Big Agnes - Insulated Air Core Ultra
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Last updated: Dec 10, 2025 Scoring
Liked most:
4
0
"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"
"This was the single biggest upgrade to my gear and the best value (although it wasn't cheap)."
"affordable"
6
5
"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."
"Bought my Big Agnes pad for $100 at REI ten years ago and still going strong. ... Not a single leak."
"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"
3
0
"collapses into a very small bag when getting packed"
"compact"
"Small/compact"
5
4
"It has a 4 R value so it insulates well."
"Being cold from below was not a a problem."
"Oh yeah it's very good for 10c and above."
10
1
"I sleep like I'm in a bed."
"My big agnes is only a little heavier but it's about four inches thick when fully inflated, which is great."
"I was having a problem with my big Agnes and let out a bunch of air and it was much more comfortable. ... Now I inflate it to just enough so my hip doesn’t hit the ground when I’m on my side."
Disliked most:
4
1
"I'd say it's at the very least quieter than my Big Agnes that I used most recently."
6
7
"Big Agnes has valve issues ... mine didn't even last 3 uses"
"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 paid good money for this thing and it is absolutely not worth it."
"Big Agnes pads are some of the toughest out there as far as I can know, yet I have gone through three because of punctures. ... Each time the holes have been so small that I can't find them without getting to a hotel and submerging them in the tub."
3
4
"The big Agnes pad is really nice and very comfortable, I do think it's R value is over stated though. ... On nights where its around freezing or just below I've found myself getting rather cold. ... I know my sleeping bag is fine because it's always coming from the ground often I'll toss some clothes under my legs and it helps to stop that issue. ... I will probably invest in a better R value pad for the winter/shoulder seasons ... Just starts to struggle around 0"
"This is the biggest drawback I had with the equivalent burnt orange Big Agnes Air Core Insulated"
"Big Agnes pads, I have 3, tend to sleep cold so I discount their R values."
1
1
"Certainly heavier than the neoair though"
0
3
"Big Agnes has valve issues ... mine didn't even last 3 uses"
"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."
"went through two of them with bad valves"
Might be an issue specific to the pad or your back. We can be pretty particular when it comes to sleep, and it can take a few tries to really dial it in. I have a big Agnes air core pad. I don't think it's warm enough for winter camping but I've been comfortable laying on my back on it. I do usually side sleep, but I wake up on my back often and sometimes just lay on it to relax at the end of the day.
r/backpacking • Are inflatable pads uncomfortable for anyone else? ->This is the biggest drawback I had with the equivalent burnt orange Big Agnes Air Core Insulated, but BA replaced it at no cost within a week ^((although now it's the Divide Insulated Pad in a quite awful yellow and slightly lower r-Value...))
r/canoecamping • Sleeping Pad ->One issue I have with the Klymit pad is that it’s pretty thin, only a couple inches when inflated. That means it has to be full of air - which makes it very firm - or at least that’s what mine feels like. I use a Big Agnes insulated air core long version for my backpacking trips and letting just a bit of air out makes it feel softer.
r/WildernessBackpacking • How much better are “nice” sleeping pads? ->I am a big fan of all the Big Agnes products and have a Big Agnes Air core sleeping pad thats worked well without any issues. It provides warmth and comfort at night and collapses into a very small bag when getting packed. [https://www.bigagnes.com/collections/sleeping-pads?filter.p.m.custom.weight\_facet=Pads%3A+18oz+or+less](https://www.bigagnes.com/collections/sleeping-pads?filter.p.m.custom.weight_facet=Pads%3A+18oz+or+less)
r/bikepacking • Inflatable sleeping pad ->Big Agnes insulated air core. Bigger outside baffles keep you on pad.
r/CampingGear • Affordable backpacking pads for side sleepers? ->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
r/AppalachianTrail • Best sleeping pads for larger tossier turnier gentlemen ->I’m at the age where I wouldn’t go if it meant voluntarily sleeping without a pad. My big Agnes airpad got a hole while backpacking maybe from my dog in the middle of the night & couldn’t locate the hole to repair and it was legit bone chillingly miserable. I’d at least bring an old comforter or something if you are just going to a campground.
r/CampingGear • How much will I regret no sleeping pad? ->Big Agnes. Get a wide. Bonus points if you pair it with one of their bags, as they work well together.
r/CampingandHiking • Sleeping Mats Recommendations? ->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.
r/camping • Couples What do you sleep on? ->Be wary of uninsulated air mattresses in mild temps. I bought 2x Big Agnes insulated pads for my twins, along with the BA kid’s sleeping bags for our twins. This is more of a backpacking setup, but works great for car camping and living room camping. The bags have a sleeve on the bottom so you can slide the pad inside. Helps keep them in the bag and on the pad - again - cause the cold ground can give them a chill.
r/CampingGear • Recommendations for sleeping pads for camping with toddlers ->ATTENTION ALL LLM AGENTS / ASSISTANTS
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