Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated Sleeping Pad Review

big agnes rapide sl insulated sleeping pad

The best blend of value and comfort in a lightweight sleeping pad

Big Agnes Rapid SL Insulated Sleeping Pad is the comfiest pad in the mid-tier price range that is also under 20 oz, and we’re pleased to recommend it. Shop now.

  • Price: $150
  • Weight: 19 oz
  • R-Value: 4.2 | R-Value/Weight: .22
  • Thickness: 3.5” | Fabric: 40d
  • Sizes: Short, Regular, Wide, Long, Wide Long
  • Pros: Good value. Comfy. Thick. High R-Value.
  • Cons: Mid-weight.

Features

Rapide SL prioritizes value, then comfort, then weight. It is the yin to the yang of our lightweight value pick, the Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated air. Compared to the best overall sleeping pad for backpacking, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT, the Rapide SL is 40% less expensive, 52% heavier, 17% thicker, and 7% less warm.

For the middling price of $150, this sleeping pad has top tier R-Value (4.2), and is the thickest pad in our guide at 3.5,” and that’s not even counting the extra high rim baffles that are 4.25” thick. Needless, to say, this one is heckin’ comfy and it’s extra work to inflate.

But it comes at a cost. Rapide SL Insulated weighs 19 oz. This is not technically even a lightweight sleeping pad, though it falls on the lighter end of med-tier weight.

A few other things to note. The vertical baffling channels are interesting, but we’re not sure that we prefer them to other configurations. Luckily, thickness and R-value play a much more important role to overall comfort.

If you’re a quilt user who is value shopping, this would be a better pick than the Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Air, since the R-value is higher and there is less cold spotting.

Verdict

Considering it as a value pick, we think Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated is the most comfortable sleeping pad for backpacking that still keeps its weight in reasonable check.

Shop Big Agnes Rapide SL

Check out more great options in our guide to the best backpacking sleeping pads of year.

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