This post may contain affiliate links.

Big Agnes Clearview Sleeping Pad

Big Agnes ClearView Sleeping Pad

The Big Agnes Clearview is a summer pad that provides 2.5 inches of padding when inflated but is not a good enough insulator for other seasons. I bought it because I’ve been sleeping on a lot of wooden floors in shelters or on tent platforms on the Long Trail and I wanted to increase my comfort level with a minimal weight penalty.

Weighing only 13.6 oz, the Clearview fills a void in my sleeping pad collection: it is a lightweight pad with the comfort level of a heavyweight winter pad, like those from Big Agnes or the Exped Downmat series, but at half the weight. I have a number of other lightweight pads that weigh about 11 oz (the Torsolite and the Therm-a-rest z-lite), but they really require you to sleep on the ground to compensate for their lack of padding (1 inch) and short length.

The ClearView is basically an air mattress with a rugged inflation valve like the kind you find on regular self-inflating sleeping pads. It lies completely flat when un-inflated and compresses down to the size of a small paperback book, by far the smallest pad I own.

It takes about 15 breaths to fully inflate the Clearview but getting the air out when you pack up in the morning is a little more time-consuming and takes some practice. The pad is segmented into a series of tubular channels that are joined at the top and bottom of the pad. When deflating, you need to make sure that all of the air has a route to escape before you start folding up the pad, otherwise, it won’t compress properly.

Big Agnes ClearView Sleeping Pad with Western Mountaineering Ultralite Sleeping Bag

Big Agnes only sells the ClearView in one color, transparent, which is a little strange but doesn’t matter in the dark. However, from the perspective of comfort, the Clearview is a dream come true. The pad inflates to a height of 2.5 inches and is extremely comfortable even if you like to sleep on your side. See Also, Sleeping Pad R-Values.

Disclosure: The author owns this product and purchased it using their own funds.

SectionHiker is reader-supported. We only make money if you purchase a product through our affiliate links. Help us continue to test and write unsponsored and independent gear reviews, beginner FAQs, and free hiking guides.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Solve *