The comfiest and best performance sleeping pad for backpacking in warm weather

The uninsulated version of the NEMO Tensor Ultralight Sleeping Pad is the perfect niche tool for warm weather camping. Hear us out!

• Price: $179
• Weight: 12.9 oz
• R-Value: 2.5 | R-Value/Weight: .19
• Thickness: 3 | Fabric: 20d
• Sizes: Regular Mummy, Regular Rectangle, Regular Wide, Long Wide
• Pros: Ultralight. Comfy. Thick. Stable.
• Cons: Slightly Delicate. Low R-Value.

Features

On the hypothetical average backpacking trip, higher R-Value lightweight sleeping pads are almost categorically superior. You are much more likely to be cold than hot, and it’s much worse to have too cold of a backpacking sleeping pad than too insulated of one.

And in the event that you are too warm, you can always ditch your sleeping bag. That’s why we put so much emphasis on the importance of R-Value – it’s irreplaceably.

However, a time may come when you’re going backpacking and expect very warm nighttime temps, perhaps never dropping below 60. For those particular trips, a lower R-value sleeping pad is actually preferable, as it can reduce the likelihood of getting sweaty wherever your skin touches the pad. For just that, we recommend the uninsulated version of the Nemo Tensor Ultralight as the best and most comfortable warm weather sleeping pad for backpacking.

It has a very modest R-Value of 2.5 which should be comfortable in temps 50+. But it is still 3” thick, and has the famously comfy and stable NEMO Spaceframe surface baffling, which is best in class, even among high end backpacking sleeping pads.

Perhaps Tensor Uninsulated chief competition is the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite, which is an impressive 8.8 oz, but is significantly more expensive, less durable, less comfortable, and with a slightly lower R-value, which makes even more niche between the two.

Verdict

For a great overall lightweight sleeping pad for backpacking to use on warm nights, we recommend the uninsulated NEMO Tensor Ultralight sleeping pad. It’s ultralight, it’s comfy, and you won’t overheat.

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Check out more great options in our guide to the best backpacking sleeping pads of year.