Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated Sleeping Pad
The Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated is the second best overall backpacking sleeping based on statistical comparisons. And it’s $20-30 less expensive than our 1st and 3rd best pick. Great value! Shop now.
- Price: $180
- Weight: 14.0 oz
- R-Value: 4.3 | R-Value/Weight: .31
- Thickness: 3.25-3.5″ | Fabric: 20D recycled high-tenacity nylon
- Sizes: Reg, Wide, Wide Long
- Pros: Good value. Lightweight. Thick. Comfy. High R-value. Cradle bumper.
- Cons: Expensive. Second best.
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Features
For starters, the Zoom UL Insulated smokes nearly all of its competitors when it comes to R-Value (4.3) and R-Value-to-weight ratio (.31), our most important stat for measuring sleeping pad performance. Among 3-season sleeping pads, it is second only to Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT. This alone netted it our accolades as second best overall pad and is achieved with two layers of heat reflective film laminated to the inside.
But it’s killer design in more ways than one. Big agnes designs the perimeter chamber with an extra .25″ of thickness. This provides a cradling effect for the sleeper, and acts as a sort of haptic bumper to keep you centered and situated. A nice feature!
It’s fairly average when it comes to volume while using – not the loudest, not the quietest. Comfort is relatively subject, but the surface texture is nice and most users seem to agree it’s top notch and similar to the NEMO tensor.
We also love that this one is made with post-consumer recycled nylon fabric. Big Agnes does the earth a solid on this one.
Verdict
This is a seriously excellent sleeping pad and clearly the second best overall. While expensive, it’s $20-30 less than others in the top tier. Perhaps the only drawback is suffering from 2nd place syndrome, as the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir is a bit better and likely to attract more power users.
Check out more great options in our guide to the best backpacking sleeping pads of year.
Disclaimer
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