Gear Guide 20120: Big Agnes Insulated Q-Core Sleeping Pad

I just spent two nights on a Big Agnes Insulated Air Core. Unlike everyone else in my group, I slept comfortably. Yes, the price is steep, but a good night's sleep is top priority for me.It's worth every penny!

I've had my Big Agnes Insulated AirCore pad for almost 4 years, and it's seen some considerable use in deserts, snow, and forest. We also have a BA REM Hinman self inflating, a Clearview inflatable, and just added a 25" wide insulated air core. No issues with any of them holding air at all. I would definitely recommend this brand.

@gator if you took the time to read you would realize the pump/ pillow is $20, the $120 is for the pad itself. I have a big agnes tent, sleeping bag, and pad, and love them all. I can't wait to pick one of these up!

@gator if you took the time to read you would realize the pump/ pillow is $20, the $120 is for the pad itself. I have a big agnes tent, sleeping bag, and pad, and love them all. I can't wait to pick one of these up!

@ inst a gator: The pad is $140. The Pumphouse pump/pillow is $20 as shown in parenthesis.

I never post comments or reviews but I have this pad and it does NOT take 8 minutes to inflate. I timed it and it took me 2 minutes and 23 large, deep breaths to inflate fully. I don't sleep on it fully inflated so it doesn't take quite that long. This is THE BEST SLEEPING PAD I have ever owned. I would never have bought it except that my wife doesn't sleep very well camping and she purchased it for herself. While on a scout camping trip she told me to take it and try it out. Unbelievable how comfortable it is! Honestly, I really didn't know I was getting such poor sleep outdoors. As soon as I came home I bought one for myself as well. The reviews in the article are correct on how comfortable it is. I also bought the Thermarest Neo Air XLite to try. It is lighter but not as comfortable. As to the deflation time, it takes no more time to deflate than a regular 1.5" thick Thermarest/REI self inflatable pad to me. For the sleep I now get, it is worth every penny, ounce of weight and every minute it takes to inflate or deflate but everyone has their priorities. Mine as I am getting older is to get a good nights sleep so my trips are more enjoyable. Hope this helps :-)

I never post comments or reviews but I have this pad and it does NOT take 8 minutes to inflate. I timed it and it took me 2 minutes and 23 large, deep breaths to inflate fully. I don't sleep on it fully inflated so it doesn't take quite that long. This is THE BEST SLEEPING PAD I have ever owned. I would never have bought it except that my wife doesn't sleep very well camping and she purchased it for herself. While on a scout camping trip she told me to take it and try it out. Unbelievable how comfortable it is! Honestly, I really didn't know I was getting such poor sleep outdoors. As soon as I came home I bought one for myself as well. The reviews in the article are correct on how comfortable it is. I also bought the Thermarest Neo Air XLite to try. It is lighter but not as comfortable. As to the deflation time, it takes no more time to deflate than a regular 1.5" thick Thermarest/REI self inflatable pad to me. For the sleep I now get, it is worth every penny, ounce of weight and every minute it takes to inflate or deflate but everyone has their priorities. Mine as I am getting older is to get a good nights sleep so my trips are more enjoyable. Hope this helps :-)

I bought this q-core and am very happy with it so far. I did have a problem one night with it going flat, but it was due to me not shutting the valve tightly.

140. for a pump/pillow ? really what dumb ass would pay that? you wanna sell more gear make it afforible

140. for a pump/pillow ? really what dumb ass would pay that? you wanna sell more gear make it afforible

Yesterday in breaking camp with the family, I deflated & rolled four pads (three different types). While on the last one a thought came to mind: What is the quickest and easiest pad to deflate & pack? My son quit using a self-inflating pad because of the sqeezing and rolling and exersion needed to get every bit of air out. A person becomes a human steam roller just to roll up a sleeping pad. So, BP here is a challenge. How about including the average repacking/deflation time when reviewing airmats. Repacking time is something worth reporting, would be a selling point for buyers and could motivate new improvements in the way mats are made. By the way, even though it takes some effort to repack, I am a big fan of the great night's sleep I get when using a self-inflating mat and will continue to use them, but an improvement in this would be an improvement in the overall camping / backpacking experience. Thanks

I have had problems with bad values with Big Agnes pads. They seem to always leak. Would not recommend this brand.