NEMO Quasar 3D Insulated Backpacking Sleeping Pad Review

Bottom Line

We tested the NEMO Quasar 3D Insulated sleeping pad in the depths of Colorado winter. While it provides stable comfort, it leaves a chilly spot in our sleep system. 

The 3D in Quasar 3D refers to its body mapping baffle system that cradles you to sleep with a soft but supportive feel. The elevated head baffle helps keep your pillow in place or eliminates the need for one entirely. The Quasar includes our favorite pump sack, the Vortex, which makes setup a breeze.

The Quasar 3D boasts comfort, durability, and affordability over weight and warmth. If you’re looking for a comfortable pad to cover car camping and short backpacking trips on a budget, then the Quasar is great. If keeping your pack weight down is a priority, there are many lower-weight options on our backpacking sleeping pads.

How We Tested

We put this pad through the wringer to test its comfort, durability, warmth, and more. From the rocky, abrasive soil of the Rocky Mountains to the comfort of our home, we slept on it for dozens of nights, assessing its performance across all of our testing metrics.

Comfort

The Quasar 3D provides stable, body-cradling comfort for all types of sleepers. The 3D body mapping design helps keep your body (and pillow) on the mat all night. The 3.5 inches of cushion is enough for most side sleepers, while back and stomach sleepers (as well as starfish sprawlers) will appreciate the ample 20” x 72” rectangular sleeping surface to help keep their limbs from spilling off of the pad. 

One of the most unique features of the Quasar 3D is the raised head baffle, which creates a sort of chaise lounge effect. It’s designed to help hold a pillow in place, but for us, it eliminates the need for a pillow entirely. The raised head baffle is a nice addition for folks who typically opt for a balled-up puffy jacket for a pillow.

Our favorite comfort feature of the Quasar 3D is its wide range of available sizes, including a double. The double doesn’t have the same body-cradling characteristics of the single, but it’s wide enough for a couple to enjoy cuddling up on a cold night and to save the weight of carrying two sleeping pads.

Weight

At 28 ounces, the Quasar 3D is the heaviest sleeping pad on our list, encroaching on car camping territory. Its weight is difficult to justify for a solo backpacker, but if you can convince your partner to carry the double version by themselves, you’re looking at some serious weight savings!

The Quasar 3D bridges the gap between car camping and backpacking. For casual campers looking for a durable, comfortable option for car camping and the occasional backpacking, the Quasar 3D insulated offers a versatile and affordable multi-faceted option.

Durability

The Quasar 3D offers reliable durability with robust materials and construction. The pad is entirely constructed with Bluesign Certified 100% PCR PU 30D Polyester Ripstop. The PU coating increases the polyester’s longevity in terms of abrasion, tear, UV, and water resistance. 

Although the material isn’t the thickest of all the pads on our list, the construction is super heavy-duty and feels more robust than pads with thicker fabric.

We love the low-profile inflation valve, but it doesn’t hold onto the stuff sack as securely as we would like—it popped off a couple of times during our inflation testing. It’s also worth noting that some reviews have reported durability issues with these valves in the past, although we haven’t had any problems so far.

Warmth

The 3D Insulated version is the warmest of the Quasar iterations, with its 100% post-consumer recycled PrimaLoft. However, one would expect a good bit more warmth from an insulated pad as heavy as the Quasar.

The R-value is surprisingly low at only 3.3. We used the Quasar for several winter nights in Colorado with temperatures down into the twenties, paired with a warm sleeping bag. It became apparent that the Quasar was indeed the weak point in our sleep setup.

We recommend the Quasar 3D Insulated for summer camping trips and into the warmer periods of the shoulder seasons. In winter, it’s likely insufficient for most sleepers.

Ease of Setup

The Quasar 3D Insulated comes with our favorite pump sack, NEMO’s Vortex pump sack, to make inflation quick and easy. The Vortex fills up quickly and seals easily. The Quasar is easy to inflate in under two minutes or about four to five fills of the pump sack. After it’s fully inflated, the micro adjustable valve allows you to expel tiny sips of air to dial in your preferred level of comfort. 

When it’s time to pack up, the deflation valve quickly dumps air from the pad, and the more rigid material is easy to fold the way you want. To make life even easier, NEMO includes a handy little hook-and-loop strap to hold the pad together. The stuff sack is a little tight, but not so tight that packing up becomes an annoying task every morning.

Should You Buy the NEMO Quasar 3D Insulated Backpacking Sleeping Pad?

The Quasar 3D Insulated is a three-season quiver killer of a pad. Whether you’re car camping in the front country or planning a short backpacking trip, the Quasar provides plush comfort at an affordable price.

Although it’s not the lightest pad by far, the 3.5-inch thickness and cradling support of NEMO’s 3D body-mapping baffles will keep you well off the ground and away from any sharp rocks, roots, and pinecones. It’s definitely thick enough for side sleepers and the rectangular shape gives starfish sleepers enough space to spread out. The Quasar even comes in a double-wide version for couples or anyone looking to bring 5-star hotel comfort into their tent.

NEMO’s Vortex Pump Sack and LayLow valve simplify setup and teardown, and their ultra-durable construction adds extra peace of mind.

Unfortunately, the Quasar leaves a little bit to be desired in the warmth department. Anyone looking for a winter sleeping pad or to shave every ounce from their pack should check out NEMO’s Tensor series.

What Other Backpacking Pads Should You Consider?

Ounce counters and winter backpackers worry not. We’ve got options for you in our full list of backpacking sleeping pads.

Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft Review: Although it’s the priciest sleeping pad on our list, it’s also the most premium. The NeoLoft takes comfort and durability to the next level with a super soft and stretchy top material and a whopping 75D solution dyed polyester fabric for the bottom. They’re calling it the most comfortable backpacking sleeping pad ever made, and so far it’s the most comfortable one we’ve tested.

Big Agnes Divide Insulated Review: The Divide Insulated is perfect for side sleepers or anyone that prefers vertical baffles. This pad naturally cradles your body to feel like the filling inside of a taco so it’s almost impossible to roll off. It’s also a little warmer and lighter than the Quasar while saving you a few dollars.

Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Insulated Review: The Ether Light XR is steadily becoming one of our favorite backpacking pads. This pad is heavier than most ultralight pads but lighter than all of the ones listed in this review. The cell baffle design and pillow lock feature bring the feel of a traditional spring mattress to a backpacking sleeping pad.