BIG AGNES Unisex's Insulated Q-Core Deluxe Sleeping Pads, Turquoise, 20x72 (Regular)

Product Information

Yes, yes, we ramble on about R-value in How to Choose and even give it its own section What is R-Value in Sleeping Pads? but it really is an important consideration in a sleeping pad. Unlike the Q-Core SLX, this pad has a higher R-value of 4.5 so it will help keep you warmer on colder nights. The Insulated Air Core Ultra Sleeping pad weighs 22oz, which isn’t very light, but not too heavy either. For such a great price, the extra warmth is worth a few more ounces. What size should you prefer for an ideal camping sleeping pad for you? Actually, it will depend on your height. Most of the options are available at approximately 72 inches. However, you should opt for one with at least 82 inches. Of course, you can go beyond that. Fabric:

Quilted top and a lightweight stretchy nylon-spandex fabric provides a soft-touch, cushioned pillowy sleeping surface Standard size for most sleeping pads is 20” x 72”, but as side sleepers we may require a little additional space to maximize our comfort. Because we tend to shift from side to side, having a wider sleeping pad helps us stay on our pad and not roll off onto the cold ground. If you are a side sleeper that stays put, then a standard size pad might work great for you.

This best sleeping pad for a heavy person comes with robust nylon ripstop fabric. It further ensures great longevity of Big Agnes Q-Core SLX Sleep Pad. To alleviate discomfort at your knees, it is a good idea to place a pad between them when sleeping on your side. You can bring a second pillow for this, but a sit pad can also do the job. Big Agnes are a colourful bunch who make colourful gear. They started 18 years ago and developed over time to become one of the most respected outdoor equipment companies in the world. After being told by industry heavyweights that the market was too saturated, they decided to come up with something truly unique. The Big Agnes System is an original concept that involves affixing a sleeping pad and bag in a simple and highly comfortable manner. Once this concept took shape, everything evolved from there. Proprietary offset I-Beam construction reduces weight and provides consistent stability and comfort Another plus is that the Insulated Q-Core SLX Sleeping Pad comes in wide sizes, which can be advantageous to side sleepers who tend to turn from one side to the other during the night, helping you stay on your pad without the fear of rolling off onto the cold ground.

So we have a Big Agnes King Solomon sleeping bag and were always FREEZING... Why, because the bag has no insulation on the bottom and on the cold ground, we often slid off our old pad. Looking for a solution, we bought into the "sleep system" philosophy where you could integrate a pad into the sleeping bag by sliding it into the designated space. Another great feature of the O Zone is an integrated pillow. The pillow has a separate valve, allowing it to be inflated and adjusted independently, while its integration ensures it stays in just the right position. Additionally, the pillow’s ‘X’ cutaway design centers your head on the pillow. The valves on both the pillow and the body of the mat feature an easy to use push-pull mechanism; pop it out to inflate, and push it in to prevent air from escaping. Speaking of inflation, the minimal volume provided by the cutouts allow this pad to be fully inflated in 5 or 6 breaths. It deflates easily as well. My initial impressions were two-fold. Firstly, the Q-Core SLX Sleeping Pad felt like it took an age to blow up — or at least, 25 full and ponderous breaths. And secondly, I slept incredibly well once I’d done so, no matter how lumpy and uneven the terrain. As a welcome sie perk, the shoulder injury that occasionally plagues my nights when I sleep on my side rarely bothered me.

Closely related to comfort, getting a pad that fits your body dimensions is important. Some models, like the NeoAir Xlite, come in wide lengths. Others, like the Big Agnes Q-Core Insulated, have wide dimensions as their standard. If you’re a smaller person, there’s no need for you to carry a 6-foot long pad (and the extra weight and bulk). Opt for a model that comes in short lengths, like the X-Lite at 48”. LIFETIME Our testers agreed when field testing, though our ruler shows the width is exactly 20”. To appease these complaints, Therm-a-Rest introduced the Regular Wide size, which has a 25” width for the 72” model.

High volume valves with micro adjustments make for fast inflation/deflation and easy fine tuning to your preferred firmness

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We also found that it was wide enough to use as a pool float while hanging out at alpine lakes. Of course, it isn’t rated for that, but with some caution, can be a fun thing to do. Some sleeping pads also come in a women’s version that looks nearly identical to its unisex counterpart, so what’s the difference? To start, they’ll be shorter than the unisex pad—for comparison’s sake, the size-regular Therm-a-Rest ProLite Plus is 72 inches long for the unisex version versus 66 inches for the women’s model. They also may offer a little more insulation (the women's ProLite Plus has an R-value of 3.9 vs. 3.2 for the unisex pad), making them a great choice for all shorter adults who sleep cold. And finally, some models tweak the dimensions and concentration of foam around the hips for greater room and comfort. A women's 66-inch pad next to a regular-length 72-inch model Durability (Denier) This is my first experience with an inflatable pad but I tested a few of them in the store. I couldn't justify upgrading to any of those 2.5 inch air pad that was only slightly more comfortable than my 2 inch Therm-a-rest Self Inflating Trail Comfort Large until I found this pad.