Big Agnes
Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated (Regular, 51 x 183 cm)
Where it fits
- Also works for
- Bikepacking, Backpacking and wild camping
Why these labels
- Bikepacking: Small enough for bike bags: packs to 1.41 litres
- Backpacking and wild camping: Light to carry: 0.5 kg
From the maker's stated use and the published specs.
- Summer wild camp: 9/10 UK, roughly May to September, nights above about 8 °C, sheltered pitches.
- Three-season hills: 8/10 UK hills in spring and autumn. Wind, rain, and nights near freezing.
- Winter camp: 8/10 UK winter or high ground. Below freezing, strong wind, possibly snow.
- Weight: 7/10 How much it adds to your pack, compared with the whole market.
R-value 4.8 (ASTM).
Walkers who would rather carry a few extra grams than sleep on a thin pad
- Valve
- dual valve
- Type
- Air
- R-value
- 4.8 (ASTM)
- Weight
- 510 g (Regular)
- Thickness
- 11 cm
- Size
- 183 x 51 cm
Packed size 1.41 L, 18 cm long and 10 cm across Compare with a 2-litre bottle
Shorter than a 2-litre bottle and about as wide as one. Drawn to scale.
Where to buy
Absolute Snow £127.45 In stock. Free delivery.
View at shop: Absolute SnowUltralight Outdoor Gear £127.99 In stock. Free delivery.
View at shop: Ultralight Outdoor GearAlpinetrek £142.45 In stock. Free delivery.
View at shop: AlpinetrekEllis Brigham £150 In stock. Free delivery.
View at shop: Ellis BrighamPrices checked 8 Nov 2026 on each shop's own page; shops can change them. We earn no commission on these links; shops are listed by price. More
Our ratings (out of 10)
1 to 10, compared with the whole market. Each says what it's based on. How we score
Warmth
From maker's figures 8/10How well it stops the cold ground chilling you. 8: Clearly better than most.
Maker's R-value of 4.8 sits in the R 4–5.4 band: fine for spring, autumn and cool nights. Big Agnes's support page says all its R-values follow ASTM F3340-18 and its product page says a third party rated this one. CleverHiker felt it run colder than the number near freezing.
Thickness
From maker's figures 10/10How deep it is. Deeper is comfier, above all for side sleepers. 10: The best you can buy for this.
11 cm thick.
Quietness
Estimate: only 2 reviews about noise (fewer than the 3 we need, so never above 8) 8/10How little it crinkles or squeaks when you turn over. 8: Clearly better than most.
Two reviewers found it quiet, with no crinkle or rustle.
Weight
From maker's figures 7/10How much it adds to your pack. 7: Better than most.
510 g (Regular 51 x 183 cm, maker's trail weight) sits in the 400–549 g band; UK reviewers weighed 533–538 g (about 607 g with pump sack and kit), which is the same band.
Packed size
From maker's figures 9/10How much room it takes in or on your rucksack. 9: Among the best you can buy for this.
Maker lists 10 x 18 cm for the Regular and no litre figure: two figures, so a cylinder, 3.1416 x 5 x 5 x 18 = 1,414 cm³, so 1.41 L, under 1.5 L. Reviewers measure it bigger with the stuff sack (LFTO 23 x 10 cm, OutdoorGearLab 1.9 L, both in the 1.5–2.4 L band).
What reviewers say (out of 10)
Ratings marked * are from reviews and are not part of the trip score. They are reviewers' scores, not our own measurements. How we score
Comfort*
Reviewers' average 9/10How comfy it is, including for side sleepers.
8 reviews on comfort, e.g. "sleep comfortably in any position, on any surface, no matter how bumpy".
Stability*
Reviewers' average 9/10How well you stay on it without rolling off or bouncing.
6 reviews on stability, e.g. "the face material is also not slippery, which helps prevent you from sliding off".
Durability*
Reviewers' average 7/10How well it resists punctures, leaks and worn valves over seasons of use.
6 reviews on durability, e.g. "we haven't had any puncture issues during our extensive test period".
In short
Good for
- Walkers who would rather carry a few extra grams than sleep on a thin pad
Strengths
- Very comfortable: thick, with raised edges that stop you sliding off
- Packs small and comes with a pump sack, repair patches and a spare valve seal
- Quiet to move on, without the crinkle of some rival pads
Weaknesses
- Heavier than top ultralight pads; UK reviewers weighed 533-538 g (607 g with the sack and kit) against the maker's 510 g
- The stuff sack is snug and the pad is fiddly to repack with cold hands
- Independent measurements of the packed size are bigger than the maker's 10 x 18 cm (OutdoorGearLab 1.9 L, LFTO 23 x 10 cm)
- One reviewer felt cold in near-freezing weather despite the R-value, so it is a three-season pad
- One reviewer had a leaking seam on a long hike (fixed with the included patch); the fabric is thinner than on some rivals
- Rectangular 51 cm width feels narrow to some broad-shouldered sleepers
Sources
We haven't tested this ourselves. Every score comes from these specs, tests and reviews.
ShowHide sources (13)
- Big Agnes: Rapide SL Insulated product page and specs (trail weight and packed size by size, US site)
- Big Agnes: Finding The Right Sleeping Pad (support page: R-values conform to ASTM F3340-18)
- OutdoorGearLab: Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated review
- CleverHiker: Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated sleeping pad review
- Advnture: Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated sleeping pad review
- Live for the Outdoors: Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated sleeping mat review
- Steve Cleverdon: Big Agnes Rapide SL sleeping mat review (bought at full price)
- Better Trail: Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated review
- Countryfile: Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated sleeping pad
- CleverHiker: Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated sleeping pad review (15 nights Oregon, week in Utah)
- Better Trail: Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated review
- Outdoors Magic: Big Agnes Rapide SL sleeping mat review (Petite size, Scottish Highlands, autumn)
- GearJunkie: Cut Weight, Boost Warmth: Big Agnes Retools Bestselling Rapide SL Sleeping Pad (Review)