Unlike the Q-Core SLX, this pad has a higher R-value of 4.5 so it will help keep you warmer on colder nights. The Insulated Air Core Ultra Sleeping pad weighs 22oz, which isn’t very light, but not too heavy either. For such a great price, the extra warmth is worth a few more ounces.

Down is by far the most expensive but offers an unbeatable weight-to-warmth ratio. Synthetic is more budget-friendly and reliable but will be heavier and often bulkier. The shape of a sleeping pad is another important characteristic to consider. You usually have two options: Mummy and rectangular. There is one area where the Insulated Air Core Ultra didn’t live up to what I would have expected and this was with the insulation feature of the mattress. I have always had a good experience with my older Insulated Air Core from an insulation perspective in that when utilizing a down sleeping bag, the older mattress seemed to be providing a beneficial level of insulation. I have tested the new Insulated Air Core Ultra down to 26 degrees F and it really didn’t seem to provide much benefit at all. The NeoAir XLite is only available in a mummy shape, but they offer various sizing options including a regular, small, large, and regular wide. A wide version is always a perk when it comes to side sleepers to help ensure we stay on the pad throughout our shifting from side to side during the night. Your pad is covered by our warranty against manufacturing and material defect. Your pad is not covered against punctures made by exposing it to the elements. Cowboy camping is phenomenal, but put some protection (like a footprint) under your pad first. Your pad is intended for many warm, comfortable siestas. Your pad is not intended for glissading, Jet-Boiling, or rafting.

Similar Items

The in port of the valve assembly is used to inflate the mattress and is also used to do fine adjustments of the internal pressure for comfort. The in port has a small flexible feature to which a diaphragm is attached that acts as a one way valve when filling the mattress with air. In my experience with using the mattress the one-way valve worked well and never leaked any air while I was filling the mattress. The in port is also designed to accept the Pumphouse Ultra sleeping pad pump available from BA. I have not had a chance to use the Pumphouse Ultra to know how well it works, but it looks like an interesting option for people who don’t want to blow up their mattress after a long day hiking. As we covered in a bit more detail further up the guide, there are three main types of insulated camping mats to choose from; reflective material, synthetic insulation, and down/feather filling. All three have their pros and cons, but we found the warmest sleeping pads combine the reflective lining with either synthetic or down filling.

Our advice would be to get as warm a sleeping pad as possible for winter camping and to add at least -10 degrees to the recommended temperature so that you are less likely to ever face being in a dangerous situation. And remember that there are other things to take into consideration other than weight. Types of Sleeping Pad Insulation Sleeping pads with an R-value of four and up will almost always have some kind of insulation inside to help keep you warm. Here are the different types of insulation you can choose from and in some cases get a combination of: Reflective Foil

Hands-On Review of the Air Core

Reflective foil is the general term used to describe this type of insulation that prevents radiation and convective heat loss. It will line the entire inside of the air chamber and adds very little bulk or weight. The other thing that you will notice in the video is that the insulation isn’t always bonded for its full width on the top surface of the tube. Once the insulation becomes separated from the surface it is bonded to, cold air can now circulate along that surface and the insulation is no longer providing any benefit. The R in R-value stands for resistance which is a sleeping pad’s main role in winter. R-values range from 0 to over ten and represent the thermal powers of the insulation. An R-value of 2.5 is good for late spring, summer, and early autumn, but in winter, you will need something higher. We recommend a minimum R-value of 4 – 5, but ideally, you want to go as warm as possible. Does Deflating Your Sleeping Pad Reduce Insulation? An R-Value is a new outdoor industry standard which requires every pad to be thoroughly tested then rated based on insulating performance from 1 to 5, the higher the number, the warmer the pad. Photo by: Max Seigal Last but not least is how much it costs for an insulated sleeping pad vs a non-insulated one. Firstly, it is more expensive as more materials are used as well as extra, often complicated, steps in the manufacturing process.

After doing leak testing and not finding the culprit I sent it to BA for repair and they promptly replaced it with a new one of the same. It was worse. Testing it at home it started slowly losing air the second day until it was unusable by the third. The use of the pressure adjustment feature is very simple. You first remove the in plug from the port which exposes the diaphragm feature, but does not allow air to escape, and then you gently take your finger like is shown in the picture below and press in the center of the diaphragm and let out air until the mattress is at the desired firmness. This feature works very well and it’s easy to just let out a very small amount of air or a lot. In general, I have always found that products from Big Agnes are well designed and are of good quality. The Insulated Air Core Ultra is no different and my overall impression is that the design is well thought out and the build quality is very good.For the last several years I have been using a 25 x 72 Big Agnes Insulated Air Core and have very much enjoyed the mattress and have never had any issues with it on the trips I have used it on. The opportunity came up here at Trailspace to review the latest version of this mattress now called the Insulated Air Core Ultra, so given my experience with the previous version I really wanted to see how the design has evolved and improved over the previous design. I had the older model Q-Core and while it took a bit to inflate, it was a very nice sleeping platform and served me well until leaks started for some reason. The first product was returned to REI after a failure of the valve that occurred during a fire camp in Washington state. It made some tough sleeping for the two weeks on that wildland fire. I deploy several times a year and sleep is pretty important after working 15 hours straight. You can use a second sleeping pad underneath your primary pad to gain some extra cushion. A closed-cell foam pad will probably serve this purpose the best.