Your email address will not be published. 8.5 oz.Thickness: 3.1 in.R-value: 3.8What we like: A durable pad for a great price.What we dont: Heavy; cheap and unreliable valve design. Durable 30D polyester ripstop conforms to the body and has a great feel. You can't inflate this pad manually, as the moisture from your breath can damage the down fill, but the included waterproof compression sack doubles as a fully functional pump bag. But a few materials updates this time around make this already great sleeping pad even greater. A good pad for the seasoned hiker that doesn't mind carrying a little extra for a great night of sleep. With a 20-denier shell, the pad is similarly vulnerable to punctures as the brands much lighter Tensor, although (as we mentioned above) youll at least have a little foam cushioning with the Flyer to keep you protected if the pad gets a hole. ), slightly warmer (R-value: 4.5), and quieter, which was one of our primary gripes with the outgoing model. What we dont: Heavier than the leading Therm-a-Rest pads. All that goodness, and the UberLite stuffs down smaller than a 1-liter Nalgene (Therm-a-Rest graciously made the stuff sack a bit bigger in a recent update), allowing it to hide away in the crevasses of your backpack. $249.95 . The fabric has a fairly tough feel and it wont puncture easily if you take care of it. But for the highest R-value of any backpacking pad here, the new Exped Ultra 7R takes the cake at 7.1. 6 oz.Thickness: 3.5 in.R-value: 7.1What we like: One of the highest R-value backpacking pads on the market.What we dont: Significantly tapered, relatively fragile, and overkill for most conditions. We found the top car camping and family camping tents for every budget and use. A more accurate comparison is the Sea to Summit Ether Light which changes hands for $180 $209 so as you can see, the Nemo Tensor is well priced in its class. But we love this pad for two very important reasons: its cheap at just $55 for the regular version, and it will never pop. Sleeping pads for backpacking are light, pack down small, and are reasonably comfortable. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. As a founding member of the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) Climate Action Corps, NEMO has set aggressive goals for making more climate-friendly materials choices. If you will be camping on snow, its a good idea to bring a combination of pads, especially if one is of the inflatable variety (imagine waking up in the middle of the night on top of snow on essentially a deflated balloon). Winter travelers will likely be better off with the 15-ounce Therm-a-Rest XTherm. Baffle Design From the backcountry to your friend's living room, this pad makes sleep happen. To create the Flyer, Nemo took the design of a self-inflating pad, trimmed down the amount of open-cell foam by 60%, and added insulation and comfort via air-filled baffles. While on the topic of comfort, its important to note that baffle design can have a pretty considerable impact too. It seems the R value recommended from manufactures for the lower temp limit fluctuates. The net result is more accurate and dependable ratings across the board. Sea to Summit includes a similar system with models like their Ether Light XT and Comfort Light Insulated, and weve found it takes only around three or four full bags to inflate the pads. For this review, we tested the insulated version out but the specs are largely very similar for both. In general, weve found that vertical baffleslike those found on Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Ultratend to be less supportive and comfortable than horizontal or boxed. My decision to upgrade was based on a couple of things: Foam Pads But as a versatile add-on or a dedicated UL pad that wont pop, the Switchback is a great piece of gear to add to your kit. If any of you have ever been to a music festival and camped out for a week, then you will know how much you come to value the little comforts after 3 to 4 days of hard partying! The packed size isn't incredibly significant so would be worth going with the cosmo because . So give the adventurer in your life the gift of convenience: buy them an REI Co-op gift card! Category: Air padWeight: 1 lb. Again, thank you! Broudy has been writing about cycling, skiing, and outdoor gear for more than 20 years. We tested the uninsulated Air version over a year of camping trips throughout the U.S., on a 6-week bike tour down Mexico's Baja Peninsula, and in Puerto Rico. For both pads, the highlight was the large, elasticized opening on the stuff sack, which is the best design weve seen yet. The wide version of this pad takes a lot of air, and the pump sack makes filling the pad a relatively quick and easy process. In mathematics, a tensor is an algebraic object that describes a multilinear relationship between sets of algebraic objects related to a vector space.Tensors may map between different objects such as vectors, scalars, and even other tensors.There are many types of tensors, including scalars and vectors (which are the simplest tensors), dual vectors, multilinear maps between vector spaces, and . Let us be clear: denier matters and you can feel the difference. Frankly, who can blame them! Occasionally youll find a small size, and some brands even offer torso pads that are only about 2/3 the length of a regular pad. We think it works better than similar pump designs from Thermarest and Klymit. You can open the top cap to bleed off the air, inflate the pad, and pull out the bottom tab to deflate the pad rapidly. When you are out hiking and camping, every ounce or KG you have to carry counts and so ultralight gear is a bloody godsend. For side sleepers and those who move around a lot during the night, Sea to Summits Ether Light XT Insulated is the ticket. Thickness: 3.5 in.R-value: 3.3What we like: A comfort-first pad for backpacking, camping, and more.What we dont: Heavier than most air pads here. By comparison, the Nemo Switchback Sleeping Pad comes in at $50 BUT it is neither ultralight nor insulated so that is not exactly a fair comparison. It might be called a backpacking sleeping pad, but lets face it: A lot of us use our mats for more than just nights on the trail, whether its bedding down in a vehicle, at a frontcountry campground, or on a friends living room floor. 3 inches of quiet and supportive cushioning without the usual "waterbed" feel. A critical spec in comparing sleeping pads is R-value, or how much insulation a pad provides from the ground. Combined with raised baffles along the sides, the Klymit is a stable and roomy sleeping platform that is great for active sleepers. The self-inflating mattress was a revolutionary idea when the Therm-a-Rest was invented in 1972. GearLab is reader-supported. Designs like the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL and Nemo Switchback are staples for long-distance trekkers and thru-hikers due to their versatile and lightweight constructions. but does testify how much faith they have in the product. Shop for NEMO Air Pads at REI - FREE SHIPPING With $50 minimum purchase. Make the most of your home away from home by choosing the best camping tent for your adventure. The non-insulated version is $190. NEMO also offers a lifetime warranty on this pad. If you need serious cushion, consider one of the lighter options on our list of the best camping mattresses and pads. And regardless of its weight, make sure to take reasonable care when setting up camp and stowing your pad (more on this in "Sleeping Pad Care" below). And importantly, the Flyer retains the supportive, plush cushioning of a self-inflating pad, which keeps you insulated from the ground even in the event of a leak. If seen, please avoid as he has been known to bite. It offers several sizes of both insulated and uninsulated versions. Plus, its incredibly versatile: use it as a seat around camp, sub it in for your packs foam backpanel to save weight, or slide it under your air or self-inflating pad for additional warmth or protection. vs. 1.5 in.) Some pads we like more are less expensive like the REI Flash Insulated, but others are more expensive like the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm. Okay, there are a few other tips. 7 oz.Thickness: 1.5 in.R-value: 3.2What we like: Self-inflating convenience at a great price.What we dont: Thickness, weight, and packed size cant compete with an air pad. Stay Warm & Comfortable Camping in 2023! So when I discovered the NEMO Tensor, I was psyched. As with any piece of outdoor gear, the less it weighs the more fragile it will be. And with a quilted, soft sleeping surface, it gets incredibly high marks for comfort. 9.4 oz. Backpacking pads are thinner and less plush than camping mattresses and pads, but the latest outdoor gear technology has made advances in this department. With a unique design that uses 700-fill goose down as insulation, the Ultra 7R also is a substantial 3.5 inches thick and quite comfortable to sleep on. Travel insurance IS important. On the other end of the spectrum are double pads like the Exped Ultra 3R Duo. She is an avid mountain biker, gravel biker, backcountry skier, overlander, and adventure traveler. It doesnt make a ton of sense to buy a $200 ultralight sleeping pad if you only plan on using it on a couple of easy weekend trips each summer. Also, if you are camping in icy conditions then hard frozen ground can ruin your nights rest and your vertebrae at the same time! Category: Air padWeight: 1 lb. Heck, we even use our foam pad to keep dinner or water warm (wrapping it around the pot) in our camp kitchen. That makes this one of the chunkiest backpacking pads around, but perhaps surprisingly it still feels very stable. And with a recent update, the NXT version uses new technology to deliver a quieter sleep, which addresses one of our main complaints with the outgoing version. Got feedback? But for $10 less, the Nemo Tensor Insulated is nevertheless a premium backpacking sleeping pad thats well deserving of a spot at the top of our list.See the Nemo Tensor Insulated. For instance: If you're into ultralight warm weather backpacking trips you can go with the Uninsulated Regular Mummy version, it only weighs 15 oz and packs down to 8.0 x 3.0. Nemo makes some top quality camping gear so lets see if this pad keeps up the high standards. If its stored compressed, the pad will lose its self-inflating nature because the foam will become overly compacted. All rights reserved. The NEMO Quasar 3D is a thick inflatable sleeping pad with body-mapped baffles that cradles you can sleep on your side or stomach without rolling off the pad at night. Category: Air padWeight: 14.5 oz.Thickness: 3 in.R-value: 4.2What we like: $10 cheaper than the XLite above; best pump sack design on the market.What we dont: Thinner fabric yet heavier overall weight than the XLite. Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop! How can we improve GearLab? That said, not all pump sacks are created equally, and some designs are much more functional and convenient to use than others. Because your legs have fewer contact points with the ground, some people dont mind the short length (and they sometimes throw an extra piece of gear under their feet for cushioning and warmth). Now, youcould spend a fat chunk of $$$ on the WRONG present for someone. The NEMO Tensor Alpine Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad is a lightweight insulated air mat that weighs 17 ounces and is 3 thick. The pad was once one of the best in its classthe class that blends extra comfort and extra durability . A good nights sleep on a backpacking trip used to be a rarity, but todays sleeping pads are much improved over their predecessors. And if durability is your aim, there are other options: For example, Expeds Dura 3R combines 75x170-denier face fabric with a 3-inch-thick air-pad design ($150; 1 lb. This pad also has an R-value of 4.8 measured using the new sleeping pad R-value industry standard, so you . tall outer chambers to keep you from drifting off the side), a competitive R-value of 4.5, and a 4 x 8-inch packed size (for reference, the Nemo Tensor above compresses to 3.5 x 9.5 in.). Simply connect the pump to the valve, open up the end of the sack, so it fills with air, and roll the sack closed, so all the air is forced inside the pad. 209.59.139.84 The pads improvements come from the inside out. Prior to that, Broudy spent time guiding hiking and cycling tours in South America, Europe and the U.S. Based in Vermont, Berne Broudy is a core user of and expert in outdoor, cycling and ski gear, as well as overlanding and powersports gear. The sleeping pad you bring on an expedition can be the difference between a comfortable outing in nature and a sleepless night spent tossing and turning. To combat this from happening, youll need a sleeping pad that offers an appropriate level of protection from the cold ground. The Big Agnes Rapide SL is an excellent insulated sleeping pad (but not an ultralight one) that costs around $99 so if you are car camping or happy to carry some extra weight, do keep it in mind. The old closed-cell foam pads still have a place on this list as a dependable, tried-and-true option. I used it for a weekend in Maine and slept like a log. Nemo is perhaps best known for their backpacking tents, but theyve assembled a solid lineup of quality sleeping pads. No ads. And the insulation is still woven between the baffles in a way that keeps it quiet. He is an excellent pilot,well known in the r/c giant scale circles, He too liked the Quasar alot more than the Tensor, he gave me the radio back in 5 minutes flying the Tensor, When he flew the Quasar I couldn't get the radio back , he flew the whole battery pack, doing slow rolling . Aside from the price, theres not a whole lot that screams budget about the Air Core: you get a generous 3.25 inches of padding (including 3.5 in. Most 3-season backpackers should get a sleeping pad with an R-value in the range of 3 to 5, and this where a majority of our picks above are rated. Packed size is a function of the pad type, amount of insulation, and fabric thickness. Category: Air padWeight: 1 lb. It also features a thoughtful shape that maximizes the 20-inch width throughout, narrow just above the foot to slot nicely into tapered tents. Steamboat Springs-based Big Agnes makes some of our favorite lightweight backpacking gear, and the Insulated Q-Core Deluxe stands out as one of their most premium sleeping pad designs. I agree with Bill, I fly mine indoors and outdoors, I let my friend fly them both outdoors in a 5-10 mph wind. Add Quasar 3D Insulated Air Sleeping Pad to Compare NEMO Tensor Alpine Air Pad. Most of the sleeping pads on the list are built for 3-season conditions with varying levels of insulation. You get a little less than an inch of closed-cell foam, along with a reflective coating designed to capture radiant heat. Coming at just 15 ounces, the Tensor turned heads and didn't weigh us down. and relatively durable face fabric (30 & 40D). We tested and review the best sleeping pads for backpacking in 2022. Comfort is better than ever with advanced baffling and cell designs, weight and packed size continue to drop, and you can get all the insulation and warmth you need for cold weather. And theyre the perfect secondary pads to bring along for winter camping. REIs $100 Flash used to be one of our favorite budget pads, but their new Helix takes aim at a different market with a warmer, more insulated design (R-value: 4.9). Read more, Through thermal modeling, NEMO engineers figured out how to interlace a piece of plastic TPU film throughout the pad to choke off the convective currents. The new film reduces how much body heat mixes with the air inside the pad, and how much the air inside the pad absorbs cold from the ground. Air pad storage and care is a little simpler. Taken together, the Ether is one of the most luxurious pads on the market. See the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite. So does weight, however, so its important to find the right balance for your backpacking style. Further, the pad folds up accordion-style into a reasonably compact package for storing on the top, side, or bottom of a pack. Rampant psytrance addict, quaffer of ale, and serial cat fancier. Category: Closed-cell foamWeight: 14.5 oz.Thickness: 0.9 in.R-value: 2.0What we like: Cheap and will never pop; thicker than the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite.What we dont: Not nearly as comfortable as inflatable sleeping pads. The insulated version of the Nemo Tensor retails for $190 - $220 depending on what size you go for. Lets face it, rocks and dirt dont exactly make for the best mattress! All that said, youll still feel rocks and roots beneath you much more than with the pricier air options above and below, and with an R-value of just 2 it wont keep you insulated from the cold ground outside of the summer months. Its also worth checking out Therm-a-Rests ProLite Apex ($135), a hybrid pad that adds air chambers to the foam design for a boost in R-value (3.8) and thickness (2 in. The NeoAir UberLite has a lot of appeal for those looking to trim their base weight, but, unsurprisingly, it comes with a fair number of compromises. I used it for another week in Vermont with the same results. And as before, the XLite checks in 2 ounces lighter and is a bit more durable than the Tensor Insulated (30D vs. 20D), which can go a long way for those who sleep outside the tent or without a foam pad beneath their air pad. 2023, The Broke Backpacker. Another standout is Nemos Quasar 3D, which boasts a raised baffle at the head end for keeping your head and/or pillow elevated. On the other hand, the Comfort Light here is a bit warmer despite its thinner designparticularly from the hips upand offers a plusher feel than the slightly more rigid Ether (especially for back sleepers). Finally, it comes with a lifetime guarantee so you can expect to get a lifetime of use from it. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. On the other hand, if your backpacking trips are characterized by warm, summery conditions, a lower-R-value pad can save you some money (that said, very few can compete with the Therm-a-Rest in terms of weight). Material on GearLab is copyrighted. Performance & security by Cloudflare. And its been upgraded for 2022, which kicks it between the goalposts. make it significantly larger and heavier than a design like the Therm-a-Rest XLite abovein the end, this is the main reason most weight- and space-conscious backpackers opt for an air pad over a self-inflating design. Aint nobody about that! Itll keep you more comfortable in summer as well as when its cool or cold. If you're reading this, you just got 15% OFF Heymondo's tailor-made travel insurance. All in all, the Tensors blend of comfort, build quality, and ease of use make it a standout on the market. Last but not least, winter camping requires an R-value that exceeds 5, with the most popular model being the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm and its R-value of 7.3. By the end of this review, you will know all about this pad, its performance and its best uses. 100% bluesign certified, 20D premium recycled polyester fabric. The NEMO Tensor Sleeping Pad has always been wide, supportive, quiet, and relatively warm. Marketed as a quiver killer, the Quasar combines a decently lightweight build with a roomy rectangular shape (no mummy option) and impressive comfort. Backcountry skier, overlander, and are reasonably comfortable for $ 190 - $ depending. That maximizes the 20-inch width throughout, narrow just above the foot to nicely! Insulated sleeping pad has always been wide, supportive, quiet, and relatively durable face (! Review the best camping mattresses and pads: denier matters and you can feel the difference chunkiest backpacking pads,. 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