The Nemo Astro Insulated Lite provides a comfortable nights sleep on a versatile, three-inch thick inflatable sleeping pad that will easily keep you warm three seasons a year, while only weighing only 19 ounces. Nemo Equipment provides this insulated option for their Astro sleeping pad with an added layer of Primaloft® to help keep warm. At the same time doubling as a light weight option to help shave those extra ounces. The Nemo Astro Insulated Lite comes in two sizes, 20 Regular and 25 Long Wide, at 72 x 20 x 3 inches, and 76 x 25 x 4 inches, respectively. I have been testing the 20R version specifically.
COMFORT
To provide a little background, personally I stand at 6 foot, and weigh about 210 pounds, so initially I had planned on purchasing the larger 25L version of the pad for the extra 6 inches of length and added inch in thickness. However, I ultimately decided that at 72 inches long the 20R should feet me perfectly length-wise, and while my shoulders would extend past the 20 inches in width, the three-inch thickness should probably keep them from ever touching the ground. I’m happy with my purchase of the 20R version because it fits my dimensions perfectly.
The horizontal baffle design is excellent for an even weight distribution while sleeping on either your front, back, and side. As an avid side-sleeper I was worried the pad would cave in and my hips would be on the ground but that’s just not the case with the Nemo Astro Insulated Lite. The very top baffle also serves as a type of integrated pillow section that is elevated from the rest of the pad, which I personally like but it you prefer sleeping completely flat it could be an issue. The pad can feel “bouncy” while rolling around on it, and if you move a lot throughout the night like I do, the pad can be a bit noisy for any tentmates.
WEIGHT
At 1 lb. 3 oz the Insulated Lite 20R is heavier than a “true” ultralight sleeping pad it’s still substantially lightweight and even more impressive is how its capability to pack down to 8 by 4 inches in diameter with the help of a compression strap and stuff sack that are both provided. When packed down it ends up being a little larger than the size of a 32 oz Nalgene.
WARMTH
The Nemo Astro Insulated Lite comes with a synthetic microfiber thermal insulation layer from Primaloft® to prevent loss of body heat through the ground on colder nights. While not specifically providing an R-Value rating, this sleeping pad is rated for temperatures down to 15 – 25°F (-9 – -4°C) which will offer a comfortable temperature for three seasons of backpacking trips.
USE
Composed of 20-denier polyester fabric that has been engineered to hold strong welds this pad is super durable, yet still feeling like a soft material. Equipped with a twist-and-pull nozzle for inflating and deflating this pad is relatively simple to use. I’ve read that inflation takes around 5 minutes but I can honestly firmly inflate this pad to its capacity in about 12-15 breaths which really doesn’t take much time at all. Deflating is also extremely simple, just unlock the nozzle and air immediately starts spilling out, while completing deflating as you roll it back up to store inside the included stuff sack.
CONCLUSION
The Nemo Astro Insulated Lite is an all around, excellent sleeping pad that offers synthetic insulation for added warmth, horizontal baffling for comfort, a light weight, and small footprint, at a pretty reasonable price point. Depending on options, it will run you around $100-150 dollars. I picked up mine from Amazon.
