NEMO’s lightest ever Tensor insulated sleeping mat has landed in Australia, and at just 240g for a full length mat with 2.4R value, it’s looking like a solid contender for ultralight hikers serious about shaving off every possible gram.

 

As an ultralight hiker, the NEMO Tensor Elite Ultralight Regular Mummy sleeping mat is a very exciting development. Not only does this regular-length mat inflate into a substantially comfy (and quiet!) place to sleep, but it weighs a fraction of most sleeping mats on the market, with a significantly higher R-value to boot.

NEMO, (I hesitate to say it for fear of sounding like a fangirl), you’ve done it again. We’ve long been fans of the NEMO Tensor Sleeping Mat range at We Are Explorers, and this ultralight mat is the addition we’d been hoping for.

It’s a big step up from their endlessly popular foam Switchback Sleeping Mats and is a great option for ultralight hikers who need more cushioning than the absolute bare minimum a foam mat provides.

 

I’ve never seen this much height in an ultralight sleeping mat before!

Technical Details

The Tensor Elite is available in both short and regular mummy shapes (basically a rectangle with the corners shaved off). The minimum weight below refers to the mat alone, while the packed weight includes the stuff bag, pump sack, and patch kit too. I really liked that the stuff bag includes a dedicated pocket with the patches inside (impossible to lose!).

 

And the valve has apparently had an upgrade too but aside from being super high quality, I couldn’t see anything that blew my mind

Short Mummy

Minimum weight: 215g
Packed weight: 305g
R-Value: 2.4
Thickness: 7.6cm
Dimensions: 160 x 51cm
RRP: $379.95

 

With packed sizes of just 14x7cm (short) and 14x8cm (regular), it’s almost small enough to fit inside a Nalgene! Crazy

 

Regular Mummy

Minimum weight: 240g
Packed weight: 330g
R-Value: 2.4
Thickness: 7.6cm
Dimensions: 183 x 51cm
RRP: $399.95

 

All the key info is on the box so it’s worth holding onto when you have a trip in 8 months and completely forget what the mat is rated for

The Good Stuff

This bad boy is light. Seriously light. It’s also small enough that it’ll be easy to forget if you’ve packed it. A big win for gram counters.

It comes with an easy-to-use Vortex Pump Sack. This cuts setup time in half and prevents extra moisture from your breath from getting inside the mat, extending its life. Another win.

The pump sack is enormous. While part of me wondered if it would’ve been smarter to reduce its size (and cut more grams!) when I got this mat inflated and ready for sleep in less than a minute thanks to the huge pump sack capacity, I was pretty happy.

 

This went from in the stuff sack to fully inflated in less than two minutes, thanks to the whopper pump sack capacity

 

The advanced materials and mylar layering techniques used have resulted in superior warmth and comfort at a weight normally reserved for thin, squeaky mats with very low R-Values. The modified Apex Baffle system ensures even distribution of air, maintenance of pressure, and the kind of quiet support everyone at your campsite will appreciate. (Just don’t start snoring and let all that technology go to waste!)

Finally, 100 Cordura Nylon gives extra protection against punctures, and multiple repair patches are included just in case.

 

9cm of airy goodness! Extremely comfy for sleeping on both back and sides

Sounds good, so what’s the catch?

No new piece of gear is perfect (sorry Jetboil fanatics, but it’s a fact), and the same is true here.

The relatively high price point will be a deterrent for some hikers, but like most ultralight gear, this reflects innovative tech, and every gram lost equals more dollars spent. It’s just the way it is.

The R-value of 2.4 is epic for the weight of this mat, but it’s important to remember that it’s not a four-season mat. The Nemo Tensor Ultralight is advertised as being three-season suitable. If you’re a warm sleeper, that’s likely on the money. If you run cold, I’d still exercise caution on nights with single digits, especially either side of winter. Just because your mat is a three-season doesn’t mean you leave thermals or sleeping bag liners at home.

 

Hold the mat aloft, and it literally feels like nothing – this is mind-bogglingly light

 

The NEMO Tensor Elite Ultralight Sleeping Mat is also narrow. I’m 168cm high and typically a size 10/12 in women’s clothing and I only just fit on it. It’s thick and comfy, but remember that every bit of excess has been shaved off – if you roll around when you sleep, this might not be the mat for you.

Finally, there’s nothing to it and one stick or spiky rock could be its downfall. Sure, it has the special nylon, but it’s definitely not as durable as mats that aren’t built to be ultralight. You’ll need to be extra careful with it.

 

That aside, the Tensor Elite Ultralight Sleeping Mat is genuinely comfortable, and while it feels thin, the quality of construction is undeniable

Final Thoughts

If shaving grams is your top priority but you still want a warm, quiet, and genuinely comfortable night’s sleep, the NEMO Tensor Elite Ultralight Sleeping Mat makes a compelling case. While it’s three-season and not four, ultralighting in snow and low temperatures is exceptionally hard, and not that common. Most ultralight hikers are out in warmer weather and this product has definitely been made with us in mind.

It comes with a premium price tag, but for serious ultralight hikers, this mat delivers the kind of performance that justifies every cent, and every gram.

 

And to think that just last week I thought my Sea to Summit lightweight sleeping mat was small…

FAQs Nemo Tensor Elite Ultralight Sleeping Mat

What’s the difference between packed weight and minimum weight?

The packed weight refers to the weight of everything included with the mat when you buy it – the mat + Vortex pump sack + stuff sack + patch kit. The minimum weight is the weight of the mat alone without any of the accessories. The distinction is mostly important for ultralight hikers or fastpackers keen to skip any fluff to shave a gram. Be wary of heading out without a patch kit though – that’s a few grams I’ll always happily carry!

Is the NEMO Tensor Elite Ultralight Sleeping Mat quiet?

You only have to use a noisy sleeping mat (or sleep next to someone using one) once to grow a healthy aversion to squeaks in the night. Having suffered through many a night resisting getting comfortable for fear of invoking rage in fellow campers, I’m happy to confirm that the NEMO Tensor Elite is noise-free. You can roll over with abandon!

How else can I stay warm during cold nights using a three-season sleeping mat?

Aside from taking merino thermals and a sleeping bag liner (and an excellent sleeping bag), a good backup for me on nights I’m unsure is to bust out the space blanket from my first aid kit and either place it underneath my sleeping mat or wrap myself in it before bed.

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