Big Agnes Divide Insulated Backpacking Sleeping Pad Review

Bottom Line

After testing the Big Agnes Divide Insulated in a wide range of conditions, including snow-covered Rocky Mountains, it’s hard to believe this pad is offered at such an affordable price. 

The I-beam construction cuts down on weight and provides an alternative for folks who don’t jive with horizontal or cell baffles. While side sleepers could bottom out on this pad, we find its 3.25-inch thickness and raised side rails sufficient for our trail-beaten bods.

The Divide Insulated comes in many sizes (including a double) and packs a respectable R-value. The dual-valve and included pump sack make setup easy. The durable ripstop nylon will go the distance as long as you care for your gear. 

There are certainly more specialized backpacking sleeping pads that maximize comfort, warmth, or weight savings, but for backpackers looking for one pad to rule them all, the Divide Insulated is a noble choice.

How We Tested

We tested the Big Agnes Divide Insulated sleeping pad on camping trips during this brisk Colorado spring and several nights in the frontcountry. We spent over a dozen nights on it and scrutinized every feature and facet to ensure its worthiness among our list of favorite sleeping pads.

Comfort

Comfort largely depends on pad thickness, size, and baffle style. These days, most pads use a horizontal or cell baffle system, but the Big Agnes Divide sticks to a classic vertical I-beam baffle design.

The main benefit of the vertical baffles is their hammock-like feel, which naturally hugs the body from both sides. 3.25-inch-thick center baffles keep you off the ground, while 3.5-inch-thick side rails keep you from rolling off in the middle of the night. Back and stomach sleepers should find no issue with this pad, but the vertical baffles provide slightly uneven support, which may cause side sleepers to bottom out.

We love rectangular pads over mummy pads for extra comfort, and the Divide comes in a wide range of lengths and widths to fit every body type. It even comes in a double-wide for couples.

Weight

At 23 ounces for the most common 20” x 72” size, the Big Agnes Divide is far from the lightest sleeping bag on the market, but it’s not the heaviest either. For comparison, pads on our list range (from the most ultralight to the most comfortable) from about 10 ounces to 28 ounces. 

The extra weight of the divide comes with many good trade-offs, including more durability, better warmth, and affordability.

The included stuff sack is very tight, making packing up in the morning a bit of a chore, but it does keep the size down to a relatively small 5” x 8”. The small 20” x 66” version will shed an extra ounce off the weight and a couple of inches off the packed size. 

Durability

The Divide Insulated offers excellent durability for an air pad. Big Agnes doesn’t specify the material’s denier rating, but it boasts recycled nylon ripstop fabric with aviation-grade TPU lamination.

This pad will last a long time if treated well, but Big Agnes also includes a replacement valve seal and high-quality 3M patches in case of an accident. As always, you’ll get the most out of your inflatable pad if you watch where you put it and clear the area of any pokies and jabbies first.

Warmth

Some backpacking sleeping pads opt for a simple, single-layer construction that sacrifices warmth to keep costs down, but that’s not the case with the Big Agnes Divide Insulated. 

This version has an R-value of 4, which is good if you push your backpacking trips into the early spring or late fall. They make an uninsulated version that will save you a few bucks and ounces in your pack, but we think opting for the insulated version is the move for a more versatile pad.

Similar to most insulated air pads, the Divide Insulated utilizes a thin reflective film to bounce your body heat back towards you and protect you from the cold ground. With an R-value of 4, this solid pad will keep you warm through the shoulder seasons.

Will it hold up in early winter as Big Agnes suggests? Maybe, depending on the environment, but we recommend pairing it with a lightweight foam pad on frozen ground. The I-beam baffles can also potentially create cold spots in the pad.

Ease of Setup

With its high-volume, micro-adjustable dual valve, the Big Agnes Divide Insulated is a breeze to set up and tear down. Although it adds a little bit of bulk and weight, we love that the valves are separated. It essentially eliminates the possibility of accidentally expelling all of the precious breaths you used to inflate the pad, which is all too common with two-in-one valves.

The pad can be inflated with the included pump sack (although it’s not our favorite) or the old-fashioned way (that’s with your lungs). Although the inside of the pad is treated with an antimicrobial treatment to cut down on bacteria growth from one’s breath, we recommend using the pump sack as much as possible to be safe.

The vertical I-beam construction offers a head start on folding the pad longways before rolling it up (it’s more difficult and annoying than one might expect). However, this convenience is balanced with the super snug stuff sack that barely fits over the pad. Personally, we like to leave the stuff sack at home and fold the pad into a rectangle on the back panel of our pack to add a little rigidity.

Should You Buy the Big Agnes Divide Insulated Sleeping Pad?

For three-season backpackers looking for an affordable sleeping pad to do it all, the Big Agnes Divide Insulated is a no-brainer. It boasts one of the most competitive price points on the market while sacrificing minimal performance. 

Although the vertical I-beam construction isn’t for everyone (less even weight distribution), it still provides infinitely more comfort than a basic foam pad. The raised side rails help to keep your body on the mat, and 3.25 inches of thickness is nothing to shake a stick at. 

In addition to its respectable comfort level, the Divide Insulated provides enough warmth to keep most sleepers warm for most of the year and the durability to last a long time. 

Ultralight backpackers dedicated to shaving every ounce possible from their pack can certainly find a more premium option, but the Divide Insulated is a solid investment for the casual and seasoned backpacker alike.

What Other Backpacking Pads Should You Consider?

For those willing to drop a little more coin on a premium sleeping pad, check out our full range of favorites. 

NEMO Tensor All-Season Review: The Nemo Tensor All-Season is our favorite overall backpacking sleeping pad thanks to its premium quality and incredibly well-rounded features. Although it’s a little on the pricey side, it achieves an impressive warmth-to-weight ratio without skimping on comfort or durability.

NEMO Quasar 3D Insulated Review: Maybe you’re a little hesitant about the vertical I-beam construction of the Divide Insulated. If that’s the case, the Quasar 3D could be the answer. It’s similarly durable, easy to set up, and affordable, but features a more typical horizontal baffle construction with a raised head baffle and 3D body mapping to cradle you to sleep.

Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Insulated Review: The Ether Light XR is a real sleeper (pun intended). For its weight class, it achieves outstanding comfort with its sprung cell baffles – providing some of the most even weight distribution. It’s also decently warm and very durable.