Thanks to Marilyn, whoever she is
for e-mailing me the personal experience on the campbed. I may just go ahead and pick one up.
YoS
Me!
Marilyn is me! (just1more)!
Well, just thanks!
YoS
Thermarest to Big Agnes
My 3/4 length thermarest, with which I had been pleased, stopped holding air. I searched for and couldn’t find any leaks, so I used it a few more times. But it had become porous. It would also self-inflate while in it’s sleeve-bag. Finally, I said, WTF, I got it at REI, I’m taking it back.
REI made good on their satisfaction guarantee. I was going to pick up the same exact pad, but noticed Big Agnes had a full length, mummy, pad that packed lots smaller. In a hurry, I didn’t thoroughly look at what I was buying and was stunned when I rolled it out and it just sat there, not self-inflating.
So, huffed and puffed and finally blew the Big Agnes up. Looked like an air mattress, and I thought, great, I’m gonna freeze my nads off, since a cold night was forecast.
The Big Agnes product info said it was an insulating pad, and I did not get cold, so I guess it is. Furthermore, it started raining overnight, and I had to get up, pitch a tarp, and move where I was sleeping to get under the tarp. Next morning, I discovered I was sleeping on a protruding root and a 2" pine cone, that I hadn’t even noticed were under me. I think those would have been the source of discomfort if I was sleeping on the old Thermarest. So, despite not likeing the huffing and puffing, I was fairly impressed with the Big Agnes. It is hardly time-tested, but my initial impression was good.
~~Chip
Hey Chip…
for about 10 bucks (?) you can get the Big Agnes hand pump to inflate that thing. It’s light and compact and works well (averts passing out after lung inflation). It can also serve as a stuff sack.