Big Agnes Q Core SLX Regular 

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The Q-Core SLX ups the ante on quilted comfort in the backcountry. Redesigned offset I-Beams create incredible multi-directional support and stability. The Q-Core SLX is lighter, tougher, easier to inflate/deflate, packs smaller, sleeps warmer... When it comes to superlight, three-season comfort this pad stands alone

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Features

Rated to 32°

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Pros 

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Cons 

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Verdict 

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Specification (taken from Big Agnes website)

• R-Value: 3.2

• Shape: Mummy

• Weight: 350 g (Regular)

• Width: 20 in / 51 cm (Regular)

• Length: 72 in / 183 cm (Regular)

• Thickness: 2.5 in / 

• 6.3 cm

• Packed dimension: 9 x 4.0 / 23 x 10 (Regular)

• Top fabric type: 30d Rip Nylon

• Bottom fabric type: 30d Rip Nylon

• Weight Large - 460g, Regular - 340g, Small - 230g

I find great sleep surprisingly hard come by. You'd think after a long day of hiking, I would just pass out soon as I laid down within my tent, but that's rarely the case. So finding the right sleeping pad for me is super important. 

On my journey to finding the right sleeping pad, I came across the Therm-A-Rest NEOAIR XLITE and here are my thoughts on it. 

Firstly it is ridiculously lightweight for an inflatable pad, which was super handy as I was on a mission to reduce my overhaul backpack's base weight. It is incredibly warm perfect to use as a 3-season sleeping pad.

The important thing, of course, is whether or not you can get a decent night's sleep on it. Unfortunately, if you don't sleep on your back, it can't be described as comfortable. I found myself slipping off the mat throughout the night, with most of my body on the tent floor, negating the insulating power of the pad. Also, this pad can sound like a bag of crisps being crinkled every time we made any movements on it. 

The only other issue I encountered was that moisture seems to accumulate inside the mat under certain circumstances and after a few trips I've noticed mould building up inside the pad. Which isn't a good thing considering it can be quite an effort to inflate, do n'tdont really want to be inhaling that mould. To make things easier after a long day of hiking, we purchased a pump sack to aid the inflating of the pads. 

Pros

• Super lightweight (400g, medium).

• Comfortable, if you sleep on your back

• Very small when rolled

• Very warm

Cons

•  They take a lot of effort to inflate.

• Noisy, They make a crunchy sound when you move. 

• They're susceptible to thorns: be careful where and what you're camping on!

• Mould can find its way into your mat.

• Expensive 

My Verdict

If you are looking to save weight without sacrificing warmth and sleep on your back, then check out the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir. For you side sleepers out there are better pads out there that should suit your needs like the Big Agnes xxxxxx

We deliberated many weeks over which sleeping bag to buy and we finally settled on the Rab Mythic 400. After lots of research, we soon discovered that to invest in a good quality lightweight sleeping bag suitable for all conditions would set up back quite a few pennies. 

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​The mythic 400 has the right balance of warmth to weight ratio that is key to help keep our base weight down.

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It is a mummy sleeping bag filled with down, with a comfort temperature of -1°C, a 3 season bag. 

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The down has a Nikwax hydrophobic treatment which resists moisture uptake, keeping it light and fluffy in damp conditions for a lot longer than untreated down, maintaining its warmth trapping loft more effectively. 

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The mummy-shaped sleeping bag fits well to the body, and the Pertex fabric is soft to the skin. Care is to be taken when using the zip as Kevin got his caught on more than one occasion. The zip is only 1/4 length, enough to aid you to get in and out of the bag. In colder weather a 1/4 zip is fine, however, in warmer weather it would be nice to have the ability to completely unzip. 

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The mythic has a weight-saving trapezoidal baffle chamber construction, which prevents down from migrating around the bag. The constructed is angled in diagonal chevrons to keep the down over the centre of the body to ensure core warmth throughout the night. I'm no expert on sleeping bag construction, but I am nice and warm in the bag, so they are clearly doing something right! 

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Pros

• Lofty 900FP down

• Water repellent down & water repellent Pertex

• Packs down small

• Warm and comfortable for its weight

Cons​

• Short zip 

• Zip prone to snagging 

• Feels delicate. Care must be taken to ensure its longevity

• Pricey

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Verdict

The Rab mythic 400 has exceptional warmth to weight ratio, a good all-round 3-season mummy sleeping bag. It is perfect for the weight-conscious hiker who wants a comfortable warm nights sleep. 

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Specification (taken from the Rab website)

• ​Weight: 660g / 23.2oz

• Comfort: N/A 

• Limit: -7°C (19.5°F)

• Pertex® Quantum 10 Denier Inner and Outer

• 900FP R.D.S Certified European Goose Down

• Rab® Fluorocarbon free Hydrophobic Down developed in conjunction with Nikwax®

• ½ length YKK® 3 coil main zip with noctilucent puller

• Anti snag bonded zip guard

• Ergonomically designed internal collar

• Internal collar and hood drawcord

• Super lightweight trims and features

• Angled foot box

• Cotton storage sack

• Temperature tested to new European standard EN13537:2016

This is one of the items we have replaced as part of our PCT kit planning, mainly due to size and weight. 

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They are great for putting in the back of the car and taking on summer camping trips. 

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I fell out of love with the quilt during the middle of the night, woken up by a draft. The quilt had come away from the sleeping mat, leaving my feet open to the elements and cold drafts. 

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The adhesive straps come away easily, 

really annoying when the come away from the slepeing mat and stick to the base of the tent. 

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Pros 

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Cons 

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Verdict 

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Specification 

We have had our Thermarest Neo Air sleeping mats for a few years now and they have provided us with many comfy nights in our tent ... and in our new home when our bed hadn't arrived! 

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It is a fantastic sleeping mat providing a 

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3 season sleeping mat 

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Pros 

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Cons 

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Verdict 

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Specification (taken from the Thermerast website)

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Firstly it is ridiculously lightweight for an inflatable pad, which was super handy as I was on a mission to reduce my overhaul backpack's base weight. It is incredibly warm perfect to use as a 3-season sleeping pad.

The important thing, of course, is whether or not you can get a decent night's sleep on it. Unfortunately, if you don't sleep on your back, it can't be described as comfortable. I found myself slipping off the mat throughout the night, with most of my body on the tent floor, negating the insulating power of the pad. Also, this pad can sound like a bag of crisps being crinkled every time we made any movements on it. 

The only other issue I encountered was that moisture seems to accumulate inside the mat under certain circumstances and after a few trips I've noticed mould building up inside the pad. Which isn't a good thing considering it can be quite an effort to inflate, do n'tdont really want to be inhaling that mould. To make things easier after a long day of hiking, we purchased a pump sack to aid the inflating of the pads. 

Pros

• Super lightweight (400g, medium).

• Comfortable, if you sleep on your back

• Very small when rolled

• Very warm

Cons

•  They take a lot of effort to inflate.

• Noisy, They make a crunchy sound when you move. 

• They're susceptible to thorns: be careful where and what you're camping on!

• Mould can find its way into your mat.

• Expensive 

My Verdict

If you are looking to save weight without sacrificing warmth and sleep on your back, then check out the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir. For you side sleepers out there are better pads out there that should suit your needs like the Big Agnes xxxxxx

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xxx