I don’t sleep well with others. Just ask any of my numerous ex girlfriends. Ask them and they will sigh, roll their eyes, and tell you just what a dainty delicate sleeper I am. They will tell you about my many pillows, about long sleepless nights, earplugs, separate blankets, couches, spare beds and long uncomfortable silences over coffee.
When it came to replacing my patched and maturing sleeping pad, I convinced one of said exes to accompany me to REI for a romantic evening of pad evaluation. Over the course of an hour I tried each pad, flipping, flopping and turning, staring at the ceiling, laying on my side, owning that section of the store until my mind was made up.
The Big Agnes Q Core SL sleeping pad is a four-inch thick insulated pad that is more comfortable than some hotel beds I have slept on. At 27 oz for the 20×72, there are plenty of lighter options out there, but after feeling many them under my backside I decided it was worth the extra ounces.
The insulation in the pad does a great job, and I am able to pack a lighter bag and stay warm, making up a good bit of the weight penalty. The outer edges of the pad are slightly higher then the middle, and its done a great job of keeping me from sliding to the earth even when sleeping on less that flat ground. With proper pressure I can even sleep comfortably on my side, a whole new experience in tent camping.
All of this has made for better sleep and a better time in the backcountry. I was very comfortable on a recent two-night trip with my girlfriend, although she did keep me up with all her moving around. She has requested separate tents for our next outing, and I think I’m ok with that.
