Nemo Tensor Trail Ultralight Sleeping Pad Review

When it comes to sleeping pads, hikers prioritize comfort, weight, and packability. I’ve slept on countless sleeping pads over the years, and it seems like you can never check all three boxes. I’ve had a ton of lightweight and packable pads, but always woke up sore. I’ve had comfortable pads that are lightweight, but they always take up a ton of space in my pack.

After years of searching — and basically giving up hope that the perfect pad exists — I’m happy to say that I finally found a pad that can do it all: the Nemo Tensor Trail.

Nemo Tensor Trail At-A-Glance

Price: $179.95
Weight: 13.0 oz (regular length, mummy shape)
Packed Size (in): 10 x 4
R-Value: 2.8
Material: Bluesign-approved recycled nylon ripstop + Bluesign-approved nylon taffeta 

Intended Use

The Nemo Tensor Trail is designed for thru-hikes and backpacking trips.

Circumstances of Review

I tested this sleeping pad on late summer and fall backpacking trips in western Montana. The pad was used on warm summer nights, as well as fall nighttime temperatures hovering around 30 degrees.

Nemo Tensor Trail Features

  • Available in rectangular and mummy-shape (wide available for both)
  • 3.5-inch thickness is great for side sleepers
  • 2.8 R-value 
  • Vortex pump sack assists in inflating pad
  • Quiet material eliminates “crinkle” sound that many ultralight pads have

The Dreaded Sleeping Pad Crinkle

My pet peeve is a sleeping pad that makes the infamous “crinkle” sound when tossing and turning. Not only does this sound disrupt your own sleep, but it’s a quick way to annoy your neighbors at camp too.

Happy to report that the Nemo Tensor Trail is incredibly quiet to sleep on. Honestly, though, even if it did have a slight noise (which I have yet to find), this pad is so comfortable that tossing and turning was at a minimum.

Thickness

I loved the insane 3.5-inch thickness of this pad. Being elevated a bit off the ground was a nice touch and kept me warmer at night. The extra height also helped with side sleeping and gave my hips a comfortable place to sink into without hitting the ground. I seriously had some of my best backcountry sleeps on this pad.

All-Around Comfort

Many inflatable ultralight sleeping pads are relatively thin and uncomfortable to sleep on — especially for side sleepers. However, I was thrilled at how comfortable this pad was overall. I was able to change positions as I fell asleep and had a few nights where I didn’t wake up at all (which is relatively rare for me while camping). Overall this pad can’t be beat for the weight-to-comfort ratio. 

Pump Sack

I found the pump sack challenging and clunky to use, and oftentimes just blew up the pad myself. I will say that without the pump sack, this pad takes quite a bit of breath to inflate, which becomes even more of a problem at higher elevations.

Lifespan

Although I have not had any issues with leaks, I saw numerous reviews that mentioned leaks springing up pretty early in the product’s life. However, I also saw a few thru hikers say that the pad was able to last their entire trip. As with any piece of gear, the lifespan will depend on how well you treat and maintain the item.

How To Determine Which R-Value Is Right For Your Trip

One of the biggest factors to consider when choosing a sleeping pad is the R-value. Essentially, R-value is the rating of how well a sleeping pad insulates the user during different temperatures. Sleeping pads with a higher R-value will be heavier, but they’ll keep you warmer in the winter. Lower R-value sleeping pads are lighter and more ideal for summer temperatures. Generally, R-value suggestions look like this:

Summer Backpacking: R-value of 1 to 3
3-Season Backpacking: R-value of 3 to 5
Winter / 4-Season Backpacking: R-value of 5+

Of course, there are many factors that determine how warm you stay while sleeping in the backcountry. Things like your sleeping bag, the clothes you wear to bed, your tent, and how well your body adapts to different temperatures all play a factor.

However, the R-value is important because your sleeping bag often can not keep your whole body warm. When you crawl into your bag for the night, you naturally compress some of the down while laying on it to sleep (this theory is why quilts have become popular). Therefore your sleeping pad acts as your primary defense against the cold ground.

Nemo Tensor Trail Pros

I love so many things about this pad. I’ve never found a sleeping pad that I had no complaints about, and I’m so excited that Nemo hit the nail on the head. This pad is a game changer for getting good sleep in the backcountry and being well-rested for big mileage days in the morning.

Insanely comfortable: I’ve never slept so well in the backcountry as I have on this pad.

No crinkle: As mentioned before, this makes for a better night’s sleep for the pad owner and everyone nearby.

Lightweight: 13 ounces is nice and light for a sleeping pad, especially considering how thick and comfy this one is.

Packs up small: Pack space is at a premium for most of us, but the Tensor Trail will only take up about as much space as a Nalgene when rolled up.

Nemo Tensor Trail Cons

I really love this pad and can’t find too many negatives to mention.

Bit of a pain to inflate: Both with the pump sack and with your breath; the fact that it’s so thick means it takes a lot to blow up

Durability questions (from others): Certain reviews mention leaks in the product after a limited number of uses. However, I have had no leakage issues even after heavy use over the past few months. As with any inflatable, it is both more expensive and more vulnerable to damage than a foam pad.

Nemo Tensor Trail Overall Value

Overall, I love this pad. It’s insanely comfortable, and I’m not exaggerating when I say I’ve had some of my best nights of backcountry sleep on this pad. It’s a bit of a pain to inflate, but this feels like a small price to pay for a good night’s sleep on a lightweight pad that easily fits in my pack.

Although I have given this pad a ton of use over the past few months without issue, numerous reviews mention the possibility of early-lifespan leaks. However, my experience with this pad so far has been insanely positive, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to upgrade their comfort in the backcountry.

Shop the Nemo Tensor Trail Ultralight Sleeping Pad

Comparable Sleeping Pads

NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad

  • MSRP: $210
  • R-value: 4.5
  • Weight: 13 0z

Nemo Tensor All-Season Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad

  • MSRP: $200
  • R-value: 5.4
  • Weight: 16 0z

Sea To Summit Ultralight Air Sleeping Pad

  • MSRP: $139
  • R-value: 1.1
  • Weight: 13.9 0z

The Nemo Tensor Trail was donated for the purpose of review.

Featured image: Colleen Goldhorn Creative Co

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Comments 2

  • Jingle bells : Oct 29th

    Accurate.
    Super comfy, light enough, compact enough, a bit of a pain to inflate but worth it…
    Except count my one anecdotal comment here as someone who started experiencing the dreaded air leak after just a few nights. This is despite my extreme care and having a standard foam pad (luxury double up) between Nemo and my tent floor.

    Reply
  • Jess : Oct 30th

    Great review! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

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