Big Agnes - Rapide SL Insulated Sleeping Pad
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Based on 1 year's data from Mar 8, 2026 How it works
Liked most:
80
9
"it is wonderfull! ... I sleep like a baby."
"so much more comfortable and warm"
"it’s very comfortable ... I only inflate it enough to stop my hips bottoming out."
36
16
"20 degrees F comfortably from below. Quilt wasn't up to it"
"so much more comfortable and warm"
"I've used my 2023 rapide SL (old version) down to 0°C and it has been outstanding."
12
4
"it’s so quiet compared to other sleeping pads. ... I share a tent with my SO and I toss and turn like crazy so I wanted something quiet."
"I bought a Gear Doctors sleeping pad from Amazon that seemed decent for a budget pad but it was REALLY loud so it got returned and we ended up buying the Rapide wide pads."
"They are so much quieter than other inflatables."
18
7
"I had a Big Agnes for a decade. ... It sprung a leak on a trip this time last year. ... I found the leak on a seam and called to ask about repairing it. ... They asked for a pic, which I sent as well as a pic of the valve cut off (per their instructions) and my new pad arrived in a few days. No charge. ... I’ll never buy a pad from a different manufacturer again."
"I’ve had it for 8 years, which feels kinda unreal for an inflable. ... Never had an issue with it and definitely put it through the gauntlet- camped in the desert a lot, cowboy camped, camped on rocky areas. ... Never had a leak. ... Love it and feel like it’s worth the price tag"
"Big Agnes Rapide for me...100+ nights on one"
14
4
"no one rolling off the pad"
"no one ... falling into a weird crevice"
"The side baffles completely eliminated the feeling of falling off the pad that I'd get with other inflatable pads"
Disliked most:
30
17
"too cold for what they said it was"
"I would not use it in those conditions again. ... I kept waking up every 30 minutes because i could feel the cold creeping up from the ground through the sleeping pad. ... It was survivable but not comfortable by any means."
"My Rapide SL insulated is very comfortable but nowhere close 4r. It might be 2r. Maybe."
12
4
"I have an BA Rapide and it’s incredibly loud anytime I move."
"I have the Rapide SL 25x72 and I don't think it's a quiet pad at all. ... But it makes a really loud sort of sound, kinda like rubbing two balloons together or something haha. ... if I was doing a stealth camp or around other people they would definitely hear me a couple tents over"
"My only complaint about it is that it's loud. I toss and turn a lot and it squeaks with every movement."
3
3
"And it takes a LOT of pumps to fill it."
"Big Agnes has valve issues ... mine didn't even last 3 uses"
"On some nights I found myself waking up with a leg or two numb on some nights because of some position that had me cutting off circulation. ... Even though I played around with the inflation level of the Big Agnes pad, as I was worried it was maybe too firm at full inflation, that didn't seem to help much."
16
8
"After two months on the road it is now failing almost every night. ... I’ve exhausted the patches that came with the pad and it’s now covered with third party gear repair patches. ... I paid good money for this thing and it is absolutely not worth it."
"Big Agnes has valve issues ... mine didn't even last 3 uses"
"Big Agnes pads are some of the toughest out there as far as I can know, yet I have gone through three because of punctures. ... Each time the holes have been so small that I can't find them without getting to a hotel and submerging them in the tub."
4
4
"Big Agnes was another step up in bulk and weight, and I just couldn't justify either when the comfort wasn't as great as the S2S (which surprised me)."
"The Rapide is noticeably more comfortable, heavier, bulkier."
"I walked out with a Big aAgnes Rapide even though it was 18 oz instead of 15.5 oz."
agorb 1.0Big Agnes rapide sl, the wide long version is a great sleeping mat
Al_Kydah 1.0I tried a half dozen different mummy bags before immediately returning them. I'm 6'3" 235lbs, pretty tight fit. Perfect solution for me was a Katabatic down quilt. Really good quality and versatile. Paired it with a Big Agnes Rapide pad. Most comfortable pad I've ever used.
Spend the money. I'm kicking my own ass over the fact I was too miserly for too long. Never got a good night's sleep camping. Finally broke down and did a ton of research, watched several comparison YouTube vids. Settled on the Big Agnes Rapide SL insulated in the 25x78" size (I'm 6'3 240lb). I LOOOOVE this pad!!!!
AlpineInquirer 1.0Yes it's a matter of seeing what works for you. Personally - I am a side and stomach sleeper. Mummy type bags and narrow tiny pads suck. I used to use a Nemo bag with a sleeve to receive a Klymit V. This worked ok, but not great at all. I finally got fed up and too the extra weight. I now use a Big Agnes Rapide double wide and a Kelty Galactic down rectangular bag. Went on a trip last week and it was the best camping sleep I ever had.
Any_Cicada2210 1.0Big Agnes rapide SL wide and a queen fitted sheet. I know you said no air mats but you’ll never get a better night sleep camping, and IIRC they also do a double sized mat. Also IIRC lifetime guarantee.
I’m similar size, and I’ll echo others I. The Big Agnes Rapide SL, but get the wide lad and opt for the long pad as well. Is almost as comfortable as my bed at home, has cool side rails to keep you on the pad as well. Packs up reasonably light and small as well. I’ve used it down to about freezing temps and it doesn’t feel cold at all - it has a down top with a heat reflector apparently which helps reflect body heat when it’s cold…but also doesn’t make it hot to sleep on when it’s warm and muggy nights like we had this summer. I’m also a side/stomach smelter and it’s great for that too.
We have gone through five different sleeping pads over the years. I know you said you’re on a budget, but man a good sleeping pad is one of the most important pieces of kit you can buy. We bought these red inflatable air mattresses from Amazon for our kids and they’re fine, but my daughter isn’t a fan of the ridges they have on them. We have finally settled on Big Agnes Rapide mats. They are expensive, but when I say they are as comfortable as my bed at home that isn’t hyperbole.
I have no experience with the vectair but we did upgrade a couple years ago from self inflating MEC pads to a similar thickness air pad (Big Agnes Rapide SL) The comfort upgrade of the new pads ks night and day difference. My wife’s biggest complaint is how her hips bugged her on the old pads, it’s a non issue. Such a great upgrade, I’d say try the vectair.
Big Agnes Rapide SL. Don’t look at the price tag, just buy it. It is one of the most comfortable mattresses of any kind I’ve slept on, including real beds. Packs small, fairly light. Oh and did I mention insanely comfortable?
apersello34 1.0I’ve used the Rapide down to about upper-20s and stayed ~relatively~ comfortable, but that probably was more so due to having a good sleeping bag/quilt. As others have said, you could get a thin closed cell foam sleeping pad to put underneath it. R values are generally additive. If weight is a concern, I’ve heard some people say they put one of those reflective emergency blankets (extremely lightweight) under their sleeping pads. Though, it’s debated if this actually does anything. It might be better used sandwiched between a foam pad and the rapide, or on top of the rapide itself (if you don’t mind the obnoxious crinkliness)
I went with the Big Agnes Rapide SL. It’s a little heavier than other UL pads, but the added comfort was so worth it. Plus, their customer service is superb.
Apples_fan 1.0I have the BA Rapide. I believe the outer edges are slightly larger, so your arms don't sink. They are raised just a bit and are more comfy. I find it pretty comfortable.
Arbys_Meat_Flaps 1.0Im a big fan of the Big Agnes Rapide.
a_scribed 1.0I had the BA Q-Core for a few years until it too developed a slow leak. Thought I had maybe punctured it during a desert trip (thorns, needles and such). Did a soap smear to check for leaks. Turned out to be a material separation between the valve and the air mat portion. Glue just gave out, I guess. Called up Big Agnes and sent them an REI screenshot of my purchase date. BA was cool enough to send me a replacement of the Q-Core (discontinued) with the Rapide SL (current equivalent). Can’t say that either air mat is “ultralight,” but they are warm (good R ratings) and comfortable. As a 3-season High Sierra hiker, sleeping through very cold nights near glacial lakes is a big deal for me. Big Agnes makes great mats, sleeping bags, and tents. Their stuff is made to be durable without making comfort a secondary consideration. Yeah, I’m a fan.
Asleep-Sense-7747 1.0Big Agnes Rapide for me...100+ nights on one
100+ nights on a Rapide. Love it as a side sleeper. If the insulation slips BA will replace it. If slips mid-trip (happened to me) you can inflate it and shake the insulation back in place more or less.
bananaleomhann 1.0This. I believe the baffles running end-to-end instead of side-to-side also makes this more comfortable for active sleepers than the NeoAir. The Rapide is on the heavier side but totally worth the weight. I have the wide.
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