Does anyone know when Big Agnes will be releasing their Q-Core SL?

Instaflator or Camptek Microburst. I use to use an Instaflator on my old Air Core, worked fine. If I pick up a Q Core, I'll probably go with the Microburst.

Travis and Rakesh,

I've had no luck with the thermarest pump sack (that came with the xtherm) due to its small volume. I literally gave up after a few mins and went back to manual inflation at the risk of getting moisture from my lungs into the pad. A lot of people like the instaflator (cheap, light and same concept of pump sack but larger volume) or a camptek microburst (heavier, IMO expensive, but convenient and allows you to go do something else while your pads inflating)

I agree with Konrad. The Thermarest pump sack is crap.

This may not be true of the Q-Core because of its insulation, but for non-lofting insulations like the XTherm, thermarest says that they've done a lot of testing and moisture in the pad does not harm the material and it won't affect its insulating properties, even in freezing temperatures. So on certain pads, it appears to be OK to use manual inflation. Just store the bag uncompressed with the valve open.

When I was bike touring, we briefly considered rigging a piece of tubing from our tire pumps to our thermarests. I think my bike pump weighs like 4 oz.

Is it possible to rig the Exped Drybag Pump or Mini Pump to work with the BA? My hiking partner uses an Exped, I'll be using the BA. It would be nice if we could only take 1 pump.

Kondrad,

Stupid question, have you hooked the instaflator to a BA pad?

I couldn't figure it out.

Justin,

I use BA dual core pad with instaflator all the time. I'd like to share my tricks.

I boil some water and put the small plastic tube of instafaltor into the boiled water. So it will become really soft. The put it on the valve of the BA pad. Let it sit overnight. Then take it off. You will see the tube become slightly bigger and easily fit on the valve.

In winter, the tube become really stiff and it is very hard to put on the valve. What I did is to put the tube in my mouth to warm it a while, then it can be put on.

Another thing I did was on the BA valve, there is a some thin rotating piece on top of the main cap. I find removing it make the inflation easier.

Hope it helps.

Yang

Hi Yang,

That does help! I will fiddle with it this weekend, I am sure that will solve it if you have had personal success with it.

Thanks!

-Justin

The REI in Portland now has the Q-Core SL in the store, but only the rectangular 78" length. They did not have one opened and inflated yet so I didn't get to look at it too closely.

Received my Q Core SL Mummy version. Weighs in at 17.2 oz.

Travis, what length is that? REI lists regular length at 16oz, and long at 17oz.

Also, what are your initial thoughts on the pad? Really considering getting one of these.

Cant believe Travis recieved one already, 17.2oz, I was hoping it would be around 16oz.

that is the regular length. i have not even inflated it yet but am planning on returning it. i have the synmat and downmat already and was hoping this would replace one or both of them. however, my downmat ul is only 17.5 oz, is not mummy shaped and has a higher r value. mu hiking partner brings her exped drybag pump anyway. i really dont like the fact that there arent any really great options to inflate the BA.

Does anyone have the weight for the regular shape yet? Without the repair kit.

I laid on a demo SL and it was nice.
They had two regular size SL no LW.
Tigard had none and Next Adventure had
none.

Travis, did you end up keeping your mummy version, and have you inflated it yet?

Can anyone share a picture of how small this packs to? I am far more concerned with packed volume right now rather than weight…and I'd like to know how this compares to the exped size-wise when rolled up.

Most BA pads are awfully large when packed…

20" x 66" x 3.5" – Orange 3.5" x 8.5"
20" x 72" x 3.5" – Orange 3.5" x 9"
20" x 78" x 3.5" – Orange 3.5" x 9.5"
25" x 78" x 3.5" – Orange 4.5" x 10"
20" x 78" x 3.25" mummy – Orange 3.5" x 10"
20" x 72" x 3.25" mummy – Orange 3" x 9"

Take this for what its worth, its the 78 inch square model, 20.7oz for the pad itself, the patch kit and stuff sack weigh 1 ounce.

http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?5339-BA-Q-Core-SL-versus-Exped-UL7

Initial impression only really. And does he use enough slop on the bottom of the pad? A whole ounce, yikes.

Will have to wait for more info on the R value.

I got the petite (66×20), rectangle shape. I am a side sleeper and generally roll around a lot so I didnt go with the mummy version.

it weighs 16.9 oz, and ill probably put it in a cuben stuff sack that weighs next to nothing. So im probably looking at 17 ounces.

15 breaths to inflate, also the fabric is pretty robust compared to my old Exped UL7.

I really wanted to like this pad. Maybe it's just me but the pad feels narrow. I feel like I'm fighting to get comfortable. The thicker sides make it worse too.

Ill give it another shot but it seems like my exped ul7 was much wider.

I saw one at REI in Berkeley and yeah, it seems really narrow.

Is it more narrow than the q core non SL version?