No-compromise comfort

Getting a warm and comfortable night’s sleep can make or break the camping experience. Can the Nemo Tensor Extreme Conditions sleeping mat guarantee just that?

You might not have heard of Nemo before. No, not the lost fish. No, not Jules Verne’s submarine captain. We’re talking about the American camping kit brand. It’s certainly not unheard of in the UK, with many well respected independent outdoor gear stores stocking Nemo’s excellent tents, sleeping bags and other camping gear. But it’s not as widely available or well known as certain other brands. And, as those who use its products will be keen to tell you, Nemo kit is worth hunting out – it’s good stuff.

How good? Well, if this Tensor Extreme Conditions (or Tensor EC for short) sleeping mat is anything to go by, very good. You see, outdoor gear is often about compromise. In the case of sleeping mats, if you want a product that’s very light and very comfy, it’s probably not going to be very warm. Or if warmth and cushioning are more important, you’re likely to have to accept a heavier weight. Or if you want warm and light… you get the picture. But the stats attached to Nemo’s Tensor EC seem to fly in the face of that philosophy. This sleeping mat offers an incredible level of insulation, a sumptuous depth of cushioning, and yet still sits on the lighter side of the scales. Surely, there must be a catch?

Well, the Tensor EC is not a cheap mat. If your previous sleeping pad purchases have been of the old-fashioned closed-cell foam camping mat variety, you might just choke on your dehydrated pasta meal at the price of the Nemo. Even compared to more modern inflatable and self-inflating designs it’s pricey. But those stats are impressive, and if you look at alternatives from other sleeping mat brands that are even close to the performance of the Nemo, well, their prices aren’t that different.

So, we can probably agree that this isn’t a mat for everyone. But here’s the thing: it’s not meant to be. This is a mat for serious campers, for those that will camp out in almost any weather at any time of year. And if you count yourself among that group of hardy adventurers, the Nemo Tensor Extreme Conditions sleeping mat may be worth a closer look…