Nemo Flyer Cloud Review
The Nemo Flyer Cloud ($190) puts portability front and center, with a packed size and weight that undercut almost every other self-inflating camping mat we’ve seen. That said, those gains come with sacrifices. It’s smaller and thinner than most premium mats, and we found the foam to be overly firm and less plush than the market leaders. It’s unfortunately also too heavy to realistically bring backpacking—our regular-wide size was over 2.5 pounds—but it’s a pad that easily disappears into a packed trunk, which can be helpful when space is at a premium.
Comfort
Warmth
Durability
Ease of Use
Weight & Packability
Sustainability
Dimensions
72 x 25 x 3 in. (RW)
Type
Self-inflating mat
R-value
5.1
Weight
2 lb. 9 oz.
Pros
Cons
Nemo Flyer Cloud
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Camping Mattresses.
While I slept decently on the Nemo Flyer Cloud, its overall comfort is pretty middling in the heavily cushioned camping mat space. It’s a 3-inch-thick mat on paper, but its ribbed construction means the height actually varies across the surface—the peaks measure closer to 3.5 inches, while the valleys dip to about 2.5 inches. Lying down, that contoured design wasn’t a dealbreaker, but it’s noticeable, and I generally prefer a flatter, more uniform surface. On the plus side, the stretch-knit top fabric is soft to the touch and stays quiet through the night.
Another benefit of that thickness is that it kept me fully off the ground, which I appreciated—especially compared to thinner options like my 2.5-inch REI Co-op Campwell, where I’ve bottomed out. A big reason for that support is the firmness of the foam. Compared to thicker, more pillow-like mats like the Nemo Roamer or REI Co-op Westward Dreamer (which can use softer foam thanks to their 4-inch thickness), the Nemo Flyer Cloud is noticeably stiffer. That meant when I rolled onto my side, my shoulders compressed more than I would have liked, rather than sinking into soft foam. Still, I was able to sleep on my side for extended periods without waking up sore, even if it never felt particularly plush.
The Regular Wide version I used has a rectangular shape and measures 72 by 25 inches, but the rounded edges cut slightly into the usable space. Width wasn’t an issue for me, but at 5-foot-10, I was essentially maxing out the length, and my feet occasionally slipped off the end. The Long Wide version (76 x 25 in.) would likely be a better fit for users around my height and taller. Nemo also offers two mummy-shaped versions, Regular (72 x 20 in.) and Regular Wide (72 x 25 in.), which shave weight but come with a more tapered shape. Overall, the Flyer Cloud got the job done, but it doesn’t match the more bed-like comfort of thicker, self-inflating mats like the Roamer or Westward Dreamer.
With a 5.1 R-value, the Flyer Cloud lands in a solid middle ground for 2-to-3-season warmth. I tested it camping outside of Flagstaff in the Coconino National Forest, with overnight lows around 36 degrees. Paired with the Kelty Eclipse 15, I stayed warm throughout the night and didn’t notice any cold spots, especially underneath me. I also used it at home in Southern California with temps dipping into the high 50s, paired with the Marmot Wraptor Down 30, and again didn’t experience any heat loss from the mat.
Still, there are plenty of other camping mattresses with more impressive warmth. My Roamer has a 7.0 R-value, and I’d reach for that first if I knew temps were going to drop below freezing. At the extreme end, my Zempire Monstamat King has a 10.5 R-value, which honestly feels a bit like overkill, especially in the summer. But those mats are also bigger and bulkier than the Flyer Cloud. Given its weight and packed size, the 5.1 R-value feels appropriate, and for most non-winter trips, it provides reliable insulation without issue.
While you don’t need to treat the Flyer Cloud like glass, it’s not something I’d be careless with either (noticing a bit of a trend?). Like most Nemo gear I’ve used, I had a very positive initial impression. The materials feel premium, and nothing comes across as cheap, especially the single inflate/deflate valve. Over the course of testing, the valve held air reliably and never leaked, even as I shifted around during the night.
That said, the 50-denier (D) stretch polyester top and 50D polyester base are thinner than what you’ll find on most car camping mats (the base is the part that stands out). I was still able to use the Flyer Cloud on typical forest terrain in the Coconino National Forest—rocks, sticks, and all—without any punctures. Nemo also includes a comprehensive patch kit, which adds some peace of mind if something does go wrong. But both top-tier mats like the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing and more budget-friendly options like the REI Co-op Campwell use much burlier 75-denier fabrics (at least on the base), which inspire more confidence on rough ground. Its durability ultimately lands in the middle for me—more robust than ultralight backpacking air pads but not as bombproof as hearty car-camping mats.
The Flyer Cloud is relatively straightforward to use—with a few caveats. Like most self-inflating designs, you can unroll it, open the valve, and let it do most of the work. After letting it sit for a few hours—should you have the patience or time to do so—it fills to about three-quarters of the way without much help. From there, topping it off is easy enough using the included roll-top inflation sack, which doubles as its carry bag. It’s not as efficient as the large, dedicated sacks that come with mats like the Westward Dreamer, but it attaches securely and gets the job done without much fuss.
The Laylow valve is also mostly intuitive and simple to operate. It’s a single valve with a two-tab system—the top one opens the inflation valve and features a small button for releasing air in controlled bursts, which makes dialing in firmness easy. The lower tab fully opens to the mat’s interior when it’s time to deflate. Located in the upper right-hand corner, it’s easy to access while lying on the mat, but its low-profile design means it won’t snag on your pillow or sleeping bag. My only real gripe is the lack of a dedicated one-way deflate valve, as you get on mats such as the Roamer or Westward Dreamer. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it does make packing it away slightly less efficient.
And when it is time to stow the Nemo Flyer Cloud away, the wide-mouth stuff sack makes it easy to load the pad, though you do need to fold it in half before rolling it up. Nemo includes corner toggles that help keep it folded during this process, and they can also be used to connect multiple pads together, which is a nice bonus. So while it’s not quite as effortless as the very best self-inflating mats, it’s still a relatively low-effort setup from start to finish.
A welcome departure from its middle-of-the-road showing in the ratings above, the Flyer Cloud is one of the lightest and most compact self-inflating camping mats out there (part of the reason is that it’s billed as a backpacking/camping crossover). My Regular Wide version weighs 2 pounds 9 ounces, and packs down to 12 x 8 inches—about the size of a large popcorn bucket. That’s impressively small compared to most camping mattresses. For reference, my Nemo Roamer, which is another compact standout, comes in at 4 pounds and packs down to 14 by 8.5 inches, while bulkier options like the Monstamat King or Westward Dreamer take up significantly more space in the car.
That compact size does come with a bit more effort when packing it away, though. My process typically involved rolling it once to push out most of the air, folding it in half, then rolling it again and securing it with the compression strap before sliding it into the stuff sack. Unfortunately, since there’s no dedicated one-way deflation valve, it requires more effort and attention to fully compress it.
Nemo also markets the Flyer Cloud as a backpacking option, but for me, it lands squarely in the car camping category—it’s still too heavy and bulky to want to carry into the backcountry. If you’ve got a short hike into camp, it’s certainly manageable. But even then, I see this mat as best suited for campers who want to save space without giving up too much comfort.
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Longevity
Choosing durable outdoor gear and keeping it in use for longer is one of the best ways to reduce environmental impact. Our proprietary longevity rating assesses factors like overall build quality, materials, fabric denier, component durability, and real-world performance. A green check indicates that we expect the product to be long-lasting relative to its peers, a yellow check mark indicates average longevity, and a red X indicates a product that may have a limited lifespan.
Recycled Materials
Recycled materials are prevalent in outdoor gear, with nylon, polyester, wool, and down among the most common, but the composition varies widely. A green check mark indicates the product is made with a substantial amount of recycled materials (100% recycled or the core fabric that makes up most of the product is recycled), a yellow check means it contains a moderate to small amount of recycled materials, while a red X means there are no recycled materials in the product.
Bluesign Approved
Bluesign Technologies, based in Switzerland, operates a third-party textile management system that ensures materials are manufactured to strict environmental, chemical, and worker safety standards. A green check mark indicates a product is either a Bluesign Product (contains at least 90% Bluesign-approved fabrics and 20-30% Bluesign-approved accessories) or features a significant amount of Bluesign-approved materials. A yellow check mark means it uses some Bluesign-approved materials but less than the aforementioned category, and a red X means there are no Bluesign-approved materials in the product.
Repair Kit
Repair kits help extend a product’s lifespan by allowing users to quickly fix issues—like sleeping pad punctures or damaged inflation valve seals—rather than replace the item entirely. A green check indicates the product includes a repair kit, while a red X means it does not.
Responsible Manufacturing
This criterion evaluates a brand’s commitment to fair wages, safe working conditions, and reducing environmental impact through certifications and programs like Fair Trade Certified, Fair Wear Foundation, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), and the Fair Labor Association, while also recognizing brands that manufacture primarily in the U.S. or Europe under strict labor and environmental regulations. A green check mark indicates a brand meets our responsible manufacturing criteria, while a red X means it does not.
Recycled and/or Reduced Packaging
Packaging can add significant waste to outdoor gear purchases, so many brands work to reduce its impact by using recycled materials, incorporating Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper products, and minimizing plastic and paper use. A green check mark indicates a brand uses recycled or reduced materials across all of its packaging, a yellow check indicates moderate or limited use of recycled or reduced packaging, and a red X indicates the brand does not make either of these efforts.
Repair Services
Repair services extend the lifespan of outdoor gear and reduce overall consumption, though programs vary widely. Some brands offer comprehensive repairs for a range of issues, while others provide limited or no repair support. A green check mark indicates a robust repair program, a yellow check mark indicates limited repair services, and a red X indicates the brand does not offer repair services.
Resale and/or Recycling Services
Resale and recycling programs help keep outdoor gear in circulation longer and out of landfills, ranging from trade-in resale platforms that offer store credit to take-back initiatives that recycle products at the end of their usable life. A green check mark indicates a brand offers both resale and recycling programs, a yellow check mark indicates it offers one or the two, and a red X indicates it offers neither.
Carbon Footprint Tracking
This criterion evaluates whether a brand measures, reports, and works to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions using established frameworks such as the Higg Index, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or The Change Climate Project. A green check mark indicates a brand publicly reports greenhouse gas emissions data, sets clearly defined reduction targets, and uses established tracking frameworks such as Higg or The Change Climate Project. A yellow check mark indicates the brand tracks emissions and outlines reduction goals but provides limited data, lacks science-based verification, or does not clearly report progress. A red X indicates the brand does not appear to track greenhouse gas emissions or provides so little information that its efforts cannot be verified.
Annual Impact Report
Annual impact reports provide transparency and accountability by outlining a brand’s sustainability efforts across areas such as material sourcing, greenhouse gas emissions, waste, water use, supply chains, and packaging. A green check mark indicates a brand publishes a detailed, brand-specific impact report that closely aligns with our sustainability criteria and leaves little room for ambiguity. A yellow check indicates a brand provides some relevant sustainability reporting but lacks detail in key areas or is covered only briefly within a parent company report. A red X indicates a brand does not regularly publish an impact report.
Nemo Roamer ($260): A More Comfortable, Relatively Portable Mat
If you’re willing to give up a bit of portability (and spend an extra $70), the Nemo Roamer is a significant step up in several ways. While its 14 by 8.5-inch packed size isn’t as small as the Flyer Cloud, it offers a larger, much plusher 76 by 25 by 4-inch platform that cradles your body more comfortably. Its 7.0 R-value also allows for true winter use, and with a 75-denier bottom and sidewalls, it can handle rougher treatment. Both mats need to be folded in half to stow away, but the Roamer’s one-way deflate valve makes the process slightly more manageable. At the end of the day, the Roamer delivers better sleep while still packing down to a relatively compact size. For more, read our review of the Roamer.
REI Co-op Westward Dreamer LW ($199): True Camping Coziness
For just $9 more, the REI Co-op Westward Dreamer delivers a much more bed-like mattress. While its 11-by-28-inch packed size can’t compete with the Flyer Cloud’s, the stowing process is much less cumbersome. With a spacious, duffel-bag-style carry bag and a large top zipper, you only need one roll to compress the mat to size. Once inflated, it boasts an extra inch of thickness and 4 inches of length for more room to spread out, while the 6.7 R-value will keep you warmer when temperatures drop. Its fabric doesn’t have the same soft feel as the Flyer Cloud’s, but the 75-denier polyester on its bottom and sides is a whole lot more durable. If you’re not tight on space, you’ll be a happier camper with the Westward Dreamer. To learn more, check out our Westward Dreamer LW review.
Portability is the name of the game with the Flyer Cloud, boasting an impressively compact packed size for a self-inflating camping mat. As for the rest of its features—including comfort, durability, and warmth—one word sums it up best: mediocre.
Comfort
Warmth
Durability
Ease of Use
Weight & Packability
Sustainability
The Roamer has the thickness and comfort of a category leader, and it’s even warmer and more packable now thanks to its recent redesign. Add in a top-tier sustainability rating, and it's one of our favorite new camping products of 2026.
Comfort
Warmth
Durability
Ease of Use
Weight & Packability
Sustainability
REI Co-op products are synonymous with value, but with the Westward Dreamer, you also get legitimate, top-tier quality. In the end, it’s still a touch behind the very best in comfort, but this premium, spacious mat is exceptionally user-friendly and plenty warm for three-season-plus use.
Comfort
Warmth
Durability
Ease of Use
Weight & Packability
Sustainability
Is the Flyer Cloud for You?
If you’re trying to save space without giving up a fully functional sleeping setup, the Nemo Flyer Cloud is a winner. That said, those space savings come with tradeoffs—namely in comfort, warmth, and durability—so it won’t deliver the same plush, bed-like experience as more premium, comfort-first mats. But it’s still a plenty capable option for campers with fully stuffed trunks heading out on spring-through-fall trips.
sleep under the stars
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