Nemo Tensor All-Season Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad Review

The Ultimate Air Mattress that Continues to Evolve

Sleeping pads are the unsung heroes that determine the quality of your outdoor sleep. They level uneven ground for a comfortable night’s rest, insulate against cold air, and provide comfort whether you’re tenting, tarping, or hammocking year-round.

There’s no shortage of brands vying for your attention and hard-earned cash. My first pad was an original Thermarest, bought on my first camping trip in the U.S. in the mid-nineties. Since then, pads have become lighter, thicker, and, unfortunately, more expensive post-COVID. My previous pad, a NEMO, served me well until pinhole leaks in the baffle welds had me sleeping on the ground more times than I could count. Thanks to NEMO’s lifetime warranty, I replaced it with the NEMO Tensor All-Season Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad, which I’m reviewing today.

NEMO Equipment’s Tensor line promises increased warmth for four-season use without added weight. My previous Tensor Insulated sleeping pad impressed me with its performance, but this updated model surpasses it in nearly every aspect: insulation, comfort, weight, and value. It’s truly a top-notch pad.

Main Features of the NEMO Tensor All-Season

The NEMO Tensor All-Season is a high-performance air pad designed for year-round camping and hiking. Its impressive 5.4 R-value insulation makes it suitable for even the coldest winter conditions you’ll likely encounter. Improved internal insulation film not only boosts warmth but also significantly reduces the crinkling noise often associated with air pads.

Constructed with durable 20D nylon on top and 40D nylon on the bottom, this pad is tougher than its predecessor. The signature Spaceframe baffle design remains, now combined with a thicker 3.5-inch profile (compared to the 3-inch profile of the NEMO Tensor Insulated 2019 and 2022 models) for better comfort. Despite these improvements, the pad is lighter and still packs up relatively small.

The included Vortex pump sack ensures easy inflation. The Tensor series offers three warmth options—Trail, All-Season, and Extreme Conditions—and both mummy and rectangular shapes to suit individual preferences.

Thermal Insulation

A key improvement in this updated model is its insulation, the pad’s core function. Like its predecessor, it employs two layers of metallized Thermal Mirror film to efficiently trap body heat. This refined design boosts the R-value to 5.4, according to the ASTM F3340-18 standard. This translates to year-round usability in Japan’s mountainous Honshu region, a significant upgrade from the previous model’s R-value of 4.2, which was marginally suitable for winter mountaineering. Remarkably, this enhanced insulation comes without added weight; in fact, the pad is slightly lighter at 400 grams.

During a recent trip to the Northern Japanese Alps, with temperatures hovering around 5-10 degrees Celsius, the pad’s warmth was very apparent. I barely felt the cold ground, a testament to the pad’s ability to retain body heat.

NEMO Tensor All-Season Regular Mummy.

Comfort

The Tensor series has always excelled in comfort, and this updated model is no exception. NEMO’s unique Spaceframe baffle design, combining vertical and horizontal elements, delivers excellent support without the instability of traditional air pads. The increased thickness to 3.5 inches provides plush cushioning, eliminating pressure points and ensuring a good night’s sleep, even on uneven terrain.

Fortunately, the metallized film used for insulation doesn’t make the usual rustling and crinkling noise. As a result, you and your camping buddies will likely sleep a whole lot better.

Ease of Use

Setting up the Tensor All-Season is a breeze thanks to NEMO’s user-friendly valve system and included pump sack. The low-profile valve doesn’t interfere with comfort or packing, a thoughtful design touch.

The Vortex pump sack is very efficient, requiring minimal effort to inflate the pad and, compared to the previous iteration, requires less effort to lock in place. A simple, light blow from a short distance fills the pump quickly, making it far easier than other pump designs I’ve used. On average, it takes about 4-5 bags full of air to fill the sleeping pad. Deflation is also easy; the pad can be packed up while releasing the air.

While the pad itself is impressively lightweight at 400 grams, the packed size is slightly larger than ideal, measuring approximately 25.5 x 10 cm. This is the only real drawback I’ve found.

How it Compares

Brand	NEMO	Rab	Thermarest	EXPED
Model	Tensor All-Season Regular Mummy	Ultrasphere 4.5	NeoAir XLite NXT	Ultra 5R MUMMY
Dimensions	183×51cm	183×51cm	183×51cm	183×52cm
Packed size	25.5×10cm	18×9cm	23×10cm	23×12.5cm
Thickness	9.0cm	8.0cm	7.6cm	7.0cm
Top and bottom fabrics	Top: 20D (bluesign-approved premium nylon) Bottom: 40D (bluesign-approved premium nylon)	20D with internal TPU Coating	30D ripstop HT Nylon	20D (bluesign-approved premium nylon)
Weight	400g	370g	370g	445g
R-Value	5.4	4.3	4.5	4.8
Regular price (including tax)	￥29,150	￥20,900	￥39,600	￥30,800
Valve system	2WAY Valve	2WAY Valve	2WAY Valve	1WAY valve x 2
Accessories	Stuff sack, pump stack, repair kit	Stuff sack, pump stack, repair kit	Stuff sack, pump stack, repair kit	Stuff sack, pump stack, repair kit

Final Thoughts

The NEMO Tensor All-Season Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad stands out as a top-tier choice for air mattresses designed for year-round use. Its superior insulation, comfort, durability, and ease of use make it a versatile option for a wide range of outdoor activities. It also provides the flexibility to use a lighter sleeping bag than you might otherwise need. While it might be slightly over-specced for warmer months, its ability to perform across a wide variety of conditions makes it the air pad to beat in terms of weight and cost performance.

For those seeking a more specialised pad, the Tensor series offers the lighter Tensor Trail (R-value 2.8) for warmer weather and the more insulated Tensor Extreme Conditions (R-value 8.5) for extremely cold conditions. However, the All-Season model provides an excellent balance of warmth, comfort, and packability, making it a solid choice for most campers and backpackers.

Without question, I recommend the NEMO Tensor All-Season to anyone seeking a high-quality, versatile sleeping pad that delivers class-leading performance in various outdoor environments.

What’s in the Box

Here’s a breakdown of what’s included:

• Nemo Tensor All-Season Regular Mummy sleeping pad
• Vortex pump sack
• Stuff sack
• Velcro strap
• Repair kit

NEMO Tensor All-Season Regular Mummy compared to 1-litre Nalgene bottle.

BOTTOM LINE

The NEMO Tensor All-Season is a top-tier, flexible sleeping pad offering exceptional warmth, comfort, and durability for year-round camping. While it might be slightly overkill for summer, its overall functionality and packability make it a worthwhile investment for most outdoor enthusiasts.

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