The Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated was a winner in our Gear of the Year Awards. Find out why.
Rather than vertical or horizontal tubes the rectangular Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated sleeping mat has an unusual, quilted pattern with a series of small diamond-shaped inflatable sections.
Chris Townsend’s Best in Test
I’ve found the Zoom warm and very comfortable. I think the pattern adjusts better to my body when I move than tubular chambers do.- 3 sizes
- larger outer chambers
- recycled nylon
- comfort
- small pack size
- lightweight
- crackly
- tight fit stuffsack
| Quick specs |
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| Price: $199.95 / £170 (available from LD Mountain Centre) Weight: 400g Type: insulated airbed Materials: recycled nylon ripstop, 2 layers heat reflective foil Dimensions: 51 x 183cm (Regular) Thickness: 8cm Rating: R value 4.3 Sizes: Regular, Regular Wide, Long Wide bigagnes.com |
Along the sides are larger chambers designed to keep you centred on the mat. Inside the mat there are two layers of heat reflective film for insulation. The mat has an R-value of 4.3 and is designed for extended three-season use. Despite the R-value Big Agnes recommends using a closed cell foam mat under it when sleeping on frozen ground or snow.
The Zoom UL has one valve for inflation and deflation and comes with a pump sack. The valve lies flush with the mat, making blowing it up by mouth very difficult, so the pump sack or other inflation device really is needed. To deflate the mat a small tab on the closure can be used to keep the valve open while you press all the air out. This works quite well but can be fiddly to do in a small tent, especially with cold fingers. It’s also awkward squeezing the mat into the stuffsack. It does fit but only with some effort and you do have to ensure all the air is out. On a few occasions I ended up just folding the mat and packing it in the pump sack. This is open at one end and so not waterproof but rolled up should keep most moisture out.
I’ve found the Zoom warm and very comfortable. I think the pattern adjusts better to my body when I move than tubular chambers do. The thicker side chambers do work at stopping me rolling off. I think the rectangular shape helps too. If I have one complaint it’s that the mat is quite noisy, creaking and crackling when you move. This hasn’t disturbed me in any way but might annoy a companion.
Testing conditions
Chris tested the mats on high and low wild camps in the Scottish Highlands during all 4 seasons. He is around 5’8”, sleeps on his side or front and slept on snow, frozen ground, and wet ground. This review was published in the December 2025 issue of The Great Outdoors.
