GearFlogger

Big Agnes Insulated Air Core sleeping pad

Sawing logs and counting sheep are two of my favorite things, and they're both a lot easier at altitude with my phat ass parked on top of a beefy sleeping pad. The Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Mummy Pad can take the thunder, especially for you side sleepers out there like me who hate having your bony hips bottom out whilst tossing and turning.

I'm a big believer in the two-pad system for extreme cold: an inflatable parked on top of a closed cell foam pad will usually do the trick, and then you're also protected against pad failure. The Big Agnes Insulated Air Core series has long been a GearFlogger favorite, and this time up the mountain we packed the mummy version, size regular; it's also available in short and long versions. It performed flawlessly. Comfort was excellent, although larger folk with floppy limb syndrome might want to consider a wide version, unfortunately not available in mummy format.

The mummy is the lightest in this series at 21oz for 20x72in. Although I was a little concerned about having two extra corners, there were absolutely no problems aside from getting my lungs to work to inflate the big bastard. The extra air is needed to inflate the mummy to its 2.5 inches of glorious butt-absorbing goodness. Despite the beefiness the mummy compacts down to smaller than a 32oz Nalgene for excellent packability. Whichever Air Core you choose you can't go wrong.

$79.95 at REI

Big Agnes Cyclone chair kit

If you're confined to camp for any length of time, which is pretty much guaranteed on a big mountain, you're either sitting down or standing around. For the sitting portion of the event we recommend you take a load off in the Big Agnes Cyclone chair.

There are a lot of chair kits out there of the "just add pad" variety. What sets the Cyclone apart is that it weighs just 6oz. It's basically a very thin piece of Cordura with some aluminum stays and a couple of nylon straps for adjustment. It'll fit a 20" wide pad up to 78" long, doubled over at the southern point of contact. The Cyclone feels just a tad less supportive than some of the beefier kits, but it's still plenty comfortable when stuffed with a 2.5" thick inflatable pad. It'll work well with a mummy design but not so much with closed cell pads, which don't provide enough stiffness.

The instructions say "requires extra care" due to the vapor-thin construction and that's certainly a caveat for those who tend to be a little rough on their gear. If you use it on a hard surface be careful of not only abrasion but loading it too quickly, which will stress the stays and possibly cause them to erupt like little metal aliens from the fabric. Not for everyone or every situation, but if you're looking to cut every extra ounce and can put your ass gently into that good seat, sir, then you're good to go. For those who instill fear with their rear, consider a heavier but sturdier model like the Therm-a-Rest Trekker.

$39.95 at REI

Big Agnes Red Rider kid's sleeping bag

There are a few critical items necessary to an enjoyable outing with the LittleFlogger. Key among these is a good sleep system, with the criteria for good being: synthetic fill (for spilled liquid, either from internal or external sources), roomy and warm. The Big Agnes Little Red +15F hits them all out of the park.

The Little Red is a rectangular polyester-fill bag with a DWR nylon shell that will house up to a 4ft 5in LittleMonster. The clever 2lb 9oz design incorporates mummy-bag features to maintain warmth: a cinchable hood, draft yoke around the neck and a beefy full-length draft tube backing the zipper. Two more features make this an ideal bag for kids: an internal pillow sleeve fixes the head support in place, and an external pad sleeve accomodates any 20"x48" pad, such as the Big Agnes 3/4 length Air Core. No rolling off the pad, and really this feature alone makes this an awesome bag.

There are holes in the head corners that allow the pad to be inflated/deflated without removing it. The extra room allows for the normal kid night-long biathlon of tossing and turning, and there are internal loops for sleeping bag liners. The best thing to do is to set it up before you go camping and let your kid become familiar with it at home. The LittleFlogger will be jumping in and out of it in no time; don't force it, it'll happen. Once they've made friends you can hit the road, and you'll both be in dreamland instead of fighting with your gear. Highly recommended.

$89.95 at REI

Big Agnes Insulated Air Core pad

For some gear I'm willing to pack a few extra ounces for a good cause, and sleeping pads definitely fit in that category. A good night's sleep makes a big difference in attitude and performance, and this baby will have you counting sheep in no time.

You can get it insulated or not, in regular, long, and petite lengths, in both normal and wide and as a mummy or rectangular shape.

My theory is that for cold regions maximum floor coverage is the way to go. So even though I'm 5'10" I use the long version, and I would have used the wide had it been available when I made my purchase. I put this on top of a jigsaw mat that's cut to my tent's floorplan.

$74.95 at REI