BWCA BA air core Boundary Waters Gear Forum
Chat Rooms (0 Chatting)  |  Search  |   Login/Join
* For the benefit of the community, commercial posting is not allowed.
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Gear Forum
      BA air core     
 Forum Sponsor

Author

Text

podgeo
distinguished member (330)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/25/2016 10:54PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I have a BA Air Core. And its got a small leak somewhere . I know how I can find the leak, but is it repairable ? What was your best fix if yours leaked ? And did it work ? Looking to use it at end of September .

George
 
      Print Top Bottom Previous Next
08/26/2016 07:05AM  
Don't recall the model, but I sent my less-than-a-year old BA pad back to them and had a new one back to me in a week or less at no additional charge.
 
08/26/2016 09:41AM  
With that kind of time you can probably get a replacement from BA before your trip. I had a warranty exchange with them earlier this year and they were very quick about it and I got a better pad back.

I bet if you specify your need for late September in your correspondence they'll expedite it.
 
Grouseguy1
distinguished member (472)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/26/2016 11:07AM  
We have an insulated Air Core in our equipment arsenal. I've read about a lot of leaks with them online, but ours hasn't leaked thus far. I think they're made in China and its one of those products that has a relatively high failure rate, but are so dirt cheap to bring in from China they can replace and replace them while still being profitable. Good customer service I've heard. Of course I hope to never have to find out. Looks like plenty of people even on this forum have had BA pads fail on them. That would be infuriating on a shoulder season canoe trip.

My 20 yr old thermorest still does not leak. Bulky in the pack though.
 
08/26/2016 11:50AM  
I've had leaks with Thermarest open cell foam self inflators, 2 seam leakers. Big Agnes IAC's and Exped 9 Downmat. Each developed leaks at seams after 100 to 150 nites use, except the Exped which had a baffle failure.

Send it back to BA, they have very good prompt service. Follow the Returns and Exchanges directions.

butthead
 
08/26/2016 11:54AM  
quote podgeo: "I have a BA Air Core. And its got a small leak somewhere . I know how I can find the leak, but is it repairable ? What was your best fix if yours leaked ? And did it work ? Looking to use it at end of September .

George "

It should have come with a little repair kit that makes patching the leak a breeze.
 
08/26/2016 11:59AM  
quote unshavenman: "
quote podgeo: "I have a BA Air Core. And its got a small leak somewhere . I know how I can find the leak, but is it repairable ? What was your best fix if yours leaked ? And did it work ? Looking to use it at end of September .


George "

It should have come with a little repair kit that makes patching the leak a breeze."


If it is leaking at a seam the patches kit will be of little use except as temporary fix. The included kit is geared for patching holes.

butthead
 
podgeo
distinguished member (330)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/26/2016 03:54PM  
unshavenman - Were I put the repair kit is a good question

Those of you who sent it back did you need to receipt not sure if I have mine any more. I know where I bought it but that doesn't help. Kind of bums me out I've only used it on 4 maybe 5 trips. Less then 2 dozen nights.

Will contact BA Monday to see about returning it for a new one. Sounds like there're easy to work with.

Thanks for the feed back everyone

George
 
08/26/2016 07:11PM  
I really like my BA Insulated Air Core. Actually, it's the second one. The first leaked after about 5 years, and they replaced it for free. The replacement is doing well 5 years later. Can't beat the small size packed up. I used to use, and still have a Thermarest lightweight, which is very good, but the packed up size is at least double that of a BA. The BA is at least twice as thick, which equals twice the cushion. BA is much more comfortable too.

I only use my BA in the tent. The Thermarest is more heavy duty, and I used to use it to sit on shoreline granite slabs and/or use it in a Thermalounger sleeve. I don't feel comfortable doing that with the BA one, as the material is much thinner. It looks like they call it a Trekker Lounge Kit now. I think the one I used many years ago was made by Crazy Creek, but I could be wrong about that.

Tomster
 
Grouseguy1
distinguished member (472)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/26/2016 08:01PM  
quote quark2222: "I really like my BA Insulated Air Core. Actually, it's the second one. The first leaked after about 5 years, and they replaced it for free. The replacement is doing well 5 years later. Can't beat the small size packed up. I used to use, and still have a Thermarest lightweight, which is very good, but the packed up size is at least double that of a BA. The BA is at least twice as thick, which equals twice the cushion. BA is much more comfortable too.


I only use my BA in the tent. The Thermarest is more heavy duty, and I used to use it to sit on shoreline granite slabs and/or use it in a Thermalounger sleeve. I don't feel comfortable doing that with the BA one, as the material is much thinner. It looks like they call it a Trekker Lounge Kit now. I think the one I used many years ago was made by Crazy Creek, but I could be wrong about that.


Tomster
"


You're comparing a self inflating pad to an ultra light one if you're talking about the thermorest I think you are. If you want to fairly compare a Thermorest product to a BA Air Core, you need to compare the Neo Air mattresses, not the self inflating ones.

I have a neo-air trekker and it blows the Air Core away as far as comfort IMO, made in the USA to boot. It packs just as small if not smaller.

I agree with using the old thermorests on rocks , etc. Great for that now on group trips where the extra pack space isn't a big deal. I actually tie mine around logs next to fire so we have a padded bench seat.




 
08/26/2016 08:34PM  
Grouseguy - I was just comparing a few things about the only two mattresses I've ever used. If my BA fails again, I'll definitely look for some alternatives, including your suggestion. Thanks.

Tomster
 
08/27/2016 08:33AM  
quote podgeo: "unshavenman - Were I put the repair kit is a good question


Those of you who sent it back did you need to receipt not sure if I have mine any more. I know where I bought it but that doesn't help. Kind of bums me out I've only used it on 4 maybe 5 trips. Less then 2 dozen nights.


Will contact BA Monday to see about returning it for a new one. Sounds like there're easy to work with.


Thanks for the feed back everyone


George "

You don't need a receipt. They will request that you return the air mattress to them for inspection and if they find that the failure was caused by user error or abuse they will offer to fix or replace the mattress for a small price. If they determine that the mattress failed for no particular reason they will replace it for free. IMHO Big Agnes has both quality products and quality customer service.
 
Koz
distinguished member (102)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/28/2016 11:56AM  
I have a big agnes air core. I got a leak in it 2 years ago in the BWCA no less. It was a very small leak, so small I could not locate it.

Sent it back to BA, they just sent me a new one. Said it was along a seam and a manufacturers defect. Send it back to them.

 
mastertangler
distinguished member(4432)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
08/28/2016 03:17PM  
My BA leaks, my Exped blew a baffle..........just spent 24 nights on a Nemo and there is no going back to anything else on a canoe trip. No huffin and puffin, no grabbing buckets of air with a bag and a great nights sleep. Perfecto!

And it just might help save your life if a bolt of lightening hits your camp but that's another story.
 
podgeo
distinguished member (330)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
08/28/2016 09:14PM  
Will I submitted my return form. Just waiting to hear back from BA. See what happens in next few days
 
podgeo
distinguished member (330)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
09/22/2016 05:11PM  
Will not to impressed with BA. Did the return form on Aug 28 got a case # 2 days later Aug 30, then sent in the next day Aug 31. I know they got it on Sept 3 sent it signature required. They emailed me Sept 12 says its been received and would take 7-10 days business days to evaluate my return. Tomorrow is 10 days no word from them yet and I emailed them Sept 20 asking if there was any update on the evaluation of my sleeping pad, because I'm leaving on the 28th to the BW and still no response from them. If I don't hear from them by Monday when I get back from Duck hunting. Guess I'll be going to buy a new set up, bag and pad on Tuesday. And it won't be BA product either. Because I wont support people with crappy customer service even if made in county or over seas.

 
GraniteCliffs
distinguished member(1981)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
09/22/2016 09:23PM  
If I was in your shoes I would simply call them instead of waiting to hear something.
 
09/22/2016 09:25PM  
I had 2 BA pads fail me this year, one a regular air core and one a Q Core insulated pad. Used the regular for about 5 years and the Q Core for 3 and a fair amount of nights on both. I sent both in and experienced the same lag between when they should have received it and when they emailed me saying they received it. But after that they moved fast to replace both pads free of charge and shipped them back pretty quickly. I also have a September trip I needed them for and they made it with 2 weeks to spare. I am pretty happy with them but that lag time was a little disconcerting.
 
podgeo
distinguished member (330)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
09/22/2016 10:17PM  
quote GraniteCliffs: "If I was in your shoes I would simply call them instead of waiting to hear something. "


I will be doing that tomorrow. Never thought of that I guess, wife made the same comment at dinner tonight. Figured month would been enough time to get some figured out guess not.
 
OldFingers57
distinguished member(4990)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
09/23/2016 06:54AM  
quote podgeo: "
quote GraniteCliffs: "If I was in your shoes I would simply call them instead of waiting to hear something. "



I will be doing that tomorrow. Never thought of that I guess, wife made the same comment at dinner tonight. Figured month would been enough time to get some figured out guess not. "


How do you figure a "month" You stated earlier that they recieved it on 9/3 which is a Saturday. So figure they aren't going to do anything on Saturday or Sunday and then Monday was Labor Day holiday so they were probably closed for that. Plus today is only the 23rd so basically they have had it since 9/6 to do anything about and you expect it to be back to you in just a week or so. I think you need to be a little more realistic. It takes time for things to be taken care of. Too many people today have microwave expectations of things being done quickly.
 
podgeo
distinguished member (330)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
09/23/2016 04:59PM  
quote OldFingers57: "
quote podgeo: "
quote GraniteCliffs: "If I was in your shoes I would simply call them instead of waiting to hear something. "




I will be doing that tomorrow. Never thought of that I guess, wife made the same comment at dinner tonight. Figured month would been enough time to get some figured out guess not. "



How do you figure a "month" You stated earlier that they recieved it on 9/3 which is a Saturday. So figure they aren't going to do anything on Saturday or Sunday and then Monday was Labor Day holiday so they were probably closed for that. Plus today is only the 23rd so basically they have had it since 9/6 to do anything about and you expect it to be back to you in just a week or so. I think you need to be a little more realistic. It takes time for things to be taken care of. Too many people today have microwave expectations of things being done quickly. "


Yes it was a holiday weekend . And I know for a fact it was signed for on the 3rd as being received. And I know for a fact that it was Sept 12 when they emailed me stating that it was just received. 4-5 business days later from the time they actually signed for it. And today 9/23 was there 7-10 business days it would take to evaluate it from the email I got on Sept 12 from them. I had emailed them earlier this week with no response from them just to see what was going on. So if I had to make other arrangements I could.

I called them this morning give them my case # . And the answer I got was " Oh yes looks like we just received it yesterday. Will have to evaluate it and get back to you" . I said you have had it since around Sept 6. Got put on hold for few minutes. Then yep looks like your right, will get it sent out you should see it mid next week. Now I just hope I get it by end day on Tuesday.

The fact is they had it for 3 working weeks and nothing was accomplished until I called them today it seems like. To me that seems like shitty customer service. If it fails again it will be going in the garbage and I'll be looking at a different brand.

Microwave expectations it doesn't take 3 weeks for it to go flat on me more like 3 hours

 
10/01/2016 12:47PM  
Did you get it?
 
Guest Paddler
  
10/03/2016 07:43PM  
Yes got it the day before I left last week. They sent me a new model Ultra air core pad. Different color and the fill thing is different and has a separate thing to let the air out too.
 
10/04/2016 01:35PM  
Nice upgrade "guest poster".

butthead
 
OldFingers57
distinguished member(4990)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
10/04/2016 02:05PM  
Yes, I would say you made out pretty good for having to wait a bit extra. You end up with a new and improved model as opposed to yours repaired or replaced with the same thing.
 
podgeo
distinguished member (330)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
10/04/2016 09:10PM  
Yes I hope I made out good. It didn't go flat this last week end at least.

I didn't realize I wasn't signed in when I posted yesterday. The new site must of logged me out after not visiting for 5 days. I usually stay logged in all the time
 
      Print Top Bottom Previous Next
Gear Sponsor:
Myrmel Maps