NEMO Modular Sleep System Wins Gear of the Year

NEMO Equipment, Inc., manufacturer of AirSupportedâ„¢ and Extreme Conditions Tents, sleeping pads and backcountry accessories, has won a Gear of the Year award from National Geographic Adventure for its modular sleep system, Astroâ„¢ Insulated with Pillowtopâ„¢. This is the second award for Astroâ„¢ Insulated with Pillowtopâ„¢; it also won Backpacker’s Editors’ Choice Award in the 2011 Gear Guide.

Of the 27 winning products that ranged from trail shoes to cameras to camping gear, only one sleeping pad was awarded Gear of the Year. National Geographic Adventure does not have set categories for the awards, nor do they adhere to a predetermined number of awards that they will grant. Products are chosen based on innovation, function and customer appeal.

“2011’s spring and summer gear is all about stripping away the adornments and perfecting the basics. The season’s best new equipment and travel tech enhance without distracting—a refreshing return to well-considered simplicity,” says Steve Casimiro from National Geographic Adventure.

Astroâ„¢ Insulated with Pillowtopâ„¢ is a package product that includes NEMO’s latest air pad, Astroâ„¢ Insulated, with a cozy Pillowtopâ„¢ slipcover. Astroâ„¢ Insulated’s design incorporates engineered I-beam baffles to create a flat sleeping surface that prevents the pad from cupping around your body. Two and one half inches thick, Astroâ„¢ Insulated includes a laminated foam insulation to add warmth during the colder months. NEMO’s Pillowtopâ„¢, made popular last year with the Cosmoâ„¢ Air sleeping pad, is a soft microsuede slipcover with one inch of foam.

“We are honored to have one of our newest modular sleep systems recognized with a Gear of the Year Award. Since introducing sleeping pads to our line in 2009, we’ve had tremendous response from both gear reviewers and customers. The beauty of Astroâ„¢ Insulated with Pillowtopâ„¢ is its modularity. If you’re camping at the trailhead on Friday night, bring the whole system. In the morning, throw the Pillowtopâ„¢ in your car and Astroâ„¢ Insulated in your pack. It takes up a small amount of space, but offers big comfort,” says Cam Brensinger, president and founder of NEMO.

NEMO’s new Alti Stormâ„¢ 2P tent has also been chosen as one of only seven tents to make the cut in Outside’s Summer 2011 Buyer’s Guide. Scoring 4.5 out of 5 for Livability and 5 for Sturdiness, Alti Stormâ„¢ 2P was praised for offering ‘big-time four-season protection at a reasonable weight.’ “Alti Stormâ„¢ didn’t flinch in the Grand Canyon; its four crossing ridgepoles weathered 50-mph down canyon gusts, and the full-length fly and nylon canopy created a sandstorm-proof bunker,” said the Outside editors.

NEMO was founded in 2002 by Cam Brensinger with the commitment to bringing the highest level of design and engineering to the world of outdoor adventure sports. Besides AirSupported Technology®, NEMO has patents pending for its lightweight pumps, washable floor liners, condensation curtains and many more features and accessories which add functionality and comfort to its shelters. These and other NEMO award-winning products can be found at local, national and international retailers, including Eastern Mountain Sports, REI, and Campsaver. For more information, please contact Kate Ketschek, Director of Marketing & Public Relations, at 603-913-9925 or kate@nemoequipment.com.