NEMO Tempo 20 Synthetic - Women's Review

Our NEMO Tempo 20 Synthetic Experience

We tested the second iteration of the NEMO Tempo 20 Synthetic during climbing trips to Indian Creek as well as spring car camping trips in the Eastern Sierra. In temperatures down to freezing, we stayed warm thanks to its 650 Zerofiber loft, oversized neck baffle, and spacious hood.

We love the Tempo 20 for car camping thanks to its spacious, spoon-shaped interior, soft and functional pillow sleeve, and synthetic fill that mimics the feel and plushiness of down. While the bag's spoon-shaped design may not fit every female body shape well, our lead tester (5'6" with an athletic build) found the dimensions suited her body shape, with enough space to rotate comfortably throughout the night. Just beware, this extra space inside the bag that allows you to adjust your sleeping position with ease, can also create pockets for cold air, which we found easy to fix by throwing our puffy jacket in with us.

Although weighty, we welcomed the cozy heaviness of this bag after long climbing days when we needed to stay warm and comfortable to efficiently rest and recover. The synthetic material is so heavy, it almost feels like sleeping beneath a weighted blanket for those that enjoy that tucked-in feeling.

We like that this latest design is also fully recyclable, which gave us peace of mind with our purchase, knowing that we can just ship it back to Nemo when it's time for replacement.

Analaysis and Test Results

Warmth

The Tempo 20 stood apart from other synthetic sleeping bag options due to its lofty, spoon-shaped design, which is warm and comfortable even below freezing, exceeding our initial expectations. The bag is rated for temperatures as low as 12°F, with a comfort rating around 23°F. We found ourselves in these exact weather conditions while climbing in the Utah desert when a fast-moving spring snowstorm hit. During the storm, the hood was deep enough to completely surround our head, so we barely felt the wind or chill penetrating the bag. The result is, hands down, one of the warmest and coziest synthetic bags for women we've tested yet.

The latest iteration of the Tempo includes a synthetic Zerofiber 650 lightweight fill that's constructed from 100% post-consumer recycled content. This responsible and unique fill power is compressible yet designed to maintain loft and warmth even in less than ideal conditions. The design also includes an oversized draft collar that tucks you in nicely, and helps eliminate draft from entering the bag through the neck and face. The thick 50-denier, 100% recycled polyester exterior also includes a durable water-resistant (DWR) treatment that provides even more protection and warmth during wet conditions. Strategic baffles all along the main zipper and collar also help reduce draft, while the hood is sufficient for trapping heat surrounding the head and can be tightened even further if the wind picks up.

Weight

For those who enjoy the security of a weighted blanket, the Tempo 20 may be exactly the right design for you. It is one of the heaviest (and bulkiest) sleeping bags we've tested, weighing in at 3.75 pounds. The latest iteration of this design added over half a pound to the already heavy construction. For reference, that's more than double the weight of some of the lightest down-filled bags in our lineup and immediately rules it out for anyone seeking a synthetic bag for extended backpacking trips. If you're looking to car camp in comfort with a spacious bag design along with ample features to increase overall warmth and coziness, the Tempo is the perfect choice.

Comfort

The Tempo 20 is a synthetic-filled design that supplies the comfort one might expect from a down-filled bag. It is lined with 50 denier, 100% recycled polyester taffeta fabric and filled with Zerofiber, creating a lofty, cozy, and (unfortunately) heavy construction. The spoon shape fit allow for ample spacing for the elbows and knees, making it a great choice for side sleepers or ladies who like to shift positions often throughout the night. The unique blanket fold draft collar is another nice touch, providing custom tucked-in comfort and eliminating any cold air from sneaking inside the bag. Thoughtful baffles along the zipper also keep drafts at bay while double-timing as protection for your body against any uncomfortable interactions with the zipper overnight. The pillow sleeve also features a soft knit that feels great against our skin.

For ladies who move a lot in their sleep, the pillow sleeve is great for holding the pillow in place while also feeling soft next to your skin.   Credit: Trish Matheny

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While the spoon shape and pillow sleeve are intended to facilitate your comfort, they can also restrict the fit for some users. It suited our lead tester quite well overall, but she noted, “I found the hood a little tight for my backpacking pillow, making it a tight fit, especially when I tried to cinch the hood tightly through a spring storm.” The oversized blanket fold can also be annoying when sleeping in warmer temperatures, as it tends to cover the face if not tucked into the top of the bag to minimize drafts. The extra spacing of the spoon shape can also limit the warmth of the bag's design; however, we found stuffing our puffy jacket in with us helped increase warmth and help alleviate cold air drafts that settle into the extra space. If the spoon shape works well for your body shape, the Tempo 20 offers impressive synthetic comfort on a budget.

Packed Size

The former designs of the Tempo 20 included a high-quality mesh storage bag along with a separate compression sack; however, the newest version features a unique storage cube with mesh along the sides for long-term storage, while the very same cube can be further compressed through a separate zipper to increase packability. While this thoughtful design is great for tossing into your rig or storing in your gear closet, the square shape is a little tricky to throw into a backpack. That said, you're less likely to pack this oversized design anywhere, due to its heavyweight and bulky construction. The Stow-or-Go hybrid storage cube is larger than all the down options, measuring 13" x 13" when fully compressed. The unique cube shape isn't ideal for backpacking, but we like it for storing at home or tossing into our car.

The weight and packed size of the Nemo Tempo 20 may be a limiting feature for weight-conscious backpackers, but for car camping in humid areas, it's a no-brainer. It will also work well if you aren't hiking too far from your vehicle and don't mind packing a little extra weight to enjoy a peaceful night's sleep in a backcountry setting. Another perfect location might be extended river trips, on which weight is less of a concern than staying warm in a wet environment.

Although not great for backpacking, the heavy and bulky Tempo is perfect for car camping in comfort.   Credit: Trish Matheny

The Stow-or-Go hybrid storage cube measures 13" x 13" when fully compressed.   Credit: Trish Matheny

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Features

The Tempo 20 features an integrated pillow sleeve inside the spacious, well-shaped hood, allowing the use of a backpacking pillow. Or improvise with a down jacket securely stowed inside the hood for additional comfort without adding extra weight to your pack. The unique “blanket-fold draft collar” will have you scratching your head until you use it yourself, but once tucked in, you'll discover it works wonders at eliminating cold air drafts. The new anti-snag zipper technology provides easy entry and exit into the bag.

While NEMO boasts about its unique “spoon shape” (a fit meant to allow women and side sleepers enough space to rotate positions throughout the night), some consumers may find this bag too snug to serve that purpose. While the bag doesn't integrate any women-specific features to note, NEMO does integrate opposite-side zippers into the men's and women's bags so they can be zipped together, should you want to snuggle with your sweetheart inside a “double” sleeping bag.

The Nemo Tempo 20 features a super cozy construction complete with soft jersey knit pillow sleeve, a large neck baffle, and additional baffle along the hood for a tucked in feel.   Credit: Trish Matheny

A durable two way main zipper that makes the Tempo easy to get in and out of.   Credit: Trish Matheny

A unique neck baffle makes you feel tucked in and reduces draft.   Credit: Trish Matheny

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Should You Buy the NEMO Tempo 20 Synthetic?

If you're interested in an affordable synthetic sleeping bag complete with comfort and warmth-enhancing features and protected by a lifetime warranty, look no further than the NEMO Tempo 20 Synthetic. The Tempo is part of Nemo's Endless Promise collection, meant to enhance sustainability through utilizing fully post-consumer recycled materials within a design that you can fully recycle at the end of use. The spoon-shaped fit, draft collar, pillow sleeve, and anti-snag zipper technology are just a few reasons to purchase this comfortable and warm bag design. While it is undoubtedly much heavier and bulkier than other down-filled constructions in this review, it is an excellent and affordable entry-level option for those on a budget or in wet destinations.

What Other Women's Sleeping Bags Should You Consider?

Although the Tempo is more affordable than most, options like the The North Face Cat's Meow and the Big Agnes Anthracite 20 are even more affordable, but they just lack the same level of warmth and comfort.

For not much more, you can check out the Big Agnes Torchlight EXP 20. The Torchlight is another feature-rich design that is perfect for ladies who move a lot in their sleep, thanks to a sleeping pad attachment, pillow sleeve, and the ability to increase the size of the bag for extra space.