NEMO Tensor All-Season Review | CleverHiker

Bottom Line

The NEMO Tensor All-Season is one of our favorite backpacking sleeping pads on the market. It’s among the lightest, most comfortable, warmest, and most convenient sleeping pads we’ve ever tested.

CleverHiker gear analyst Casey Handley used the mummy version of the Tensor All-Season for over 400 miles and 20 nights on the Arizona Trail, and founder Dave Collins recently used it for 5 nights and 80 miles in Wyoming’s Wind River Range. The Tensor All-Season’s 3.5-inch thickness and cushy nylon are comfy and soft on the skin, but this fabric also offers above-average durability. The Tensor is easy to inflate since it comes with one of the best pump sacks on the market, and its dual-use nozzle converts to a dump valve for quick packing in the morning.

However, this pad does have some downsides. The Tensor is a high-quality piece of gear, so its price tag is pretty high. This means it might not be the best choice for beginner backpackers or hikers who only camp a few nights per year. Additionally, though the Tensor is very competitive in the weight category – especially the mummy version – there are a few lighter pads on the market. So, ultralight backpackers may prefer a slightly lighter choice.

All things considered, we’ve been very impressed by the performance of the NEMO Tensor All-Season in our testing. Its warmth, comfort, weight, durability, and ease of use combine to make it an excellent choice for backpackers of all levels, from long-distance thru-hikers to weekend warriors.

Comfort

When it comes to staying comfortable, the NEMO Tensor All-Season is an excellent choice. It’s great for the typical summer backpacking trip, but it’s also a cozy pick for low temperatures and cold sleepers. Whether it’s 60°F and clear or 20°F and snowing, this pad’s 3.5-inch thickness means you’ll stay cushioned and warm with minimal risk of bottoming out. It’s comfortable for sleeping in any position, but side sleepers will especially appreciate the support for their hips and shoulders, reducing pressure points for a more restful night. 

The Tensor’s 30D ripstop nylon top has a smooth feel that’s soft against the skin and won’t catch on your base layers. The insulation and simple horizontal baffles feel durable and sturdy night after night, providing excellent support on rough terrain without losing its cushy feel. Therm-a-Rest offers this model in multiple shapes and sizes, including wide, long, and mummy, to fit different body types and sleep styles. 

Our only minor complaint when it comes to comfort is the pad’s valve location. We like that the valve sits flush with the pad on the top corner and closes securely, hardly sticking out at all. However, not all our testers love the valve’s placement, as you might occasionally feel it when shifting positions at night. This is a small gripe, and many of our testers had no issues with this. But if you think this might bother you, you may want to consider a pad with a nozzle located on the side seam.

Overall, the Tensor is, hands down, among the most comfortable backpacking sleeping pads on the market.

Weight & Packability

The Tensor All-Season is a strong performer when it comes to weight and packability. The regular mummy version of this pad is 14.1 ounces, putting it among the lighter models we tested, but it also boasts a very high R-value. With those specs, the Tensor All-Season is lightweight and offers one of the best weight-to-warm ratios on the market. In fact, compared to the other backpacking pads in this weight range, no other model comes close to the Tensor in insulation capabilities. 

One thing we love about the Tensor’s packability is its valve. The single-valve design allows you to dump air during deflation, resulting in very fast packing times where you don’t have to work to squeeze air out of the pad. The Tensor also comes with a simple velcro strap, which lets you easily pack the pad and stuff it away in seconds. 

Although the Tensor inflates to 3.5 inches thick, features tough 40D nylon fabric on the bottom, and has substantial insulation, it still packs down small. When compressed, it’s less than the size of a 32-ounce Nalgene bottle, making its packed size competitive with thinner and much less warm pads. This is one of the most convenient pads to pack up that we’ve tested, and when you’re living out of a pack, this really makes a difference.

The Tensor isn’t the lightest pad on the market, though. A couple of insulated pads beat the mummy version of the Tensor on weight by an ounce or so. If you’re looking for the absolute lightest insulated sleeping pad out there, the Tensor isn’t quite it. That said, the Tensor was the more user-friendly pad in our side-by-side testing, with a better pump sack and much faster deflation times. Every ounce matters for backpackers, including us, so this could be a dealbreaker for some ultralight backpackers. But considering the Tensor overall, we think its upsides outweigh this minor weight penalty.

Warmth

When paired with a quality sleeping bag, the NEMO Tensor All-Season is appropriate for cold-weather camping down to around 15°F. Also, this pad is great for cold sleepers, even if you’re not planning on camping in sub-freezing temps. Offering a very high R-value of 5.4, this pad features metalized film insulation that provides outstanding warmth to keep you comfortable in chilly temperatures. Its square baffles offer an outstanding balance between support and a bit of give, and the quilted design traps warm air effectively. 

NEMO uses a classic 20D nylon on top of the Tensor that’s soft to the touch and non-slippery, but on the bottom, it employs a burlier 40D ripstop that adds durability and helps block out the cold. At 3.5 inches thick, this pad will keep you far from the chilly ground beneath, so you’ll stay insulated in harsh conditions where nightly recovery is essential. Losing body heat can be uncomfortable and dangerous, and this pad keeps you well away from those issues.

Despite being impressively warm (it’s technically a 4-season pad), the Tensor All-Season won’t be the best fit for everyone. If you plan on using your pad directly on the snow (without paring it with a foam pad) or you like to camp in extremely cold winter weather, the R-value of the Tensor Extreme Conditions might be a better fit. NEMO also makes the Tensor Trail for backpackers more concerned with lowering their pack weight than cold weather insulation. 

Overall, we think the Tensor All-Season hits a sweet spot for the type of coverage most backpackers will want on the most common backcountry expeditions. And it’s worth remembering that this pad has one of the best warmth-to-weight ratios on the market for keeping pack weight down.

Ease of Setup

This is one of the Tensor’s key strengths. The All-Season comes with one of the best pump sacks on the market, the Vortex. It snaps onto the inflation valve securely and is easy to fill, roll, and repeat. It only takes 4-5 sacks to inflate the All-Season fully, drastically reducing time and effort. The total inflation time is less than two minutes, which is an excellent advantage after a long day on the trail.

The other highlight is a single flat, low-profile, two-in-one valve that makes adjustments and deflation easy. This valve has two flaps – open the first one, and you’ll find the one-way valve. It has a small button inside for micro-adjustments, allowing you to let out small amounts of air and dial in your perfect level of firmness. Pulling the second flap opens the dump valve, allowing the air to rush out rapidly. The dump valve is great for packing the pad up because you won’t have to roll and squeeze excess air out while packing. Plus, the storage sack is roomy, so you won’t have to wrestle to get the pad back inside.

The pump sack is efficient, but a tad bulky, so ultralight backpackers may opt to leave it at home. It also lacks the multifunctionality that some competitors offer, like doubling as a waterproof stuff sack. That means it will add a couple of ounces of weight to your kit but will only serve one purpose. In the past, we’ve often left pump sacks at home, but this one is so convenient we’ve found ourselves bringing it along on most trips. Overall, we’re huge fans of the ease of use of the Tensor All-Season, and we think this category is one of its main strengths.

Durability

This pad is a reliable choice for long-term use. We’ve tested the Tensor All-Season from cacti-filled deserts to snow-filled camps at 13,000 feet to beds of lava rock, and it has held up impressively well over multiple seasons of use. Its 40-denier nylon bottom protects against punctures and abrasion, which is crucial for camping in rugged environments. The single, 2-lid valve has very few parts to reduce the chance of failure, and NEMO includes a repair kit in case of failure in the field. The combination of thoughtful design and rugged materials means you can trust the All-Season to perform in challenging conditions.

Though the Tensor All-Season is tough, like any air pad, it’s not impenetrable. The top of the pad is 20D nylon, which will work well for regular use but is more susceptible to wear and tear compared to some burlier pad options. The 40D fabric on the bottom is excellent for durability, but it also adds a bit of weight compared to lighter pads, which may be a drawback for ultralight backpackers.

These fabric choices mean that the All-Season holds up very well, and we think it provides an excellent balance between weight and durability. But like any air pad, punctures can happen. That’s why we always carry a patch kit in the backcountry and clear our tent sites free of sharp rocks and pokey sticks.

Should You Buy the NEMO Tensor All-Season Sleeping Pad?

The NEMO Tensor All-Season is at the top of the list for warmth, comfort, and packability, especially in cold conditions. If you’re looking for one backpacking pad to cover a wide range of conditions – from warm summer adventures to chilly shoulder season excursions – this is one of the best sleeping pad options on the market.

Thanks to its impressive R-value and innovative, lightweight design, this pad is an excellent choice for warmth at night that won’t weigh you down on the trail. The Tensor All-Seaon isn’t the lightest insulated sleeping pad on the market, but it’s not too far off. And its warmth-to-weight ratio is very impressive.

The thing that ultimately won us over with this pad is its ease of use. It has an excellent pump sack that makes inflation very fast and easy. And deflation is quick, too. Its dump valve allows all the air to rush out of the pad, making it very fast to roll up and stow away. This is an area where the Tensor shines compared to some of the leading competition in the sleeping pad market.

At 3.5 inches thick, the All-Season will comfortably complement any sleeping position. The 20D nylon top is soft and quiet, while the 40D bottom is rugged and durable. With a bit of care, this pad will last for years of use and hundreds of nights in the backcountry.

However, there’s no way around it: the Tensor All-Season is an expensive investment. Due to its high price tag, this pad might not be a good fit for budget shoppers, casual backpackers, or summer hikers who will prefer a less specialized pad. Also, if you only tend to camp in hot summer temperatures, the All-Season’s insulation might be more than you need.

All in all, throughout our testing we keep returning to the NEMO Tensor All-Season as one of our favorite all-around backpacking sleeping pads. We really appreciate its comfort, convenience, and warmth-to-weight ratio.

What Other Backpacking Pads Should You Consider?

Check out our full list of the Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads for all our top recommendations. 

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Review: The XLite NXT is the closest competition to the Tensor All-Season, and both are truly excellent products. The Tensor narrowly beat the XLite out for Best Overall Backpacking Sleeping Pad this year, but it was close. The XLite is also warm, durable, and comfortable, but it weighs a bit less than the Tensor, which might be a deciding factor for ultralight backpackers. That said, we much prefer the Tensor’s pump sack and dump valve for quick inflation, deflation, and easy packing up. 

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT Review: The XTherm NXT is our other top choice for cold weather comfort because it’s even warmer than the Tensor All-Season – its 7.3 R-value is warm down to around 0°F. The XTherm is not quite as thick, weighs more, and costs more. What you get is a pad for hardcore winter conditions like overnighting in icy mid-winter temps.

Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated: The Rapide SL is not quite as comfy as the Tensor All-Season, but it’s just as thick, packs smaller, and comes at a much lower price. It also offers an impressive R-value – only a bit lower than the All-Season – so it’s a fantastic alternative for cold-weather camping. The biggest downside with the Rapide is that it’s considerably heavier.

REI Helix Insulated Air: The REI Helix is much more affordable than the Tensor All-Season but still offers a cushy three-inch thickness and a high R-value for insulation. On the flip side, the Helix is a bit clunkier to set up, weighs more, and isn’t as durable, so it’s better as an entry-level pad for shorter trips from early spring to late fall.