Big Agnes Insulated Axl Air Sleeping Pad Reviews 2018

Sleeping in the backcountry isn't e'er easy, simply a good pad makes a huge deviation. The AXL from Big Agnes is designed to provide a great nighttime's slumber at the lowest possible pack size and weight. How did it do? This is my review.

Every bit suggested, the AXL is an ultra-lite, insulated sleeping pad built from a new for 2018, patent pending, nylon. The materials is internally woven with high tenacity yarn for enhanced tear forcefulness and durability, while being coated with a water and air proof layer. The pad is air chamber based, with a variety of thin, interspersed baffles that create a series of jump like, emerald shaped pads. Internally, there is a combination of Primaloft Silver, a gristly insulation, paired with a reflective mylar layer that bounces trunk heat back at the user for warmth. The pad inflates via a high air flow 1 way valve, with a handy button in the eye for quick deflation. Equally tested, the 20″ x 72″ pad weighs just 11.nine oz, is iii.75″ thick, packs down to the size of a thick water canteen, and includes a stuff sack and patch kit. The pad comes in several variants, including wide and short version in both rectangular and mummy shapes.  As tested, the Insulated AXL retails for 179.95

What I liked

Given the pad comes in at 3.75″ thick, it's lilliputian surprise that the AXL is quite comfy. Truthfully though, the condolement comes less from the thickness and more from the battles These meticulously crafted seams create a quilted surface that essentially act like a serial of air springs, arresting the shape of the sleeper and distributing the weight beyond the surface of the pad. This creates a surprisingly compatible experience, while doing a great job of eliminating any pressure points, especially for back and breadbasket sleepers. Side sleepers are able to deflate the pad a bit further, allowing the shoulders and hips to sink into that luscious 3.75″ depth, straightening upwardly the spine and cervix, bold the accompanying pillow is up to the chore of supporting the skull. Afterward sleeping on the AXL, I institute myself free of soreness or stiffness (pretty rare for me), and I was able to hands slumber throughout the entire nighttime without tossing or turning likewise much.

The included valve is quite prissy and very unproblematic to apply. You basically just open the protective cover, and blow in. It is a one way valve, and so no air escapes in between breaths, reducing the overall endeavour needed to inflate information technology. This also allows the pad to be inflated to a rather strong, house state, which creates a great back up surface for dorsum sleepers. Alternatively, some air can be let out to create a softer, squishier mattress like consistency.  This is washed easily by pressing the small button located in the center of the valve, which can be gently pressed to let out a slow stream of air for fine tuning, or information technology can pressed deeper to dump air out of the pad rather quickly.

All in all, the pad inflates in about ii minutes or so, depending on your lung capacity. Information technology is a flake dizzying to pump up if you're in a hurry due to the considerable amount of volume the pad holds. Thankfully, the pad doesn't provide whatsoever resistance or push dorsum, so it's not too bad overall. On the flip side, the pad can exist deflated in nigh thirty seconds by but laying on the mattress and depressing the dump valve. Squeezing the final bubbling of air out to go the minimal pack size takes a little more work, simply a iii infinitesimal pack-upwards time isn't incommunicable. An accessory is available to inflate the pad without blowing into information technology, the Pumphouse Ultra, but that costs extra and brings a small amount of additional weight forth with it, about 3 ounces. Still, I'd recommend it as it doubles as a stuff sack and makes this process of inflation much more enjoyable.

I was quite impressed with the pack weight and size of the AXL. Rolling it up, I institute that it took upwardly a minuscule corporeality of pack space, peculiarly when considering the thickness and size of the pad when inflated. Information technology's almost comical watching it deflated into basically nothing. It weighs just almost 12 ounces, making it ane of the lightest pads I've e'er tested. When completely deflated and rolled, it'due south about 3″ past 5″, and folded information technology comes in at well-nigh iii″ x eight 10 viii″. This allows me to stuff the pad into just most any compartment of my pack that I want, usually plumbing equipment between my back and my sleeping bag in my pack, essentially taking upwards no room at all.

And so far, immovability has been fine. The materials are impressively thin, then punctures from abrupt objects will be a business organisation, equally with whatever pad, but it does include a well rounded patch kit that'south easy enough to use in the field. I've non noticed any signs of habiliment, tearing baffles, or whatever leaks, so this new cloth BA has come with certainly seems to be hold up despite information technology's impressively thin structure. Still, I would recommend fugitive direct contact with the ground, particularly with rocks or sticks, just in example. This is very much an inside the tent kind of pad.

The materials are nice and smooth to the touch likewise. This is great for quilt sleepers who brand direct contact with the textile. Besides, the valve stays out of the way and is relatively flat, tucking neatly under most decent sized pillows, so it isn't likely to cause whatever issues either.

What I didn't like

This pad is quite noisy. Information technology creates a sound that I can merely describe equally rubbing my hands along a grippy balloon. Whatever time I moved or rolled over, information technology produced a rather distinct and pronounced rubbery noise that bothered and fifty-fifty woke up my slumber mate on several occasions. I've tried it on several different surfaces and with various materials against information technology, and much of the sound seems to come up from inside the pad, so laying a canvas over it or using a full coverage sleeping handbag only helps a footling. Campers outside my tent didn't find the noise, thankfully. If camping solo, it's no issue. However, if yous pair with a light sleeper, it tin can crusade some problems, especially if y'all practice lots of rolling in the night.

The pad, despite having two forms of insulation within, isn't terribly warm. I've found it adequate downward to about l degrees, but annihilation below that if you're a cold sleeper will be chilly. The material itself feels quite warm thanks to the insulation below it, merely the baffles seem to not exist insulated. So, air seeps in between these gaps. If you're sensitive to chills, cold temperatures with this pad will not work. It can exist used in colder conditions when paired with a thin foam pad over-top, however. Considering the weight of the pad, this is still a viable lightweight winter selection when used this way.

It's a bit slippery when used in a tent. Choose a apartment military camp spot when using this pad or add some seam grip dots to the lesser to make it stay in identify.

Weight and price generally have an inverse relationship, and that's true here. It's 1 of the lightest, just also i of the more expensive pads on the market.

Overall

The AXL Insulated Sleeping Pad from Large Agnes is uncommonly lightweight and packable. It takes upwards such a tiny amount of space and weight that information technology'southward hard to argue information technology's viability for long distance backpacking. It barely takes up any space in my haversack, and at just well-nigh 12 ounces, it's one of the lightest, smallest pads I've ever tested. It's also 1 of the more comfortable, with it's quilt like patterns and luscious thickness providing a huge amount of cushioning that's much appreciated after a long twenty-four hour period on the trail. It'due south certainly a shame that it is so noisy, and the insulation really doesn't cut it in colder weather. However, when high mileage in fair weather is the target, information technology's a great option for those who don't heed spending a bit actress on the lightest, plushest bachelor. Fourth dimension will tell with immovability, and I'll update accordingly. So far, it's a pad that I tin can easily recommend, but maybe simply to those for which racket isn't a business organisation.

Recommended

You tin can support the site by using the following link:

Large Agnes Insulated AXL Air Sleeping Pad, Cherry-red, xx×66 Petite

For more than information on Big Agnes and their broad range of gear, check out their website, https://world wide web.bigagnes.com/

For information on our rating arrangement and our testing procedures, check out our Almost us/ Contact the states page.

I want to extend a huge thanks to Big Agnes for providing this production for review. We couldn't practice it without their aid. Our full disclosure can be found here.

Cheers as always for reading! Don't forget to follow our blog for future updates and reviews. If you accept whatsoever questions, comment beneath, send us an email, or notice the states on Twitter or Facebook (links on the correct).

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Source: https://treelinebackpacker.com/2018/07/19/big-agnes-axl-insulated-pad-review/

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