Big Agnes Pad Coupler

The best of four different couplers that we have tried over the years. Won't slip or twist when rolling pads up together, and thin enough to keep the princess sleeping comfortably (at least when there aren't any peas around).

A small review for a small thing!

My wife and I still like to snuggle after all these years—she says it's in the marriage contract, but I guess I'd have to get out a magnifying glass to check the fine print on that. Anyway, to that end we've evolved a sleep system that (literally) keeps us together, and a key requirement is that our sleeping pads (NeoAir All Seasons at present) should be tightly coupled together with minimal tendency to form a hip-swallowing canyon between the two of us.

Over the years we've tried a bunch of different pads and various strap systems to keep them together. This is the best of them all so far. The stretchy nylon (kind of like an ace bandage) grips the pads tight enough that the pads are pinched laterally a bit when flat or partially inflated, but that makes for a tight grip when they are doing the main job. On the NeoAirs they span one of the ribs and drop into the grooves on either side, which may help with this.

We just leave the mattresses coupled together in a light silk cover and roll them up together, a process that can result in non-stretchy straps slipping or twisting, whereas these BA ones stay flat and in place.

They have raised hems along both sides, but we place them away from hips and shoulders and don't even notice them under the silk cover.

We used to just open up a semirectangular bag and throw it over the both of us, but recently bought a double quilt with a foot box that provides more coverage and also saves a pound (pretty sweet).

They work well with our 20" pads, and BA claims they will work with 25" pads as well—I suppose there may be enough stretch in them, but I think they would put a pretty big pinch on those extra five inches and may not behave so well when rolling pads up together as we do.

We've put in a couple weeks on them so far.

At $19.95 I think they are a bit pricey for what they are, as is often the case for small, specialized items. But they do the job better than anything else we've tried.