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Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Sleeping Pad
Initial Report - June 2, 2004
Contents
Reviewer Information [return to top]
Name: Chuck Kime
Nickname: Fuzzy
Age: 37
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 8" (1.72 m)
Weight: 229 lb (104 kg)
Email address: ckime AT nelsononline DOT com
City, State, Country: Upper Darby (Philadelphia suburb), PA, U.S.A.
Date: June 2, 2004
Additional Information applicable to this test
Shoulders: 56” (142 cm)
Girth at chest: 57” (145 cm)
Chest: 46” (117 cm)
Waist: 40” (102 cm)
Hips: 46” (117 cm)
Product Information [return to top]
Manufacturer: Big Agnes
Model: Insulated Air Core
Year of Manufacture: 2004
URL: http://www.bigagnes.com
Listed weight: 21 oz (595 g)
Measured weight, pad only: 18.7 oz (530 g), scale accurate to 0.1 oz
Measured weight, pad, sack & repair kit: 19.8 oz (561 g)
Temperature rating: 15 °F (-9 °C)
Color: Black
Size/style: 72” Mummy
Other size/styles available: 78” Mummy, 72” Rectangular, 78” Rectangular
MSRP: $65 USD
Features (from web site) [return to top]
- 3 season Air Core pad filled with Prima Loft insulation
- Full length 2.5" thick pad that is lightweight and packs small
- Unique construction technique prevents the insulation from shifting inside the air chambers.
- The I-beam construction technique is functionally superior to the typical welded-through construction of other air mats. Die cut holes in each I-beam allow air to flow freely between chambers as you move around for constant support and comfort.
- I-beam construction makes inflation quick and easy
- Packs down to a compact 3.75"x10" or 4.25"x10" [9.5x25.4 or 10.8x25.4 cm] size
- Durable 40-denier nylon fabric protects against abrasions and punctures
- DWR coating sheds water and stains
- PU coating makes pad waterproof
- Stuff sack and repair kit included
- All Insulated Air Core Pads come with a stuff sack, repair kit, and a 100% guarantee
Arrival [return to top]
The pad arrived on May 27, 2004, in a corrugated box approximately 10¼ x 6½ x 6¼ in (26 x 17 x 16 cm). The box was received undamaged. Inside the box I found a Big Agnes catalog with two inserts (a packing list and a brochure for Honey Stinger energy bars/products), and the pad inside a black rip-stop nylon stuff sack. Hanging from the sack’s drawcord were two tags – one for PrimaLoft, and one for the Air Core itself. There were no other contents, and all contents appeared undamaged.
Description [return to top]
The Insulated Air Core is a PrimaLoft insulated (gee, really?) inflating mattress. It is available in 72” (183 cm) and 78” (198 cm) models, in both rectangular and mummy styles. Seeing as how I am easily shorter than the short models, own nothing but mummy bags, and am trying to lighten my pack weight, it seemed logical to me to choose the 72” Mummy model.
The pad arrived inside its black rip-stop nylon stuff sack. The sack (with pad inside) measures 9 in (23 cm) long and 5 in (13 cm) in diameter. There was enough slack in the sack to indicate to me that I could roll the pad a little tighter, or wrap it in something, and make it even smaller around. The draw cord (with toggle) is a little longer than necessary, and, though not cumbersome, could be trimmed to save a little weight. On the bottom of the stuff sack is a pocket (useful for slipping my fingers in to help get the pad out) with the Big Agnes REM Sleep Pad logo and the name of the pad printed on it in white. Inside the sack is another pocket for the repair kit (included). The kit includes an extra valve and o-ring, along with two nylon patches and a tube of sealant.
The pad itself is made of rip-stop nylon, which feels like it is coated on the inside to prevent air leakage. Squeezing different parts of the pad against each other after inflation leads me to believe that the PrimaLoft insulation is bonded to the underside of the top panel of the pad, which is also printed in white with the same logo as the bottom of the stuff sack. The pad could be described as coffin shaped, in that the corners have been lopped off – relative to a rectangular pad – tapering from roughly the shoulders up and from the knees down. There are 8 interconnected chambers running the length of the pad, each approximately 2½ in (6 cm) in diameter when inflated, with the head and foot each tapering to only the middle four chambers. The maximum width of the pad when inflated is approximately 19 in (49 cm), with the length right around the specified 72 in (183 cm). The valve is a plastic twist-type located at corner of the pad closest to the user’s right ear. I noticed no flow restriction while inflating the pad, and a good seal after closing the valve. It took me about 3 minutes to inflate the pad, but I was in no rush. I also weighed the pad after inflating the first time, with no noticeable change in weight due to breath moisture.
First Impressions [return to top]
Way cool! This pad is smaller when rolled up than my ¾-length self-inflating mat, even packed as small as I can get it. It is also lighter and easier to roll. I think I’m gonna like this one.
The pad appears well made, with straight seams (welds?) and no fabric blemishes. It is what I expected (and then some) from perusing the very informative web site.
Field Information [return to top]
Our Boy Scout troop camps monthly. Almost all of these outings include a minimum of 2 nights of camping, with temperatures expected to be from lows around 30 ºF (-1 ºC) to highs around 95 to 100 ºF (35 to 38 ºC). Elevations will range from sea level to approximately 2,000’ (610 m). My girlfriend and I, who between us have 3 First Class Boy Scouts (ages 12, 13 and 14), are also looking into additional camping without the Scouts, and the possibilities of beginning to do some AT section hikes in Pennsylvania as the weather warms up.
My experience with sleeping pads – to date – has been varied, beginning with U.S. military issue foam pads and inflatable pool floats, through a ¾-length RidgeRest and now a ¾-length Therm-a-Rest. Each step in this evolution has resulted in more comfort, less weight, or both. Big Agnes claims on their web site that “The stuffed size and weight on these pads are still smaller than any self-inflating foam pad.” This would be nice, as I am primarily working on reducing bulk in my gear, with weight as my secondary consideration. The given weight for this pad is, however, close to – or possibly less than – my Therm-a-Rest. The only potential drawback I can see at this time is that I use my current pad as a “tube frame” inside the Z-Pack I am testing, and am not sure if the Air Core can be used in this fashion.
Following a recent car accident, resulting in a very sore neck and back, I am also interested in more padding for sleeping on the ground. I know that regular air mattresses can result in cold sleeping when the ground is not yet warm, and an insulated pad should eliminate this concern.
Things I am/will be looking for:
- Fit. Does it fit me? I may not be tall, but I’m pretty wide. Does it restrict my sleeping positions?
- Comfort. Can I sleep on the ground and not be significantly bothered by my sore back?
- Insulation. The pad uses PrimaLoft insulation. Does it shift, creating thin or thick spots? Does it keep me warmer than a non-insulated mat?
- Warmth. How cold can it get and still keep me warm, or, at least, comfortable?
- Packability. How packable is the pad? It’s pretty small, so this shouldn’t be a problem.
- Stuff sack. Is it easy to compress? Waterproof?
- Inflation. Is it easy to do? Does it retain air all night?
Things I like [return to top]
- Light.
- Compact.
- Thicker than any other pad I own.
Things I don't like [return to top]
- None yet.
Backpacking Background [return to top]
I started car/trailer camping with the family when I was about 5. I enlisted in the Army Reserve during my first year of college and spent 17 years fine-tuning my packing methodology - by the time I separated from the service, I was down to what I thought was a respectable 75-80 lb (34-36 kg) load. When my son started Cub Scouts, I brought my 60 lb (27 kg) ALICE pack for a weekend. We got to Boy Scouts in the Spring of 2002 and now camp monthly in locations ranging from the Chesapeake Bay area (flat and lightly wooded) to the Pocono Mts (flat spots hard to find and very wooded), in all seasons.
Lightweight (and ultralightweight) web sites, along with a day hike up Pikes Peak in July 2003, have led me to seriously rethink my gear choices. I plan to start doing more hiking/backpacking on our monthly Scout trips, taking along as many scouts as are willing, to a) get in shape (yeah, yeah, I know… round IS a shape), and b) determine what I really need to take along. I am relatively confident that I will be able to reduce my 3-season pack to 20 lb (9 kg), before food, fuel and water, by the time this season is over.
Thank you for your time.
Chuck Kime
a.k.a. Fuzzy
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