Gearnalysis

NEMO Tensor All-Season vs. Exped Ultra 5R

Two sleeping pads worth lining up side by side. The Tensor All-Season takes a modest overall edge, led by warmth, but the Ultra 5R has its own case.

Best for:
Fine-tune ↗
NEMO
Tensor All-Season
84GearScore
Inflatable · R5.4
wins 7 specs
Exped
Ultra 5R
78GearScore
Inflatable · R4.8
wins 2 specs
NEMO Tensor All-SeasonExped Ultra 5R
GearScore84✓78
Warmth (R-value)5.4 R✓4.8 R
Weight16.0 oz✓20.3 oz
Warmth-to-weight1.19 R/100g✓0.83 R/100g
Packed size2.08 L✓4.11 L
Thickness3.5 in✓3.0 in
Durability34 /100✓12 /100
Price$220$200✓
Features1Repair kit included3Pump sack included, Two-way valve, Repair kit included✓
TypeInflatableInflatable
ShapeTaperedRectangular

Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Tensor All-Season in blue, Ultra 5R 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 Tensor All-Season and Exped Ultra 5R take different routes to the same job. The Tensor All-Season wins on warmth and low weight, and the Ultra 5R pushes back on price.

The Tensor All-Season is warmer (R 5.4 vs R 4.8), 4 oz lighter, and stronger on warmth-to-weight. The Ultra 5R is $20 cheaper. On the default GearScore the Tensor All-Season leads 84 to 78.

Pick the Tensor All-Season if you care most about warmth and low weight, which makes it the better call for colder nights and shoulder-season trips. Pick the Ultra 5R if price matter more to you, or you are focused on getting the most for your money.

Common questions

Which is warmer?

The NEMO Tensor All-Season. It is warmer (R 5.4 vs R 4.8) than the Ultra 5R.

Which is lighter?

The NEMO Tensor All-Season. It is 4 oz lighter than the Ultra 5R.

Which has the higher GearScore?

The NEMO Tensor All-Season, 84 to 78 on the default algorithm. You can re-weight the factors to match your trip.

Tensor All-Season or Ultra 5R, which should you buy?

It depends on your priorities. Go with the Tensor All-Season for warmth, or the Ultra 5R for price. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.