Nemo Equipment Tensor Extreme Condition sleeping mat: Tested

The Nemo Equipment Tensor Extreme Conditioning Sleeping Pad lives up to its name in alpine conditions.
Image credit: Mark Watson/incitement to images

We put Nemo’s new Tensor Extreme Condition Ultralight sleeping pad to the test to see if it lives up to its name in cold camping conditions.

Let’s be honest. The Vic High Country and Kozi main range are not the Himalayas or the Andes, and they do not reach the extreme lows of the Arctic. But if you’ve ever climbed the Quartz Ridge to camp at the top of Mount Bogong during a storm, or perched on the NSW Main Range as temperatures plummet, you know that a night in minus-double digits is no summer holiday . When a snowstorm hits, things quickly become uncomfortable or even dangerous. A warm cup of soup in the vestibule of a sturdy four-season tent can help, as can a well-dug camp and a warm sleeping bag. But the real unsung hero is your sleeping pad. That baffled nylon sleeve at the bottom of your pack can make or break any winter trip, whether you’re battling the snow and ice of the Australian Alps or getting lost in south-west Tassie.

Just a few sleeping pads cut the mustard when ground temperatures drop into toe-numbing territory. It’s a battle between weight and R-value (insulation), and for a number of years the NeoAir .1 R-value). But this newcomer, with the longest name of them all – the Nemo Equipment Tensor Extreme Condition Ultralight Sleeping Pad – seems to trump them all. Nemo Equipment has entered the four-season battle with what appears to be a new cold weather champion, with an incredible R-value of 8.5 at just 472g. We entered the Kozi main range in mid-winter to see if it really lives up to the hype.

Design

There’s little doubt that the Nemo Equipment Tensor Extreme Condition Ultralight Insulated Sleep Pad (let’s call it the ‘Tensor Extreme’) is a highly engineered product that is squarely and squarely aimed at cold-weather adventurers. Its standout feature is a best-in-class R-value of 8.5, which delivers exceptional thermal insulation and makes it suitable for sub-zero conditions. Thermal gain often comes with a weight sacrifice; However, tech experts at Nemo have incorporated four layers of Thermal Mirror film, which reflect body heat while maintaining a super lightweight design. Despite its insulating power, the claimed weight of 472 grams (pad only), or 554 grams with the Vortex Pump Sack, Velcro strap and stuff sack, makes it one of the warmest and lightest in its class. The pillow’s Apex baffle design provides a whopping 3 inches of cushioning and comfort, especially for side sleepers.

The unique design uses trapezoidal baffles for warmth, evenly distributed weight and stability on uneven terrain. The 40D nylon base combines weight savings with durability and protects against punctures on rocky ground, while the super-lightweight 20D nylon top sheds grams and features the LayLow™ valve, allowing for quick inflation and deflation and precise air pressure adjustment. for tailor-made firmness. The pad is available in four sizes. Normal mummy (183 x 51 cm/472 g), normal (183 x 51 cm/505 g), normal wide (183 x 64 cm/625 g) and long wide (193 x 64 cm/662 g).

In the field

At first glance, the Tensor Extreme seems paradoxical: with an R-value of 8.5, it’s built for sub-zero conditions, yet weighs just 472g, less than half a liter of water, and packs down smaller than you Nalgene bottle. This is an exciting combination for cool-climate adventurers, where finding a sleeping pad with the right balance of weight, warmth and compressibility is more painful than cramming a wet tent into a frozen stuff sack. While I’m excited about the numbers, I realize they mean little compared to real-world testing. So with a few days of backcountry split-boarding planned, which would be followed by a multi-day mountaineering course in mid-winter in Kosciuszko National Park, I tentatively traded in my trusty Thermarest NeoAir XTherm for the new, yet-to-be-proven Nemo Tensor Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad for extreme conditions and on the way to the hills.

I was immediately impressed by the size and weight. The chamois wasn’t far off the official figures when we weighed it: 479 grams, stripped, and 555 grams with compression strap, pump bag and stuff sack. (In fact, it is only a little over 100 g heavier than the We tested Nemo Equipment Tensor Trail Ultralight sleeping mat earlier this year.

I generally use a dry bag to protect my sleeping system, and the Tensor Extreme happily squeezed in next to my sleeping bag at the bottom of my mountain pack. After a day of hiking and skinning, the Vortex Pump Sack proved its worth, connecting securely to the LayLow valve and inflating the sleeping pad quickly. When inflated it immediately became clear that the weight saving came at the expense of surface area. The 51cm mummy shape fits many other ultralight pads; however, it felt somehow slimmer and will most likely be too narrow for the broad-shouldered among us. Fortunately, the chamois is available in three larger models, slightly better suited to my frame of over 183 cm.

Related: The ultimate guide to outdoor sleep systems

As I lay in bed my first night, I was concerned about noise. The thermal efficiency of this sanitary pad is largely due to the four layers of Thermal Mirror film, which reflects your body heat back to you. Such layers resemble mini space blankets, but some sleeping pads make it sound like you’re sleeping on a pack of salt-n-vinegar chips. However, the Tensor Extreme uses a new baffle technology called Apex, which places the four layers of thermal film over trapezoidal trusses instead of the typical rectangular design.

Surprisingly, the Tensor Extreme’s high-tech insulation system was relatively quiet and, combined with a generous 3 inches of air cushioning, a boon when rolling around at 2am. trying to get comfortable on uneven terrain. What became clear, however, was that the Tensor Extreme is not a skateboard deck when it comes to ‘grip’ (yes, a technical term). The super-light nylons used on many sleeping mats are often relatively slippery, and the Tensor Extreme is no different. My sleeping bag and pillow combination forced me to realign myself several times during the night. When it was time to set up camp, the LayLow valve disconnected for quick deflation, and the compression strap helped clear away the rolled-up pad, but it wasn’t an easy task to get into the stuff sack every now and then. come. Sometimes I ‘nailed it’ and other times I ‘fought it’, so a few extra millimeters on the stuff sack might be a consideration.

Without putting the pad to the test for a long time, its durability is difficult to assess. Always a concern is the use of lightweight ripstop nylons to achieve ultralight status. Still, our production Tensor Extreme model didn’t skip a beat and performed spectacularly well on our trip, so you’ll want to watch this space for a more comprehensive durability test.

The final word on the Nemo Equipment Tensor Extreme

The Nemo Equipment Tensor Extreme Condition Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad is a valuable piece of equipment for adventurers looking for warmth without the bulk. Whether you’re traversing the snowcapped peaks of Kosciuszko, trekking through the temperate Tasmanian wilderness, or heading to the Patagonian Ice Cap, this trail has literally got your back. Quiet, warm and ultra-light, it strikes a delicate balance between comfort and weight. Sure, the cramped stuff sack and slippery deck may be quirks, but these are small compromises when you enjoy the best insulation in the business.

Recommended retail price: $419.95 To see Nemo equipment for more information about this and other products.