Gearnalysis

NEMO Tensor Trail vs. Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite

Two sleeping pads worth lining up side by side. The Tensor Trail leans on warmth while the NeoAir UberLite answers with low weight, so the pick comes down to which you value.

Best for:
Fine-tune ↗
NEMO
Tensor Trail
80GearScore
Inflatable · R2.8
wins 6 specs
Therm-a-Rest
NeoAir UberLite
77GearScore
Inflatable · R2.3
wins 3 specs
NEMO Tensor TrailTherm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite
GearScore80✓77
Warmth (R-value)2.8 R✓2.3 R
Weight12.5 oz8.8 oz✓
Warmth-to-weight0.79 R/100g0.92 R/100g✓
Packed size2.08 L0.99 L✓
Thickness3.5 in✓2.5 in
Durability34 /100✓0 /100
Price$190✓$230
Features4Quiet fabric, Pump sack included, Two-way valve, Repair kit included✓3Pump sack included, Two-way valve, Repair kit included
TypeInflatableInflatable
ShapeTaperedMummy

Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Tensor Trail in blue, NeoAir UberLite 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 Trail and Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite take different routes to the same job. The Tensor Trail wins on warmth and cushion, and the NeoAir UberLite pushes back on low weight and warmth-to-weight.

The Tensor Trail is warmer (R 2.8 vs R 2.3), thicker for more cushion, and more durable. The NeoAir UberLite is 4 oz lighter, stronger on warmth-to-weight, and more packable (1 L vs 2.1 L). On the default GearScore the Tensor Trail leads 80 to 77.

Pick the Tensor Trail if you care most about warmth and cushion, which makes it the better call for colder nights and shoulder-season trips. Pick the NeoAir UberLite if low weight and warmth-to-weight matter more to you, or you are focused on counting grams on long miles.

Common questions

Which is warmer?

The NEMO Tensor Trail. It is warmer (R 2.8 vs R 2.3) than the NeoAir UberLite.

Which is lighter?

The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite. It is 4 oz lighter than the Tensor Trail.

Which has the higher GearScore?

The NEMO Tensor Trail, 80 to 77 on the default algorithm. You can re-weight the factors to match your trip.

Tensor Trail or NeoAir UberLite, which should you buy?

It depends on your priorities. Go with the Tensor Trail for warmth, or the NeoAir UberLite for low weight. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.