Big Agnes Diversion Insulated Air Core Pad - 2008 BCS

I took the Big Agnes Div. Insulated Air Core Pad on a fall hiking week-end a few days ago. Temps at night were around 35 degrees F. The pad was everything advertised. I am happy with it and the cost was much more reasonable than the competitiors version. Blowing it up and deflating it was no big deal (3-5 min tops). I felt no soreness from sleeping on the ground as I did with my previous therm-a-rest self inflating pad. This was definitely worth the purchase. Also, it did not take up much room and did not add much weight to my pack. I love that it fits in my pack and does not have to be strapped to the outside. I highly recommend this accessory for your next hiking trip!

OK, so maybe I am getting old. Now that my boys are old enough for hiking and not just car-camping, we have started going on overnight trips. My old therma-rest was the weak link in my backcountry experience. I cannot fall asleep on my back, and so sleep on my side all night. Inevitably I wake up every hour or so with an aching hip. No longer. The BA pad is a lot thicker with more cushion between my bony hip and the hard ground. Of course you don't blow it up to 2.5" unless you want to sleep on a piece of lumber. For my taste, a little less than 2" is about right, which is about twice as much as the old therma-rest.

Although this pad is slightly heavy in comparison to others, nothing beats a great nights sleep while backpacking! The material is very durable and keeps you nice and warm by keeping you a few inches above the ground. A great investment for a good night's sleep plus it's recycled material so it's also a great investment for the planet! It also comes with a convenient repair kit just in case.