My Big Agnes went to the sleep in the sky on my trip last week.

tl/dr: This is a reminder to check and inflate your sleeping pads BEFORE your trip, which I forgot to do.

It was likely old age, the pad was from 2006. Filled it up at our campsited and about 10 minutes later it was quite a bit lower in inflation. I ignored it until a shower passed through and we were in the tents. I obviously had a leak. That was a crap first night sleep, there was a root and a rock strategically located under my sleeping bag. I'm a side sleeper, and if I twisted just right, I could avoid both. But, the ground is hard. Upon inspection the next morning, I found the leak via the submerge in the lake technique. The rib/seam glue had torn out about 5" long. The bubbles were coming out all along the comprimised seam. I took my knife and peeled back the outer layer to see if I could patch the inner liner, but it was blown out like an innertube. Nothing was going to patch this.

Night 2, let's try hammock sleeping! My 10 yo daughter/tent mate was up for it, so I set her hammock up with her sleeping pad and bag, then mine nearby with just my sleeping bag (40F rated Western Mountaineering Mitylight). Woke up around midnight, cold! It was low 50s/upper 40s. Grabbed my Grabber emergency poncho tarp and put it under my bag in the hammock, I was warmer. The stars were amazing, and no bugs! One hour later, I hear a BONK of something hitting a Kevlar canoe followed by "daddy!" in a loud whisper. I quickly got out of my hammock, scraped my feet on a stump and made it over to my daughter who had fallen out of her hammock! Poor thing. She was ok, just a sore shoulder. Wanted to get back in the hammock and try again. Then, around an hour later, she woke me again and asked if we could go in the tent, she was too scared to fall asleep. We did, and switched sides in the tent, hers side didn't have rocks or roots. I missed seeing the stars.

The next/last night, she was up for hammocks again, but then got scared at bedtime. My wife rigged up a McGyver sleeping pad for me out of everyone's camp pillows stuffed inside of my sleeping pad cover (two sheets sewed together to slide over our sleeping pads so you're not sleeping on nylon pads if your bag is open). I had a pretty good night sleep and we made it home. Funny thing is that I thought we were going for 4 nights, and my wife said we should only go for 3. After night three, and we were packing up, my wife asked if I was glad we were leaving. I said I'd rather stay another night, even with the lack of a sleeping pad! I love it up there!

I have an Exped down pad I bought for winter camping, it might take over for this one, it's so comfortable, but it takes up a lot of space/weight. I'm in the market for a replacement. Let me know if you have any recommendations for a side sleeper.

If you take few portages or base camp for several nights, your problem is first evidence to prove that a cot is worth while. You are sleeping likely 25% or more of your trip. A cot will keep you off the rocks and other hazards. Definitely worth the extra weight and possibly another portage trek for it.

Use bungy cords around your air mattress if you use one on the cot. Simply connect the right lengths around the lower area to hold sleeping pad in place. Take a pillow and sleeping bag for even more comfort.

gotwins, I am a side sleeper and have owned several inflatable sleeping pads. I single portage so I consider weight and bulk when choosing equipment. I prefer a full length sleeping pad that is at least 25 inches wide and 2 inches deep. I find that full length pads provide the best weight/bulk/comfort ratio for my personal requirements. The most comfortable sleeping pads I have owned were self-inflating.

I travel most often in warm conditions now so I seldom require an insulated sleeping pad. In an effort to save weight and bulk I have switched from insulated self-inflating pads to non-insulated inflatable pads. I have used the Klymit Static V Luxe and the Therm-A-Rest Topo Luxe . I felt the Them-A-Rest provided better rock, root and ground protection than the Klymit. However, as a side sleeper I found that with the Therm-A-Rest pad inflated to my comfort level if I rolled over onto the edge the air in the horizontal baffles would move from under me to behind me and I would fall off. I could only remain comfortable while laying in the center.

I bought an Alps Mountaineering Nimble non-insulated sleeping pad . It has side bolsters that help keep me centered on the pad for more comfortable uninterrupted sleep.

Good luck on your search.

I have had great luck with two insulated Exped mats.
Synmat 9LW, 39oz and Synmat UL LW, 20oz.
The ultra lite for me, 230lb side sleeper and
the 9cm thick for my 300lb brother.
10 years plus. No issues.

Side sleeper here. I bought a Nemo Quasar 3d. Its 3.5 thick and has curved baffles that create a cradle that keeps you centered. Even the long , wide, insulated version packs down to nice size. I've been very happy with it.

If you contact Big Agnes about the problem, they will likely send you a brand new one at no charge. Their latest design is really good, quicker to inflate, and very quickly deflates. Both my son and I are quite pleased with the improvement BA made over their previous designs. Seem pretty durable to me too. I have about 25 days of sleeping in the BWCA with my new one.

Tom

quark2222: "If you contact Big Agnes about the problem, they will likely send you a brand new one at no charge. Their latest design is really good, quicker to inflate, and very quickly deflates. Both my son and I are quite pleased with the improvement BA made over their previous designs. Seem pretty durable to me too. I have about 25 days of sleeping in the BWCA with my new one.


Tom"

I thought about that, and they did send us a replacement 2 years ago for one my wife had that had a leak in the valve. I felt like 17 years out of mine was enough time for a fair liftime and outside the reasonable time for a warranty. I will look at some of their pads in my search!

cowdoc: "Side sleeper here. I bought a Nemo Quasar 3d. Its 3.5 thick and has curved baffles that create a cradle that keeps you centered. Even the long , wide, insulated version packs down to nice size. I've been very happy with it."

+1

cowdoc: "Side sleeper here. I bought a Nemo Quasar 3d. Its 3.5 thick and has curved baffles that create a cradle that keeps you centered. Even the long , wide, insulated version packs down to nice size. I've been very happy with it."

I’ll check this one out, and the others. Thanks for the recommendations, everyone!

plander: "

cowdoc: "Side sleeper here. I bought a Nemo Quasar 3d. Its 3.5 thick and has curved baffles that create a cradle that keeps you centered. Even the long , wide, insulated version packs down to nice size. I've been very happy with it."

+1"

Is this the one you guys have?
https://www.rei.com/product/186713/nemo-quasar-3d-insulated-air-sleeping-pad

I'm happy with my Sea To Summit Comfort Plus, I'm also a side sleeper, overall comfort is very good. It has two air compartments, an inflation valve on each side of the mattress, so it has some " belt and suspenders" redundancy that shouldn't leave you with a completely flat sleeping pad if one side fails. It packs down to a Nalgene bottle size, and has good R value. Here's a review from Outdoor Gear Lab, in my mind a trusted review source. Sea To Summit Comfort Plus

gotwins: "

plander: "

cowdoc: "Side sleeper here. I bought a Nemo Quasar 3d. Its 3.5 thick and has curved baffles that create a cradle that keeps you centered. Even the long , wide, insulated version packs down to nice size. I've been very happy with it."

+1"

Is this the one you guys have?
https://www.rei.com/product/186713/nemo-quasar-3d-insulated-air-sleeping-pad"

Yes

16 years on 1 air-mattress! I think you got your monies worth of sleep on it. I'd recommend the same mattress.

butthead

butthead: "16 years on 1 air-mattress! I think you got your monies worth of sleep on it. I'd recommend the same mattress.


butthead"

Good pint, maybe I should stay loyal to Big Agnes! I remember buying it back when I lived in California and was exploring the High Sierra. Got it at the REI in Walnut Creek/Concord California. It was an upgrade to my 1” Thermatest self inflating pad that I inherited from my dad. He bought that one in the late 80s. It was so old, it had the metal inflation valve!

plander: "

cowdoc: "Side sleeper here. I bought a Nemo Quasar 3d. Its 3.5 thick and has curved baffles that create a cradle that keeps you centered. Even the long , wide, insulated version packs down to nice size. I've been very happy with it."

+1"

+1
And once you get the pump sack down quick and easy to fill.

fraxinus: "I'm happy with my Sea To Summit Comfort Plus, I'm also a side sleeper, overall comfort is very good. It has two air compartments, an inflation valve on each side of the mattress, so it has some " belt and suspenders" redundancy that shouldn't leave you with a completely flat sleeping pad if one side fails. It packs down to a Nalgene bottle size, and has good R value. Here's a review from Outdoor Gear Lab, in my mind a trusted review source. Sea To Summit Comfort Plus "

Second on that, my son and I both use them and are also side sleepers

I am a side sleeper and bought the new (2023 version) of the Thermarest Neoair Xlite NXT and I can't say enough good things about it. 3" thick and quite durable. Others that have tested and reviewed really like it as well. The older pre-2023 version was not so great. It was loud and crinkly. The other new versions of the Neoair are also quite good, such as the XTherm.

AlexanderSupertramp: "I am a side sleeper and bought the new (2023 version) of the Thermarest Neoair Xlite NXT and I can't say enough good things about it. 3" thick and quite durable. Others that have tested and reviewed really like it as well. The older pre-2023 version was not so great. It was loud and crinkly. The other new versions of the Neoair are also quite good, such as the XTherm."

I got a 4" Neoair Topo Luxe this year and love it. As I get older my pads have gotten thicker. I still have my first one, a Thermarest 1" self-inflater that's about 25 years old. The kids use it now.

One thing to note is that the Thermarest pads are still made in the US.

AlexanderSupertramp: "I am a side sleeper and bought the new (2023 version) of the Thermarest Neoair Xlite NXT and I can't say enough good things about it. 3" thick and quite durable. Others that have tested and reviewed really like it as well. The older pre-2023 version was not so great. It was loud and crinkly. The other new versions of the Neoair are also quite good, such as the XTherm."

I also bought the new Thermarest Neoair Xlite NXT this year and love it. (I’m also a side sleeper.) It’s very comfortable and quiet. I also like that it packs small and is lightweight. I have the regular size and it’s 13-14 oz. I think even the largest size is just over a pound.

EmmaMorgan: "

AlexanderSupertramp: "I am a side sleeper and bought the new (2023 version) of the Thermarest Neoair Xlite NXT and I can't say enough good things about it. 3" thick and quite durable. Others that have tested and reviewed really like it as well. The older pre-2023 version was not so great. It was loud and crinkly. The other new versions of the Neoair are also quite good, such as the XTherm."

I also bought the new Thermarest Neoair Xlite NXT this year and love it. (I’m also a side sleeper.) It’s very comfortable and quiet. I also like that it packs small and is lightweight. I have the regular size and it’s 13-14 oz. I think even the largest size is just over a pound. "

Admittedly I bought it purely for the weight and the packed down size, but then discovered how good it was for side sleeping so that was a nice bonus!