2 in Sleeping Pads
NEMO - Tensor Trail Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad
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Reddit Reviews:
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Based on 1 year's data from Mar 17, 2026 How it works
Liked most:
26
8
"I had issue with Klymit losing air in cold temps and Tensor has been awesome."
"I love my Nemo Tensor and use it year round."
"I've used it on below freezing nights and it has worked well for me."
25
1
"super light (~14oz)"
"For the thickness, weight and pack size it's really worked well for me."
"Packs small, light weight."
9
9
"The NEMO Tensor is a quiet pad. ... No potato chip bag crunchy noise"
"I haven't found it to be noisy at all"
"I find it’s also somewhat “quieter” - I move around a lot."
15
4
"I had issue with Klymit losing air in cold temps and Tensor has been awesome."
"haven't had a puncture over the four years I've had it"
"Nemo has life time warranty. ... If there is a leak or something, you can get it fixed or replaced. ... Nemo's support is top notch."
30
10
"Within 3 seconds of laying on it, I knew my search was finally over"
"as long as I don't over inflate it I sleep like a baby"
"There's a huge difference in comfort depending on your body between the dimpled baffling of the Etherlight/Tensor and the horizontal baffling of the Xlite. ... I can't sleep on horizontal baffling despite all the good features of the Xlite. ... I'm a side sleeper and my arms and shoulders ache and/or fall asleep or go numb on the Xlite. For whatver reason I can only sleep on dimpled baffles (tensor, etherlight)"
Disliked most:
9
14
"it hurts my back and hips so bad."
"I am a flopper and tended to roll onto the edges, which made them collapse and dumped me onto the ground."
"I find horizontal baffles extremely uncomfortable … it feels as if anything closer to the edge falls down and doesn’t give any support."
7
9
"potato chip bag noise effects"
"I upgraded from an older therm-a-rest to a Nemo, it is thick, warm, and comfy but noisy!"
"If noise is a dealbreaker for you, definitely listen to the people who say it is loud. It is. By any sleeping pad standard."
4
4
"I am a flopper and tended to roll onto the edges, which made them collapse and dumped me onto the ground."
"I find horizontal baffles extremely uncomfortable … it feels as if anything closer to the edge falls down and doesn’t give any support."
"The Tensor I find perfectly OK if I get the inflation level right, but its not good on the side so I usually just avoid side sleeping with it."
18
7
"I can feel the cold seep through my Nemo Tensor Insulated (R4.2) from around freezing."
"I’m a hot sleeper too but find my tensor trail is too cold below 35F"
"The summer and all season version will help down that low, but are noticeably colder sleeping at those temps."
12
9
"I had a Nemo Tensor straight POP with a one-inch tear from a extremely tiny burr on the edge of my quilt pad strap!"
"Returned a tensor after it failed on first use."
"The Nemo tensor has failed on me twice now (the second one was a replacement). It slowly loses air, and so you are on a 3 hour schedule until you are reinflating it."
A_Capable_Gnat 1.0I think the Nemo Tensor Trail should be fine for you. I spent the last few years backpacking in the Ohio river valley (and elsewhere in the east coast and south) on a pad with a 2.5 R-value and was never once cold. I sleep notably warm as well, so I even used that pad down to 5F, but the reality is that winter in Virginia is rarely cold enough that this pad (especially if paired with a foam pad) would not be sufficient for you.
captainunlimitd 1.0Just remember the Exped hype is from their pads with foam in them. This won't have that. That being said, I have both a massive Exped and a NEMO Tensor. I sleep like a baby on both.
Fiveohfourtwenty 1.0Nemo Tensor Trail is the correct answer.
generation_quiet 1.0The Nemo Tensor line of pads is what you need. I haven't messed with the Elite (8.5 oz / regular mummy), but the Trail (13 oz / regular mummy) and Insulated (14.1 oz / regular mummy) have treated me well this year. If you want to get full-season use, just get the insulated—it has an r-value of 5.4 and is only \~1 oz heavier.
The Nemo Tensor line of pads is what you need. I haven't messed with the Elite (8.5 oz / regular mummy), but the Trail (13 oz / regular mummy) and Insulated (14.1 oz / regular mummy) have treated me well this year. If you want to get full-season use, just get the insulated—it has an r-value of 5.4 and is only \~1 oz heavier.
Geoscienceguy 1.0I’ve used mine down to 20 degrees. Any colder and I use a foam pad underneath. The tensor is awesome, especially when paired with the right bag for conditions.
IceCreamforLunch 1.0I have a Nemo Tensor Insulated (Reg rectangle) and absolutely love it. It's super comfortable, I haven't found it to be noisy at all, and it's quite light.
I can’t comment on the others but I have had a Tensor Insulated for a few years and absolutely love it. I’m a side sleeper and I’ve used it down to 30F and it gets the job done but that’s about its limit. If I were going to be in temps consistently that low I’d put foam under it.
No it has a good baffle structure. Amazing for its weight. I inflate it, then let bits of air out so that my shoulder is about an inch off the ground when I’m on my side and then it’s perfect for the night.
KsKwrites 1.0I’d second the Nemo Tensor all season ultralight insulated. I waited till it went on sale and snagged it for about $150. With an R 5.4 it may actually be too warm for your summer trip but I’ve used it almost all year around. Very comfy when I was 79kg and incredibly comfy now when I’m 69kg. I toss and turn a lot so I went with the wider option. If I could sleep without rolling I woulda gone with the mummy regular to save the weight. If you’re not needing as high an R value, the Tensor Trail can save you weight and money at R 2.8. If you can find a crazy sale, the Tensor Elite saves you almost half the weight, but I believe it is a relatively new pad with minimal time to see how well it will hold up to time in the wild.
mikesegy 1.03 season tensor is really what you should get unless you wanna winter camp. I love camping but winter camping is not for everyone. But no doubt get the tensor. 10000% https://www.rei.com/product/228438/nemo-tensor-trail-ultralight-insulated-sleeping-pad?sku=2284380002&store=&CAWELAID=120217890018031554&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=147758271279&CATCI=pla-2022408626626&cm_mmc=PLA_Google%7C21700000001700551_2284380002%7C2022408626626%7Cbrand_flag%7C9920629669&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=9920629669&gbraid=0AAAAAD_DTlxwAE6K8qThhTEh4hPO024V0
MilesBeforeSmiles 1.0Unless you are camping in winter get a Nemo Tensor Trail. The 2.8R rating it has will be good down to freezing, it wil crinkle way less, and is much lighter.
You'd have to sleep pretty cold for a 2.8r rated mat to not be enough gound insulation for 3 season camping. Ground insulation doesn't generate or trap warmth around a sleeper, it just reduces the heat loss to the ground. Whether you are a cold or warm sleeper, that rate of heat loss will be the same.
MotorBet234 1.0Sea to Summit EtherLight XT Insulated. I also have a NEMO Tensor Ultralight but find it too thin for side-sleeping.
Can't speak from a racing context, but I've got 2 different inflatable sleeping mats that I'd vouch for. NEMO Tensor Trail Ultralight to save weight and bag space, but I do find it thin for side-sleeping and I'd expect it to be under-insulated for colder conditions. Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated packs larger and heavier, but it's now my year-round option due to the additional comfort and R value. It'll still take up less space than your foam pad. I carry a little Flextail camp inflator for blowing up my pad - inflates in like 30 seconds, I'll also use it to deflate just to get all of the air out, avoids humid breath causing mold inside the pad. I'm tent-camping, and the inflator doubles as an LED lantern inside my tent, which is especially handy as I'll often wake before the sun.
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