Here is how these two sleeping pads compare on the numbers. Both are solid; the right one depends on the specs you care about most.
| NEMO Flyer | REI Co-op Traverse Insulated Air Pad | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 77✓ | 76 |
| Warmth (R-value) | 4.2 R | 4.3 R✓ |
| Weight | 21.0 oz | 21.0 oz |
| Warmth-to-weight | 0.71 R/100g | 0.72 R/100g✓ |
| Packed size | 5.43 L | 4.65 L✓ |
| Thickness | 2.0 in | 3.5 in✓ |
| Durability | 12 /100 | n/s |
| Price | $140 | $139✓ |
| Features | 1Repair kit included | 2Pump sack included, Repair kit included✓ |
| Type | Self-inflating | Inflatable |
| Shape | Mummy | Rectangular |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Flyer in blue, Traverse Insulated Air Pad in amber. A blank spec is never counted as a win. GearScore is the rating for the Overall use-case (0 to 100). Pick another above to re-score. Prices are current MSRP.
The NEMO Flyer against the REI Co-op Traverse Insulated Air Pad is a study in priorities. The Flyer wins on balance, and the Traverse Insulated Air Pad pushes back on warmth and warmth-to-weight.
The Traverse Insulated Air Pad is warmer (R 4.3 vs R 4.2), stronger on warmth-to-weight, and more packable (4.6 L vs 5.4 L). Their GearScores land within a couple of points (77 vs 76), so neither runs away with it.
Pick the Flyer if you care most about the overall package. Pick the Traverse Insulated Air Pad if warmth and warmth-to-weight matter more to you, or you are focused on colder nights and shoulder-season trips.
The REI Co-op Traverse Insulated Air Pad. It is warmer (R 4.3 vs R 4.2) than the Flyer.
The REI Co-op Traverse Insulated Air Pad. It is stronger on warmth-to-weight than the Flyer.
They are nearly tied at 77 and 76 on the default algorithm, so re-weight the score to your own priorities to break the tie.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the Flyer for the overall balance, or the Traverse Insulated Air Pad for warmth. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.