Artikel von Markus Zinkl
Nemo Equipment Tensor Elite Ultralight Sleeping Pad ($230)
Introduction
As an ultralight hiker, I am always on the hunt for the lightest equipment. The Nemo Tensor Elite, which I weighed at only 246 g for the mat (sack not included), immediately caught my attention. It is considered the successor to the famous Therm-a-Rest Uberlite and promises to be one of the lightest mats on the market. But can such a featherweight perform well in real life? Here is my experience.
Field Test
The first impression is impressive. The pack size is tiny, barely larger than a coffee cup, and the mat is hardly noticeable in your backpack.
Above I show it in comparison to its predecessor, the standard Nemo Tensor Insulated.
Inflation with the included pump bag is very quick. Once fully inflated, the comfort is truly exceptional thanks to the 7.6 cm thickness and stable chamber structure. You lie still, without the typical "waterbed" feeling, and above all: the mat is very quiet, no crackling disturbs your sleep.
The biggest drawback, however, is the surface. It is quite slippery. Without a perfectly flat campsite, you slide back and forth all night with your sleeping bag or quilt. This can somewhat disturb your sleeping comfort. A little hack for anyone who wants to take matters into their own hands: small silicone dots on the underside of the mat can help. If you have some Gear Aid Seamgrip etc. left over, you can use it to improve the grip on the underside.
With an R-value of 2.4, the mat is clearly designed for summer and mild transitional seasons. It is warm enough for most people up to around 0-4 °C, but below that, it quickly gets cold from the ground up.
Below freezing, I would definitely recommend a warmer mat. In my experience, it is on par with the Uberlite in this regard. The biggest issue, however, is durability. The 10D fabric is paper-thin, and you are constantly worried about getting a hole in it. So you should always be very careful when choosing where to pitch your tent. If you are bivouacking outdoors, I recommend at least a Polycro groundsheet.
Conclusions
The Nemo Tensor Elite is a specialist for extreme conditions. It is incredibly light and packable, yet surprisingly comfortable and quiet. However, this comes at the cost of a few compromises: low insulation, an extremely slippery surface, and a fragile construction that requires caution. If you can live with these compromises, you will get the lightest and most comfortable sleeping pad on the market. For me personally, the Nemo Tensor Elite replaces the Therm-A-Rest Uberlite. The added comfort is the deciding factor for me here.
So who is it suitable for?
Ultralight athletes & fastpackers: Perfect for where very gram counts and the disadvantages are acceptable for short, planned tours.
Summer hikers: Good if you are very careful with your equipment and accept slipping or minimize it with tricks.
Thru-hikers & all-round backpackers: Not really recommended. The risk of a defect on a long trip is too high, and the lack of warmth limits versatility too much. The more robust and warmer Nemo Tensor All-Season or Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT is the safer and more bet for those uses
The Tensor Elite is available at Nemo here
REI
BACKCOUNTRY
Tester
Markus Zinkl is 35 years old and lives in a small village in Bavaria, Germany. He started running just to support his main sport, soccer. Since he stopped playing soccer, running has become his main sport to stay fit. He now runs 5-6 times a week, covering between 60 and 80 kilometers per week. Apart from a local relay race, he rarely runs in competitions. Markus runs both on trails and on roads and is an absolute gear geek. In addition to running, he spends most of his free time hiking, especially in the mountains, where his interest in gear also comes into play.
Samples were provided at no charge for review purposes. No compensation was provided by brands for writing this article. RoadTrail Run does have affiliate partnerships and may earn commission on products purchased via shopping links in this article. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content. The opinions herein are entirely the authors'.
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