The air pad has a standard 2.5 inches of height, and weighs a slightly hefty 22 ounces, which is largely due to the highly durable 75D polyester fabric on both top and bottom. We have extensive experience sleeping outdoors, and have tried innumerable pads to create this best sleeping pad guide. While this isn’t as comfy as the higher-end pads, it’s nearly winter-capable with an R Value of 4.4 and only costs $90. The Therm-a-Rest UberLite and NEMO Tensor are a little quieter than the XLite. If you want to test a solid budget air pad, start here. I have an X Lite Regular/Wide and Nemo Tensor Large (not Alpine). The Nemo Tensor 25L sleeping pad has a frame for better stability and a reflective film for better warmth. It’s not crinkly and packs up extremely small, making it an excellent choice for anyone who wants a slightly different pad to the Therm-a-Rest model. Big Agnes Insulated AXL vs Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XLite. The Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol is time tested closed cell foam sleeping pad, meaning it does not inflate, deflate, or keep you very far off the ground. page for more information, and check out our gear reviews and outdoor guides. The NEMO Tensor Insulated Mummy provided comfortable and near-silent sleep during our test. It provides a very minimal, basic level of support, which is a step up from sleeping on the ground. That said, it weighs just 14 ounces, folds up easily, can be cut to your length, and has egg-carton ridges which are actually pretty comfy. I have a now discontinued size of the x therm (66”) and it’s 3-4 oz lighter than the Nemo, but the Nemo is a little more comfortable. blown up and ready for you to test. That said, they work well as a backup pad, a pad for a friend, or for increasing the R Value of a summer pad you already have (by bringing along both pads in winter). Because it’s made for ultralight outdoor adventures such as backpacking, Nemo Tensor packs down smaller than Nemo Astro. Home The Xlite was way too noisy. The higher the R Value, the more insulation the pad provides. The Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated is a beast of a sleeping pad. The Tensor uses ultralight 20D PU Polyester on the top and bottom, yet doesn’t suffer from durability issues. The Sea to Summit UltraLight Insulated is the last, but not least on this list. Nemo Tensor Alpine Vs Thermarest Xtherm Switchback Insulated Xlite Pillow Z Lite Fillo Neoair Eula Salinas Outdoor Gear July 27th, 2020 - 17:29:57 If you don't want a permanent structure and need to be able to put your goal out of the way, you will need a portable one. In the realm of backpacking, sleeping pads are one of the fastest evolving product categories. Visit his website if you want to learn more about his authorial pursuits. The Insulated AXL is more comfortable than the XLite. R Value is a national testing standard for the warmth that a sleeping pad can provide. The NEMO Tensor Insulated Sleeping Pad is a lightweight insulated air mat that’s available in a wide variety of lengths and widths. Considerations include ease of inflation, weight, compactness, insulation … Patent-pending, reflective ThermaCapture technology traps radiant heat while Triangular Core Matrix construction minimizes convective heat loss–all without the bulk, weight or durability issues of down and synthetic fills. The Z Lite Sol is a closed-cell foam pad, meaning there is no air at all, just foam to lie on at night. In both insulated and non-insulated versions it has a respectable weight for an air pad, has 3 inches of cushion that’s dispersed very evenly through the quilted baffles, and is nice and quiet when you roll over. The Klymit Insulated Static V is an air pad with a unique baffle system that provides 2.5-inches of thick, premium air cushioning. NEMO Tensor Insulated: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xtherm: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite: Comfort Plus Insulated: Q-Core SLX Insulated: Comfort (30%) This pad does suffer from the “crinkle” noise, which is annoying, but if you can handle that it is the most capable sleeping pad for those watching their pack weight. A lot of gear. The Big Agnes Insulated AXL Air sleeping pad is ultralight, quite warm, and uses a quilted baffle pattern for extreme comfort on the trail. Choose a pad that will best fit for your typical coldest weather trips, unless you want more than one sleeping pad. Versus the Therm-a-Rest XLite ($170, 12 oz), the UberLite is: 3.2 ounces lighter and $10 more expensive (in size Regular); Identically comfortable, but less noisy; A truer 3-season pad, not worthy of shoulder seasons; and, Less abrasion- and puncture-resistant, versus the XLite’s 30d fabrics. So if you do decide to try the xlite - definitely give it a go at different levels of inflation before you make a switch and give it a few nights to work out the crinkle noise if it's noticeable to you. Self-inflating pads inflate faster (duh), provide a more even sleep experience, and have some foam to help cushion your back, even though the overall height of the pad is only 2 inches. Trust us — you won’t be disappointed. It uses a new flat valve for easy inflation and deflation, and Big Agnes’ custom patterned ripstop for heightened durability. Our mission is to empower all walks of life to be ambassadors of the outdoors. Self-inflating pads are what most outdoor people are familiar with, and were the classic choice for backpackers before air pads hit the scene. I just grabbed a tensor alpine long/wide from moose jaw. Ill have a video about this next spring where I do some wierd stuff. I have yet to hear what people complain about with the XLite as well. NEMO Switchback UL N/A 2 NEMO Tensor Alpine UL N/A 4.8 NEMO Tensor Insulated N/A 3.5 NEMO Cosmo 3D N/A 3.3 NEMO Roamer SI NA 6 NEMO Nomad Camping N/A N/A NEMO Vector UL N/A 3.5 NEMO Astro NA 2.6 NEMO Astro Lite N/A 2.6Sea-to-Summit Ether Light XT Insulated Air 3.8 3.2. This pad is meant for the fast and light backpacker, and does its job well. This also changes depending on the type of pad — closed-cell foam pads are generally very thin, self-inflating pads are relatively thin but quite comfy, and air pads range a lot in height. A tried and true choice for thru-hikers, the XLite is known for its minimal weight (12 ounces), tiny volume when packed up, and 2.5-inches of horizontal baffled comfort. 3. I notice the crinkle sound when I fold and unfold it, but not while sleeping on it. You "know" the noise is coming, they don't. Brands are not required to use R Value to sell products, and it’s costly to run the test. And, if you don’t backpack in cold temperatures, Klymit has the Static V2, a lighter, warmer, even cheaper pad. That combines with a comfy 2.5 inch height, two two-way flat valves for inflation, and a bit of extra width to keep your elbows from sliding onto the ground. I'm leaning towards the XTherm or Tensor because I tend to sleep cold (5'10'', 140lbs) and would like a pad that I can use for backpacking at lower elevations as well as some mountain summits in … The NEMO Tensor sleeping pad is a hot contender to the more well-known Therm-a-Rest pads above. Outdoor stores like REI typically have many different kinds of pads that are blown up already so you can go try them out. The new version of the xlite is way less noisy. NEMO offers this in a lightly insulated version that works to about 35 degrees F, and in an insulated version that can handle winter. The added insulation — often in the from of a thin lining inside the pad — does add weight though, so if you backpack mostly in summer and want the lightest pad possible, a lower R Value might be good, like what’s in the NEMO Tensor. Flat valves are newer, and were developed to do away with a lot of the issues of Twist and Pull. That said, my sleeping partner for those first few nights was my 8yo kid in the back yard during the COVID-19 shut-downs earlier in the year. Check out our comprehensive guide to sleeping pads to find (and understand) your dream mattress, and read the full NEMO Tensor review below. New comparison video was just posted: https://youtu.be/XuzJzhMg48E He goes into detail on the baffling style, thickness, and overall comfort given a few more things. For the OP, I also have a torso Tensor and haven't had a lot of time on it but I don't feel much of a difference really. The packed size difference of non-insulated versions are not big, Non-insulated Nemo Tensor (Regular) packs down to 8.0″ x Ø 3.0″ whereas Non-insulated Nemo Astro’s packed sizes are 8.0″ x Ø 3.5″ (36% bigger). Air pads can also cost a fair amount because they utilize a lot of highly-engineered materials, like fancy insulation linings, and design features, like perfectly stretched quilted baffles for an even night’s sleep. Finally, you can easily attach accompanying stuff sacks to them, which allow inflation without breath, which is a huge advantage after a long day on the trail. I find that it is easily "too firm" for me, and I have to use it at a level that initially seems way under-inflated for it to be perfectly comfy. The pad includes a reflective layer that returns valuable heat to your body and creates air pockets that help you conserve additional warmth. If you’re looking for larger, warmer, and heavier camping pads (mattresses), see our recommendations for the Best Camping Mattress. The REI Flash Insulated takes REI’s classic approach of noticing a trend, making their own, and making it for cheaper. The Thermarest NeoAir XLite is one of the most popular backpacking sleeping pads on the market due to comfort and packability. All rights reserved. How does the X-lite compare? Quality sleep in the backcountry is important. 1. somewhere else. If you’re a fan of NEMO’s well-designed, reliable outdoor gear, follow your brand loyalty to the Tensor Ultralight Sleeping Pad. It has an outstanding set of features, including a winter-ready 5.7 R Value, 2.5 inches of height, and 70D nylon fabric on the bottom to reduce the chance of tears, all while weighing just 17 ounces. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite is the lighter, warmer, slightly more popular younger sibling of the XTherm. ($120, nemoequipment.com) It’s impossible to look at the Nemo Tensor 20R without paying homage to its inspiration, the previously reviewed Therm-A-Rest NeoAir Xlite. The downside? Cold air seeps from the ground into your sleeping setup, and a pad can help to keep that cold air away and keep your warm body air around you. Join us and ask yourself the question: Do I really need that? The Big Agnes Insulated AXL air pad is new on the market, and aims to compete with the popular Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite. Twist and Pull valves work well, but they have some flaws. These are affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and other retailers and brands. Sleeping pads are considered “bedding” — in California, anyway — so most big stores won’t sell old pads. Both great pads. Instead, our conclusion is that this is one of the best lightweight inflatable sleeping pads you can buy. That said, the best pads around — the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm and XLite, and really all of the Therm-a-Rest pads — use them. It also uses two flat valves for inflation and deflation and 30D ripstop nylon for decent durability. If you’re a taller person definitely consider a longer pad, as you’ll want your feet to be on it or they’ll get cold! Pro Tip: R Value is pretty accurate, so you can trust it (as opposed to sleeping bag ratings). Overall an excellent pad, and an exciting addition to the ever-increasing competitive field of sleeping pads. The backcountry is a lot less fun to explore when you can’t get a comfortable night’s sleep. NEMO Tensor Insulated Ultralight ($160, 15 oz), which has been updated for 2019, possibly causing closeouts of the current model; and, Sea-to-Summit Insulated Ultralight ($140, 17 oz), which is heavy but has proven reliable. Backpackers.com is a participant in multiple affiliate programs, including Amazon Services LLC. To be clear, this is NOT as comfortable as any pad on this list. Each has their merits and issues, so it’s important to know what you’re getting into when selecting one. Outdoor Guides Plus, it manages to blow up with only 10-15 breaths, which is less than other air pads. That also means it’s a heavy pad at 27.7 ounces, and quite pricey at nearly $200 for the Regular. Some air pads are now broaching 3.75 inches of height, which, when done correctly, works well. Most of them don’t keep air inside while inflating, so you have to do it in one go. They don’t suffer from small leaks as much, and take up much more room when packed due to all that foam! It is built for ultralight thru-hiking and has a very minimal weight no matter the size you get. I use the Tensor in warmer weather on extended trips, because it’s a bit longer and I can toss and turn without spilling over the side, and sleep on my stomach without my feet hanging over the edge. 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