Tensor is the best all around UL pad. The S2S isn’t meaningfully more comfortable, none of the ultralight options are. Try it next to a pad like the Megamat Ultra that has vertical sidewalls and you’ll see what I mean by meaningfully more comfortable, but it’s much more bulky and about a pound heavier. I use mine on all my rafting/kayaking trips. For backpacking it’s the Tensor every time.
Second for the Megamat Ultra. It’s a big jump in comfort over any ultralight pad. Depending upon how far I’m hiking I’ll bring it over my Tensor All Season which is a decently comfortable pad in its own right.
The Nemo is more comfortable,and its 5.6 R value is plenty warm down to around -10 or so which would mean your sleeping bag would be the bottleneck. They are releasing the Elipse soon though which is a less expensive version of the Tensor and has some impressive specs including a 6.2 R value, so if you don’t have a trip soon it might be worth waiting a little longer.
The true value of an air mattress is the warranty. Nemo replaced my tensor twice. Once for a valve issue the other due to the baffle design. Who’s helping you out if your Chinese mat fails?
I have the predecessor to the Megamat Ultra and it’s amazing, so I’d check out the Ultra. The other mat to consider is the Neoloft, which should be close in comfort but packs smaller. There will be a noticeable jump in comfort between either of these and ultralight pads like the Tensor All Season which I use for backpacking. My Exped is what I take on rafting/kayaking trips where weight doesn’t matter but volume still does.
The foam pads like the regular Megamat are more comfortable but they pack down huge and will take up too much room in the raft, avoid foam if pack size matters. Those are car camping pads.
I have just used the Nemo Tensor all seasons for the first time and found it unbearably noisy (all my camp friends could hear it too!). Do you have any recommendations for a sleeping pad that is quiet and also comfortable? I am open to heavier pads if it means less crunchy / balloon sounds !
Currently I think the Tensor Insulated is the best choice. It's definitely more comfortable for most.
Importantly, it's more reliable when it comes to product failures (baffle delamination etc.). The Therm-a-rest is certainly still good in this regard comparing to other brands but we see about 50% less incidents with the Nemo in our store.
I tried both and went with the Ether Light XR. It came down to what felt good. I didn’t think the baffle design on the Tensor AS was comfortable or distributed weight well and much preferred the baffling on the Ether Lite as a side/stomach sleeper.
I plan on upping the R value with a Z-lite pad if necessary.
A few people are recommending closed-cell foam pads (Z Lite, Nemo Switchback). While these are light, durable, inexpensive, as a fellow side sleeper I've never met a side sleeper who could sleep on them. They just don't provide the support that we need. Personally I use a Nemo Tensor (only partly inflated, so it contours my side properly), a Sea to Summit pillow, and a 1" piece of high-density foam under the pillow to sleep comfortably.
65 euro converts to less than half of what that Sea to Summit retails for here in the States (65 euro -> 77 USD, vs 179 USD retail). So that seems like an extremely good deal. I'm not familiar with it, though, so I can't say whether it would make sense for you.
Whatever pad you get, you can test it pretty easily by laying it out on a hard floor at home and trying to take a nap. It won't be as comfortable as a bed, but there shouldn't be any significant discomfort or pain after laying on it for 30 minutes.
Nemo Tensor, Sea to Summit pillow, plus 1" of high-density foam. The foam is the kind used in seat cushions; you can order it from craft stores. It gives the added support I need to keep my neck aligned. I carry it in a vacuum clothes bag, so I can compress it a little before shoving it into my pack around the bear can.
Top Sleeping Pads on Reddit
1
Exped
MegaMat Series
92% positive of 454 users
Car camping comfort champ, but some side sleepers find it thin.
99trey
