Pacific Outdoors Vs. Big Agnes

I haven't check out the new PO ether mat. My family has the older thermo and the BA insulation air core. We have found that they are very similar weight and packing size. I think the BA is more comfortable, because the 8 tubes give a flatter surface. Other family members liked how their legs sort of fell into the deeper values found in the PO. Seems like a personal preferences sort of choice.

–mark

I have the BA insulated aircore and Ether thermo 6. One good thing about the ether thermo 6 is the thicker 70D bottom campared to the BA insulated aircore, with no discernable weight penalty. The bottom fabric of the thermo is different from the top and looks much more robust. I have the ether thermo 2/3 and it looks to be a lot of comfort for 16oz. The fewer baffles don't seem to bother me.

I got an Aircore recently and the weight was 4 oz more than they said. When I called REI they weighed one and found it 5 oz more, and said they would change the spec on the web site. They refunded the money and shipping, and I got the Ether instead. The Ether meets the weight specs, but I haven't tried it in the field yet.
Conclusion: REI has great customer service, and Big Agnes lies about their specs.

I have only the 3/4 length insulated insulmat (15oz). I have used it in all types of terrain, winter and summer (don't need the insulation in summer but my back still needs the padding).
When I was making my decision, I researched all the forums and, found both received very favorable comments on comfort but I found an alarming number of references to leaks in the B.A. aircore whereas I found no such references for the P.O.E. insumat.
So far, my experience has shoen the insumat to be problem free. I'm happy about my choice.