Another new insulated pad: Big Agnes Insulated QCore

25" x 78" x 3.5" Silver/Gray 15° 36oz $179.95

Now that is a comfortable sounding pad.

Ryan

@Ryan: "Now that is a comfortable sounding pad."

Agree, 25" wide is nice, but I always wish for a shorter version.
I currently use the neoair trekker 25" wide x 48" length and use a thin closed cell pad for my legs. It saves a lot of weight and I don't miss the padding below my knees.

That's not that much cheaper, but about 10oz heavier, than the upcoming XTherm. Nice to have an option, but I think I'll be holding out for the XTherm.

I bought the Q-Core. I decided on this because I have some Neoairs and can never get comfortable at night, maybe the 3 & 1/2 inch thickness will help. If not I bought it at REI and can always return it and get the XTherm if this is no more comfortable than my XLite. I will be using it tomorrow night.

I could not get comfortable on my Big Agnes Q-Core pad. Matter of fact I can not get comfortable on any sleeping pad, no reason for the extra weight if no more comfortable. I have tried 4 different air pads now, no luck. Stupid question here, is there a certain way to sleep on an air pad that is more comfortable. I toss and turn all night and every morning my back hurts, anything I can do to make my sleeping experience better.

"Stupid question here, is there a certain way to sleep on an air pad that is more comfortable?"

How much air are you putting into it?

I start with it fully inflated and slowly let air out all night and try to get comfortable but can't.

Maybe try letting more out?

I know I like my Insulated AirCore best when about half inflated. Completely guessing here, but I think if I put in 1 less big breath my hip would just touch the ground when laying on my side. (how I normally sleep)

I'll try and post a pic of what it looks like inflated but no body on it in the next day or two if you want. It looks almost flat.

"is there a certain way to sleep on an air pad that is more comfortable"

If you pump the pad up full, you're sleeping on rock hard tubes. It's not much different from being on the floor except that it's bumpier!

For me, I pump it up part way and then let the air out very slowly until I find the point where my hip is just a little bit off the ground when I'm on my side, and the pad is nice and squishy. My goal is to have my spine parallel to the ground while lying on my side. This comfort point of course depends on the individual. I get this comfort point more easily if the tubes are large. I also need vertical tubes to keep from rolling off.

Sleeping styles are of course very individual, so what works for me may not for you. I suggest you try the "squishy" mode before giving up on air pads, though. I suspect you'll find it more supportive for your back.

My KookaBay pad, like Daniel's Air Core, looks almost flat when I'm not on it!

I will give the less air a try from the beginning.

Good luck! Let us know how it works for you! Think squishy!

For those of us whose pads progressively get too thin as we age (thanks to arthritis and assorted ills), I applaud Big Agnes for coming up with the thicker pad without greatly increasing the weight!

This is the pad that Mickey ended up getting with his Quick Mick Cozy earnings. He loves it. I'm quite jealous. It's pretty luxurious IMHO. We've had it out on test trip, and he said it was very cozy. Although he hardly slept cause he kept hearing twigs snap outside the tent and his imagination was seeing 600 pound black bears. :-0

My pad (BA IAC) almost looks flat. I also let the ait out until just before my hip touches when laying on my side. Sometimes I over do it and have to get off the pad and add a few breaths. I do all this before I go to sleep. BTW, I am not a true side sleeper, but I still want it as soft as possible.

I will betch dollars to doughnuts, a couple shots of whiskey before bed will fix that uncomfortable feeling with your pad…..