Big Agnes vs NeoAir

IMHO I think the NeoAir is possibly the best sleeping pad or piece of gear that has come out in the past 2-3 years…

Very comfortable!!!!

Very lightweight!!!!!14oz Reg.

Packs down to the size of a Nerf football.

A little pricey but worth every dollar.

You cant really put a price on a good nights sleep.

-Jay

me too…
more comfortable than the Prolite 4 and much smaller and lighter.
Obviously the Prolite takes over at 32f or there about.

I own both a long BA Insulated Air Core and a small Neoair. My Big Agnes has been with me for many miles and dozens of restful nights.

As soon as I heard about the NeoAir, I got one. The only time i'll ever look back at my BA pad is for snow on the ground cold and wet.

Jack

Hi John,

I don't know that one is warmer than the other (I have both) but IMHO the NeoAir is a good bit more comfortable. Packs smaller and lighter as well.

And yes, it could serve as a gigantic trout lure in a pinch.

Cheers,

Rick

To me they are about the same in comfort and warmth. Neo is a lot lighter though:)

I've found the NeoAir significantly less comfortable than my POE Insulmat Max Thermo (predecessor of the Ether Thermo). It does weigh half as much, but I just can't fall in love with it as I have my POE pad. For one thing, the POE pad, with its vertical tubes, keeps me on it, cradled between the outer tubes–it's almost impossible to roll off it. With the NeoAir, if I get too close to the edge, it collapses, dumping me on the tent floor. While I continue to use the NeoAir for longer trips, where weight is more critical, I take my beloved POE pad for overnight trips and luxuriate in its comfort. I can't wait for POE to come out with their lighter version (Ether Elite 6) (shown at this summer's Outdoor Retailer show) that they designed to compete with the NeoAir. I hope they get it out soon enough that I can test it at colder temperatures! If the POE Ether Elite 6 works for me, I'll have a NeoAir for sale cheap!

Interestingly, I've never liked the BA pads–to me, not as comfortable as the POE air pads. Because of the larger number of tubes in the BA pad, the tubes are effectively smaller and I couldn't find the "sweet spot" between having the mattress cushiony enough while keeping my hip/shoulder off the ground when on my side.

I personally detest the sickly yellow-green color of the NeoAir, but I try not to look at it. I did not, after all, buy it for its color!

Everyone's sleeping styles are individual, so you really have to find what suits you. I strongly recommend spending several nights sleeping on the floor at home with your new pad to be sure it works for you!

I got the large NEO. It is only the slightest bit lighter than my BA, but much more comfortable. The extra width allows my arms to rest on the pad when I lie on my back, and as I move around during the night never feel like I am going to fall off. (which I did during a home test of the regular NEO).

The horizontal tubes provide me much more uniform support than the vertical tubes of the BA. My BA was my most comfortable mattress, now I am sold on the NEO even though it takes a large one to do it.

I haven't tested the NEO at as low of temps as the BA. The BA is satisfactory into the 20's as long as I stuff any extra clothing between my sleeping bag and the mattress. The NEO has one night at 32F and was plenty warm.

Sounds like a trip to the store is in order… any deals anyone knows about?

Hey John, you can score 20% off at basegear. Great company with free, fast shipping.

I too am considering going with a Neo Air from my Pro Lite 4. After analyzing my gear and deciding to lighten up my 'Big 3' I think I'm going to get a lightweight BA bag and a Regular Neo Air.

Adrien

sold! or should i say purchased!

I'm surprised that almost everyone prefers the neo. Although I haven't tried the neo (I have the BA) a buddy of mine "tried" one at REI. He wouldn't use it regardless of price. He said is was uncomfortable and the "crinkling" noise would be unbearable.

While the BA isn't lite, it isn't heavy either. And I find it like sleeping at home. :)

Larry,

he 'tried' it at an REI? The difference here is that we have used it in the field.

Comfy. and the noise is simply a non-issue.

"With the NeoAir, if I get too close to the edge, it collapses, dumping me on the tent floor."

This is why I prefer my BA clearview 3/4 mummy. Well, that and the price.

And the quiet.

And the weight.

People keep talking about the NeoAir being noisy..I have a Regular NeoAir and "creekalen" or noise has never been a factor at all…I guess because I fill it to the max (I like it firm) when comes to air. About 25 breaths gets the job done.

What David said. Noise is a non-issue. I also never noticed the "falling off" phenomenon… although I have the large, I purposefully slept near one edge a few times…

no pun intended….

Is there a way to inflate these blow up devices without pursing ones lips? A light light pump? Or using the stuff sack somehow ingeniously?

Big agnes makes a stuffsack that attaches to the pad valve and has a drybag type closure that you can use to inflate these pads. It weighs 1.5 oz.

http://www.bigagnes.com/Products/Detail/Accessory/Pumphouse

I use mine to blow up a downmat where you do not want to use your moist breath.

Hi! My name is Denis and I'm a gear addict.

I've got one each of the NeoAir Small, Medium and Regular. In the two dozen or so nights I've used them they have provided me the most comfortable nights sleep I remember since I started backpacking in the late 60's.

On one cold night (37°), using the Small, I had to lay my rain shell under my feet at three in the morning. Other than that I've found the NeoAir to be plenty warm enough. I won't be carrying my Prolite 3 until it freezes.

I may get a size large and cut it down to 60 inches. Since I'm a side sleeper the extra width would be nice.

I agree with the above post, that the NeoAir is one of the best products to come out in the last few years… also the LuxuryLight pack and the Tarptent Sublite.

Edit: I play the flute and don't find the NeoAir too much of a challenge to inflate.

That's why I put tried in quotes. However, there isn't much of an alternative. After laying on it at REI his comment was that he wouldn't use it if it was free. He was looking for weight savings and increased comfort. He planned to purchase the neo prior to his trip to REI.

Everyone is different, so it's good that the make different products. It's just with his reaction to it I'm surprised there are not a few more people with the same reaction.

I already have the BA, so I'm not considering anything else.

Boy, I would sure take one if it were free. Heck I paid good money for one! I have the Neo regular and many BA IAC pads.

The noise of the is very noticeable playing with it at the store or home, but is not as noticeable in the field as once I am laying on it the pressure stops the noise from happening.

The Neo is not as supportive to me as the vertically running chambers of the IAC. I don’t know if it is as warm yet as I have not been able to take it into the teens F yet as I have the IAC. (By the way I start feeling the cold with IAC in the low 20s F.)

The shell material of the Neo is not as comfortable to lay directly on with a quilt, or nothing in the case of a hot summer night. It feels much more plastic and sticky to me.

But the weight and size of the Neo are such a positive that it has a prominent spot in my pad quiver now. Here is a shot comparing it to the BA IAC mummy long and a MontBell UL Comfort 180 pad.

What I mean is – I don't take photos of what i have! Thankyou ALL for your ideas on the pros and cons of the big little yellow thing. I took the plunge, bought a medium, it arrives on monday. Ill share with you my results, my thoughts and maybe, if yer lucky, take some pictures!

"Hi! My name is Denis and I'm a gear addict."

It's OK Denis, you're among friends here.

And speaking as a gear addict myself, I have a small NeoAir, a BA Clearview and a BA IAC. For me there's really no comparison, the Neo wins hands down. It's not that it's more comfortable, though it's OK in that regard, it's that it's half the weight of my Clearview which was already a very light pad. And the Neo is tiny, I can almost fit it in my pocket. Noise? I don't understand the noise complaints. If the NeoAir keeps you awake at night because it's noisy you're not walking enough.

G

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