NEMO - Tensor™ Extreme Conditions Insulated Sleeping Pad

Best sleeping pad is a 1,000% subjective. Different pads will be comfortable to different people depending on their preferences and sleeping habits, and the most important thing is finding a sleeping pad that is comfortable for you to sleep on. Now, there are **objective** differences between sleeping pads when it comes to things like price, R value, weight, packability, durability, etc. Many of these qualities are going to be directly antithetical to each other (e.g. higher R values and durability are generally going to come with a weight penalty; lighter weights/more packable are almost always going to be more expensive as well as more delicate). You just gotta try to find the pad that feels comfortable to you AND has the best combination of those objective qualities that matter most to you. Personally I've settled on the Therm-A-Rest Neoloft as my 3-season pad and the BA Campmeister Deluxe as my colder weather pad. Those pads are bigger and heavier than a lot of options on the market but they are super comfortable for me to sleep on and are made from more durable materials (75D on the BA and I believe 50D top/75D bottom on the Neoloft) so hopefully the odds of me waking up on a flat pad on cold hard ground are greatly reduced. Although I do also own a Nemo Tensor if I ever feel like I need to go super light for some reason. I am lucky to be in a position to own several high-end sleeping pads to keep around as options for different conditions!

Get something with a super high R rating - higher than you think you need. Look for a baffling system that is either dimpled or vertical. For whatever reason, horizontal baffles don’t have a lot of “give” to them so they are less comfortable for side sleepers in general.  Therm-a-Rest Neoair Xtherm is probably the warmest pad out there (not the highest R rating per se but the most effective insulation system means it is still warmer than other pads with higher R values). It may not the most comfortable for a side sleeper because of the horizontal baffles, however. But this is the pad you want if you want to prioritize warmth. If you want to prioritize comfort, Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Pro will probably not sleep as warm but will be more comfortable for a side sleeper because of the dimpled baffling system. Nemo Tensor Extreme Conditions is also very warm and only slightly less comfy than the Ether Light.  Exped Ultra 7R is a bit heavier and bulkier but is very comfy for a side sleeper. It uses down rather than reflective film for insulation. So it won’t be quite as crinkly as a lot of warm pads, but I’m not sure if the down insulation is more or less effective in this application.  Big Agnes Campmeister Deluxe is quite bulky and heavy for a backpacking pad but is super, super comfortable and has a very respectable R value of 7.  The other big, bulky “luxury” comfort backpacking pads - Exped Megamat Ultra and Therm-a-Rest Neoloft - are great options for comfort but with lower R values so they may be less warm than you might want.  Other things to consider - even a well-insulated sleeping pad will only stay as warm as your body is able to heat it. The bigger the pad, the more of your body’s heat it will draw away from you. So don’t buy a massively oversized sleeping pad thinking it will automatically be more comfortable. For insulating purposes, something that is only as big as you need it to be will be more efficient for your body to keep warm.  Make sure you take advantage of all the usual strategies for staying warm in the backcountry: Use your Nalgene as a hot water bottle and keep it in your sleeping bag/quilt with at night. Do some jumping jacks or other activity to get your heartrate and body temperature up before going to bed. Make sure you are properly hydrated and getting enough food to keep warm. Etc. 

Nemo Tensor Extreme Conditions will be warmer than the All Season.  I find the Tensor series to be a bit more comfortable than the NeoAirs. But she’s already uncomfortable with the Tensor. I would consider instead the Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Pro, which has a high R value and most people have found to be more comfortable than either the Tensors or the NeoAirs. 

For the same weight at the BA pad you could get almost 2x the insulation with the Nemo Tensor Extreme Conditions UL pad. It clocks in at R-8.5 and weighs 17 oz for the regular mummy version. The catch is that you would be paying as much as you would for the Thermarest neoair xtherm. Once you get to freezing temps the extra insulation in the pad is quite welcome. Above 40 though, you could be fine with much less. I get very warm when I'm active but at night when I'm sleeping in the cold I get just as cold as the next guy.

I used a Nemo Tensor extreme and it kept me very warm. Others with just the foam pad complained of cold but I had sleeping bag open like a quilt and was warm all trip. Folds down to the size of a water bottle and has a bag system to inflate so you’re not hyper ventilating trying to blow the thing up at altitude. The one thing I’d recommend anyone take (that or a pee bottle)

Love my Tensor Extreme!

I would go this route then... NEMO Tensor Extreme Conditions Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad. You should get the 4 seasons for just a little more weight. Plus it is 20% off at REI until tomorrow.

Second this! It’s so much better imo. You really notice the difference in warmth and comfort. It sucks paying more upfront, but when you’re actually warm and comfy in the backcountry, you know it was worth it.

Nemo Tensor Extreme would be suitable…but hardly inexpensive. That said at those temperatures you shouldn’t cheap out.

Naturehike is not ASTM rated. Skip. The Rapide is a great pad but is a bit cold. If you want the direct replacement to this pad get the Boundary Deluxe, which is the new name for the Q Core Deluxe. However if you are going to go winter camping over snow go for a higher R value pad. Exped Ultra 5 Exped Ultra 7 Sea to Summit Etherlight XT Extreme Thermarest XTherm Nemo Tensor Extreme

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.

I have the tensor AS and I’m really happy with it. I can sleep through the night without any problems. I have never tried the XR but I have tried the XT (previous version) and I found it a little “waterbed” feeling. A fully inflated tensor almost doesn’t feel like an air mattress and if slightly deflated it is still very stable and also very soft. But you seem to suggest that it’s the other way in your experience. In the end probably comes down to personal preference. Try to go to a retailer where you can test them side by side, try them at various pressure levels (note that R value drops when not fully inflated) and see which is more comfortable for you!

I have the tensor AS and I’m really happy with it. I can sleep through the night without any problems. I have never tried the XR but I have tried the XT (previous version) and I found it a little “waterbed” feeling. A fully inflated tensor almost doesn’t feel like an air mattress and if slightly deflated it is still very stable and also very soft. But you seem to suggest that it’s the other way in your experience. In the end probably comes down to personal preference. Try to go to a retailer where you can test them side by side, try them at various pressure levels (note that R value drops when not fully inflated) and see which is more comfortable for you!

As a side sleeper, I like the Tensor Extreme a lot too. I first got the NeoAir NXT but I kept waking up several times per hour every night because the pad was causing discomfort. With the Tensor, I haven’t woken up once like that. Fully worth the couple hundred grams.

True. I had one less-than-ideal tent spot on a recent trip because the terrain was simply not flat anywhere. I had a small incline from feet to head (not so bad) but also a slight incline left to right. Despite this, I slept well on the Tensor. On the NeoAir I would have been sliding off the mat all night. Of course, on a closed cell foam the sliding is probably a non-issue.