Switched to Big Agnes

[Alan]

On my last camping trip to West Virginia a couple of weeks ago, I realized that I needed a better mattress pad than the Thermarest that I have been using for the last couple of years. In the current issue of Rider magazine they have a couple of articles on motorcycle camping and the one by Arden Kysely mentioned that he uses a Big Agnes mattress. So I checked out the Big Agnes website, cleverly named www.bigagnes.com, and liked what I saw. I decided to try the Insulated Air Core Pad that is supposed to be good for 15 degree temps. Their store locator showed a store in Ann Arbor, MI and since my wife was driving to Ann Arbor the next day, she picked up one of these air mattresses.

The mattress appears to be high quality and packs down into a very small bundle, much smaller than the Thermarest, so I am gaining sizeable extra luggage space. I have not camped yet with the Big Agnes, but trying it out on my family room floor it appears to be much better than the Thermarest. I usually sleep on my side and thats where the Thermarest failed, it is too thin for the concentrated weight of my hip bone, which would compress the pad and touch hard ground. The Big Agnes is 2 1/2 inches thick and is thick enough to support my hip bone without touching. So I am hoping for the best when I finally go camping with the Big Agnes.

[mageerc]

Isn't it self-inflating like the Thermarest?

[Roadhound]

I to use the Big Agnes REM insulated air mattress. I use it with a Big Agnes Lost Ranger Bag.
As stated this thing packs tiny, it contains Primaloft insulation and insulates from the ground cold quite well. It does not require any thing to inflate as it only take a few breaths to fill it up.

[Mellow]

Thanks!.. right when I thought my gear was all set... you gotta bring this up... hmmmmm

[dannyk]

I gotta look at one, I have the same issue with the thermarest, hip always on the hard ground, looks like a hundred mile ride to the nearest shop that carries them. Danny

[Blues Traveler]

This is the same mattress (insulated air core) that I use in my Big Agnes Park series bag. The mattress for the Park series bag is 25" wide and 78" long 2 1/2" thick and like Roadhounds mine too slips into the pocket on the bottom of the bag.

Im a big guy who sleeps on his side too and no, I don't bottom out. In fact im supprised my butt doesnt bottom out when I sit on it with my legs off to the side, but it doesn't. The bigger mattress is about $30 more than the standard 20" X 72" X 2 1/2" thick mattress from BA.

[Mellow]

la la la la la.... I can't hear any of this... la la la la la la la... where's my credit card:(

[sbodi4d]

This is from the Big Agnes website. http://www.bigagnes.com/str_pads.php?id=ia

"PrimaLoft features a silicone treatment which serves as an anti-microbial within the pad".

I am going to order this pad before my trip to New Mexico next month.

[Alan]

I have attached a couple of pictures to show the size of a Thermarest compared to the Big Agnes.

As far as getting moisture inside of the mattress when blowing it up, I also had to blow up my Thermarest. It would self inflate some, but I always had to finish the job myself.

I am real happy to hear some of the positive comments from users of the Big Agnes.

[Mellow]

Ah... see.. NOW YOU'VE DONE IT... I didn't need to see that... I never had a big problem with the Thermarest, yes it could have been more comfortable but it wasn't terrible for me...My main issue was how long it was, didn't easily fit in with how I liked to pack my bike... I always wished it was half as long.......aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!

Thanks!

[Alan]

Ah... see.. NOW YOU'VE DONE IT... I didn't need to see that... I never had a big problem with the Thermarest, yes it could have been more comfortable but it wasn't terrible for me...My main issue was how long it was, didn't easily fit in with how I liked to pack my bike... I always wished it was half as long.......aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!

Thanks!

Glad to help you spend money!:D

[Mellow]

Glad to help you spend money!:D
Since it's your faultthat I want thisI think you should pay half the cost

[mongo]

I am in the same boat as Mellow, upper thirty's last night at Willville campground and I had to put my riding jacket under the thermorest for more insulation as I was bottomed out on my shoulder. $$$$$

[Mellow]

What's the cheapest place to get one of these.... If someone were in the market for one that is...

[Mellow]

Looks like 69.95 for the regular rectagle one is the
price I've seen, cheaper than the thermarest I have now.

http://www.campmor.com/images/sleeping/larger/24957_l.jpg (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?memberId=12500226&productId=39202490)

[LandRover]

I gotta look at one, looks like a hundred mile ride to the nearest shop that carries them. Danny


And your point would be .........? :)