Big Agnes - Insulated Air Core Ultra

I have an Xlite but for shorter trips I'll take my more comfortable BA Air Core Ultra Insulated for side sleeping. Can't speak on the other BA pads like the Rapide SL

I have 2 Big Agnes Air Core inflatables and I absolutely love them.

You'll need 3 things: a sleeping bag, a sleeping pad and some kind of shelter. These are all non negotiable. What you get will be determined by how much space you have, how light you want to go, what weather and temperatures you'll be in and how much you want to spend. To give you recommendations I'd need to know where you're going, what the weather's going to be like, if you'll be using it for other trips and if so, what kind and where, and how much space you have. Weight doesn't matter that much when cycling unless you're going up some pretty major hills. For sleeping bags, expect to spend $100 (not on sale) on a 3 season synthetic one and probably $100 more for a decent 3 season down bag. I use a Robens Serac 300 with 650 fill down comfort rated to -4 degrees C. I got it for about £220 in the Uk Sleeping pads range from dirt cheap foam mats to more than $200 for a 4 season inflatable one. I personally use the Big Agnes Insulated AirCore Ultra with an r-value of 4.5 which I got for about £50. Bad tents are heavy and bulky and I hate them, but they do work and they're easy. Good tents are very very light, but don't even come with poles or pegs as they expect you to be carrying hiking poles and choose your own pegs. Also they're all upwards of $300 and some of them more than $600 for a 1 man tent. I use a tarp that I got for £30 on amazon and rigged up a para cord system with line locks and tiny carabiners. It's small, cheap and light but needs something to pitch it to (a tree or two) and is bad if it's very windy or very cold. If you use a tarp the you'll probably also want a bivi bag. There are some really elaborate options that are also very expensive but I use a £30 british army one that does the trick. Also, if you're feeling lazy in the evening and it's not going to rain much then you can do away with setting up the tarp and just find a bit of shelter for your head and the bivi bag will keep the rest of you dry. Hope this helps. If you respond with some more details like i mentioned above i can give some more personalised advice.

In that case, I would definitely recommend the Big Agnes Insulated AirCore Ultra, It's the best value sleeping pad for the r-value (how insulated it is) and will do you just fine through most winters in western europe. For a sleeping bag, if you're not concerned about size then I'd say go with something like a berghaus transition 400 which has a comfort rating of -2 degrees c and isn't too expensive, although if you've got the budget then a down sleeping bag is well worth it in my opinion. As for tents then the brand Nemo has lots of good options that come with poles although it's quite an expensive brand. I don't really have that much to say on tents because i personally find that for winter in the UK, my tarp and bivi setup is warm enough if i sleep in a fleece and socks but I think that the way to go for you is a tent. I know vango has some fairly inexpensive decent small tents although they are really quite heavy.

I've used 2 different pads around 3.9-4R (separately, not together.) both are fine in terms of warmth. They are thermorest xlite women's And Big Agnes insulated air core. The main difference is that big Agnes is way heavier and comfier.

You can still find the Big Agnes Air Corral Ultra Insulated sleeping pad for $50-$100. It was discontinued but you can find them on some of the clearance camping gear sites or EBay for a good discount. This brand has been the most reliable I’ve seen as far as holding air. It is my main cold weather sleeping pad and is very comfortable if inflated correctly i.e. not inflated to maximum pressure.

Hello, Looking for advice. I’ve browsed multiple Reddit outdoor hiking/camping/backpacking forums, most of the manufacturers websites and am having a hard time finding an answer. I am a heavy, broad, guy and I’ve tried a few different pads in the past. I have a Thermarest Prolite, Big Agnes Ultra Core, a Sea to Summit Camp Plus Si, and recently the Klymit Static V luxe. I thought I found the perfect pad with the Sea to Summit, but just like the rest it is not wide enough. Although it was 25 inches wide, I end up rolling off or I spread out and my legs and arms fall off of it. I like the Big Agnes because it kind of keeps you centered by the baffling chambers. I really like the Sea to Summit and Thermarest materials, but those pads are easy to roll off of, and they are bulky since both are self inflating. I just bought and tried the Klymit Static V Luxe, and the width is perfect, but damn if every time I roll over or move, I can feel the ground. I wish it was a little thicker. I don’t have that problem with the Big Agnes (and I’ve read this happens with the Klymit due to the v channels). I may try to get a foam pad and put it under. Does anyone have any suggestions on a 30” wide air inflatable pad that is about 2-3” thick? Thanks so much!

I have really like my Big Agnes Air Core Ultra Insulated. R value is somewhere around 4 with a weight around 22oz. Not bad for the $80 I paid, and I love the high r-value. Some of the UL pads will have a crinkly sound to them and if you move around a lot at night you will make a lot of noise. No big if you're solo, but partners usually don't love it. If you're on a budget, maybe look into the klymit insulated pads. I have the uninsulated Static-V and it's fine, just cold and not nearly as thick as the BA pad. [Used Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Ultra Sleeping Pad | REI Co-op](https://www.rei.com/used/p/big-agnes-insulated-air-core-ultra-sleeping-pad/223023?color=Orange&condition=Excellent%20condition&CAWELAID=120217890015555434&cm_mmc=PLA_UsedGear_Google%7C21700000001700551_2230230002U%7C92700076557147899%7Cnone%7C71700000061837040&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwzIK1BhAuEiwAHQmU3nziQPznOpsUuJW4Z5G3V3YUxzme_WoCsxbPS1fzI4RXM_znRZXU6BoC0jsQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) - hey look, my pad! Not actually mine though, it's in my pack for my CT thru starting in a week.

I have the Big Agnes Air Core Ultra Insulated. Not ultralight, but its remarkably thick. I run it pretty soft and sleep great, though I haven't had major back issues. It looks like it may have been replaced by the Divide model? You can size up to a 78x25 if you want more space. I am 5'11 and 185 so the 72x20 is plenty for me.

While my older BA AirCore doesn’t have the worst fabric and I typically will just sleep on that when I’m going for a longer walk, I do have an extremely thin mummy bag liner that actually fits over the pad pretty well and makes it feel like it has bedding on it. Bulk isn’t bad but it is a few ounces of single use weight.

I have a Big Agnes Divide insulated pad. Was about $80-90 when I got it on sale. Comes in various sizes including 25x72” It’s about 3-4” thick when inflated. Probably the comfiest pad I’ve slept on.

I used to own the Static V Lite, and like others said, it sleeps cold and isn’t very durable (valve on mine failed, the company did offer to replace the pad though). I instead got a Big Agnes Divide Insulated (R value of 4) for $100 and I’m much happier with it. It packs down to the same size and weighs about the same too.

I love my Big Agnes sleeping pad! I have the Divide and it's awesome, totally worth it in my opinion

They have explicitly said in their original post that their original mats are too heavy for wild camping. Offering up a 2kg mat is merely trading one unsuitable option for another. There is a reason Exped themselves market this as a "base camp mat". My suggestion would be to get a closed cell mat for the dog and something like the Big Agnes Divide Insulated (~800g) for the people. I have one of these and am a side sleeper and they are very comfortable. I'm far from the smallest of people either and it has stood up to my weight (laying and sitting) for over two years so can attest to its durability. And on top of all this, it is £75 cheaper than the Megamat.

Big Agnes. Get a wide. Bonus points if you pair it with one of their bags, as they work well together.

So I spent alot of time sleeping outside after the army. And here's my 2c if got some cash spend the money on a Big Agnes pad yes they require inflation but man I'd rather sleep on that then my real bed some days. I have an older model Divide insulated pad. Folds down to the size of a Nalgene bottle. Yes they aren't camo or high speed colors but a poncho can fix that. 2nd option is the therma rest z fold. It's my quick and light option but I bring a klymit inflatable pillow with me so it makes up for it. Or the issued army therma rest pad. Not bad either.

So I spent alot of time sleeping outside after the army. And here's my 2c if got some cash spend the money on a Big Agnes pad yes they require inflation but man I'd rather sleep on that then my real bed some days. I have an older model Divide insulated pad. Folds down to the size of a Nalgene bottle. Yes they aren't camo or high speed colors but a poncho can fix that. 2nd option is the therma rest z fold. It's my quick and light option but I bring a klymit inflatable pillow with me so it makes up for it. Or the issued army therma rest pad. Not bad either.

I've had a neo air and it's light but noisy when turning. Just got a big Agnes (can't remember the model but the widest single insulated) and it's comfy and quieter when turning. Certainly heavier than the neoair though

I can vouch for the big Agnes mat, got the wide and long one and it's worth every penny. Got it on eBay from Australia price+ postage was still cheaper than most places.

I’m a fan of big Agnes pads for my inflatable ones the insulated versions, i find they have a good balance between weight and comfort. I like to bring a foam mat as well even when hammock camping cause it means i will always have some decent insulation, good use is to put under my mat to help prevent punctures and as a backup sleeping mat, also good for a sitpad. Exped makes good foam ones the zigzag ones are much easier to roll and unrolled and don’t try to curl up on themselves. if you’re on a budget go outdoors have a foam roll mat for £10 are a decent thickness and nice and wide. The colder the weather the more insulation from the ground you need. summer just inflatable mat or foam is good enough. in colder weather you want insulated sleeping mats or a regular mat and a foam and winter you want foam and a insulated pad.

We have a big Agnes double pad and a single pad that combined cover the floor of our tent. It works for the two of us + toddler + dog pretty well. In our big tent we put those two things on top of some folding cots from Walmart.

If you're thinking about switching your setup in the future (either to a roof top tent, hardshell cap or something else) I would recommend getting a standard inflatable camping sleeping pad. They have a small footprint and can be useful even after moving to a new setup. I have a Big Agnes pad but pretty much anything available at REI would good, but you'll probably want inflatable unless you put something flat down on the bed to cover the ridges.

The only pillow i've ever found comfortable was the REI Co-Op Trailmade pillow. It's a non-inflatable pillow stuffed with memory foam squares. So it's definitely heavier and takes up more span than inflatable pillows, but after trying several brands of inflatable I just needed something different. I don't see it for sale anymore, so not sure if they still make it. If you aren't hiking in, and size isn't an issue, I would just use your home pillow. For me the big thing for side sleeping/stomach sleeping is a good mattress. If space isn't an issue a foam mattress would be best, there are a bunch of \~$50 tri-fold 4" memory foam mattresses on amazon. But these take up a HUGE amount of space in a car to transport. For backpacking I use an inflatable Big Agnes insulated pad, but those are like $150. If you aren't backpacking, amazon has several options for cheap inflatable camping mattresses, but you will probably need to buy or borrow an air pump to fill them, as they don't come with them usually. For the sleeping bag I've found I can sleep in any style as a stomach sleeper. Mummy style bags just kind of stay with you, so when you curl your legs up, the bang stays mostly form fitted. If you are sleeping on your stomach, do you sleep in "tiger pose" where you have one leg bent up and the other straight? Mummy bags can make sleeping like that difficult. Big rectangle bags would let you sleep in "tiger pose" with one knee up and the other leg straight, which is how I sleep at home. If you are going with a non-down warm sleeping bag, you can always bring a secondary blanket too, so you don't have to splurge on a super expensive 20 degree bag or anything.

BA and Exped are the only two brands I've liked, unfortunately, the comfortable ones are NOT UL. sleep is worth it to me.

Big Agnes are the best

I have a big Agnes pad. Inflatable and not sure exactly what specs, but any inflatable pad is going to have some noise imo. I love mine. I’ve had it for 8 years, which feels kinda unreal for an inflable. Never had an issue with it and definitely put it through the gauntlet- camped in the desert a lot, cowboy camped, camped on rocky areas. Never had a leak. Love it and feel like it’s worth the price tag

I have at least 10 pads, and have returned for warranty probably half that amount. The most durable, comfortable, and beat insulted are thermarest self inflating. The smallest and lightest with descent insulation seem to be the big Agnes inflatable ones ( UT these are a PITA to fill up every night and will leak sooner than later. My recommendation is the thermarst self inflating pads. Find one with the rvalue you need and go with it.should last you many nights

Big Agnes is the best I’ve found. Pricey but well worth it.

Have you considered a camping cot? There are a lot of ultralight options now which are about the same price as a good sleeping pad for side sleepers. The only difference being is the weight, you’re looking at around 1.5kg for a cot bed which would be double the weight of a sleeping pad. For me, the extra weight is worth it for the comfort. For context I’ve tried Therm-a-Rest, Big Agnes and Nemo mats. If I’m going for comfort, the cot bed wins every time.

I’d recommend inflatable. Lighter and easier to pack to a very small size. I’m currently using a Neoair Xtherm NXT and I love it. It’s so well insulated, weighs barely anything, very comfortable and I’ve never had any issues with punctures. Depends how you treat it, I’m always sleeping in a tent with a ground sheet, but I’ve had the regular Neoair prior to this and never had an issue with that either. I only got the new one because it was stolen. Also the NXT does cut down the noise a LOT compared to the previous model. It doesn’t eliminate it, but it’s no longer an issue IMO as the older one was very loud. The NXT is no worse than a standard big Agnes pad I also have and no worse than basically any other inflatable now. Unless you’re a VERY light sleeper I don’t think there’s a problem any more.

I really like the big Agnes pads

Big Agnes and sea to summit checks all your boxes. Small/compact, uses vertical baffles to prevent that bouncy castle feeling and provide actual support

Plus one. I have a therm-a-rest Xtherm, two cheap Amazon pads (they didn’t last), a Big Agnes, and I’ve tried the foam pads (they’re not for me). Exped seems to have the best tech. Their pads are quiet, comfy, reliable, and I love the synthetic down on the inside

Big Agnes has valve issues, mine didn't even last 3 uses

I had a Big Agnes for a decade. It sprung a leak on a trip this time last year. I found the leak on a seam and called to ask about repairing it. They asked for a pic, which I sent as well as a pic of the valve cut off (per their instructions) and my new pad arrived in a few days. No charge. I’ll never buy a pad from a different manufacturer again. https://preview.redd.it/qcc2h29uz8ve1.jpeg?width=5712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4a5db870df20331f504fddf587c14258a32a7250

Bought my Big Agnes pad for $100 at REI ten years ago and still going strong. Not a single leak. I’m a side sleeper and it’s pretty comfy. 

I've used my Exped for 500miles. I've never had a problem with it. Personally, I would only buy Exped or Big Agnes sleeping pads because they're the only ones I've never seen leak. Anything by thermarest is trash.

I'd say it's at the very least quieter than my Big Agnes that I used most recently. In all honesty at 390lbs every thing is noisy when I toss and turn, but I wouldn't say it's extra noisy or anything. As far as better than self inflating, I'd say yes by a large margin. That being said, I've also got to admit the last self inflating pad I regularly used was probably 10 years ago. I'd assume tech has come a long way since my last self inflating pad but I don't know for sure. I never had one that would ever keep me completely off the ground the entire night. there were always high and low spots and not much insulation back then. If you do go that route at the very least I'd try to find the thickest pad in your budget. Also on noise, maybe a pad cover like the Thermarest Synergy may help as well. I'm looking into that as a little extra protection from dog claws but I'm sure it would dampen noise too.

Big Agnes is what I use. They are so much quieter than other inflatables.

As I side sleeper, I have found some of the Big Agnes pads to be very comfortable, and quiet. I've been through several different types and brands of pads over the years (decades) I like that the sides are higher on the BA pads, which keep you from rolling off the mat. It's not that they are super high to physically prevent you from rolling off. It's the subconcious thing that when you feel that extra height, your brain does it, even when asleep. The 25 inch wide pads are much better for side sleepers. I'd go with a 30 inch wide, but they only make that width in a few long pads. For biking, you may not mind the extra ounces for the 30 inch wide, long pad. I have one, and wish I could cut it shorter, but afraid to do so, for fear of not being able to seal it properly. None of the name brand pads are inexpensive. The new Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft looks good, and has many good reviews. If I didn't already have a few BA pads, I'd be tempted to buy a NeoLoft. The next time I'm at REI, I may try one, just to see.

I also have one of these and loved it initially. After two months on the road it is now failing almost every night. I’ve exhausted the patches that came with the pad and it’s now covered with third party gear repair patches. I am ~75kgs and I don’t over-inflate it. I paid good money for this thing and it is absolutely not worth it.

Nemo or big Agnes pads!

Big Agnes. Im a side sleeper and also started with a Klymit like you and found it inadequate. My big agnes is only a little heavier but it's about four inches thick when fully inflated, which is great.

A big no on the BA pad from me. I hate that pad. I got it on a pro deal and it is the loudest pad I’ve yet used.  I took it and a klymit inertia ozone pad out on a trip and traded pads with a friend and by the end of the trip we were fighting over the klymit pad - not because it’s exceptional but because the BA pad was so awful. Go look up the klymit inertia pad if you want to have a laugh - not bad though, considering what it is.

Big Agnes by far for me. But alas not as warm

They all will die after a few years I had some of the interior fusing a few thermarests come undone, like yours, I suspect due to being in a very hot tent. I contacted the company and had them replaced. I have had a few big Agnes ones deflate after 10 year of use. I have a bunch of thermarests and expads that are fines. I typically get an extra one whenever one is on sale so I have an extra to borrow or use myself if one deflates. Also in car camping trips I bring an extra k. Case myself or someone has one deflate. Nothing sucks more than crappy sleep.

Having a family of 4 can confirm individuals is the way to go. We’re all rocking Big Agnes pads. The kids are using big Agnes bags which have a pocket for the pad and keeps them from wondering around at night.

Spend money. Get a good quality mattress, this is not the place to go cheap. Restful sleep is important for recovery. The most expensive air mattress is still cheaper than a hotel for a night. I use a Big Agnes. It's 4 in thick, 25 in wide, 76 in long. I can inflate it quickly with the included pump sack, it's gets firm and hold air throughout then night. It has a 4 R value so it insulates well. I sleep like I'm in a bed. This was the single biggest upgrade to my gear and the best value (although it wasn't cheap). Anything you find on Amazon will be crap quality. Buy from a reputable brand. Check out outdoorgearlab.com for reviews. They are the Consumer Reports for gear.

I absoluate hated this pad, bought this one at Academy last year, and my back hurt so badly after just one night. I've since moved to a Big Agnes and it made a world of difference!

I use a half one of these to insulate my upper body, while using my big agnes pad. This pad cut in half is the best hiking seat you'll ever have too.

I use a BA Rapide SL regular wide. We have a couple of Big Agnes pads and I think they’re comfortable, but the R value is a little exaggerated. My 35# dog loves it too and has not punctured it yet. I now use a lightweight “picnic blanket” to keep my quilt and pad clean and safe from my dog. I was going to use Tyvek but found the sheet in the bargain bin at my local outdoor sports store. My dog sleeps on a well used cut down ZRest pad. During the day, it’s a sit pad and at night it’s her bed. When it’s chilly, I place a piece of fuzzy pile material from Walmart on her bed. I bought by the yard and placed it on her bed at home. She associates the fuzzy pile throw with her bed, so she tends to stay on that and off my pad.

I suggest individual sleeping bags or quilts for colder weather. When I purchased sleep bags, I looked for a comfort rating that is the same or lower than lowest expected temperature. A 20f sleeping bag may have comfort rating of 30 or 40 degrees. To sleep well in 30 degrees, look for a 10 degree bag or quilt. A pad with R5 or better rating. The REI Helix is liked by many because it’s close to R5 and it’s lightweight. Big Agnes pads, I have 3, tend to sleep cold so I discount their R values. I have used a quilt plus an additional fiberfill blanket in colder weather. It worked well, but I first tried it car camping when I knew I had a back up system (more blankets) available. Recently I purchased a 10 degree quilt for temps down to mid-20s. It’s still in the teens at my house with lows in single digits. I like quilts but it did take some time to learn how to use mine well and stay warm. For the novice, a sleeping bag is a wise choice. Once you digest all the comments here, settle on a budget, and get a better idea of what conditions you will experience, consider making a new post over in r/backpacking with greater detail.

I have been using a Big Agnes for a few years now, tent and lean-to use in the deep woods of northern New York and Vermont. I took it across the US this summer, using it to camp for three weeks. Zero problems. Even with my dog around, but I always put it in a sleeping bag liner.

I have a pretty basic Big Agnes sleeping pad that's probably R-3.5 or something like that. I've used it for several trips in Washington and Oregon in the summer. Being cold from below was not a a problem. I think R-1.5 would be OK in the summer, the ground warms up quite a bit during the summer. A more insulated pad would only be necessary if the ground is frozen during the day. What probably matters most for you is size, weight, and comfort - it needs to be thick enough so you don't feel the ground through the pad. I would also look at how difficult it is to inflate. The one I have has a terrible valve that seems to be designed to be as inconvenient as possible. You have to blow into it, but there's a bit of resistance to air coming in, and the valve is such that it's hard to tell if it's open or closed. I'm attaching a piece of an old bicycle inner tube to make it possible to use a bike pump. Some pads have a built-in hand pump and that would be useful. I can't offer a recommendation for a specific product since I haven't bought one recently, and the one I have doesn't seem to be available any more.

I use the big Agnes lost dog with my big Agnes pad. Because the lost dog attaches to the pad it keeps me from falling off the pad. I'm a bigger guy too and the first pad I bought was only 20 inches wide and my shoulders were wider than the pad. Ha. Right away I thought well this won't work.

Backing this up. I have two Expeds and love them. I really like Big Agnes as a company, but their pads are a disaster. Lots of leaking from those weird dimples they have. When you see a lot of bad reviews believe them, it doesn’t matter how much of a sale is going on.