NEMO Tenser All Season Review: More and less flaws are found. The ultimate air mattress continues to evolve to even greater heights

Outdoor mattresses (sleeping pads) are the unsung heroes that determine the quality of your sleep in a tent. They flatten out unevenness on the ground, providing a soft and fluffy sleeping experience, and block out the cold air from the ground even in the low temperatures of autumn and winter, ensuring a comfortable tent stay all year round

NEMO 's air mattress " Tenser Series which boasts exceptional perfection among mattresses, has been renewed this season. When I reviewed one of the previous models, "Tenser Alpine," I was amazed at its high level of balance and perfection, but this latest update has improved almost every aspect, including insulation, comfort, weight, and cost-effectiveness. It has become an even more incredible mattress. I had the chance to try it out while camping this spring, so I'll give you my review right away.

Key features of the NEMO Tensor All Season

The NEMO Tensor All Season is an inflatable sleeping pad suitable for year-round hiking and camping, boasting a high insulation rating of 5.4, even in the midwinter mountains. An improved internal insulating film structure significantly improves insulation and reduces rustling noise caused by tossing and turning, resulting in incredibly quiet operation. The surface is made of 20D nylon, stronger than the previous model, while the bottom is made of 40D nylon for increased durability. The original space frame baffle structure provides a soft, gentle feel, while the increased mattress thickness of 9cm provides even greater comfort. It's also lighter than the previous model, and its compact, rollable design makes it easy to store. The included pump sack makes inflation easy. This highly refined mattress delivers top-class performance in almost every aspect of an air mattress. The Tensor Series is available in three temperature ranges: Trail, All Season (this model), and Extreme. Mummy and rectangular styles are also available for different uses.

Favorite points

• Very good insulation per weight
• lightweight
• Even when you turn over in bed, the sound is quiet
• Luxurious thickness and a flatness that you wouldn't expect from an air mattress, providing a comfortable sleeping experience
• Easy setup with dedicated pump sack

Interesting points

• It's safe to say that there isn't much, but if I had to say, it would be even better if it could be folded up a little more compactly

Main Specifications and ratings

Detailed review

Insulation: Greatly improved insulation to weight ratio, making it the best in winter mountains

One of the major improvements made in this update is the mattress's basic performance: its insulation. Structurally, it's the same as the previous model, with two reflective aluminum films called Thermal Mirror™ inserted inside, but by repositioning them, it now reflects body heat more efficiently, improving its insulation

Looking inside the valve, we can't see any solid structure, but we can see that a metal film has been inserted

This improves the mattress's insulation to an R-value of 5.4, according to the global ASTM standard. This value is warm enough to be used year-round in the mountains of Honshu, and considering that the previous model (Tensor Insulated) had an R-value of 4.2, which was just barely suitable for winter mountaineering, this difference is not small

However, this evolution has not resulted in an increase in weight; in fact, it has actually become slightly lighter, going from 410 to 400g

I tried it out overnight in Nagano Prefecture in March or April, where temperatures were around 0-5°C. The ground was so cold I hesitated to even put my hands on it, but the mat was warm and I hardly felt the cold of the ground at all. I was amazed at how comfortable it was just the heat emitted by my body (or, conversely, how much heat I had been losing)

Comfort: A soft, deep, flat, and quiet bed that will make you never want to get up again once you lie down

The comfort of the mattress, which I have always loved since the original Tensor series, has thankfully been further improved this time around

The shape is basically mummy-shaped, with no corners and a subtle taper towards the feet

In the past, the only difference between air mattress baffle structures (air-filled chambers) was whether the tubular baffles were arranged vertically or horizontally. NEMO, however, uses a unique hybrid structure called the "Space Frame Baffle." It combines the best of both vertical and horizontal structures, providing stable support with a flat surface that reduces wobbling and slippage

The thickness of the cushion has also been increased from 8 to 9 cm, providing ample cushioning for even more comfort and preventing bottoming out

From my own experience, the thickness of a sleeping pad makes a big difference in how comfortable you are to sleep, but with a pad this thick, you don't have to worry about your body touching the ground even when sleeping on your side on an uneven surface. Once you lie down, you'll never want to get up again

Even more surprising is that the rustling noise that is unavoidable when using a metallic film is almost completely absent with this model, so quiet that you wouldn't even notice it doesn't have a film. This means you can turn over in your sleep without worrying about your partner

Ease of use: The dedicated pump sack is good as it is easy to inflate and allows for quick setup

In order to set up an air mattress, it is necessary to inflate it, but this model continues from the previous model and uses a unique valve system and dedicated pump sack, which reduces the hassle of setting up and allows for speedy inflation.By the way, this valve system is flat against the mattress surface, so it doesn't get in the way when you sleep on it or when storing it, which is a thoughtful and appreciated design

The valve is double-layered (photo on the left); when inflating, only the top lid with a check valve is opened (photo on the right); when deflating, both the top and bottom lids are opened

One of the features of this pump sack is that the opening for blowing air into it is intentionally small. Unlike other companies' pumps, it is designed so that you can fill the pump with air in an instant by simply blowing lightly (without exerting any particular force) from about 20cm away from the opening of the pump sack. This reduces the labor required to inflate more than any other pumps to date

By connecting the included pump, it can be fully inflated in about three tries, and the amount of air can be easily adjusted

The new Tensor All Season is made with a 20D top fabric and a 40D bottom fabric for increased durability

The weight of the regular size (R) reviewed here was measured at 400g, which is light compared to sleeping mats from other manufacturers with similar functionality. However, the packed size is slightly larger at 25.5 x 10cm, about the size of a 1-liter Nalgene bottle. This is the only thing that bothers me about this mattress

When you roll up the main body and accessories such as the pump sack and store them, it becomes a little larger than a Nalgene bottle. Personally, I would have been delighted if it had been just a little more compact

Summary: Recommended for people like this

NEMO Tenser All Season Regular Mummy NM-TSRAS-RM R value 5.4

created by Rinker

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The NEMO Tensor All Season is one of the best choices among air mattresses for spring, summer, autumn, and winter with the same level of insulation currently on the market. This is evident when comparing it with competing products as of 2024 (see table below). It offers top-class performance in all aspects, including not only insulation, but also a flat, deep, stable base, quiet sleeping comfort, durable base, ease of setup, and weight

The only thing that bothers me, and this may be a bit of a nitpick, is that it's a bit over-specced for summer use and not exactly light, and it's slightly bulkier when folded up than competing products, but considering the high R-value and durability it offers, as well as the peace of mind and versatility, it's not something to be dissatisfied with. Whether you're camping in low mountains in midsummer or camping in a tent in autumn and winter, you can make your sleeping bag lighter, which ultimately means more comfort and lighter equipment

In addition to this model, the Tensor series also includes the lightweight Tensor Trail (R-value 2.8) Tensor Extreme Conditions (R-value 8.5) for extreme cold , so if you prioritize certain seasons, you'll be happier choosing these products.

In any case, it's rare to find a mattress that satisfies such a wide range of needs, regardless of activity, season, or location, from mountain climbing and hiking to light activities like fastpacking, bikepacking, and winter mountain climbing. This is a mattress that we can confidently recommend to anyone, from beginners to veterans

(Reposted) Comparison of major models of all-season mummy-style air mattresses 2024

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