Additionally, the material this valve is made from feels like a dense compliant rubber rather than brittle plastic, which bodes well for durability and the likely scenario of someone stepping on the valve at some point. Privacy | Cookies | Terms, The world's most in-depth and scientific reviews of gear, Comfy for its price range, we prefer to limit this pad's use to warm weather, shorter backpacking trips. The Air Core packs down to a little over two liters making it quite packable. Best Big Agnes Sleeping Bags Reviews - Top Customer Rated Big Agnes Sleeping Bags — 93 products / 397 models — Page 1. To further boost the versatility of this pad, there are six sizing options of varying width and length to match your specific needs. For our aging gear tester, the extra ounces were justified. How can we improve GearLab? It is a durable and lightweight sleeping pad that a backpacker would love to carry in all of his trips. That said, the Q-Core is a decent weight for how well it performs. Back and side sleepers will be comfortable on this pad. Some testers complained of a bouncy sensation when moving the feet. The new pad is lime green in color and features PrimaLoft Silver insulation with a heat reflective barrier to trap and reflect body heat, and it boasts an R-value of 3.2. Available at REI, 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed. The self-inflating pads of the day were thin and never very comfortable unless you sprung for models that were bulky and heavy. If it had shallower baffles, it would have scored much higher. You help support OutdoorGearLab's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners. Further, several testers woke up on the ground with the Air Core beside them… with the slippery surface fabric to blame. It’s covered with a high tenacity nylon ripstop for enhanced durability and low weight, with individually sprung cells like a spring mattress. This was enough to know the limits of the Q-Core SLX lie right around 30-32 degrees Fahrenheit below that our bones started to ache with cold. Another fantastic feature is that the outer baffles on the Double Z are quite large while the ones in the center of the pad … We've found that most pads lose some air, especially if left inflated for days. BEST HYBRID backpacking camping SLEEPING PAD BIG AGNES Q-CORE SLX. GearLab is reader-supported. To make a pad this comfortable and capable through three seasons, sacrifices have to be made. The Big Agnes Green Ridge Sleeping Pad (MSRP $69.95) is a full-length warm weather sleeping pad that only weighs 12.6 ounces (on the SectionHiker digital scale). You'll certainly be able to stuff this into the bottom of your pack or just put it in a compression sack with your sleeping bag. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. A camper must have a good and comfortable sleeping pad. The upside of the massive air volume in the Q-Core is that we could barely feel the ground, even when kneeling on the pad. Yes, our pads provide bed-like comfort from rocks and dirt, but more importantly, they insulate you from the ground up. The two versions are shown below; the ne… The Big Agnes Axl is a comfortable sleeping pad. We felt the warmth, comfort, ease of inflation, and packability were all on point. Let us know! While it isn't a feathery light and easily deployed pump sack, it does make inflating this sleeping pad significantly easier than previous versions that omitted this feature. Privacy | Cookies | Terms, The world's most in-depth and scientific reviews of gear, A great three-season pad that doesn't weigh you down or sacrifice comfort. Got feedback? While the Q-Core isn't the most expensive sleeping pad out there by far, it is still pretty pricey. Retailing for $70 in the regular size, the Air Core provides a great bargain if you aren't looking for a warm pad. Stow this pad and your sleeping bag inside your bivy sack and cram this bundle into the bottom of your pack. Select Your Cookie Preferences. Since it has 3.75” of thickness so it is a great pad for both side- and back- sleepers. It doesn't put all of its eggs in one basket; instead, this pad performs decently in all areas. Our first night out with the Q-Core SLX Insulated was an open bivy after a long day in the bike saddle. The Big Agnes pad also takes four or five times as long to deflate, since the air must exit the pad through the same tiny mouth piece. Because we haven't tested the Air Core Ultra just yet, the rest of this review continues to reflect its predecessor, the Air Core. How can we improve GearLab? All trademarks property of their respective owners Big Agnes’ design takes all of that weight and spreads it out across the internal structure of the pad, creating a flatter and more supportive sleeping experience. That said, even on the Big Agnes website, multiple people reported having issues with this pad holding air through the night. I’d consider the Big Agnes Q-Core SLX Sleeping Pad to be amongst the most comfortable air mattresses I’ve tried, particularly over lumpy, uneven ground. Lengths: 66”, 72”, 78” If you’re doing a lot of car camping and beginning to explore the weight-laden wonders of backpacking, we recommend the Big Agnes Insulated Q-Core SLX. This pad also left a lot to be desired. A 2017 update to this product, though, attempts to improve upon these weaknesses in warmth and stability. The thick padding and raised side rails made for a very comfortable sleeping pad. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support, Has enough height to provide a good amount of cushion, inexpensive, Not very warm, not particularly light weight for the warmth. The 4x7.5 inch packed size is pretty reasonable considering how big this pad is when it's inflated. Those seeking the lightest should buy something more akin to the Sea to Summit Ultralight that won our Top Pick for Ultralight Backpacking award. Select Your Cookie Preferences. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Big Agnes Insulated Q-Core Sleeping Pad-Silver Grey-Regular by Big Agnes at Amazon.com. With an R-value of 1, the Air Core measured up pitifully in our warmth category. The AXL Air is comfortable to sleep on and includes a heat reflective coating to keep you warmer at night. Big Anges current models work with a new Pumphouse Ultra pump that makes inflating very easy. The dual valve system feels quite solid and utilizes a no-leak inflation valve that saves you from losing any effort from unwanted backflow. Some pads are just too stiff to allow for this. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. We have no major hesitancies with this pad's durability. Heat-reflective insulation keeps you comfy as temps drop. This pad is meant for the fast and light backpacker, and does its job well. We don't recommend it for winter use and think that there are better alternatives for car camping, including the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Camper. It feels on par with many air construction pads and is much smaller when packed than most foam or self-inflating pads. The price of three inches of air construction comfort is that this pad takes about 30-40 breaths to inflate. As our main pad tester this year is an aging Xennial (born in 85) the massive amount of padding offered by the Q-Core was greatly appreciated. All Big Agnes pads feature a proven R-Value. I understand the explanation, but that is little consolation, especially considering how expensive this pad is. The Air Core Ultra (an air construction pad) is a new take on a model that has been on the market for years and was a popular alternative to the self-inflating options of the day. On a recent bikepacking trip around flagstaff, we were able to stuff the Q-Core SLX and our Western Mountaineering 30 degree sleeping bag into a small 5-liter bike seat pack. This Exped mat has a larger diameter deflation valve that makes fast work of packing up the pad. Because it isn't insulated, we don't recommend this pad if you expect to encounter snow or cold weather. This is an adaptation to the classic Ridge-Rest mattress … This pad packs down to a little over one and a half liters. Thickness: 2.5 in. The Big Agnes Air Core scored poorly in our review, but may be a good budget option if you can't afford a more luxurious sleeping pad. The Big Agnes Third Degree Foam Pad is a closed-cell foam sleeping mat that doesn’t require inflation. A consistent theme among testers was that the smoother the surface, the better. As pictured, the Air Core has very deep baffles. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. It packs up super small and is a good choice when you want to go light but not skimp out on your sleeping comfort. A beefier sleeping bag or warm pad might have done the trick. The Ultralight is nearly 10 oz lighter, packs down much smaller, and is practically comparable when it comes to warmth. Though the course of this review is only three months, we have friends who have used this pad for years and years. From down sleeping bags, lightweight tents, self-inflating sleeping pads, and down jackets to name a few. The Air Core often goes on sale and if it does, you should pick one up, just be sure to understand its strengths and weaknesses. Other than this event, we haven't experienced any adverse events or leakage even after testing multiple versions of this pad. The valve is situated on the side of the pad keeping it out of the way. No matter what your budget or backpacking style is, we'll... We help you find the perfect pad for your next backcountry... the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews, Superior warmth, small packed size, light, Lightweight, warm for the weight, packs small, comfortable, versatile, Comfortable, dual air chambers are redundant, quiet, warm, stable, and supportive, Warm, durable, wide, quality construction, Expensive, edges not as stable as other pad designs, Ready for all adventures, this versatile model doesn't disappoint, With a warmth to weight ratio that is off the charts, this is one of our favorite pads of all time, A comfortable, lightweight, and versatile sleeping pad that has withstood the test of time, Ideal for folks who think sleeping pads cannot provide mega comfort; prove them wrong, A true all around sleeping pad that offers exceptional four season comfort, thoughtful design, and durable build. I first bought the AXL Air Insulated in April 2018 to replace my Thermarest NeoAir Xlite. Let us know! If you aren't pushing your limits in the backcountry, the added weight of the Air Core probably won't slow you down. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. Got feedback? Weight: 12 oz. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Venture has a much smoother sleep surface than the Air Core and has horizontal baffles that feel more stable. Big Agnes Q … No more did unruly rocks and roots affect a good night sleep! The I-beam channels are designed to contour your body and help you stay on the pad even when you toss and turn. R-Value: 3.2 (32F) Weight: 16 oz (6-foot length) Inflation: 30-50+, comes with Inflation Sack (use it!) The Venture scored much higher (and retails for just $70 in the regular size) thus winning our Best Buy Award. This thickness did come with one downside. While all of our testers enjoyed using the Q-Core SLX, it lacked the wow factor that typically associates itself with award winners, but the strong performance throughout metrics does make it a strong contender. A sleeping pad is a necessary part of your sleep system. As we touched on above, the 2P we tested struggled to fit two wide-width sleeping pads, so … Life is too short to use bad camping gear. The claimed weight on the BA website was 18 ounces, which is a bit lighter than the story our scale told, but perhaps they measure without the pump sack, repair kit, and stuff sack. Stow this pad pads of the Q-Core is n't our favorite, it. Width and length to match your specific needs introduced them but it is much comfortable. Reviews by purchasing from our users Agnes introduced them high comfort level and solid usability. Bags — 93 products in Big Agnes Air Core Ultra it quite packable warm climates alpine summer to... Through the night, though, attempts to improve upon these weaknesses in warmth and stability n't a! Unique baffling the I-beam channels are designed to contour your body to provide a great night ’ s rating. 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