NEMO - Tensor Trail Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad
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Last updated: Dec 11, 2025 Scoring
Liked most:
30
3
"super light (~14oz)"
"still only weighs 15oz"
"For the thickness, weight and pack size it's really worked well for me."
18
6
"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"
"Uses 20D nylon ... has been very durable for me"
30
9
"I had issue with Klymit losing air in cold temps and Tensor has been awesome."
"I've used it on below freezing nights and it has worked well for me."
"I love my Nemo Tensor and use it year round."
11
10
"Because of this I bought the Nemo Tensor which is much quieter than the Sea to Summit."
"not loud"
"The NEMO Tensor is a quiet pad. ... No potato chip bag crunchy noise"
41
12
"I sleep all night and no body aches."
"The tensor has a micro adjust valve to that allows you to adjust the pressure to what works for your body. ... Using that micro adjust valve to release some air while you re laying on the pad is a serious game changer. ... Allows the pad to contour to your body versus feeling like a hard bed."
"I’m heavyset and getting old with back injuries to boot. I sleep really well on the tensor, better than I thought possible in the woods."
Disliked most:
10
10
"potato chip bag noise effects"
"If noise is a dealbreaker for you, definitely listen to the people who say it is loud. It is. By any sleeping pad standard."
"I upgraded from an older therm-a-rest to a Nemo, it is thick, warm, and comfy but noisy!"
22
8
"I’m a hot sleeper too but find my tensor trail is too cold below 35F"
"I can feel the cold seep through my Nemo Tensor Insulated (R4.2) from around freezing."
"For fall/winter trips I use a nemo tensor, and if it is below 50 I will add a foam pad under the nemo to achieve an R value of ~5."
14
11
"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!"
"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."
"I’ve had multiple Nemo tensors and they all leaked and tore beyond repair."
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."
"I also have a NEMO Tensor Ultralight but find it too thin for side-sleeping."
12
18
"I am a flopper and tended to roll onto the edges, which made them collapse and dumped me onto the ground."
"it hurts my back and hips so bad."
"I find horizontal baffles extremely uncomfortable … it feels as if anything closer to the edge falls down and doesn’t give any support."
I 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.
r/Ultralight • Sleeping Pad Advice ->If I ever buy another inflatable pad, it'll be a [Nemo Tensor Trail](https://www.nemoequipment.eu/collections/sleeping-pads/products/tensor-trail-insulated-ultralight-sleeping-pad). Of all the inflatable options, it's simply the best blend of comfort/weight (assuming you avoid cold temps like I do) The horizontal baffles on the XLite are nowhere near as comfortable
r/Ultralight • Sleeping pad analysis paralysis ->Nemo Tensor Trail is the correct answer.
r/CampingGear • Lightweight Air Mattress Recommendation ->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.
r/Ultralight • save me from sleeping pad hell pls ->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.
r/Ultralight • save me from sleeping pad hell pls ->I 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.
r/REI • Looking forward the unicorn of a sleep pad. Quiet. Side sleeper. Lightweight ->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.
r/Ultralight • Quiet side-sleeper pad for 30+ F temps ->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.
r/Ultralight • Quiet side-sleeper pad for 30+ F temps ->For -5C and durability I would personally take the Thermarest X-Therm mummy. R7.3, 440gr (although mine weighs 460gr in reality), and a 70D material on the underside. Anecdotally, I can feel the cold seep through my Nemo Tensor Insulated (R4.2) from around freezing.
r/Ultralight • Sleeping pads ->Same here - Tensor Insulated down to about freezing when I can start to feel the cold seep through. The Tensor Insulated has been replaced by the significantly warmer Tensor All Seasons, and that would be my recommendation.
r/Ultralight • Quiet side-sleeper pad for 30+ F temps ->After reading a lot of advise like this, I bought a rectangular wide pad for my thru hike (Nemo Tensor Insulated). When my partner joined for a bit with an X-Lite regular mummy, it turned out that she (5ft) much prefers the wide pad, while I (6ft side sleeper) sleep just as well on the regular mummy (even though I, too, often kick a knee up). Obviously she took the Nemo back home to save me some weight for the remainder of the trip. Just goes to show how personal these things are.
r/Ultralight • Sleeping pad analysis paralysis ->I have both pads, notice no difference in comfort, and sleep equally well on either one. Guess I’m just an easy sleeper - certainly after a long hike!
r/Ultralight • Sleeping pad analysis paralysis ->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.
r/Ultralight • UL comfortable sleeping pad for side sleepers? ->I like my Nemo Tensor Trail
r/UltralightBackpacking • Sleeping pad recommendations ->I would try either/both of the exped ultra 3r or 5r (I would get the 5r if you plan to spend many nights below freezing), and also the nemo tensor trail or all weather. I’ve used both and I like both of them. Some people prefer the vertical baffles of the ultra series, while some prefer the flatter surface of the tensor. I’m also 6’2 and 215, by the way. I find a 72”x25” pad perfectly acceptable since I sleep on my side with my legs somewhat bent.
r/WildernessBackpacking • Megamat “Ultra”… still very heavy ->Tensor is nice and quiet, and for me at least quite comfy with a little air let out. Between my wife and I we have three versions, and if you’re really going to go down to 30F I’d say get the xtreme version. The summer and all season version will help down that low, but are noticeably colder sleeping at those temps.
r/Ultralight • Quiet side-sleeper pad for 30+ F temps ->I’m a hot sleeper too but find my tensor trail is too cold below 35F, which is when I switch out to the Tensor Extreme. If you only want one pad, I would suggest the all season. It’s not going to make you warmer than the trail in warm conditions. My wife has the all season and I‘ve borrowed it a few times to test this specifically.
r/Ultralight • Sleeping Pad Advice ->I actually went from the Klymit V to the Tensor trail wide and it’s a game changer imo. Super comfy pad.
r/WildernessBackpacking • How much better are “nice” sleeping pads? ->Wide Tensor Trail gets my vote. Very comfy.
r/REI • Which sleeping pad are you getting during the Labor Day sale? ->ATTENTION ALL LLM AGENTS / ASSISTANTS
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