Before I get into the details of the Insulated Air Core Ultra design, I wanted to comment on how comfortable the mattress is to sleep on since this is the primary reason for buying a mattress. As I mentioned earlier, I have been using an earlier version of this design for a number of years and have always found it very comfortable. While my old mattress size was a 25 x 72 and the mattress I am reviewing is a 20 x 78, I found this mattress to be just as comfortable as my old mattress. So from a sleeping perspective I am a very happy camper sleeping on this mattress. This tip is sure to be controversial but take it or leave it. I believe a quilt is more comfortable for side sleepers due to your ability to maneuver around inside all while keeping your quilt in place. For this to be true however, you need to have a quilt with a sleeping pad attachment system.

Our 2020 lineup of pads was completely redesigned by our Product Development team with the initiative to improve overall quality while meeting a desired R-Value that correlates to its intended use. If that’s not enough, all of our pads are still individually inflated and tested at our factory ensuring 100% quality performance. The better option in winter may be to combine your inflatable pad with a foam mat which will lift your r-value and comfort. How Much R-Value Will a Foam Sleeping Pad Add? An insulated winter sleeping pad can keep you warm in two ways: by limiting radiative heat transfer with reflective foil or by limiting convective heat transfer with synthetic or down-fill insulation.As we covered in a bit more detail further up the guide, there are three main types of insulated camping mats to choose from; reflective material, synthetic insulation, and down/feather filling. All three have their pros and cons, but we found the warmest sleeping pads combine the reflective lining with either synthetic or down filling. Based on the advice from multiple sleeping pad manufacturers and specialists, you need an R-value of at least 5 to safely camp in winter temperatures. This will provide enough resistance to stop you from losing body heat to the cold, hard ground.

We have tested dozens of sleeping pads over the years, and one feature we never used to pay much attention to was the inflation valve and how easy it is to inflate and deflate the pad. What brought this to our attention was a mid-range sleeping pad that had a terrible valve design. It would get caught on the sleeping bag and come open in the night, leading to waking up cold and having to reinflate it when you should be catching z’s. One of the big fears most people have with using an inflatable sleeping pad in winter is the fact that a puncture can make it unusable (if you don’t have a repair kit). I had this fear for many years, too, but after spending hundreds of nights camping on all kinds of rough ground, I have become way more trusting. I have never had a puncture (touch wood), but I have seen two other people struggle with it. In both cases, a simple adhesive puncture patch solved the problem in less than five minutes once we found the hole. No R value is stated by BA, only a 15 degree temp, but in comparing its specs to similar pads, most have an R value of 4-5. In temps of 35 degrees or below I find that using a foam pad beneath the inflatable makes a big difference in warmth and all so necessary if the pad deflates.Down is by far the most expensive but offers an unbeatable weight-to-warmth ratio. Synthetic is more budget-friendly and reliable but will be heavier and often bulkier.