Big Agnes - Divide / Air Core Ultra Series

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.

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

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.

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 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 am calling BS on the OP claim of a Dollar General pool float working hell, they don’t even work in a pool much less on the ground in a tent. I have a big Agnes divide, insulated three season pad. It works great doesn’t leak is very durable and worth every penny. I sleep well at night on it.

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.

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.

I am an "active" side sleeper, someone who changes side 4-6 times a night. When on my side I've very much in the recovery position like you, and as such I cannot stand being restricted in a sleeping bag. I use a [Big Agnes Divide Insulated Wide](https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/divide-insulated-sleeping-mat---regular-wide/) mat and it is super comfortable. I pair this with an [Ice Flame Extra Quilt](https://iceflamegear.com/product/extra-quilt-32f-standard/) which is rated to 0C/32F. I opted for the additional 200g of fill to make it extra snuggly. I've had this combo down below zero (somewhere between -2c and -5c) and I would not want to use it much colder than that. Anything down to 0C though and I've been toasty warm all night long. If you have a bit more cash to splash then the [Zenbivy Light Bed](https://zenbivy.co.uk/pages/light-bed) sleep system looks like the absolute dream for a sleeper like me. This is top of my list for upgrades.

I use a Big Agnes Divide Insulated mat. It has an R value of 4.0 which has kept me warm all year round in temps down to about -5. Packs up pretty small and is a doddle to get back in its bag. The bundled pump sack is crap though, it just leaves in one of my gear bins and I use a Flextail pump.

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 used the Nemo Tensor and then switched to Big Agnes Divide. Thicker and got better sleep (side and back sleeper).

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.

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

I got the ba divide in 25x72 and love it. Dunno why the rapide would be any worse

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.

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 just got the Trekology UL R7 sleeping pad for my husband and I. Only slept on it one night but it was comfy. I’m a side sleeper. Trying them again Easter weekend so we’ll see. We got the Nemo Tempo bags. For my kids (about the same age as yours), we got the Big Agnes Divide because it fits in a sleeve for their sleeping bags (also Big Agnes) so they don’t roll onto the ground. We did pay more than some other stuff but we went fairly lightweight and compressable in case we try backpacking too.

I just got the Trekology UL R7 sleeping pad for my husband and I. Only slept on it one night but it was comfy. I’m a side sleeper. Trying them again Easter weekend so we’ll see. We got the Nemo Tempo bags. For my kids (about the same age as yours), we got the Big Agnes Divide pad because it fits in a sleeve for their sleeping bags (also Big Agnes) so the kids don’t roll onto the ground. We did pay more than some other stuff but we went fairly lightweight and compressable in case we try backpacking too.

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.

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.

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.

Big Agnes are the best

Gf and I currently use a Big Agnes Sleepy Bear 35 which is a double wide sleeping bag and for our pad we use the Big Agnes Divide Insulated double wide pad. We love this combo for how comfortable it is and how it kept us warm down to an exact 35 degree night. Definitely recommend the sleeping pad. The bag is also great but discontinued. I see the current equivalent is the Dream Island which seems to be an improved version.

3-4 pounds is very heavy for a backpacking pad and you will probably regret it, IMO. Even 2 pounds is a fair bit. I think the Divide is the best option of those, personally. They're a pretty good value. See if you can get it on sale - they don't go on sale too often, but watch around the May long weekend as there are often price breaks for the big brands then.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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 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 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 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.

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.