Campman Outdoor Gear & Apparel

Let’s face it, there hasn’t been much real R&D in sleeping pads since the first inflatable camping mattresses came to market. Always tinkering with their gear though, the folks at NEMO Equipment decided to come into Spring 2020 with a new sleeping pad that might change the way you think about sleeping systems. The Flyer is a hybrid design that combines the best aspects of foam sleeping pads with the packability and weight savings of an inflatable sleeping mat to offer a comfortable, durable, and reliable alternative. Since we know you love gear, we got our hands on the Flyer and took it for a spin to get you ready for the sleeping pad revolution. And yes, it will be televised (as long as Youtube counts).

First Look

When you first pull the pad out, you’ll notice that while it looks like a standard inflatable sleeping mat, it has a significant amount of structure to it pre-inflation. While you’ll definitely want to inflate the pad before spending all night on it, it’s clear that this structure and support will go a long way in terms of overall comfort. After adding a little air through the easy to use Laylow Multi-valve, this pad becomes the definition of campground luxury. The soft-touch polyester makes for a comfortable feel that won’t sound like a crinkling bag of potato chips every time you move in the middle of the night and the progressive suspension keeps you from feeling any rocks you forgot to move before pitching the tent. From our standpoint, this is a durable, highly versatile option that is useful for weekend backpackers and car campers alike.

3-D sculpting removes 60% of the foam but allows for a 290% increase in thickness when inflated.

Features

We’ve all woken up in the tent with a stiff back and sore neck thanks to a punctured sleeping pad that deflated in the middle of the night. Apparently, it must've also happened to one of the product designers at NEMO and they decided that they were going to fix the problem at its root. Using technology that was obviously inspired by cats that flatten themselves out to squeeze through small spaces around the house, Nemo built the Flyer using open-cell foam and then cored out 60% of the material, creating hollow air channels that increase the thickness of the pad by 290% when inflated. Now when you mysteriously get a hole in your sleeping pad, you still have plenty of open-cell foam to keep you comfortable all night and your camp trip won’t be ruined because you threw out your back by sleeping. This slick design also cuts down on the packed size of a foam pad, meaning you no longer have to strap your sleeping pad to the outside of your pack, which is great from both a utility and style points perspective. The baffled design features no vertical cuts, increasing overall thermal efficiency and the progressive suspension design offers stiffer support on the bottom and plush comfort on top. An R-Value of 3.6 means that this pad falls into the 3+ season range, suitable for anything from summer camping trips to shoulder season winter adventures.

Cross-section showing the hollowed out cores of each baffle when inflated.

Pros

• Hybrid open-cell foam design maximizes comfort and saves you from the dreaded night spent directly on the hard ground.
• Increased thermal efficiency means this pad can be used down to 5°F.
• Easy to stomach price point starting at $119.00 MSRP.
• Progressive suspension design gives a stiff and supportive base with a cushy top offering additional comfort.

Cons

• Marketed as a self-inflating pad, it only inflates about halfway by itself. Don't count on getting maximum comfort without doing some of the leg work yourself.
• The packed size is great for the luxurious design, but still takes up a significant amount of space in your backpack. This will be great for anyone with extra space in their pack, but anyone wanting to go fast and light might want to consider a different pad.

Cross-section showing the hollowed out cores of each baffle when deflated.

Specs

• Price:
  • Regular (20” x 72”): $119
  • Regular Wide (25” x 72”): $129
  • Long Wide (25” x 76”): $139
• Minimum Weight:
  • Regular: 1 lb 7 oz
  • Regular Wide: 1 lb 13 oz
  • Long Wide: 1 lb 14 oz
• Packed Size:
  • Regular: 10” x 6.5”
  • Regular Wide: 12” x 6.5”
  • Long Wide: 12” x 8”
• R-Value: 3.6
• Temperature Range: 5°F to 15°F
• Material: Ultralight 20D PU Polyester

All Around

For most folks headed out camping, this is one pad you won’t want to miss out on. The unique features give it the edge in terms of maximizing comfort when compared to most other pads on the market and the price point is lower than many others as well. Fast and light backpackers and thru-hikers still might want to stick to something that focuses on cutting down on weight and size, but we think they’d even agree that this is one sweet pad.

From weekend backpacking trips to glamping at the highest level, the NEMO Flyer will outperform many sleeping pads on the market and is ready to do so at an affordable price point. The hybrid design is incredibly innovative and is something you’re sure to see in other models going forward. Get it while you can as this pad is bound to fly off the shelves.

About Campman

Campman is an outdoor retail store located in Salt Lake City, Utah that specializes in gear and equipment for camping, skiing, backpacking, climbing, and everything in between. We understand that the difference between a bad memory and the experience of a lifetime can come down to the gear you take with you when you head into the outdoors, and we want our customers to have the best experiences possible. That’s why we put our gear to the test, write reviews, and work directly with our customers to make sure that every piece we sell is simply the best.

Questions? Feel free to contact us by phone at (801) 999-8117 or by email at sales@campman.com so we can get you the gear you need to get outside.