big agnes anyone own one of these or other big agnes pads? how are they?

Yes! Love'em! Got 2 new (used) ones this off season and they are the best! Like the way they roll up in a smaller manner in the pack. Half the size of a normal pad.

Another BA IAC pad lover. My wife and I both have them. We used to have Therma rests. These rock! They are very comfortable. Yes it takes some blowing to get them inflated but well worth it.

Very happy with both my pads, but find I stay centered best on the Q-core model. A bit more expensive, but the BA system is great when you have less than perfectly level conditions and you get to stay in one place rather than spend the night migrating on and off you pad with traditionally separate bag/pad. Blowing up is no big deal considering the comfort level attained.

I have two and like them a lot. I got an inflator bag with one of them that works pretty well. It attaches to the valve, and then you open it up and fill it with air, and then closes the top and roll the air into the pad. I have been very happy with mine. I love their pad sleeves on their sleeping bags, makes a big difference.

I got one of their double bags for my wife and I, and it helped make her a lot more happy on trips.

I have the dual-core pad. Two layers of insulation keeps cold air from seeping up from below. I now use a 32 degree bag rather than a 15 degree bag. Additional space in pack is nice.

Had 2 IAC mattress in the family, now down to 1. I camp in all kinds of weather and needed something warmer, went to an Exped Downmat9.
The IAC still gets used but in warmer, 40 degrees+, weather.
Thermarest 3/4 1 inch thick, BA IAC 72x20, Exped Downmat 9 72x20. I have others, self inflating and inflatable, but the IAC still gets regular use. BA has excellent service, and I get as much comfort from it as the Expeds I have. Only mattress I own that packs smaller is an Exped 5S Downmat, but it's 66 inches long.

As far as bags, after a year of looking and trying others, I've gone back to BA bags because of the sleeve construction. Now there's 4 of em hanging in my closet.

butthead

I have that exact pad, great pad, love it.

Joining the crowd...I have two BA bags and two pads; a regular 20 inch pad and the Q core insulated pad. They are comfortable, dependable and roll up pretty small. i would have a difficult time going back to a conventional style bag/pad combination.

I have one and really like it. I liken it to almost sleeping in my bed at home. It's a little narrow for my totally crashed out sleeping style, but when I am on it I am out cold.

Both my son and I use the BA insulated pad and bags. Great for both ground and hammock camping. Switched 5yrs ago and have been very pleased.

I love Big Agnes. I have three BA insulated air core pads for the family along with three BA sleeping bags with the sleeve to accept the pads. For the money they are very well constructed and work great. Personally I've switched to the Exped Synmat UL7 pad because it's lighter and packs down quite a bit smaller. It's all about how much money one wants to spend.

I had a BAIAC and I replaced it with an Exped Synmat 7, which I like a lot more. The IAC is best for younger or smaller people. For older or larger people the Expeds, like the Synmat 7, are better. Reasons:

--Wider, so your arms don't fall off the sides
--Larger-diameter tubes are quite a bit more comfortable than the narrow IAC tubes
--Thicker
--Better fabric, not slippery (IAC is very slippery)
--Built-in pump
--More durable. There are more complaints about failure of the IAC than for the Expeds.

The one drawback of the Synmat 7 is that it's heavier, but I think it's worth the extra weight, even for backpacking.

In this class of inflatables I don't think there is a more comfortable mattress than the Exped Synmat. For me the quality, features, and comfort of the Synmat are literally twice as good as the BAIAC.

Love it, love it, love it. Don't like blowing it up though. Would love to try an exped next but doesn't mean I don't love my Big Agnes.

Have the Q-core & love it. I sleep much better on it than I ever did before while camping.

quote giddyup: "Love it, love it, love it. Don't like blowing it up though. Would love to try an exped next but doesn't mean I don't love my Big Agnes. "

+1 on all 3 statements

The Big Agnes Air Core Insulated Sleeping Pad current version is 20x72 inches, 3.25 inches thick, 6 tubes across, in Regular size.
The Exped SynMat 7 Air Pad with Pump current version is 20x72 inches, 2.8 inches thick, 8 tubes wide, size Medium. Both models come in a variety of sizes.

I have had both a Big Agnes and Expend inflatable mattress fail at less than 5 years (very frequent use), both replaced under warranty and returned to me within a week.

Thermarest, Alps Mountaineering, Klymit, Rei, Nemo, all make inflatable air mattresses. I only have experience with BA and Exped. The Brookfield REI stocks BA, Exped, REI, and Thermarest, and can be compared side by side.

butthead

Yes! I bought the wide one (25") earlier this year and couldn't be happier with it. Matched it with a BA Buffalo Park bag and it's fantastic.

I have a couple of the basic BA air core (non-insulated) pads and they have greatly exceeded my expectations. I got them on clearance for like $30 each, and they are very comfortable, pack down to nothing, and seem very durable.

Invested in one for my dad a number of years ago, and it was worth every penny. Warm enough for Spring camping, and comfortable enough that the old man actually got some quality sleep at night. (It used to take quite a lot of coffee and brandy and stretching and groaning to get him going in the morning.)

Liked his enough that I got one for myself a couple of years ago. Inflating it is a minor annoyance, but well worth it for the comfort factor.

Exped can't beat their service and I consider them the sleep number bed of the BWCA.

JB

quote butthead: "The Big Agnes Air Core Insulated Sleeping Pad current version is 20x72 inches, 3.25 inches thick, 6 tubes across, in Regular size.
The Exped SynMat 7 Air Pad with Pump current version is 20x72 inches, 2.8 inches thick, 8 tubes wide, size Medium. Both models come in a variety of sizes.
butthead"

After I posted about the narrow tubes etc on the BAIAC I was in REI just yesterday and saw the new model (blue, right?). I thought, "Hey, those tubes look wider than they used to be!" And I thought the mattress looked thicker.

While I was there I tried the REI InCamp---very comfortable, but a bit heavy at 2lbs 10 oz. On sale right now for $99.
http://www.rei.com/product/845301/rei-incamp-insulated-air-sleeping-pad#specsTab