Big Agnes Air Core Ultra Sleeping Pad (Insulated & Uninsulated)

I'm currently hiking the Appalachian Trail. I started with a different pad, but didn't like it because there wasn't as much cushion and my butt would hit the ground when I just sat on it. Before going to sleep I like to sit down and either relax, prepare my stuff for the next day, or just sit and talk. On my previous pad my butt kept sinking into the floor and I was actually sitting on the ground. Someone I met on the trail recommended this one to me, and I bought it.Cons:- You might go light-headed while trying to blow it up by mouth. I usually start blowing it up when I set up camp, and come back in about 5 or 10 minutes and finish blowing it up. I was a swimmer in high school and college and like to think that I have pretty good lung capacity, but blowing this thing up all at one time takes it out of you.- Unless you have the sleeping bag that is made for this and goes inside of it, it can be really noisy. That noise is hard to describe unless you have been in a hiking shelter with someone who keeps rolling around on it throughout the night. (Thankfully I was the noisy one and I slept through it!) Hahaha!Pros:- It is super light and super compact.- Sleeping on this has been so much more comfortable than any other pads I have owned. I'm a side sleeper about 50% of the time and I had no issues with my hip bones or shoulders getting sore.- While just sitting on the pad, your butt doesn't touch the floor.- It comes with a patch kit, not that I've ever had to use it, but nice to have.Overall, I would buy another one.

I can't say enough good things about the my Big Agnes sleeping pad. I love to camp, but one of the things that has been holding me back--no pun intended--is that I get a sore back when I'm sleeping on the ground. I'm just not ready to pull the trigger on a hammock, because A: I feel like I'm presenting myself as a burrito fit for a bear, and B: I feel like if I have to use a hammock, I'm losing something by sleeping off the ground.This air pad allows me a little bit of comfort without feeling like I'm bringing along a full-blown air mattress.I like to use it by putting it inside my sleeping bag, so I am less likely to roll off it in the night. It supports me great and easily allows me to let out/add more air to give it the right firmness. I'm a bit of a husky side sleeper, and I toss and turn a lot in the night, but I never felt any hot-spots such as my hips or shoulders touching the ground. The first night I used it, I got my best night sleep in a tent in years.Finally I'm one of those guys... You know who we are. You may be one of us. I get something that comes in a small package, and once I unpack said package, I can never get that item back in again. When I saw how small the carrying bag was--compared to my previous (roughly) 4x larger (but thinner) sleeping pad--I had visions of hurriedly stuffing this sleeping pad into my pack in the morning and hoping it would fit. To my surprise, I was able to fold it up and then roll it and easily get it back into the bag. T'was wonderful.Overall I'm thoroughly satisfied with my Big Agnes sleeping pad, and I'd recommend BA's products.

I've only had this ground pad for a few months but have done 1 backpacking and 2 bikepacking trips. Total weight in the stuff sack was 1lb 9.7oz. and the size was 10.5"X5.5". A bit heavy for me as a LW hiker but I'm gaining 5" of width which helps me sleep better. I'm wide in the shoulders and a normal 72"X20" pad allows my shoulders to drop off the sides, (very uncomfortable.) The construction is rock solid, the double valves seal very well. I've inflated the pad at home and it holds "good air" for appx 1 week with slight deflation. Seems to be very well made. I'm really liking the vertical channels as opposed to normal horizontal channels on most pads. It takes me 50/55 breaths to inflated fully but there is no lose of air when you remove your mouth to rest as the in valve is self sealing (a nice feature). I've used several different Thermarest pads over the years including the rather expensive Neo Air Lite. I had 1 Neo fail after about 5 years of regular use which I felt was a fair length of time. If tarp camping I always use a piece of tyvek under my pad to prolong the life. Overall, I'm really liking this pad. It's a bit heavy as my normal pack weight is appx. 15-18 lb including 2 liters of water on a 3 day hike. Packed on my Mt Bike I hardly know it's there. Get 1, you won't be disappointment.

My 2nd Big Agnes insulated air core. I had the 2.5 inch version since 2010 and it has endured countless trail nights without a single failure. I upgraded to this one because of the extra inch of depth (hint: don't blow it up all the way if you are over 40 so that your hips don't ache at night) as well as the improved valves (quick deflation and improved inflation valve that you can hook up a Big Agnes Air Pump).

The one way valve is not installed. You have to do it yourself! It dropped down inside the mattress, now I have to try and find it and get it out of there! You would think that for the money they charge the damn thing would come pre installed. Not really happy with my purchase right now!

Updated May 2, 2020: I’ve been using this excellent and affordable sleeping pad frequently for both car camping and backpacking over the past 3 years, I’m a 5’ 11” about 190lbs male and I stand by my original review. No more sore hips, no back pain, no flat-on-the-ground-in-the-morning-ouch syndrome. This well made sleeping pad inflates easily and quickly, holds its air all night long and thanks to that 2nd valve it deflates in a flash and is easy to pack. The pad packs tiny and it's light about (20oz) - it works quite well for backpacking. It’s not as noisy or crinkly to sleep on as some other well known, lighter brands but I made it even quieter and pleasant to sleep on by matching it with the Cocoon Poly-Cotton Sleeping Pad Cover that I also found on Amazon. I’m more than willing to put up with a bit more weight in exchange for the good night’s sleep this pad/cover combination give me. I have never had any issue with this pad - no problems with the valves, no punctures, no leaks. It’s an amazing value.

Expensive and doesn’t have a pump with it