NEMO - Astro Series

Comfortable, I have one now. Before I had a Nemo pad I returned and honestly, kind of wish I had kept it. Only downside was it took forever to inflate. Also, these things go on sale/get returned all the time. I’d look for one second hand if possible.

If it's a self inflating pad, are you adding any extra air to it? If you're not then there is part of your problem. It'll only recover so much as time goes on. I've used for a decade a Nemo cosmo insulated pad. It's now their quasar model. It's too hot for summer stuff so I use a nemo astro lite. From other comments you said your pad is a cedar ridge. Does it have a big "A" next to cedar ridge?

I'm a big fan of the Nemo Astro. Customer service is also amazing. I had a popped rib after about 7 years of owning an early model, and the replaced it no questions asked. There's an insulated version as well. But it's 3" tall. I'm 6'2" around 210-220 lbs and can side sleep on it. https://www.nemoequipment.com/products/astro-lightweight-non-insulated-sleeping-pad-series

Have you considered a camping cot? There are a lot of ultralight options now which are about the same price as a good sleeping pad for side sleepers. The only difference being is the weight, you’re looking at around 1.5kg for a cot bed which would be double the weight of a sleeping pad. For me, the extra weight is worth it for the comfort. For context I’ve tried Therm-a-Rest, Big Agnes and Nemo mats. If I’m going for comfort, the cot bed wins every time.

My Nemo pad is more comfortable than my Purple bed 😂

Yeah. I don't regret getting a fancy Nemo pad because it's at least light and warm, but I've still never had a good night on one. 

I returned it to REI and got a Nemo

Nemo - I have the same pad and its great. Very comfortable, light and warm.

I’ve had it about a year I think. I had the previous version too the insulated. Both in regular wide. Before these I had an Xlite and a S2S ultralight insulated. The Nemo is more comfortable than either for me.

I just sped 2 weeks using Nemo astro and can't recommend it enough, very comfortable, easy to set up, thi next time I would pick up wide one.

Buy once cry once. Thermarest, Nemo, Sea to Summit. They make the best small, lightweight, comfortable pads.

I’m not sure there’s a best one per se, there are a lot of equality pads out there and the one that best fits you and your needs might be the right choice for you. My favorite is Exped but I love my Nemo’s as well. My personal opinion tho is that you have nowhere to go but up. After fifty plus years of buying and using outdoor gear I can say that I actively despise only one brand, Klymit. And that’s all I have to say about that.

Exped echo chamber on reddit. I tried exped and nemo and the zempire monstabed at REI. Found the monstabed the most comfortable. I say try them out in-store if possible.

Lighter than the Nemo or Thermarest options, but thinner and less cushy feeling. Also nice that they come in wide variants.

Nemo makes the best sleeping pads on the market currently. They test the best and have the best weight to r value ratio.

Nemo. Lighter weight and a better R value. Now that Nemo has finally fixed the massive leaking problems they had on the 2022 and earlier pads I can recommend them. Lifetime warranty.

Both Thermarest and Nemo pads work for me, and I suspect many others would as well. Regarding shape, I think I actually need *less* space than someone who sleeps on their back. Regular mummy pads work great for me.

The measure of comfort for me is 4” of inflation. Below that and my hips hit the ground. Currently rocking a NEMO which is heavy (17 oz) but has been awesome.

I started on the old school thermarest shortie, then a full length, then switched to a big agnes inflatable--which i liked but went through two of them with bad valves. Switched to a nemo a couple of years ago, and love it. It's a little "crinkly" sounding, but otherwise well worth it. Good choice :-)

I own and use both. Both are now backups to my therm a rest neo loft bc that big boy is like sleeping in a real bed and is worth every ounce. But between the Nemo and ether light I’d say the Nemo is lighter and comfy, but the ether light is a tiny bit thicker and more comfortable, and the ether light is also more durable. My Nemo is still functional but I did have to patch it up once.

I upgraded from an older therm-a-rest to a Nemo, it is thick, warm, and comfy but noisy! Here is a good source of info, but they don’t consider noise an issue, so you have to look around if that is a consideration. https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/camping-and-hiking/best-sleeping-pad

1. Check your bag temp rating and consider investing in a layered system rated for negative temps. 2. Get an insulated sleeping pad. I keep a backpacking one, Nemo Astro Insulated, with no regrets. Combined with a zero below bag, I could sleep on top of packed snow without heat dissipation. 3. Keep a winter base layer set of clothes like Polartech silkweights. Your comfort starts with your body heat, and these do a great job as your foundation. 4. Or....change nothing since you now know what being unprepared feels like, and next time, jump into your vehicle's passenger seat and crank the heat on for the night :)

Nemo tensor. I went with the alpine long wide.

Hi fellow hikers and adventurers! In my search to upgrade my pad I've been in quite the rabbit hole last weeks. I started this search because my current pad - the Nemo Astro Insulated - is too cold at R2.6, too heavy at almost a kilogram and not giving the best comfort ever. My criteria are comfort, weight, durability, pack size and ease of use in their respective order. I mostly camp on easy terrain with no sharp objects, use an extra ground sheet and with temperatures with around 5 degrees Celsius or 30F at most. Maybe a bit colder if I want to do an Alpine trips. I camp from spring till autumn. I always sleep on my sides and curled up with my legs, so probably don't need a longer than normal pad but prefer wide I had quite a list of pads before. Ended up with the Big Agnes Rapide SL, the Nemo Tensor All season or the Sea to Summit Ether light XR. I've now unfortunately ruled out the Rapide SL. Reading a lot of experiences from here and the internet the pad seems to sleep very cold, even above 5 degrees Celsius (which even my Nemo doesn't really at R2.6) while advertised as an all season pad. Also I heard the baffles are not insulated? As a side sleeper I'm sure I'll get my knees and ankles on the side baffles so that wouldn't be comfortable. It's pretty heavy and although comfortable I'd like it to be durable enough and warm enough. The Nemo seems more aimed at warmth, a bit less comfort. But weight and pack size are as good as you can get. Also I'm already used to Nemo pads and I like their stuff sacks, patch kit and overall use. The Sea to Summit is a very close contender. It seems to be slightly more comfortable and thicker. Pack size is bigger and it's significantly colder at R4.1 vs R5.4. In the end I don't think I can go wrong with either. However I just want this over with and choose a pad that's overall the best jack of all trades. I'm leaning towards the Nemo. This is because I'm familiar, it should be comfortable enough, packs small, weighs less and offers more warmth for that. Price on both are similar and I'm ready to spend the premium... What do you think? If you could only choose one pad of these which one is it? And why did you go for it? I'm very curious to your opinion!👌🏼

I've done quite some research and have narrowed it down to these 3 pads. I got to test the Big Agnes, Nemo and a therm a rest NeoAir XLite in store and personally the big Agnes seemed the most comfortable. I didn't get to try the Sea to Summit myself since that was out of stock. I'm on the hunt for a good, lightweight sleeping pad that's warm enough for early spring and autumn. I need it to pack small and be lightweight too. I'm willing to sacrifice grams if the pad is way more comfortable. I want to buy once cry once, meaning a good pad that'll last me. I don't camp that often and don't put it on rocks or needles or anything like that. I'm a side sleeper so the pad needs to accommodate that. I think I want a pad that's regular wide, since I love the wider pads but I don't necessarily need the extra length since I always curl up my legs slightly. I'm around 188cm tall and 90kg/188 lbs. I've deliberately chosen these pads and not others since the dimples seems to be the most comfortable on sleeping pads. I didn't like the Exped 3R with the vertical baffles and the therm a rest felt like an air balloon. The pads are all quite similar in terms of warmth. The Nemo seems to be the warmest and the Big Agnes seems to be more comfortable. Pack size I think the big Agnes is the best because it's a bit wider but not as long. It's the heaviest of them all though. The Nemo wide long was 140 grams lighter than the same size big Agnes. Sea to Summit sits somewhere in between. Currently I'm using a Nemo Astro Insulated which is actually quite comfortable but very heavy and not always warm enough at R2.6. It's also a big pack size. I do really like their stuff sack, pump sack, valve system and the quality seems great. This got me leaning a bit towards the Nemo. However the big Agnes was quite a lot more comfortable in store and I do appreciate comfort a lot. I find it difficult to guess which one is the best since you basically must try them out camping. That's why I need some help deciding what's important and which one can work the best. What pad do you use and like the most? And did you try any of the pads I named here?

Currently I'm using a Nemo Astro Insulated pad. It's actually a great pad and is pretty decently comfortable. However I do wake up during the night and it's very heavy. It weighs in at 950 grams and is "only" insulated with an R value of R 2,6. Also it packs pretty big. With the horizontal baffles it seems like the less comfortable option compared to dimples. I've been improving my setup lately, and the sleeping pad is next. Our camping trips are usually shorter than a week, sometimes do wild camping but mostly on campsites or dedicated spaces. I'm based in the Netherlands where the weather is reasonably mild. I camp between March and end of september mostly, so 3-season. In that period temperatures are usually as low as 5 degrees at night up to roughly 20 degrees Celsius. I do sometimes go to mountains, like the Alps or other places and have some bucketlist things like the Spanish Pyrenees and North of Finland + Sweden. For a pad I'm looking for: - at least an R-value higher than my current pad. Between 3 and 5 is fine for me. - a pad that offers a square version in wide (64cm/25") but not necessarily long (196cm). - a weight that's not much more than 600 grams. Otherwise I'm just better off keeping my current pad. - baffles that are preferably squared or with dimples I believe they call it. Like the Nemo Tensor or BA Rapide SL for the most comfortable sleep - A pad that's built well enough to not really worth about it breaking or puncturing - packing size which is smaller than my Astro pad which is 24 cm x 11 cm. - no or almost no noise when sleeping - optional: a pad that doesn't slip as much. - optional: a pad that works with my Flextail mini pump X My budget sits somewhere around €200 or $220. At that price point I think I can definitely get reasonable pads I've obviously did some research myself. Quite a lot actually, that's why I know all the specs out of my head lol. But I've landed in a rabbit hole of great, decent pads and every brand does things differently. Also I'm not sure if buying used pads is something I can look into. I think a sleeping pad is too delicate and you won't notice flaws with it. Better to get new? Anyway I already have some contenders myself that I looked on: - Nemo Tensor All season. Kinda a middle ground. Great pack size, around 600 grams, great valve system which can easily deflate and inflate, warm enough and has the dimples for comfort. It's price is high but might be worth it - Therm a rest NeoAir XLite NXT MAX. A well made durable pad that offers excellent warmth for its weight. It does seem to get negativity for the sound and especially comfort. I'd rather have slightly more weight, but being more comfortable. Valve system seems cool but doesn't seem to deflate easily and very expensive - Naturehike NKTR R5.8 sleeping pad. An option I haven't seen much but does get some love. Looks like the Tensor but costs around a $100. Not sure how the quality will hold up but their tents are great value. Pack size seems very small from reviews and weight is great too. - Sea to Summit Ether light XT or XR. Also kinda similar to the Nemo and Naturehike. It does have a mummy form I believe? Also seen some square ones. Seems to pack very thin but a bit longer. I think I prefer the other way around. Never tried their valve system, how's that? Seems to fit my budget as well - Big Agnes Rapide SL. A cheaper option but still seems to offer a lot of comfort. Does come in heavier it seems? I like their 2 seperate valves so you can easily inflate and deflate. Don't like the color on them, but thats something that doesn't really matter for functionally haha. Anyone tried these? My first feeling pushes me to the Nemo Tensor All season or Trail. Since I'm already used to the Astro with the valve system and thee reasonably soft top material. It offers those dimples that almost everyone experiences as more comfortable over horizontal baffles and isn't too heavy, packs small enough and folds down easily Of course there's a lot more pads from above manufacturers as well as Exped, Zenbivy, Flextail and more. I'm very curious what you think is a more comfortable pad that offers enough warmth for my use cases and doesn't pack as big within my budget. I'm very curious 🧐 Thanks in advance!

Got the long wide versions on both. Used my Nemo pad for the past years and just upgraded. Yet to test the new pad out but the difference in size is astonishing.

Sea to Summit is a lot warmer at R4.1 compared to R2.6. But yeah guess the Nemo has some synthetic material in there

I did a 500 mile tour with a exped sleeping mat a little bit bigger than yours. I rolled a 3/4 Dow rod in the middle and strapped it long ways on my rear rack. I slept awesome but it was very cumbersome. For my upcoming tour I purchased a long wide Nemo pad. Since I am 6’4” and a side sleeper it is a constant battle of functionality and comfort.

I'd say it depends where you live and will it get cold at night. I had the Klymit for a number of years and works well if the air pressure doesn't change at night. If you live anywhere where it gets cooler, it will deflate during the night. I live in the Yukon, and recently bought a nemo. It works super well even in the winter and packs small and light. Otherwise, look for something with a high r rating. A cheaper option would be to get a z-lite thermarest to use under your klymit mat. They are bulky but super light, rated r2, and you can strap outside your bag. Personally, I'd only use the Coleman for car camping.

I have a Nemo bag and pad and have been quite happy with them both. Particularly if you're a side sleeper or otherwise restless, the Nemo spoon-shaped bags are great. They're not the lightest but they're light enough if you need that comfort. I suggest adding the Big Agnes Rapide to your list of potential pads.

Not for backpacking, but I love the exped megamat for my car camping. I've never tried their backpacking pads but just based on the megamat I would be tempted to try it. Currently have an aging Nemo pad for backpacking that I will at some point need to replace but with a toddler at home we are just car camping for now.

I actually cross-shopped these three pads earlier this summer, and tried each one of them. My thoughts below: Packed size (smallest to largest): \-Nemo \-S2S \-Big Agnes Actual measured weight (lightest to heaviest): \-Nemo \-S2S \-Big Agnes Comfort (most comfy to least comfy): \-S2S \-Big Agnes \-Nemo I settled pretty happily on the S2S. It's significantly more comfy (IMO) than the other two. The other two have a slippery surface that makes the last 1" on each side unusable since you slide off it anyway. Even the Big Agnes, with it's raised outer baffle, doesn't help as much as you'd think since it's so slippery. For reference, I'm a side sleeper and move around quite a bit throughout the night. The S2S surface has more friction, is quieter, and just isolates movement overall a little bit better than the other two. I couldn't compare/contrast actual warmth since I've only taken them summer camping.

LOL, yeah I dove pretty hard into upgrading my sleep system this year. I tried the rectangular reg/wide in all pads. I settled on the S2S and love it. I used the Nemo several nights as well as the S2S several nights. The S2S is way ahead of the Nemo in terms of comfort, with only a slight penalty in weight. Packability is pretty similar, with a slight nod to the Nemo. You may be thinking of the previous gen S2S "XT" pads, which were not very packable, slightly heavier, colder, and maybe louder? The new "XR" version is fantastic. Big Agnes was another step up in bulk and weight, and I just couldn't justify either when the comfort wasn't as great as the S2S (which surprised me). I never camped with the Big Agnes, only tried it at home.