Folding Big Agnes Air Core

[Vitals]

Does anyone have a secret to folding/rolling up the BA Air Core Sleeping Pad? I have tried it several ways and I feel like I can get it smaller. It still fits inside the sack it comes with, but I feel like it should be more compact. Any tips are much appreciated.

 

[Becca]

I know what you meant those things are a pain to roll. I roll mine twice....once just in half to get most of the air out, then unroll and do it again in thirds to get it as tight as possible. I suspect the PrimaLoft may work against me in getting it tightly rolled, but its a comfy mattress, especially in cold weather situations...

 

[Vitals]

I know what you meant those things are a pain to roll. I roll mine twice....once just in half to get most of the air out, then unroll and do it again in thirds to get it as tight as possible. I suspect the PrimaLoft may work against me in getting it tightly rolled, but its a comfy mattress, especially in cold weather situations...

Thanks Becca. I just tried doing basically just that and it seems to get rolled into a fairly narrow tube but I cant figure out how to keep it from getting longer than it was originally packaged. It seems like one of those things where you will never get it back to the way it was originally packaged. Oh well. It fits in the bag and will be easy to pack into a small area of my pack. It also seems like one of those things that I would kill myself with frustration by worrying about it to much.

 

[Snyd]

Mine is an Insulated Air Core mummy style, not sure about yours. Here's how I do it. Start with it pretty much empty of air. Fold it in thirds lengthwise and start at the foot end and roll it up tight. Periodically adjust the fold over to where it needs to be. You can squish air out as you go. Been doing it this was for years.

 

[justin davis]

I do what Becca does. I roll it to get the air out and reroll it

 

[orionthehunter1]

Mine is the insulated air core regular style and I fold it the same way as snyd

 

[Jason Snyder]

Mine is an Insulated Air Core mummy style, not sure about yours. Here's how I do it. Start with it pretty much empty of air. Fold it in thirds lengthwise and start at the foot end and roll it up tight. Periodically adjust the fold over to where it needs to be. You can squish air out as you go. Been doing it this was for years.

Same here. PITA, but comfy.

 

[Vitals]

Thanks for the advice folks, great ideas.

 

[JPD350]

I just fold mine flat about the size of my pack, I push the sleeping bag to the bottom of the pack then push the flat folded pad down on top of the bag and it tends to hold the bag down while I continue packing, doing it this way there is absolutely no voids and it seems to maximize space.

 

[Brock A]

Mine is an Insulated Air Core mummy style, not sure about yours. Here's how I do it. Start with it pretty much empty of air. Fold it in thirds lengthwise and start at the foot end and roll it up tight. Periodically adjust the fold over to where it needs to be. You can squish air out as you go. Been doing it this was for years.

Same pad and roll it up the same way.

 

[Vitals]

I just fold mine flat about the size of my pack, I push the sleeping bag to the bottom of the pack then push the flat folded pad down on top of the bag and it tends to hold the bag down while I continue packing, doing it this way there is absolutely no voids and it seems to maximize space.

Good idea. I'll give that a try if I am pressed for space.