Big Agnes AXL pads. Anyone buy one yet? Spec vs actual weight?

Shouldn’t the uninflated width be 25+25+3+3 divided by 2? Equals 28

Makes sense, actually. Take a box in its ‘box’ shape, then push it over to lay flat on the floor. It’s going to be HxW, not HxHxW, if measured, since one of the heights is now underneath the flat box.

Heads up, though, a lot of the reviews on the REI site are saying the insulated AXL is not as warm as advertised.  I have been thinking about getting it for the light weight and the quilted design.  I normally use a short Ridgerest or a torso length Nightlight, but have recently experimented with a REI Flash (2017 model-red) and a NeoAir Xlite Short.  The Insulated AXL is nearly in the same weight range as the Xlite and my closed-cell pads.  I have slept more comfortably on the quilted/dimpled design of the 15-oz Flash, and the AXL looks similar.  But since I sleep cold already, the reviews are giving me pause.  Do more folks now have field experience re: warmth effectiveness?

I’ve read similar complaints about the warmth of AXL pads. Personally, I’m moving to an AXL regular mummy from a Klymit Static V UL with a 1.3 R-value, so I fully expect the AXL to be warmer than what I’ve been using. Still, it’s concerning that manufactures can’t seem to provide specs that accurately reflect performance in the field.

REI was backordered on the mummy, so it’ll be a few weeks before I can test it out myself.

The shapeways adapters are not a good fit btw.

I’ve not really found any pads to be as warm as claimed until you get to the winter models.

i tend to carry a gossamer gear folding torso pad for general camp use anyway and that boosts things nicely and gives an emergency backup.

i would consider the insulated a late spring to early fall pad. I break out the Exped downmat once things are forecast near 30.

Welp, I had planned on buying one but I got spooked by the negative reviews flowing in saying the pad isn’t nearly as insulated as BA claims it to be. Being a cold sleeper and often overnighting places where the temp may hit the teens, I opted for the NeoAir XTherm instead…

Based on recent usage, the mummy has zero R value so I paired it with my small Z Lite pad (Z pad on top) which actually worked out quite well. With this configuration there is probably little if any weight savings to owning the AXL but I do appreciate some redundancy with ground insulation when using air pads that can fail and I do love unfolding the Z for a quick nap after lunch and not having to worry about punctures or the inflation/deflation hassle.

An unexpected design discovery was the valve and valve location… off-center at the headend of the pad. Over inflate the pad then easily press the valve to micro deflate to the desired comfort level, all done in the comfort of your sleeping bag or quilt.

@AXEL:  Thanks for your field report!  Was the pad you tried out the AXL Air Pad or the Insulated AXL Air Pad?

Mina

@Mina: AXL air pad, mummy shaped.

@AXEL:  So not the insulated version.  Which might explain your being cold.  Although I find it hard to imagine an *uninsulated* pad keeping a sleeper warm down to 30 deg F as BA states.

All: BA also states 15 deg F for the *insulated* version.  Which if comparably off-base might still provide a higher level of warmth in 3-season conditions without having to bring an additional 8-14 oz closed-cell pad.

Maybe we should just give it up and go back to carrying a trimmed-down, 8 oz closed-cell pad good enough for above freezing?  And practice relaxation techniques to counter the loss of cushioning?

Physics is so out to get us. :-P

“The shapeways adapters are not a good fit btw.”

Not for the Schnozzel, but one of them works really well for the Microburst inflator.

But I’m not understanding the hate (well, dislike) on the BA Pumphouse. Took less than three bags full to fully inflate the RW AXL. I’ll be using it instead of the Microburst from now on.

But I’m not understanding the hate (well, dislike) on the BA Pumphouse.

I have the Pumphouse for the older outward style nozzles and it sucks, mainly due to how small it is.

“I have the Pumphouse for the older outward style nozzles and it sucks, mainly due to how small it is.”

Ah. The new one is pretty big, and has a thin silnylon sleeve inside that you can bring outside to increase the ‘pump’ size. Works really well.

I have the new Pumphouse Ultra and I love it. Works great with both my AXL and SLX pads. Easy to use, quick to inflate, and doubles as my pad storage bag in my pack.

I think the issue with the Pumphouse is that it isn’t big enough to serve as a pack liner, unlike the Schnozzel.  For those of us who only use one stuff sack (i.e., a pack liner), the pumphouse creates a redundant piece of gear.  Also, it’s heavier than the Schnozzel.  So a lose-lose situation.  The only win is that it works with the AXL pads.

“The shapeways adapters are not a good fit btw.”

I *MADE* it fit!!!! I took a sharp scalpel and carefully shaved the inside of the schnozzel’s output vent until the Shapeways thingie fit into it. Voila!

Why not shave the outer bit of the Shapeways thingie so that you still have a unaltered schnozzel?

@Valerie,

Wow, genius idea!  Now inquiring minds want to know: How much does that white thingie weigh in grams?  Milligrams?  :)  I’m trying to decide whether to keep the AXL or return it to REI and just stick with an Exped.  Hyperlite Medium Wide is 14.8 oz on my scale, the insulated AXL is 12.25 oz.  The Hyperlite pad is significantly wider, especially at the shoulders. No drop off with the elbows–elbows rest nicely on pad.

Clever Hiker came out with a review of the insulated AXL:

http://www.cleverhiker.com/blog/big-agnes-insulated-axl-sleeping-pad-review

From the review: “Big Agnes doesn’t measure R-value (a big downside in our opinion), so it’s hard to say precisely how well the AXL insulates from the cold ground, but we think the XLite is much warmer.” Also from the review: “WARMTH:  No R-value listed. (Big Agnes rates it to 15°F, but we rate it to about 32°F)”.

Between this and the REI reviews (some of which are actually quite good and detailed), it seems like the AXL Insulated is not nearly as warm as Big Agnes claims (15F).

I usually carry a 1/8” foam pad to place underneath my inflatable sleeping pad to protect from punctures, reduce sliding around, and to add a little bit of warmth. But with the large thickness of the AXL pads, I wonder how much warmth placing the pad underneath would add? Is most of the insulation laminated to the top of the pad?

@dgposton – the Shapeways thingie weighs 6g.  To me, that’s pretty much nothing – equivalent to 3 potato chips, maybe?   ;~)

@idester-2-2 – I chose to shave off the inside of the Schnozzel because it wouldn’t result in any noticeable damage, and wouldn’t make a big mess.  (If you looked at my Schnozzel, you’d never notice any difference.

All I really needed to do was “clean up” the raggedy edges left inside the Schnozzel’s output by the manufacturing process.  If I had sanded down the Shapeways thingie instead, I would have had superfine plastic dust everywhere, and I would have had to sand it quite a bit — which made me concerned about weakening the plastic.  However, your suggestion would work just as well if you don’t mind the dust, and if you were careful about how thin you made the walls of the “thingie”.

With this modification, I’ll be keeping my AXL, at least for a while…I have no idea whether it’ll truly equal the comfort of my Synmat UL, but with my deteriorating discs, it’s worth a try to lighten up!

I usually carry a 1/8” foam pad to place underneath my inflatable sleeping pad to protect from punctures, reduce sliding around, and to add a little bit of warmth. But with the large thickness of the AXL pads, I wonder how much warmth placing the pad underneath would add? Is most of the insulation laminated to the top of the pad?

Me, too and for the same reasons. While I don’t think it does a lot to retain your body heat, it does provide a barrier blocking the cold ground. This is all theory and speculation, though.

@ Brad: I paired my AXL with a Z lite on my last outing and tried it both ways. With the Z lite on the bottom , very little R value was added, the air in the pad felt cool but with the Z lite on top of the AXL, the R value of the Z pad was achieved so my back side was much warmer.

@AXEL Very interesting. I’ve purchased but not yet used my uninsulated AXL pad. I only intend it for summer use. I have another pad I bought used that I’ve used in cold weather.

Since I don’t see myself ever using my Microburst again, I cut the rubberish piece that extends from it, and it works perfectly for attaching the schnozzel to the Shapeways adapter to the AXL pad without altering either. Win-win! Well, except for the Microburst….

I also cut off the pointy part of the Shapeways adaptor – just didn’t like the idea of something pointy pressing against the inside of the pad and it’s not necessary with the schnozzel. Also prevents air leaking back into the schnozzel until you remove it from the AXL.