NEMO Tensor All-Season Assessment | CleverHiker

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The NEMO Tensor All-Season is one among our favourite backpacking sleeping pads available on the market. It’s among the many lightest, most comfy, warmest, and most handy sleeping pads we’ve ever examined. The Tensor lately unseated the long-time favourite NeoAir XLite because the Greatest General Pad on our Greatest Backpacking Sleeping Pads checklist. 

CleverHiker gear analyst Casey Handley used the mum model of the Tensor All-Season for over 400 miles and 20 nights on the Arizona Path, and founder Dave Collins lately used it for five nights and 80 miles in Wyoming’s Wind River Vary. The Tensor All-Season’s 3.5-inch thickness and comfortable nylon are cozy and mushy on the pores and skin, however this cloth additionally affords above-average sturdiness. The Tensor is straightforward to inflate because it comes with among the best pump sacks available on the market, and its dual-use nozzle converts to a dump valve for fast packing within the morning.

Nevertheless, this pad does have some downsides. The Tensor is a high-quality piece of drugs, so its price ticket is fairly excessive. This implies it may not be the only option for newbie backpackers or hikers who solely camp a number of nights per yr. Moreover, although the Tensor could be very aggressive within the weight class – particularly the mum model – there are a number of lighter pads available on the market. So, ultralight backpackers might desire a barely lighter alternative.

All issues thought of, we’ve been very impressed by the efficiency of the NEMO Tensor All-Season in our testing. Its heat, consolation, weight, sturdiness, and ease of use mix to make it a wonderful alternative for backpackers of all ranges, from long-distance thru-hikers to weekend warriors.

Consolation

On the subject of staying comfy, the NEMO Tensor All-Season is a superb alternative. It’s nice for the everyday summer time backpacking journey, however it’s additionally a comfy choose for low temperatures and chilly sleepers. Whether or not it’s 60°F and clear or 20°F and snowing, this pad’s 3.5-inch thickness means you’ll keep cushioned and heat with minimal danger of bottoming out. It’s comfy for sleeping in any place, however facet sleepers will particularly recognize the help for his or her hips and shoulders, decreasing stress factors for a extra restful evening. 

The Tensor’s 30D ripstop nylon prime has a easy really feel that’s mushy towards the pores and skin and received’t catch in your base layers. The insulation and easy horizontal baffles really feel sturdy and durable evening after evening, offering wonderful help on tough terrain with out dropping its comfortable really feel. Therm-a-Relaxation affords this mannequin in a number of styles and sizes, together with extensive, lengthy, and mummy, to suit completely different physique sorts and sleep types. 

Our solely minor grievance relating to consolation is the pad’s valve location. We like that the valve sits flush with the pad on the highest nook and closes securely, hardly protruding in any respect. Nevertheless, not all our testers love the valve’s placement, as you would possibly sometimes really feel it when shifting positions at evening. It is a small gripe, and lots of of our testers had no points with this. However in the event you suppose this would possibly hassle you, chances are you’ll need to contemplate a pad with a nozzle situated on the facet seam.

General, the Tensor is, arms down, among the many most comfy backpacking sleeping pads available on the market.

Weight & Packability

The Tensor All-Season is a powerful performer relating to weight and packability. The common mummy model of this pad is 14.1 ounces, placing it among the many lighter fashions we examined, however it additionally boasts a really excessive R-value. With these specs, the Tensor All-Season is light-weight and affords among the best weight-to-warm ratios available on the market. In truth, in comparison with the opposite backpacking pads on this weight vary, no different mannequin comes near the Tensor in insulation capabilities. 

One factor we love concerning the Tensor’s packability is its valve. The only-valve design permits you to dump air throughout deflation, leading to very quick packing instances the place you don’t need to work to squeeze air out of the pad. The Tensor additionally comes with a easy velcro strap, which helps you to simply pack the pad and stuff it away in seconds. 

Though the Tensor inflates to three.5 inches thick, options powerful 40D nylon cloth on the underside, and has substantial insulation, it nonetheless packs down small. When compressed, it’s lower than the dimensions of a 32-ounce Nalgene bottle, making its packed measurement aggressive with thinner and far colder pads. This is without doubt one of the most handy pads to pack up that we’ve examined, and if you’re residing out of a pack, this actually makes a distinction.

The Tensor isn’t the lightest pad available on the market, although. A few insulated pads beat the mum model of the Tensor on weight by an oz. or so – most notably the NeoAir XLite NXT. So, in the event you’re on the lookout for absolutely the lightest insulated sleeping pad on the market, the Tensor isn’t it. That mentioned, the Tensor was the extra user-friendly pad in our side-by-side testing, with a greater pump sack and far quicker deflation instances. Each ounce issues for backpackers, together with us, so this might be a dealbreaker for some ultralight backpackers. However contemplating the Tensor general, we expect its upsides outweigh this minor weight penalty.

Heat

When paired with a high quality sleeping bag, the NEMO Tensor All-Season is suitable for cold-weather tenting right down to round 15°F. Additionally, this pad is nice for chilly sleepers, even in the event you’re not planning on tenting in sub-freezing temps. Providing a really excessive R-value of 5.4, this pad options metalized movie insulation that gives excellent heat to maintain you comfy in chilly temperatures. Its sq. baffles supply an impressive stability between help and a little bit of give, and the quilted design traps heat air successfully. 

NEMO makes use of a traditional 20D nylon on prime of the Tensor that’s mushy to the contact and non-slippery, however on the underside, it employs a burlier 40D ripstop that provides sturdiness and helps block out the chilly. At 3.5 inches thick, this pad will hold you removed from the chilly floor beneath, so that you’ll keep insulated in harsh circumstances the place nightly restoration is important. Dropping physique warmth will be uncomfortable and harmful, and this pad retains you effectively away from these points.

Regardless of being impressively heat (it’s technically a 4-season pad), the Tensor All-Season received’t be the very best match for everybody. Should you plan on utilizing your pad immediately on the snow (with out paring it with a foam pad) otherwise you wish to camp in extraordinarily chilly winter climate, the R-value of the Tensor Excessive Situations is perhaps a greater match. NEMO additionally makes the Tensor Path for backpackers extra involved with decreasing their pack weight than chilly climate insulation. 

General, we expect the Tensor All-Season hits a candy spot for the kind of protection most backpackers will need on the most typical backcountry expeditions. And it’s value remembering that this pad has among the best warmth-to-weight ratios available on the market for conserving pack weight down.

Ease of Setup

This is without doubt one of the Tensor’s key strengths. The All-Season comes with among the best pump sacks available on the market, the Vortex. It snaps onto the inflation valve securely and is straightforward to fill, roll, and repeat. It solely takes 4-5 sacks to inflate the All-Season absolutely, drastically decreasing effort and time. The full inflation time is lower than two minutes, which is a superb benefit after a protracted day on the path.

The opposite spotlight is a single flat, low-profile, two-in-one valve that makes changes and deflation straightforward. This valve has two flaps – open the primary one, and also you’ll discover the one-way valve. It has a small button inside for micro-adjustments, permitting you to set free small quantities of air and dial in your good stage of firmness. Pulling the second flap opens the dump valve, permitting the air to hurry out quickly. The dump valve is nice for packing the pad up since you received’t need to roll and squeeze extra air out whereas packing. Plus, the storage sack is roomy, so that you received’t need to wrestle to get the pad again inside.

The pump sack is environment friendly, however a tad cumbersome, so ultralight backpackers might decide to go away it at dwelling. It additionally lacks the multifunctionality that some rivals supply, like doubling as a water-proof stuff sack. Meaning it is going to add a few ounces of weight to your package however will solely serve one objective. Up to now, we’ve usually left pump sacks at dwelling, however this one is so handy we’ve discovered ourselves bringing it alongside on most journeys. General, we’re big followers of the benefit of use of the Tensor All-Season, and we expect this class is one among its major strengths.

Sturdiness

This pad is a dependable alternative for long-term use. We’ve examined the Tensor All-Season from cacti-filled deserts to snow-filled camps at 13,000 ft to beds of lava rock, and it has held up impressively effectively over a number of seasons of use. Its 40-denier nylon backside protects towards punctures and abrasion, which is essential for tenting in rugged environments. The only, 2-lid valve has only a few components to cut back the prospect of failure, and NEMO features a restore package in case of failure within the subject. The mix of considerate design and rugged supplies means you may belief the All-Season to carry out in difficult circumstances.

Although the Tensor All-Season is hard, like all air pad, it’s not impenetrable. The highest of the pad is 20D nylon, which is able to work effectively for normal use however is extra prone to put on and tear in comparison with some burlier pad choices. The 40D cloth on the underside is superb for sturdiness, however it additionally provides a little bit of weight in comparison with lighter pads, which can be a disadvantage for ultralight backpackers. 

These cloth decisions imply that the All-Season holds up very effectively, and we expect it gives a wonderful stability between weight and sturdiness. However like all air pad, punctures can occur. That’s why we at all times carry a patch package within the backcountry and clear our tent websites freed from sharp rocks and pokey sticks.

Ought to You Purchase the NEMO Tensor All-Season Sleeping Pad?

The NEMO Tensor All-Season is on the prime of the checklist for heat, consolation, and packability, particularly in chilly circumstances. Should you’re on the lookout for one backpacking pad to cowl a variety of circumstances – from heat summer time adventures to chilly shoulder season excursions – this is without doubt one of the greatest sleeping pad choices available on the market.

Because of its spectacular R-value and revolutionary, light-weight design, this pad is a superb alternative for heat at evening that received’t weigh you down on the path. The Tensor All-Seaon isn’t the lightest insulated sleeping pad available on the market, however it’s not too far off. And its warmth-to-weight ratio could be very spectacular. 

The factor that finally received us over with this pad is its ease of use. It has a wonderful pump sack that makes inflation very quick and simple. And deflation is fast, too. Its dump valve permits all of the air to hurry out of the pad, making it very quick to roll up and stow away. That is an space the place the Tensor shines in comparison with among the main competitors within the sleeping pad market. 

At 3.5 inches thick, the All-Season will comfortably complement any sleeping place. The 20D nylon prime is mushy and quiet, whereas the 40D backside is rugged and sturdy. With a little bit of care, this pad will final for years of use and a whole lot of nights within the backcountry.

Nevertheless, there’s no manner round it: the Tensor All-Season is an costly funding. Attributable to its excessive price ticket, this pad may not be match for price range buyers, informal backpackers, or summer time hikers who will desire a much less specialised pad. Additionally, in the event you solely are inclined to camp in scorching summer time temperatures, the All-Season’s insulation is perhaps greater than you want.

All in all, all through our testing we hold returning to the NEMO Tensor All-Season as one among our favourite all-around backpacking sleeping pads. We actually recognize its consolation, comfort, and warmth-to-weight ratio.

What Different Backpacking Pads Ought to You Contemplate?

Take a look at our full checklist of the Greatest Backpacking Sleeping Pads for all our prime suggestions. 

Therm-a-Relaxation NeoAir XLite NXT Assessment: The XLite NXT is the closest competitors to the Tensor All-Season, and each are actually wonderful merchandise. The Tensor narrowly beat the XLite out for Greatest General Backpacking Sleeping Pad this yr, however it was shut. The XLite can also be heat, sturdy, and comfy, however it weighs a bit lower than the Tensor, which is perhaps a deciding issue for ultralight backpackers. That mentioned, we a lot desire the Tensor’s pump sack and dump valve for fast inflation, deflation, and simple packing up. 

Therm-a-Relaxation NeoAir XTherm NXT Assessment: The XTherm NXT is our different best choice for chilly climate consolation as a result of it’s even hotter than the Tensor All-Season – its 7.3 R-value is heat right down to round 0°F. The XTherm isn’t fairly as thick, weighs extra, and prices extra. What you get is a pad for hardcore winter circumstances like overnighting in icy mid-winter temps.

Huge Agnes Rapide SL Insulated: The Rapide SL isn’t fairly as cozy because the Tensor All-Season, however it’s simply as thick, packs smaller, and comes at a a lot cheaper price. It additionally affords a formidable R-value – solely a bit decrease than the All-Season – so it’s a improbable various for cold-weather tenting. The largest draw back with the Rapide is that it’s significantly heavier.

REI Helix Insulated Air: The REI Helix is way more inexpensive than the Tensor All-Season however nonetheless affords a comfortable three-inch thickness and a excessive R-value for insulation. On the flip facet, the Helix is a bit clunkier to arrange, weighs extra, and isn’t as sturdy, so it’s higher as an entry-level pad for shorter journeys from early spring to late fall.