ashenWe’ve spoken about Big Agnes products before, in particular their 4 person tent which has earned a good name among the outdoor community. In this post we will talk about the equally matched sleeping pad, Big Agnes Q Core Deluxe. It’s been sometime since we reviewed a sleeping pad so sit back and have a nice long read.
The Big Agnes Insulated Q-Core Deluxe is a great choice for those looking for a comfortable and reliable sleeping pad. This pad is insulated with PrimaLoft synthetic insulation, which helps to keep you warm and comfortable in cold temperatures. It also features an integrated air chamber system that provides superior stability and support. The pad is also lightweight and packs down small for easy transport, although we’ll investigate this further. It also features an anti-slip pattern on the top and bottom to keep you from sliding around. The specs are as follows.
Big Agnes Q Core Deluxe Specs
- Available in four sizes
- Material: Durable nylon double ripstop bottom
- R Value of 4.3
- Built in quilted top and a lightweight nylon-spandex fabric
- Valves for quick inflation/deflation
- Pad inflation sack is included
- Protective storage sack, replacement valve seal and 3M patches also included
The specs on paper look quite promising, especially the R value. We’ve spoken about the R value before. This is the ability to resist heat loss. Higher the value, better the heat retention. The four available sizes are regular, long, wide regular and X-wide long. We will analyze the design, build quality, price comparison and finally the user feedback.
Big Agnes Q Core Deluxe Build Quality and Design
Since warmth and comfort are the main concerns here, let us kick off the build quality review with an analysis of the R value. As already mentioned, the higher the R-value, the better the pad will insulate. Generally, a sleeping pad with an R-value of 3 or higher is considered suitable for cold weather camping. So obviously for winter camping, an R value of above 4 is required which the Big Agnes fulfills. Some of the popular sleeping pads of Sea to Summit possess an R value of 4.1 and some other high end sleeping pads such as Exped Ultra 7R comes with an R value of 7.1.
However, it all depends on your camping grounds, the weather and nature of camping. It is a recommendation for all cold-weather camping to pair your pad with a foam mattress as insurance in case of a leak. Another thing to keep in mind is that you should factor in the sleeping bag you’ll be using, as they perform as a collective system. Therefore make sure to choose a bag with a reasonable temperature rating to match the pad.
Next is the insulation type. PrimaLoft Silver insulation is a synthetic insulation material made from ultra-fine fibers. It is designed to provide superior warmth and comfort in cold weather conditions, lightweight, breathable, and water-resistant, making it an ideal choice for outdoor apparel and gear. It is also highly compressible, making it easy to pack and carry. The PrimaLoft Silver insulation design is mainly to retain its insulating properties even when wet, making it a great choice for activities in wet or humid conditions.
Design
A key feature to note in the design of this pad is the slightly higher side tubes that prevent you from accidentally rolling off in the middle of the night. The quilted pattern and the lightweight nylon-spandex fabric enhances the comfort due to the soft sleeping surface. The bottom consists of durable, double rip-stop fabric with aviation grade TPU lamination for extra durability. The inflating valves of course are present in most sleeping pads so it’s not something to really ponder over. The real question is how long does it take and how easy it is. We will investigate this further with the user reviews. However, it seems that despite all these extra layers for warmth and the accessories, it is fairly lightweight. The regular 20” x 72” weighs 25 oz. and packs down to 4.5” x 8.5”. Let’s see what the users have to say.
User Feedback
It seems like most of the users are long standing Big Agnes customers and chose to upgrade from the Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Pad. Users are well appreciative of the great insulation and the outer chambers that prevent them from rolling out. Not a single complaint about losing of warmth or slipping off the pad, discomfort or any such issue.
Users combined it with different sleeping bags with appropriate temperature ratings such as the Sea to Summit Thermolite Extreme. Hendrix, who weighs 180 lbs and is 6 foot 2 purchased the long version and advises that for a side sleeper, it is very comfortable and had no spacing issues. Another user Kim, states that he used the Q core deluxe under rigorous conditions consisting of extreme temperature conditions from near-zero temperatures to high heats. He used this pad in Ukraine and Willow Lake at the base of Fourteener Kit Carson. All throughout it was comfortable and held up with the conditions.
There are a minor few complaints about the Big Agnes Q Core Deluxe that are well over shadowed by the pros. First is the weight. Every size is slightly heavier than its competitors. But the users are disregarding this due to immense comfort and the insulation it provides. Some have found the inflating process a bit hard and complain that it took about 25 big breaths to fully inflate the large/long pad.
So the recommendation is to go ahead with the Big Agnes Pumphouse to inflate. A few users also suggest improving the design of the included inflation bag as it is tricky to make it stay on the valve during inflation. Apart from these few minor improvements, the Big Agnes Q Core Deluxe has won the hearts of many. So I guess the choice is clear if you don’t mind a bit of extra weight. Most adult hikers chose this pad as they value comfort over budget unlike those in their twenties.
