Apex baffles are key ingredients in the secret sauce. That’s the highest value on the market, with a weight that rivals top-shelf pads worth half the warmth. It cranks out an impressive R-value of 8.5. But it boasts a plush 3.5-inch height and isn’t near as “bouncy” as other models I’ve tested, greatly improving sleep.ĭespite a minimum weight of 1 pound, 1 ounce, the Tensor EC boils with thermal efficiency. Yes, it’s a bit narrow and falls on the slippery fringe of the spectrum. That’s not to say you can’t snag some serious Zs atop this pad, though. Warmth and an ultralight profile are prioritized here. In creating such a lightweight monster insulator, Nemo did have to cut some corners - namely in the comfort and useability departments. This is for the hiker, backpacker, hunter, mountaineer - you name it - who’s staring down the barrel of technical missions in frigid temps, and needs to keep that base weight as low as possible. But I wouldn’t recommend it to just any ultralighter hitting the trail. NEMO broke some serious ground in developing the Tensor Extreme Conditions. Let’s get down to brass tacks: this pad isn’t for everyone. $250 at REI $250 at Amazon NEMO Tensor Extreme Conditions Review Nemo’s regular model was long enough for one of our 6’2″ testers to sleep comfortably (photo/Chris Carter) For uncompromising warmth at an ultralight weight on freezing forays in the backcountry, this is quite literally as good as it gets. Building on the shoulders of NEMO’s established sleeping pad tech, Thermal Mirror Insulation, and new Apex baffles crank up the heat without packing on pounds. In short: While I have a few qualms that arose during testing, the Tensor Extreme Conditions undoubtedly sets a new bar in ultralight sleeping pad innovation. But does it deserve the red carpet? After putting this slim feat of engineering through frigid fall backpacking trips, overnight climbing trips in Appalachia, and even big wall ascents in Yosemite sleeping on portaledges, I agree - there’s nothing quite like it. It’s completely toasting the competition and raked in a coveted international ISPO award. NEMO’s newly launched Tensor Extreme Conditions (EC) Pad is already making ripples in the outdoor community. And, for those stone-cold pros braving arctic temps on hunting excursions and winter thru-hikes, this may be the backcountry bed of your dreams. Plus, spurts of high-altitude mileage through freezing temps may be required during the fall and spring, as I have discovered on each of my thru-hikes. But when a pad weighs less than top models on the market that can’t even boast half the R-value, it’s worth a look. Such high insulation isn’t necessary for most shoulder-season backpacking trips. So when the Tensor Extreme Conditions ($250) came out, I was beyond psyched to get my grubby paws on it. But every option was simply too heavy for an ultralight loadout. While my Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite kept me cozy in most conditions, what I would have given for a pad with anywhere near an 8.5 R-value on those frigid snow-blasted nights in Colorado. In early May 2021, I was post-holing in hip-deep snow through the frozen San Juans on a desperate thru-hike of the CDT. Those are, after all, two of the most important and space-consuming members of the “big four” family in your backpack. Hell hath no fury like the warmth-to-weight debate among backpackers.Īnd it is perhaps most fierce when the topic of sleeping bags and pads arises. It’s like reading about celebrity drama at the Met Gala - for dirtbags. Nothing gets a gram-weenie, toothbrush-choppin’, ultralight trail-trotter like me more jazzed than seeing claims like the ones above.
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