I realize I am new here and in the company of giants but I do have a fair amount of experience with Big Agnes.  So FWIW and IMO here goes:  As I am approaching the half century mark comfort is more important than ever.  I use an insulated (that is important, some are not) Big Agnes pad.  BA bases bag ratings on the use of an insulated pad and I do agree that BAs' ratings are very optimistic.  Would love to see all manufacturers use the Euro system so you are comparing apples and apples.  I do the early morning routine of opening the valve while I am laying there. It is AMAZING what you then feel under you that you have been sleeping on all night.  I do leave the valve open as I roll it up.  I just purchased two BA Sand Mountain pads for my daughters (probably not their most exciting Christmas gift, my son told them they will thank me later) for an '11 Q trip and notice they don't roll as compact as my older burgandy pads which you can roll into a nice compact approx 5" x 8" roll.  I am also a fan of the sleeve on the back to prevent you from rolling off the pad although I have used the pads with my other bags.  Don't miss the fact that they are to be stored between excursions out of the carry bags and stretched out.  BTW it is a bit late for Christmas but Sierra Trading is having a heck of a sale on some of the combos right now.  For example:     (You need to Login or Register

They are a bit of a pain to blow up but as Bill Brysons companion said in the book Walk in the Woods, "Can you not take an extra minute out here in the woods?"