Walking Equipment and Accessories

Nemo Tensor Long Wide Insulated | Sleeping Mat

This unique sleeping mat from U.S. brand Nemo really impressed our gear testers

Why We Chose The Nemo Tensor: Super comfy, clever design, convenient size

Nemo seem to have thought slightly out of the box with this sleeping mat and we reckon the move has paid off. This particular one is the biggest in their Tensor family which includes all kinds of shapes and sizes to suit different tents and different types of sleepers. At 675g (packed weight) it’s by no means heavy though, especially when you consider it’s designed for colder nights. There’s certainly a lot to like here..

Who Is The Nemo Tensor Long Wide Insulated For?

We can see this benefitting any backpackers or weekend wild campers who want something that’s lightweight but also warm enough to see them through some cold nights. The R-Value is 3.5, which would suggest it’ll be able to get you through all but the most extreme of winter nights in the UK.

This particular model, with its large and rectangular shape, will definitely suit side sleepers, and/or those who tend to move about in their sleep.

It’s luxuriously thick, but without any heavy trade off. Photo: Mike Brindley

Construction

This has an interesting quilted construction, mixing both horizontal and vertical baffles (the horizontal ones being slightly more prominent) and this results in a very comfortable 3-inch platform that doesn’t collapse too much with any pressure at the sides.

Its a unique baffle design that really works. Photo: Mike Brindley

The quick release valve is impressive. Photo: Mike Brindley

For insulation there are two layers of a ‘aluminised’ film to reflect body heat back to you. Fortunately these are designed to be rustle-free, so there won’t be much noise when you move about at night. The same thought has gone into the outer material which is a 20D PU coated ripstop polyester which is soft to the touch – useful for quilt sleepers – and provides a slight bit of grip to stop you sliding about too much.

It has a small, convenient packed size. Photo: Miike Brindley

Packed Size And Weight

Packed up in its little stuff sack, the Tensor is no bigger than a Nalgene bottle, so it won’t take up too much space in a backpack. As for the weight, at 675g, it’s right in the ultralight category, which is impressive given the size of it and also its cold weather rating. Want super, super light? Consider going for the Short Mummy version of this – it weighs just 278g!

Inflation And Deflation

This is where the Nemo Tensor really impresses. It comes with a little pump sack which can be quickly and easily fastened to the mat’s valve to make for a remarkably effortless inflation. You simply blow into the pump sack (you don’t even need to put your lips to it), then roll the end, squeezing air into the mat. Within less than 10 breaths your have a nice solid mat.

“All-in-all, I’ve found it very packable and convenient.”

The valve itself is another innovative aspect. First of all, it has a flat design, so if you happen to stand on it, there’s isn’t too much risk of doing damage. Then there’s the fact that it has two options to it: you can open one cap/seal and press down on the air valve to lower the pressure or you can lift off the two caps/seals together for an almost instantaneous deflation.

Tester’s Verdict

Will Renwick, editor of Outdoors Magic

“I’ve got so used to sleeping on tapered mats that I had forgotten just how great a night’s sleep you can get from a rectangular shaped one like this.

“It was quite cold outside, and wet as well, but I had a very comfortable and warm sleep with this.”

“The thing is, it’s not even like its bigger (and highly cushioned) sleeping platform comes with the cost of a heavy weight to carry either. All-in-all, I’ve found it very packable and convenient.

It comes with a pump sack that can double as a drybag

“The valve design is excellent and I found inflation and deflation an absolutely breeze. I particularly like the fact that the stuff sack is fairly large, so you don’t need to struggle to get the mat packed away in the morning.

“My most notable test with it was on a two-day backpack in Wales’s mountains. I was using Nordisk’s rather small Telemark 2.2 tent and I loved that this mat basically covered the entire floor space. It was quite cold outside, and wet as well, but I had a very comfortable and warm sleep with this.”