More to inflatable insulated sleeping pads than meets the eye (not to mention, ear)
Posted: Feb 25 2023 6:46 pm
So, in 2019, I bought a Nemo Tensor Insulated inflatable sleeping pad. Knowing nothing about backpacking, I opted for the lighter, cheaper option, the Regular size pad. (As opposed to Wide.)
At the time, Nemo wasn't saying what the R value was. (IIRC, they said there was no standard.) Now that there is a standard, I think they rated it at 3.5.
It's been a fine pad. It was a little noisy at first - every time I turned around, I felt bad for the guy in the next tent.
But either I've become hard of hearing lately or the pad has become quieter with use. (I think mostly the latter.)
It has never failed and even though "only" 20 inches wide, I was comfortable on it.
The only problem I've had of late is that the rubber used for the valve has lost some of its pliability (is it hardening?) and it has been difficult to open the value. (I swabbed it with Armor-All (it made my car seats slippery), which seems to have helped.)
Anyway, all the "Influencers" tell me that I'll be more comfortable with a wider, 25", pad. So I was thinking about selling my old Nemo and buying the new, for 2022, Wide Nemo Tensor Insulated pad.
It is said to be as quiet as the previous model, but now the R value increased to 4.2.
I hypothesize that you can have the best sleeping bag in the world, but it won't do you much good if you're sleeping on the best heat sink in the world. (The "Earth.") So it seems to me that a higher R value pad can effectively increase the Comfort Rating of your sleeping bag.
Sounded perfect. (Albeit $200 a few months ago before Inflation really kicked in.)
Except if you read REAL reviews, left by REAL users (not "Influencers,") you'll read that the new Nemo pad tears, rips, leaks terribly. (In fact, a popular outfitter stopped carrying them recently.)
I suspect that, like the Space Shuttle disaster caused when NASA changed its foam tiles to a "Green" product, Nemo's failures are also a result from "Going Green." (Switching to recycled materials, instead of what worked best.)
So Nemo was out.
Now, back in 2019 I had first tried a Big Agnes AXT (I think it was?). Even though ostensibly insulated, it was terribly cold. And that was in the backyard, in May! In Phoenix!
BA has a different version now called the "Rapide." But still sour from my previous experience, I didn't consider it.
Good thing because I read a Review that pointed out that because of the baffling used in the Rapide, you will be blasted with cold when you move around, because you'll move warm air from out of a chamber, replacing it with cold. Perhaps the same problem I had with the AXT.
Okay, so how about the new (only a month old) Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT?
While everyone says that the T-a-R Neo's are the best, everyone also says that they are LOUD. Like crunching a potato chip bag.
So Therm-a-Rest fixed that and it's much quieter now. (Although I don't know if as quiet as a Nemo.)
So, except for the fact that no one knows if it's durable, that looked like my next option.
Although at $250 ... yikes!
But again, a good Review to the rescue.
It turns out that, because this pad (and also the Nemo) rely on Mylar foil held in a matrix puffed up by air, you have to inflate the pad to the max to realize the full R value of the bag. (Makes sense. Otherwise, the foil might not be stretched out properly or face the proper direction.)
The down side of this, according to the good Reviewer, is that the pad is uncomfortably hard/stiff when inflated to the max.
If you let a little bit of air out to make it more comfortable, you lose R value and it goes cold.
Who woulda thought? (Not me. Which I why I'm poating this.)
My Nemo Tensor doesn't seem as susceptible to this effect. But I'm sure it is to some degree. (No pun intended. But I'll take it.)
For now I am trying the new Outdoor Vitals Oblivion Long-Wide.
I probably fell for the hype, because they teased a launch last week, with video, and a sale price of $110.
Now THAT'S my price point.
As above, I have no idea how durable it will be. I don't know anything about OV, but they have a lifetime warranty. (OTOH, I've read that their Customer Service is not good.)
I took a nap on it this afternoon, and 1) yes, I like a wider pad and 2) it was comfortable for a half hour nap. (Bonus: Being longer, pillow placement isn't as critical.)
I plan to try it in the backyard tonight. (We're expecting rain at 4 am.)
It's only a couple ounces heavier than a Nemo Long-Wide, and packs down almost the same.
Its R Value is stated to be 3.5, the same as my old Nemo.
They say that they use "synthetic" insulation. I don't know what that means. But there's no Mylar in it. So no crinkling. Probably not dependent on max inflation for max insulation.
I don't know if it's baffled/chambered such that I'll run cold with movement. That's part of tonight's test.
At the time, Nemo wasn't saying what the R value was. (IIRC, they said there was no standard.) Now that there is a standard, I think they rated it at 3.5.
It's been a fine pad. It was a little noisy at first - every time I turned around, I felt bad for the guy in the next tent.
But either I've become hard of hearing lately or the pad has become quieter with use. (I think mostly the latter.)
It has never failed and even though "only" 20 inches wide, I was comfortable on it.
The only problem I've had of late is that the rubber used for the valve has lost some of its pliability (is it hardening?) and it has been difficult to open the value. (I swabbed it with Armor-All (it made my car seats slippery), which seems to have helped.)
Anyway, all the "Influencers" tell me that I'll be more comfortable with a wider, 25", pad. So I was thinking about selling my old Nemo and buying the new, for 2022, Wide Nemo Tensor Insulated pad.
It is said to be as quiet as the previous model, but now the R value increased to 4.2.
I hypothesize that you can have the best sleeping bag in the world, but it won't do you much good if you're sleeping on the best heat sink in the world. (The "Earth.") So it seems to me that a higher R value pad can effectively increase the Comfort Rating of your sleeping bag.
Sounded perfect. (Albeit $200 a few months ago before Inflation really kicked in.)
Except if you read REAL reviews, left by REAL users (not "Influencers,") you'll read that the new Nemo pad tears, rips, leaks terribly. (In fact, a popular outfitter stopped carrying them recently.)
I suspect that, like the Space Shuttle disaster caused when NASA changed its foam tiles to a "Green" product, Nemo's failures are also a result from "Going Green." (Switching to recycled materials, instead of what worked best.)
So Nemo was out.
Now, back in 2019 I had first tried a Big Agnes AXT (I think it was?). Even though ostensibly insulated, it was terribly cold. And that was in the backyard, in May! In Phoenix!
BA has a different version now called the "Rapide." But still sour from my previous experience, I didn't consider it.
Good thing because I read a Review that pointed out that because of the baffling used in the Rapide, you will be blasted with cold when you move around, because you'll move warm air from out of a chamber, replacing it with cold. Perhaps the same problem I had with the AXT.
Okay, so how about the new (only a month old) Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT?
While everyone says that the T-a-R Neo's are the best, everyone also says that they are LOUD. Like crunching a potato chip bag.
So Therm-a-Rest fixed that and it's much quieter now. (Although I don't know if as quiet as a Nemo.)
So, except for the fact that no one knows if it's durable, that looked like my next option.
Although at $250 ... yikes!
But again, a good Review to the rescue.
It turns out that, because this pad (and also the Nemo) rely on Mylar foil held in a matrix puffed up by air, you have to inflate the pad to the max to realize the full R value of the bag. (Makes sense. Otherwise, the foil might not be stretched out properly or face the proper direction.)
The down side of this, according to the good Reviewer, is that the pad is uncomfortably hard/stiff when inflated to the max.
If you let a little bit of air out to make it more comfortable, you lose R value and it goes cold.
Who woulda thought? (Not me. Which I why I'm poating this.)
My Nemo Tensor doesn't seem as susceptible to this effect. But I'm sure it is to some degree. (No pun intended. But I'll take it.)
For now I am trying the new Outdoor Vitals Oblivion Long-Wide.
I probably fell for the hype, because they teased a launch last week, with video, and a sale price of $110.
Now THAT'S my price point.
As above, I have no idea how durable it will be. I don't know anything about OV, but they have a lifetime warranty. (OTOH, I've read that their Customer Service is not good.)
I took a nap on it this afternoon, and 1) yes, I like a wider pad and 2) it was comfortable for a half hour nap. (Bonus: Being longer, pillow placement isn't as critical.)
I plan to try it in the backyard tonight. (We're expecting rain at 4 am.)
It's only a couple ounces heavier than a Nemo Long-Wide, and packs down almost the same.
Its R Value is stated to be 3.5, the same as my old Nemo.
They say that they use "synthetic" insulation. I don't know what that means. But there's no Mylar in it. So no crinkling. Probably not dependent on max inflation for max insulation.
I don't know if it's baffled/chambered such that I'll run cold with movement. That's part of tonight's test.