I have given the Q-Core a rigorous testing under extreme temperature conditions from near-zero temperatures with snow in my dispersed wilderness camps, such as Willow Lake at the base of Fourteener Kit Carson, to the sweltering summer heat of Odessa, Ukraine, with great performance. I recently purchased this pad as an upgrade, after handing off my Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Pad to a family member. Big Agnes includes an upcycled inflation sack with each pad, which saves you from having to inflate the pad by breath. It makes very little noise when you move around on it at night (in comparison to the NeoAir which sounds like you are flopping around on a pile of plastic bags).

Big Agnes Q-Core Deluxe Pillow – Valley and Peak Big Agnes Q-Core Deluxe Pillow – Valley and Peak

Additionally, the material this valve is made from feels like a dense compliant rubber rather than brittle plastic, which bodes well for durability and the likely scenario of someone stepping on the valve at some point. But it also left feet of snow and chest-high water crossings on the Mogollon Rim late into the hiking season - some hikers were snowshoeing that section! I yanked these out of the bottom of my pack and the huge zipper allowed for easy dressing over boots. Do yourself a favor and try to find the Big Agnes Pumphouse pump or other compatible pump to inflate it.inches pad, you need something else under the bag head to give better support (such as an extra pillow, jacket, bag). While the four-plus inches of loft may seem excessive, it was an excellent barrier between our bodies and the ground. There’s no official R-value for the SLX, but Big Agnes claims it will work down to 32 °F, and we think that’s about right.

Big Agnes Insulated Q-Core Deluxe Sleeping Pad, 20x72 (Regular)

This was enough to know the limits of the Q-Core SLX lie right around 30-32 degrees Fahrenheit below that our bones started to ache with cold. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. During the previous testing cycle with the same model, we managed to pop the lamination on the inside of one baffle; this didn't result in any air leakage, and we were still able to use the pad. The material is thinner than what you would find on a self inflating pad, but this is tradeoff is what makes it so much lighter.Jalen Bazille, a Big Agnes Ambassador and Athlete, let us in on his secret tips and what to pack for a successful bikepacking trip.