How to Choose the Best Sleeping Pad for Camping and Backpacking
Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated Sleeping Pad
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Light, tough and packable—and quite warm for its weight—the Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated sleeping pad helps you get a good night's sleep mile after mile, from spring through fall.
Shop newer versionKey Details
Insulated
Yes
Pad Thickness (in.)
3.5 inches
- Quilted top provides a cushioned, pillowy sleeping surface
- 3.5 in. thick air pad with 4.25 in. larger outer chambers keeps you comfortably cradled in the middle of the pad
- Proprietary, offset I-Beam construction reduces weight while providing multidirectional support for consistent stability and comfort
- PrimaLoft® Silver insulation works with a heat-reflective barrier to trap body heat and reflect it back, so you stay comfortable as the temperatures drop
- Durable, lightweight, double ripstop nylon makes this quieter than other pads on the market
- Aviation-grade TPU lamination provides ultimate weld strength and dependability
- Antimicrobial treatment inside the pad helps prevent microorganism growth
- High-volume valve allows for efficient and easy inflation, super-fast deflation, and micro-adjustment
- Included inflation sack helps you save your breath for the miles ahead
- Each pad is individually inflated and tested at the Big Agnes factory to ensure 100% quality performance
- On frozen ground, pair with a Big Agnes closed-cell foam pad to increase thermal insulation (foam pad not included)
- Includes pad inflation sack, protective storage sack, replacement valve seal and 3M™ repair patches
Imported.
View all Big Agnes Air Pads| Best Use | Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Sleeping Pad Type | Air |
| Sleeping Pad Shape | Rectangular |
| Insulated | Yes |
| Insulation Type | Synthetic |
| R-Value | 4.2 |
| Repair Kit Included | Yes |
| Stuff Sack Included | Yes |
| Sleeping Capacity | 1-person |
| Pad Thickness (in.) | 3.5 inches |
| Gender | Unisex |
Buying Advice
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Most Helpful Favorable Review
One of the best
Kevin232 years ago
I have about 15 nights of use on this pad, and out of the dozen high end pads I’ve had over the years, this is by far my favorite. First I’m going to address the pump sack. No, it is not the best out there. But the reviews I read about the sack are absolutely insane. 45 minutes to blow up a pad?? I truly believe a lot of people are not using it correctly. I am able to inflate my pad with the pump sack in 7-8 pumps every time. That usually takes 3-4 minutes at most. The backpacking community is very funny to me, we’re willing to put ourselves through pain and hardship conditions, then lose our minds when we have to spend a little extra time performing a nominal task.
What I love about this pad: the baffles on the pad are great! They distribute my weight so well (~215lbs) and I don’t feel any pressure points when laying on it. It really makes for a comfortable sleep if you’re a side sleeper. It is also true to its R-value. I have slept on this pad in sub 15 degree temps, and had no issues with feeling any cold come through the ground! This is not the lightest pad on the market, but ultralight is underrated in my opinion. My backpacking trips are gonna be a lot smoother if I get quality sleep, as opposed to save a couple pounds. I do find this pad more comfortable than the Tensor, as well as a tad quieter. As a backcountry ranger who’s used a lot of gear, I have to say that this is one of the best pads on the market!
Kevin23
Tacoma, WA
40 people found this review helpful
Most Helpful Critical Review
Try out first
Jackie293 years ago
The bag was very easy to inflate and very light, but would start to deflate after about 4 hours and was very uncomfortable. The thing was that there was a manufacturing problem with the plastic plug that caused it to do that. I recommend sleeping on it for 1-2 nights before going out somewhere that you cannot get a new pad.
Jackie29
Tampa, fl
24 people found this review helpful
Customer Images
Tim
Southern California
Big Agnes Rapide SL vs Therm-A-Rest Trail Pro
2 years ago
Trial testing is complete. Both are comfy, with the Big Agnes RapideSL maybe just edging the Therm-a-Rest Trail Pro on the comfort scale. The Therm-a-Rest is self-inflating vs using a semi-awkward airbag for the Rapide, but the Rapide is easier to deflate and roll up. You can see the obvious size difference when deflated with clear advantage to Rapide. And the Rapide and inflator when stored in bag are 10oz lighter than the Therm-a-Rest. I am keeping the Rapide.
Age:55–64
Weight:175–200 lbs.
Height:6'1"
Yes , I recommend this product
Cpt DidntSleepLastNight
Iowa
Upcycled pumpsack is just garbage you have to toss
2 years ago
Immediately upon receiving this, I attempted to inflate it. Took me over 45 minutes with the "pump sack" they include. "Pump sack" is in quotes because that's what they say it is. In actuality, it is leftovers they say are upcycled and send you so you can throw them away instead of Big A so they can remind you they SELL better pump sacks. When emailing their customer service about the issue, I was immediately reminded that you can buy a good one from them for $40! Then they insinuated that I didn't know how to use the pump sack. It's too thick, it sticks to itself, it doesn't open. It's just a bag they send you with the rapide. In the end, it didn't hold air over night either. It also had some glue or something staining it when I got it. It was also twice as stout asy Nemo.
Age:35–44
Weight:325–350 lbs.
Height:6'3"
No, I do not recommend this product
Scott W
Oregon
The best until it’s not.
2 years ago
I purchased this pad a few years ago (10+) and have used this pad a few times (6-7 times). Was really great for backpacking and camping year round until this last summer when it would loose air as fast as I could blow air into it. After realizing air was seeping from too many places to repair. I decided to cut it open and see what had happened. It looks like the internal rubber liner had not just delaminated in many places but had also yellowed and broke in some places. Needless to say, this was very disappointing to discover and I feel compelled to warn others of this possibility. I don’t know what caused this but it was not from abuse. Also, I discovered much of the insulation had not been secured inside the pad and had folded over on its self making cold spots. Like the title implies, it was great until it wasn’t. Mine is an older model of this one but all the same… Buyer beware.
Age:35–44
Height:5'8"
No, I do not recommend this product
BLMRanger
Gunnison, CO
Best pad ever for side sleepers!
1 year ago
I've got over 2 months of both backcountry and frontcountry camping on this pad, and I've got nothing but good things to say about it. I'm a side sleeper, and have never woken up with any discomfort. As a wilderness ranger, I'll often be out camping for a week+, and I usually only add air to the pad once during those long hitches. I've camped down to about 10 degrees on this pad, and it kept me well insulated. No complaints about noise; I toss and turn quite a bit, and the pad makes little to no noise. Easy to blow up with the accompanying air sack, once you figure out how to use it!
Age:18–24
Weight:125–150 lbs.
Height:5'7"
Yes , I recommend this product
MoutainextremgigachadMAN
Colorado Rockies
*not trail tested yet* comfortable, well made
3 years ago
Just got it today, so haven't had a chance to trail it anywhere but my lving room floor. As a restless sleeper who favors my side, this pad makes it super easy to transition to different positions without rolling off or having it slid out from under you. I did buy the wide-long so that probably helps but it seemed like a natural choice for someone who does a good deal of tossing and Turing even on a good night. Again haven't tested on the trail, but my initial impressions are that it seems very durable and well made. It's not the lightest pad on the market by a long shot, but for it being 25x78 with an R-value of 4.2,1lb 10oz is pretty solid.
Age:35–44
Weight:200–225 lbs.
Height:5'11"
Yes , I recommend this product
unclelori9
Denver, CO
Comfortable and quiet for a side sleeper
3 years ago
I've only tried out the Rapide for three nights but I'd enjoyed it so far. I took it on a rafting trip and stayed warm and comfortable when the temps dipped below freezing each night. I found this pad to be quieter than others I've tried. I'm a light sleeping and tend to move around a good bit so the crunchy potato chip pads make a good night's rest difficult for me. This one didn't seem to wake me up at all. I played with the level of inflation a bit and found a sweet spot where I was most comfortable. I paired the wide pad with my new custom UGQ quilt and slept great. The only thing I found difficult to use was the included pump sack. I found it a bit cumbersome compared to others I've used and ended up inflating this pad by mouth.
Age:35–44
Weight:125–150 lbs.
Height:5'7"
Yes , I recommend this product
Erick480
Phoenix
Great for people that toss and turn
3 years ago
I slept on smaller, thinner, more budget friendly pads that were highly recommended. I have tried those fancy foam foldable ones too. After many nights of tossing and turning and not being able to sleep I headed back to REI. Asked the specialist there at the store for the best one. They handed me this and said you gotta go big. Took it out on my 7 day trip. Slept every night on it and I slept great. I wish I would have just spent the money upfront and it would have saved me from a lot of restless nights and saved me a lot of money upfront. I can't recommend this pad enough.
Weight:175–200 lbs.
Height:6'0"
Yes , I recommend this product
imnothigh
oregon
my lord, my savior, my glorified pool floatie
1 year ago
If this sleeping pad became sentient and asked me to follow them into a cult i would, that’s how much i trust it. I calculated it and i have slept approximately 80 nights on this pad, and good grief it’s still going!! i haven’t even used a patch!! as someone who has a spinal injury and can’t use the thermarest pad, this thing has given me the freedom to enjoy the outdoors pain free. i’m not really one to praise a corporation but gosh dang big agnes absolutely killed it with this pad. for a glorified pool float it sure does the job.
Age:25–34
Weight:175–200 lbs.
Height:5'8"
Yes , I recommend this product
thedjbigc
Bolton, MA
Great for side sleepers!
2 years ago
As a bigger guy (220lbs 5'10") and a side-sleeper I've always had issues with sleeping pads. I have tried foam, self-inflating, and some less expensive options. This is it. This is a great pad to sleep on - and I went with the wide/long and I'm super happy I did as it fits in my tent perfectly. The long pad is also nice because my pillows and feet don't fall off of it - which was an unexpected bonus. I did end up getting a tiny rechargeable pump to use with it and that's been great (I never tried it with the bag it came with).
Age:35–44
Weight:200–225 lbs.
Height:5'10"
Yes , I recommend this product
Mtnbiker25
SLC, UT
Great comfort, noisy in BA tent
2 years ago
The pad is so very comfortable, no pressure points for the side sleepers, quite thick so I recommend a usb pump to fill although the bag works (same weight at 3 ounces). Both my daughter and I used one in our BA tiger wall 3 tent on a couple of different occasions this summer, it makes a lot of noise between the tent floor and the pad, many others in tents nearby were wondering what was going on each night, every time I rolled over, which I do a lot during the night. I don’t know if it just the BA tent floor or something else, but the combo was very noisy. I still love the comfort of the pad and still want to use it, but I just wonder why it doesn’t work with their own tents, did they really not try them together? I bought the tall and wide as the regular wide was not available, at 5’11” I did not need the tall, it felt longer than I needed.
Age:45–54
Weight:175–200 lbs.
Height:5'11"
Yes , I recommend this product
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