x 11 for the Therm-a-Rest). Theyre also the lightest option, while at the same time providing unmatched thickness. Marketed as a quiver killer, the Quasar combines a decently lightweight build with a roomy rectangular shape (no mummy option) and impressive comfort. $159.95 - $199.95 (91) 91 reviews with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. And regardless of its weight, make sure to take reasonable care when setting up camp and stowing your pad (more on this in "Sleeping Pad Care" below). With an R-value of 3.5, some of our testers still felt cold while sleeping on the snow, so we recommend pairing this pad with a foam one like the Therm-a-Rest ZLite Sol for forays into winter conditions. The new construction upped the R-value of the insulated pad from 3.5 to 4.2 while keeping it at 15 ounces. The insulated version of the Nemo Tensor retails for $190 - $220 depending on what size you go for. For both pads, the highlight was the large, elasticized opening on the stuff sack, which is the best design weve seen yet. As a founding member of the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) Climate Action Corps, NEMO has set aggressive goals for making more climate-friendly materials choices. It has a flat 2-way valve and includes an inflation sack so you don't have to bust a gut blowing it up. From this I found three options more or less-. That said, not all pump sacks are created equally, and some designs are much more functional and convenient to use than others. Our favorite self-inflating design is Therm-a-Rests ProLite Plus, which hits a nice balance of warmth, toughness, and price. NEMO also offers a lifetime warranty on this pad. Aint nobody about that! I wake up when Im too hot or too cold. On this list, youll find everything from the 8.8-ounce Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite to the 1-pound-9-ounce Nemo Quasar 3D Insulated and Big Agnes Q-Core Deluxe. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Close, Ladies & Gents, Its Time to Step Your GEAR Game Up. Air pads dominate the backpacking market, but self-inflating models still have a place due to their convenient setup, greater durability, and cushy foam padding. Category: Air padWeight: 1 lb. The Tensor ranked high in the comfort metric. But on the whole, weve found they feel a little less natural and fall short in both comfort and stability. All that said, youll still feel rocks and roots beneath you much more than with the pricier air options above and below, and with an R-value of just 2 it wont keep you insulated from the cold ground outside of the summer months. In use, weve found its not as fast as the flat valve competition, but its sturdy build and replaceability (something thats not typically possible with a flat valve) make it worth the tradeoff in efficiency for high-volume users like thru-hikers. It comes with our Vortex pump sack which mates with our custom Laylow zero-profile valve for easy inflation and personalized comfort. Firstly lets look at why and when to use a sleeping pad. Nemo Tensor Insulated Sleeping Pad, Regular - Gold Brand New 2 product ratings C $164.31 Top Rated Seller or Best Offer from United States Sponsored NEMO Tensor Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad Regular NIB LOOK! Features When fully inflated, you get 3 inches or 9cm of plush, cushioned loft. Most 3-season backpackers should get a sleeping pad with an R-value in the range of 3 to 5, and this where a majority of our picks above are rated. But how do you decide which pad to buy and how much warmth youll need? See the Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Ultra. Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop! This pad uses a stuff sack inflation system that works better than similar designs from Thermarest. Rab Equipment is known for their alpine-ready outerwear, which offers no-frills performance at a reasonable price. In contrast to the horizontal or vertical baffles of most air pads, both Sea to Summit models have an innovative cell design (dubbed Air Sprung Cell technology) that maximizes surface area connecting the pad to your body, resulting in better support and weight distribution throughout. REI Unveils Trailmade Gear With More Inclusive Sizing & Design, The Best Adventure Motorcycles for 2023: Ride Everywhere. Simply connect the pump to the valve, open up the end of the sack, so it fills with air, and roll the sack closed, so all the air is forced inside the pad. Because your legs have fewer contact points with the ground, some people dont mind the short length (and they sometimes throw an extra piece of gear under their feet for cushioning and warmth). Category: Air padWeight: 8.8 oz.Thickness: 2.5 in.R-value: 2.3What we like: Crazy light and surprisingly comfortable.What we dont: Provides little insulation and is prone to popping. With a unique design that uses 700-fill goose down as insulation, the Ultra 7R also is a substantial 3.5 inches thick and quite comfortable to sleep on. Looking for something a bit warmer? We independently buy, test, and rate all the products we review. Category: Air padWeight: 1 lb. We tested the Ionosphere 5 and the Stratosphere 4 on a recent trip to Patagonia; we were disappointed with the slippery, overly streamlined nature of the former, and came away with slightly more promising impressions of the latter. Treat it well, and it'll likely reward you for years to come. Dont leave heavy objects on top of it to avoid undue compressing of the foam, and, if its a rollable type, store it unrolled so it doesnt lose its shape. The Nemo saves shaves ounces by using lightweight 20D Polyester. To be fair, the differences are fairly minimal, and we always appreciate saving time and breath after a long day on the trail. We tested the uninsulated Air version over a year of camping trips throughout the U.S., on a 6-week bike tour down Mexico's Baja Peninsula, and in Puerto Rico. Insulated models leverage 2 layers of suspended Thermal Mirror metallized film for a lighter and remarkably quiet sleep when compared to the competition. Both air and self-inflating sleeping pads utilize a valve to inflate/deflate, and there have been a fair number of changes in the designs over the past few years. The pad was once one of the best in its classthe class that blends extra comfort and extra durability . For a cheaper solution, Exped now offers their FlexMat ($40), but it doesnt pack up as small as the Switchback and Z Lite, and its thinner construction (0.7 in.) The pad also weighs just 12.5 ounces and stuffs down impressively small, making it a premium choice for weight-conscious hikers, climbers, and more. Further, the pad folds up accordion-style into a reasonably compact package for storing on the top, side, or bottom of a pack. Klymits radical X Frame pad may have put the company on the map, but their follow-up Insulated Static V Lite is their best offering. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing. But if you dont plan on venturing far from the car, we recommend a thicker and more luxurious camping mattress instead. ), slightly warmer (R-value: 4.5), and quieter, which was one of our primary gripes with the outgoing model. . ).See the Therm-a-Rest ProLite Plus See the Women's Therm-a-Rest ProLite Plus. The short of it is, tensors and multidimensional arrays are different types of object; the first is a type of function, the second is a data structure suitable for representing a tensor in a coordinate system.. Their new build allows for one-way inflationwith no air loss between breathsand twisting the side wings quickly release air. Further, their upright profile takes up space when rolled up, and they are slow to deflate. For starters, a recent update to the Therm-a-Rest makes it equally as thick as the Nemo (3 in. We also appreciated the Stratosphere's roomy rectangular shape and oversized outer baffles, which kept us centered on the pad (this was especially relieving after sleeping on the Ionosphere 5 the night before, which seemed to want to spit us off with each movement). On the other end of the spectrum are double pads like the Exped Ultra 3R Duo. With any pad you choose, make sure to take proper care to avoid holes. On the flip side, we really like Sea to Summits Air Sprung Cells found on their Ether Light XT and Comfort Light pads above, which have a decidedly plush and nicely padded feel. But uses and budgets vary, and the ideal Gone are the days when backpacking consisted of strapping on a huge external frame and lumbering through the forest with an aching body. This is a bloody comfy sleeping pad! The Nemo Tensor Insulated was loved by reviewers at 99boulders.com, a highly trusted source that performs reliable in-depth testing. A regular pad often is right around 72 inches long and 20 inches wide (at its widest point), and the large often is between 77 and 80 inches long and 25 inches wide. But if comfort is the main factor in your equation, its true that the Quasar 3D is a cut above most backpacking pads. Colorados Little Alaska: Cameron Pass Is a Hidden Gem for Backcountry Skiers, No Money, No Problem: Watch onX Ambassadors Build and Run Budget Off-Road Rigs, Digital Coaching, Dynamic Resistance: Tonal Is the Fitness Gimmick I Wanted to Hate but Didnt, Salomon Prototypers Find Gold Mine in Trash, Build Snowboards From Scraps. NEMO Quasar 3D Insulated Air Sleeping Pad 4.5 91 Reviews Item #186713 Top Rated Blue $159.95 - $199.95 Color: Blue Select a size $199.95 Long Wide $179.95 Regular Wide $159.95 Regular Quantity Ship to address FREE ($50 minimum) Shipping restrictions apply Pick up in store or curbsideFREE Find this item in store Add to cart Add to Wish List Last but not least, winter camping requires an R-value that exceeds 5, with the most popular model being the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm and its R-value of 7.3. Category: Self-inflatingWeight: 1 lb. Therefore the Nemo Tensor is designed for camping in colder temperatures and may feel too warm or clammy for summer use. Category: Air padWeight: 1 lb. Comfort is relative when sleeping on the ground, and most people who cant handle a night under the stars dont backpack or camp at all. For the same price, the Nemo is thicker (0.9 in. Continue reading to see why we loved the Tensor and why it might be the right addition to your kit. It also kept me more comfortable than ever an R-value of 4 is about the most versatile for three-season use. 9.4 oz. In-Depth Review of the Nemo Tensor Sleeping Pad. Importantly, the Comfort Light Insulated tacks on a second layer of cells at the torso, increasing warmth and comfort where you need it while minimizing weight and bulk everywhere else. With a whopping 4 inches of cushioning off the ground, the Ether is the thickest sleeping pad on this list while weighing in at a respectable 1 pound 1.3 ounces. Category: Air padWeight: 1 lb. As for caring for a closed-cell foam pad: Hmmm. We feel this is a fair price compared to other pads on the market. See the Nemo Flyer. 7 oz.Thickness: 2 in.R-value: 3.3What we like: The thickness of an air pad and reliability of a self-inflating model.What we dont: Thin 20-denier shell; large packed size. Beyond the slim profile, they often have dedicated openings for inflating and deflating, and importantly, a flap that keeps air from escaping while blowing into the opening. You can't inflate this pad manually, as the moisture from your breath can damage the down fill, but the included waterproof compression sack doubles as a fully functional pump bag. That makes this one of the chunkiest backpacking pads around, but perhaps surprisingly it still feels very stable. 5 oz.Thickness: 3 in.R-value: 4.9What we like: Comfort-first design and inclusive pricing/sizing.What we dont: More expensive than the similarly specd Big Agnes Insulated Air Core above. The primary downside is a greater puncture risk, and its a big consideration. 8.5 oz.Thickness: 3.1 in.R-value: 3.8What we like: A durable pad for a great price.What we dont: Heavy; cheap and unreliable valve design. . We tested and review the best sleeping pads for backpacking in 2022. Travel insurance IS important. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT is undeniably expensive, but youd be hard pressed to find another pad that offers the same amount of warmth and comfort at such a low weight. 9 oz.Thickness: 3.5 in.R-value: 4.3What we like: Thick construction offers impressive comfort and warmth.What we dont: Raised outer chambers result in a narrow-feeling pad. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. With a 20-denier shell, the pad is similarly vulnerable to punctures as the brands much lighter Tensor, although (as we mentioned above) youll at least have a little foam cushioning with the Flyer to keep you protected if the pad gets a hole. When deciding between the Comfort Light and the Ether Light XT above, there are a few things to keep in mind. I have been out in temps to 3-below zero for several days running. Nemo Tensor is the lightest sleeping pad with 3" of cushion depth. The main difference between the two comes in terms of insulation and design: The Q-Core here is warmer with an R-value of 4.3 (vs. the Nemos 3.3) and features Big Agnes I-Beam construction rather than the Nemos horizontal baffles (in our experience, the raised outer chambers of the Q-Core Deluxe result in a rather narrow feel). To create the Flyer, Nemo took the design of a self-inflating pad, trimmed down the amount of open-cell foam by 60%, and added insulation and comfort via air-filled baffles. Again, thank you! The relatively smooth surface welcomed a solid night's sleep. The latest incarnation of the Tensor employs a micro-adjustable valve so you can easily dial in your firmness level, but what really impresses our testers is the Vortex Pump sack. Make the most of your home away from home by choosing the best camping tent for your adventure. The wide version of this pad takes a lot of air, and the pump sack makes filling the pad a relatively quick and easy process. 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