Jason Merrill 
For starters, I do not care for inflatable sleeping pads. For me, relying on something which is so susceptible to failure is right up there with relying on something which requires batteries to operate. But there is no denying one thing, an inflatable pad can be sooo much more comfortable than a CCF pad.
After a couple trips where I experienced great pain in my hips and shoulders, I decided a change in my sleep system was in order. Up until this time I had never had any real issue with comfort while sleeping in the backcountry. Most of the areas I frequent don’t have the luxury of soft ground or comfy ground cover such as moss or duff. Even in these hard packed areas, A Ridgerest CCF pad had served me well for a number of years. Prior to that, I went with no pad at all and was just fine.
I spent a lot of time researching inflatable pads and came to two conclusions.
1. If I’m getting an inflatable, then I am going all out, no messing around. I want something thick and warm. Some of the pads I looked at seemed to only be a minor step up from a CCF pad.
2. Inflatable pads are expensive!
So after a couple months of reading, touching, laying, etc., I decided on the Big Agnes Q-Core. The best way to describe this pad is amazingly comfy. I could not believe there was a product out there so soft and warm and welcoming. I had found my pad, I was happy.
And then what happened?
One day I was browsing around on the internet and stumbled across a new SL (super light) version of the Q-Core. Figures. For the sake of some ounces, I sold my beloved Q-Core and put the money toward the purchase of the new Q-Core SL.
I opted for the petite rectangular (as opposed to mummy) shape at 3.5 x 20 x 66″. I sleep on my side with my knees pulled up toward my waist so I am able to get away with a shorter pad. The SL comes in only orange and includes a stuff sack and repair kit. First thing I did was to weigh the pad only, as I will not use the stuff sack or carry the repair kit. Much to my surprise, the pad weighed in at 17.1 ounces. According to the spec sheet at http://www.bigagnes.com, the petite size is supposed to weigh 16 ounces. Not a huge deal since I was still saving around 8 ounces over the original Q-Core. When it’s on your back, half a pound is half a pound.
Most of the online retailers spec this pad as having an R value of 5. The Big Agnes website spec’s it at an estimated R value of 4.5. Again, not a big deal but I do wish they would get their specs accurate and consistent.
Now, when I measured length and width, both of these were quite a bit off from BA’s specs. Width is 18 ½” and length is 63 ¾”. That is a far cry from the advertised 20×66”.
Thickness measured out between 3 ½ to 3 ¾”, depending on where along the pad the measurement was taken.
Despite the real world specs not matching up with what Big Agnes advertises, this pad works for me. With my sleeping style, the narrower width and shorter than advertised length is a non issue. If I was a dedicated back sleeper, then this could be a deal breaker. The thickness, I-beam construction and larger outside perimeter air chambers all work together to make this a very comfortable pad. The X-static synthetic insulation with estimated R value of 4.5 greatly reduces conductive heat loss (kept me warm on a 15F night) and the nylon rip stop shell keeps the weight down without sacrificing too much durability. I am a fan of this pad and will continue to use it but I would recommend to Big Agnes that they get their specs straight, as that is a huge turn off to a lot of people and could cost them some business and respect in the backpacking community.
*UPDATE – 07/01/13: I have decided to go back to a CCF pad for the warmer months. I will most likely revisit the Q-Core late fall/early winter when the warmth of an inflatable will be more functional.
*UPDATE – 07/25/13: I’m getting rid of this thing. I am going back to CCF exclusively. A return to simpler times.
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