Therm-a-Rest brings the broadest sleeping-pad lineup and the benchmark warmth-to-weight pads. Big Agnes counters with lighter, cheaper, notably thick air mats built for 3-season comfort. The better brand here depends entirely on which model and which nights you're buying for.
| Therm-a-Rest | Big Agnes | |
|---|---|---|
| Avg. GearScore | 69 | 73✓ |
| Avg. warmth | R4.2✓ | R4.0 |
| Avg. weight | 24.9 oz | 22.1 oz✓ |
| Avg. price | $160✓ | $165 |
Sleeping Pads | Gear Matrix
| Product | GearScore (Default) | R-value | Weight | R-to-wt | $ / R | Packed | Thick | Durab. | Price | Type | Shape | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87 | 4.5 R | 13.0 oz | 1.22 R/100g | $44.43 | 1.95 L | 3.0 in | 30 /100 | $200 | Inflatable | n/s | ||
| 86 | 7.3 R | 15.5 oz | 1.66 R/100g | $31.50 | 2.34 L | 3.0 in | 57 /100 | $230 | Inflatable | Mummy | ||
| 85 | 4.3 R | 14.0 oz | 1.08 R/100g | $46.50 | 1.66 L | 3.3 in | 12 /100 | $200 | Inflatable | Rectangular | ||
4 | 80 | 4.5 R | 19.0 oz | 0.83 R/100g | $48.88 | 3.17 L | 3.0 in | 30 /100 | $220 | Inflatable | Rectangular | |
5 | 79 | 4.8 R | 18.0 oz | 0.94 R/100g | $33.32 | 1.45 L | 4.3 in | n/s | $160 | Inflatable | Rectangular | |
6 | 79 | 4.0 R | 23.0 oz | 0.61 R/100g | $32.49 | 2.57 L | 3.3 in | 67 /100 | $130 | Inflatable | Rectangular | |
7 | 78 | 7.3 R | 22.9 oz | 1.12 R/100g | $34.24 | 3.72 L | 3.0 in | 57 /100 | $250 | Inflatable | Rectangular | |
8 | 77 | 2.3 R | 8.8 oz | 0.92 R/100g | $99.98 | 0.99 L | 2.5 in | 0 /100 | $230 | Inflatable | Mummy | |
9 | 77 | 2.8 R | 14.0 oz | 0.71 R/100g | $17.84 | 16.44 L | 0.6 in | 100 /100 | $49.95 | Closed-cell foam | Rectangular | |
10 | 77 | 4.3 R | 25.0 oz | 0.61 R/100g | $41.85 | 2.57 L | 4.3 in | 60 /100 | $180 | Inflatable | Rectangular | |
11 | 76 | 4.7 R | 25.0 oz | 0.66 R/100g | $53.18 | 3.98 L | 4.6 in | 65 /100 | $250 | Inflatable | Rectangular | |
12 | 76 | 2.0 R | 14.5 oz | 0.49 R/100g | $24.98 | 7.85 L | 0.8 in | 100 /100 | $49.95 | Closed-cell foam | n/s | |
13 | 76 | 3.8 R | 22.0 oz | 0.61 R/100g | $35.51 | 6.56 L | 2.0 in | 52 /100 | $135 | Self-inflating | Mummy | |
14 | 75 | 4.5 R | 22.0 oz | 0.72 R/100g | $22.21 | 1.66 L | 3.3 in | n/s | $99.95 | Inflatable | Rectangular | |
15 | 74 | 3.2 R | 18.0 oz | 0.63 R/100g | $53.11 | 1.55 L | 3.5 in | n/s | $170 | Inflatable | Rectangular | |
16 | 72 | 1.7 R | 14.0 oz | 0.43 R/100g | $41.15 | 12.64 L | 0.5 in | 100 /100 | $69.95 | Closed-cell foam | Rectangular | |
17 | 71 | 2.0 R | 14.0 oz | 0.50 R/100g | $17.48 | 16.44 L | 0.6 in | 100 /100 | $34.95 | Closed-cell foam | Rectangular | |
18 | 71 | 3.2 R | 23.0 oz | 0.49 R/100g | $45.30 | 6.36 L | 1.5 in | 52 /100 | $145 | Self-inflating | n/s | |
19 | 69 | 3.1 R | 24.0 oz | 0.46 R/100g | $29.02 | 8.59 L | 1.0 in | 70 /100 | $89.95 | Self-inflating | n/s | |
20 | 68 | 7.0 R | 2 lb 2.0 oz | 0.73 R/100g | $38.56 | 3.50 L | 3.5 in | 60 /100 | $270 | Inflatable | Rectangular | Buy |
21 | 68 | 4.4 R | 30.0 oz | 0.52 R/100g | $36.35 | 10.99 L | 3.0 in | 65 /100 | $160 | Self-inflating | Rectangular | |
22 | 66 | 3.2 R | 26.0 oz | 0.43 R/100g | $35.92 | 8.59 L | 1.5 in | 52 /100 | $115 | Self-inflating | Mummy | |
23 | 62 | 4.7 R | 2 lb 2.0 oz | 0.49 R/100g | $57.44 | 6.02 L | 4.5 in | n/s | $270 | Inflatable | Rectangular | Buy |
24 | 62 | 1.5 R | 19.0 oz | 0.28 R/100g | $66.63 | 1.45 L | 3.3 in | n/s | $99.95 | Inflatable | Rectangular | |
25 | 56 | 3.7 R | 23.0 oz | 0.57 R/100g | $48.64 | n/s | 4.0 in | 52 /100 | $180 | Inflatable | Rectangular | |
26 | 55 | 6.0 R | 2 lb 8.0 oz | 0.53 R/100g | $19.99 | 19.53 L | 2.0 in | 70 /100 | $120 | Self-inflating | Rectangular | |
27 | 53 | 2.4 R | 17.0 oz | 0.50 R/100g | $58.31 | n/s | 1.0 in | 52 /100 | $140 | Self-inflating | Tapered | |
28 | 43 | 6.0 R | 3 lb 4.0 oz | 0.41 R/100g | $31.66 | 24.31 L | 3.0 in | 65 /100 | $190 | Self-inflating | Rectangular | |
29 | 37 | 7.0 R | 4 lb 6.0 oz | 0.35 R/100g | $37.14 | 35.58 L | 4.3 in | 65 /100 | $260 | Self-inflating | Rectangular |
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Scatter plot
Plot any spec against any other to see the tradeoffs. Point color is the GearScore; size and shape are yours to assign. Hover any point for the details.
The full picture
Therm-a-Rest is the benchmark-and-range brand: a broad lineup spanning air, self-inflating, and closed-cell foam, covering every season from summer to true winter. Its NeoAir XLite and XTherm define warmth-to-weight, and the catalog reaches from packable foam pads to plush, thick options like the NeoLoft. Big Agnes is the value-and-comfort play: a tighter, all-air lineup focused on 3-season use, leaning on low prices and notably thick pads for plush comfort rather than winter-grade warmth.
By the specs, the ranges sit close on insulation, with the two brands nearly even on average warmth. But Big Agnes runs lighter and cheaper on average, reaching its warmest with the thick Rapide SL and undercutting on price with the budget-friendly Insulated Air Core Ultra. Therm-a-Rest's XLite NXT keeps strong warmth at a low weight, and the XTherm NXT is a dedicated winter pad Big Agnes's current lineup doesn't match.
How to choose comes down to the trip. For winter or the lowest warmth-to-weight, Therm-a-Rest's XTherm and XLite are the reference points, and its foam and self-inflating pads cover uses Big Agnes doesn't. For 3-season backpacking on a budget, Big Agnes's budget-friendly Air Core Ultra and light Zoom UL are strong, and its thick Rapide SL and Boundary Deluxe deliver more cushion than most. If packed weight or price matters more to you than peak warmth, re-weight those factors with the GearScore Algorithm to see how the comparison shifts for your priorities.
Common questions
Is Therm-a-Rest or Big Agnes better for backpacking?
Both make capable backpacking pads, so it depends on your target weight and warmth. Therm-a-Rest's NeoAir XLite NXT is a benchmark for 3-season warmth-to-weight, while Big Agnes's Zoom UL Insulated is nearly as light and its Air Core Ultra is far cheaper. For ultralight winter trips, Therm-a-Rest's XTherm NXT has no direct Big Agnes counterpart.
Which is cheaper, Therm-a-Rest or Big Agnes?
On average, Big Agnes is a little cheaper across its lineup than Therm-a-Rest. Big Agnes also offers the lowest-priced pad in this matchup, the budget-friendly Insulated Air Core Ultra. Keep in mind that both brands sell premium models well above those averages, so the real gap depends on which two pads you put side by side.
Which is warmer, and which is better for winter?
For true winter use, Therm-a-Rest is the clearer pick here: its NeoAir XTherm NXT reaches deep four-season warmth, while Big Agnes's warmest pad in our data, the Rapide SL Insulated, tops out well short of it. On average the two are close, partly because Therm-a-Rest's lineup also includes lighter summer and foam pads. If you only camp in 3-season conditions, either brand can keep you warm.
Which is more comfortable or thicker?
Big Agnes leans hard into cushion, with thick pads like the Rapide SL Insulated and Boundary Deluxe that rank among the thickest in this matchup. Therm-a-Rest answers with plush options of its own, including the notably thick NeoLoft. Comfort is personal, so if loft and thickness matter most to you, compare those specific models rather than the brands as a whole.
Bang for Your Buck
Dollars per point of GearScore. The lower the number, the more quality you get for your money. Each bar carries both metrics at once: a solid bar for the highlighted one over a faded ghost of the other. Sorted to the best value first, and always scored by the algorithm you've set above.
GearScore Algorithm
A GearScore ranks products on objective, published specs only, never opinions. It starts on a pre-tuned default; make it yours below, or pick a "Best for" preset up top.
Customize your algorithm
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