Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Ultra Backpacker Review
Big Agnes Air Core Ultra Review
Comfortable for its cost range, nosotros prefer to limit this pad's apply to warm weather, shorter backpacking trips
Price: $70 List | $69.95 at Backcountry
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Pros: Has plenty height to provide a good corporeality of cushion, inexpensive
Cons: Not very warm, not particularly light weight for the warmth
Manufacturer: Big Agnes
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Our Verdict
The Air Core Ultra (an air structure pad) is a new take on a model that has been on the marketplace for years and was a popular alternative to the cocky-inflating options of the day. Since that fourth dimension, other pad designs have emerged that we like better (specifically: air construction with baffled insulation). In respect to keeping y'all off the ground, the Air Core we reviewed gives you three inches of comfort over rocks and pine cones and is pretty comfy. Nonetheless, the vertical baffles are deep and are much less comfortable than shallower baffles found on pads similar the Exped SynMat vii. Further, several testers woke upwardly on the basis with the Air Core abreast them… with the glace surface fabric to blame. This pad likewise left a lot to be desired. A 2017 update to this product, though, attempts to ameliorate upon these weaknesses in warmth and stability.
New Version Available — Feb 2017
Large Agnes confirmed that the Air Core was replaced with the new Air Core Ultra, and we have hopes that the latest version will improve upon the performance of its predecessor. Keep reading to get the full story on the updates!
Ultimately, the best reason you should buy this pad is because information technology is inexpensive and is oft on sale. We think that the All-time Buy Honour winning Therm-a-Balance NeoAir Venture presents a meliorate value and is quite comparable to the Air Core except that the Venture is warmer and more comfy.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The New Air Core Ultra vs. the Original Air Cadre
Big Agnes' new Air Cadre Ultra is available in 6 size combinations, including ii wide options, and range in price from $60 (three-quarters length) to $110 (long and broad). When we reviewed the Air Core, nosotros tested the regular length, the new version of which is $10 more expensive with a cost tag of $lxx. The bag has a new vibrant colour and has seen a few structural updates. Big Agnes has also added an insulated version of this pad, the Insulated Air Core Ultra. Here'south a side-past-side comparing of the new model, on the left, and its predecessor, followed by a summary of the key updates.
- Baffles — The outer chambers of the Air Cadre Ultra are bigger than in the original Air Core, which both we and Big Agnes hope will create a smoother and more than stable surface.
- Internal Construction — The I-Axle construction of this pad was designed to increase stability. 1 of the Air Cadre'southward main dilemmas was stability, then this has the potential to be a big upgrade.
- Rut Cogitating Engineering — This is an update we're excited to run into. The main reason the Air Core scored so poorly in our review was the lack of warmth, just it seems Big Agnes took this into business relationship when designing the Air Cadre Ultra. We tin can't back their merits that the pad is warmer since we haven't tested it ourselves yet, but we're definitely interested to see how it stacks up against its predecessor.
- Durability — In order to increase durability, Big Agnes has included a tougher, more precise lamination, though we tin't back this claim without doing our own tests.
- Air Valve — All the latest pads from Large Agnes have received an updated air valve in hopes of increasing inflation and deflation speed.
- Price Hike — The Air Core Ultra costs $70, which is x bucks more than than its predecessor.
Because nosotros haven't tested the Air Core Ultra just all the same, the residual of this review continues to reverberate its predecessor, the Air Cadre.
Hands-On Review of the Air Core
The Big Agnes Air Core is an cheap pad that is pretty comfortable. However, other pads in this review overshadow the Air Core because they are oft warmer and more than comfy.
Performance Comparison
Dorsum and side sleepers will be comfortable on this pad. If it had shallower baffles, information technology would have scored much higher. Some testers complained of a bouncy sensation when moving the anxiety.
Credit: David Clark
Comfort
The Air Core serial pads made a mark on the sleeping pad market when Big Agnes introduced them. The self-inflating pads of the day were sparse and never very comfy unless y'all sprung for models that were bulky and heavy. The Air Core'southward 3.25 inches of plush comfort alleviates the common pains of sleeping on irregular surfaces. No more did unruly rocks and roots touch on a good night sleep!
While we honey the thickness of this pad, other products we tested provide a smoother sleep surface that our testers consistently institute more comfortable. When under-inflated, some testers complained that vertically baffled pads like the Air Cadre can feel boisterous. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Venture has a much smoother sleep surface than the Air Core and has horizontal baffles that experience more stable. Meanwhile, the Big Agnes Q-Core SL is also more comfortable because of its unique inexplainable.
The price of three inches of air construction condolement is that this pad takes about xxx-40 breaths to inflate.
Equally pictured, the Air Core has very deep baffles. This is not a very comfortable design because it creates pressure ridges along your torso. A consistent theme amidst testers was that the smoother the surface, the better.
Credit: Jeremy Bauman
Weight
Weighing in at 22 oz (in the regular size), the Air Core is neither particularly heavy nor lightweight. Those seeking the lightest should buy something more akin to the Bounding main to Summit Ultralight that won our Top Option for Ultralight Backpacking award. The Ultralight is nearly 10 oz lighter, packs downward much smaller, and is practically comparable when it comes to warmth. Both pads earned a vi/10 for comfort. If you aren't pushing your limits in the backcountry, the added weight of the Air Cadre probably won't irksome you lot down
If you lot accept extra greenbacks to spend, we'd recommend the Big Agnes Q-Core SL, which is nigh iii oz lighter, plus it's warmer and more than comfy.
Warmth
With an R-value of ane, the Air Core measured upwards pitifully in our warmth category. You'd be warmer using a foam pad similar the Therm-a-Balance Z Lite SOL, which has an R-value of two.vi. If you more often than not adventure in the summer in relatively temperate climates, this probably won't exist a big result, but if yous venture into common cold places, you lot'll wish you bought a warmer pad.
With an R-value of only 1, this pad is fit only for warm climates. The valve is situated on the side of the pad keeping it out of the way.
Credit: Jeremy Bauman
Packed Size
This pad packs downward to a little over one and a half liters. Information technology feels on par with many air construction pads and is much smaller when packed than almost cream or self-inflating pads. You'll certainly be able to stuff this into the bottom of your pack or just put information technology in a compression sack with your sleeping bag.
Beloved to bivy? Stow this pad and your sleeping bag inside your bivy sack and cram this bundle into the lesser of your pack. Once you get to camp, just pull out the bivy, inflate your pad, and you lot're ready to get!
The Air Core packs downwards to a niggling over two liters making it quite packable.
Credit: Jeremy Bauman
Durability
Though the grade of this review is only 3 months, we have friends who have used this pad for years and years. We have no major hesitancies with this pad'due south immovability. Withal, as with any air structure pad, information technology is vulnerable to sharp objects, but every bit long every bit you do your part to avoid prickly situations, we expect this pad to provide years of sleeping comfort.
Best Applications
This pad is best used for summertime backpacking past those who are on a budget merely want a comfortable pad. We don't recommend information technology for winter employ and call back that there are amend alternatives for car camping, including the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Camper.
Value
Retailing for $lxx in the regular size, the Air Core provides a nifty bargain if you aren't looking for a warm pad. The Venture scored much higher (and retails for just $70 in the regular size) thus winning our Best Buy Award. The Air Core oftentimes goes on sale and if it does, you should pick one up, but exist sure to empathise its strengths and weaknesses.
Conclusion
The Large Agnes Air Cadre scored poorly in our review, simply may be a expert upkeep pick if you tin can't beget a more than luxurious sleeping pad. It isn't our favorite, but it is much more comfortable than many cocky-inflating pads. Because it isn't insulated, we don't recommend this pad if you expect to come across snow or cold weather. It may not be the best pad on the market, but it is a practiced option for upkeep witting backpackers looking for a comfortable slumber surface.
Credit: Jeremy Bauman
— Jeremy Bauman
Source: https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/sleeping-pad/big-agnes-air-core-ultra
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