Rab Sleeping Mat Technology Explained
Mar 28, 2024
Harnessing decades of experience in insulation and innovative heat-reflective technology, Rab have created a range of lightweight, packable, comfortable sleeping mats as the perfect foundation to your sleep system, whether you’re hiking between alpine bivis or hunkering down in arctic environments.
Rab's new collection of inflatable sleeping mats are designed to insulate you from the chill and support you on all terrain, providing all the retreat you need from bitter conditions and plummeting temperatures. From compact, ultralight sleeping pads for fast and light missions, to robust self-inflating roll mats for regular camping use, to winter sleeping mats built to insulate you from the deep freeze. Packable warmth and comfort, so you can explore further.
Ultrasphere 1.5 Sleeping Mats
Rab has slashed weight and volume wherever they can with the Ultrasphere 1.5, crafting the definitive sleep mat for when every gram counts. It uses innovative offset air chambers to disrupt the flow of convection currents inside and trap heat, keeping you warm on wild overnights without the need for bulky insulation. Combined with a soft, exceptionally lightweight fabric, its weight-saving construction makes it ideal for summer bikepacking, thru-hiking, and multi-day mountain running.
With a comfortable tapered mummy shape that keeps things compact, the mat is thick and supportive, so that you can catch vital rest and restore the energy reserves needed for your action-fuelled days on the trail. When it’s time to pitch for the night, the low-profile two-way valve and inflation sack make camp setup quick and easy.
Featuring an included repair kit, the Ultrasphere 1.5 is fully equipped for your multi-day trips where low weight and bulk are critical.
- Ultrasphere 1.5 Regular (R: 1.5 & Weighs: 365g ex bag)
- Ultrasphere 1.5 Long Wide (R: 1.5 & Weighs: 494g ex bag)
Ultrasphere 4.5 Sleeping Mats
When both warmth and low weight are crucial, the award-winning Ultrasphere is the ultimate packable, featherlight air mat. Its ground-breaking design includes two layers of heat-reflective TILT, which reduce radiant heat loss, and offset air chambers that trap heat within the construction, allowing you to recharge comfortably without the need for high-volume insulation. Combined with a soft, exceptionally lightweight fabric, the mats weight-saving construction makes it ideal for bikepacking, thru-hiking, and multi-day mountain running.
With a comfortable tapered mummy shape that eliminates unnecessary bulk, the mat is thick and supportive, so that you can catch vital rest and restore the energy reserves needed for your action-fuelled days on the trail. When it’s time to pitch for the night, the low-profile two-way valve and inflation sack make camp setup quick and easy.
Featuring an included repair kit and unrivalled warmth-to-weight ratio, the Ultrasphere 4.5 is honed for fast-paced exploring in demanding mountain conditions.
Ionosphere Sleeping Mats
Crafted for extreme temperatures and hostile environments, the Ionosphere is fully equipped with the tech to insulate you from the freeze. Its design reduces heat loss through both radiation and convection, thanks to the heat-reflective TILT technology and air-trapping Stratus™ R insulation. With a superior warmth-to-weight ratio and small pack size, it’s the perfect high-comfort sleep mat for alpinists and mountaineers who need to hunker down in the world’s most challenging conditions.
The mat features clever details to maximise your comfort, including oversized outer chambers to keep you central on the mat, and a grip print to reduce sleeping bag slip. The fabric has a soft next-to-skin feel, while the versatile rectangular shape will ensure you can rest comfortably whatever your preferred sleeping position. A low-profile two-way valve and handy pump sack allow you to quickly inflate the mat when the temperature plummets, and you’re ready to turn in.
Made from 100% recycled insulation, recycled fabric and a fluorocarbon-free DWR, the Ionosphere is built to thrive in hostility. From frosty bivis to alpine starts, it will ensure you can comfortably restore reserves wherever you set up camp.
- Ionosphere 5 Regular (R: 4.8 & Weighs: 548g ex bag)
- Ionosphere 5 Long Wide (R: 4.8 & Weighs: 800g ex bag)
- Ionosphere 5.5 Regular (R: 5.5 & Weighs: 703g ex bag)
- Ionosphere 5.5 Long Wide (R: 5.5 & Weighs: 946g ex bag)
What is TILT Technology?
A radical, heat retaining tech that works like an emergency blanket reflecting heat back towards your body, while maintaining breathability and comfort. Boosting thermal efficiency, it keeps you warm when the temperature plummets.
Rab's TILT fabric (Thermo Ionic Lining Technology), is used in the inner lining of their top-of-the-line sleeping bags, sleeping mats and down jackets. This technology reflects heat back toward the body, reducing radiative heat loss and increasing warmth. It significantly improves the warmth-to-weight ratio without altering the fabric's original properties or adding weight. At Ultralight Outdoor Gear, we prioritize this balance - enhancing the insulating capabilities of gear without increasing its weight. Improvements like these earn our enthusiastic endorsement.
Stratosphere Sleeping Mats
Lightweight and compact, the Stratosphere boasts a superior warmth-to-weight ratio, making it a versatile all-mountain sleep mat which is highly insulating yet has a small enough pack size to take on all your trekking, climbing and backpacking adventures. The recycled Stratus™ R insulation is designed to trap air and reduce heat loss through convection, helping to maintain your temperature when the mercury drops and ensuring you recharge ready for tomorrow’s challenges.
The mat features a low-profile two-way valve and comes with a handy pump sack, so it’s quick and easy to inflate when you’re ready to hunker down for the night. Oversized outer chambers keep you in the centre of the mat and stop you rolling off in your sleep, while the spacious rectangular shape will ensure a comfortable night’s rest whatever your preferred sleeping position.
Constructed using 100% recycled insulation and recycled outer fabric finished with a fluorocarbon-free DWR, the Stratosphere is a robust and reliable sleep mat which you can depend on to keep you comfortable, warm, and well-rested throughout the seasons.
- Stratosphere 4 Regular (R: 3.8 & Weighs: 732g ex bag)
- Stratosphere 4 Regular Wide (R: 3.8 & Weighs: 890g ex bag)
- Stratosphere 4 Long Wide (R: 3.8 & Weighs: 997 ex bag)
- Stratosphere 5.5 Regular (R: 5.5 & Weighs: 824g ex bag)
- Stratosphere 5.5 Regular Wide (R: 5.5 & Weighs: 969g ex bag)
- Stratosphere 5.5 Long Wide (R: 5.5 & Weighs: 1119g ex bag)
What is Stratus™ R Insulation?
Resilient synthetic insulation developed with 100% recycled post-consumer material. Designed to trap the maximum amount of air possible, Stratus™ R boasts superior warmth for its weight, retains warmth when wet, and dries quickly.
Exosphere Self Inflating Sleeping Mat
If you’re looking for comfort, durability and ease of use, our self-inflating Exosphere sleep mat is ideal. Its X-Core™ foam filling is supportive and insulating, ensuring you get a rejuvenating night ready for tomorrow’s adventures. This foam uses X-core technology, which is a 3-dimensional weight relieved structure. This saves weight and reduces pack size, but also traps air to boost warmth and contributes towards the mats R-value of 3.4, while the rectangular shape supports a range of sleeping positions. The low-profile two-way valve allows for rapid inflation when the weather is threatening, and easy deflation when you’re ready to roll the mat away into its stuff sack.
Made from recycled polyester with a fluorocarbon-free DWR, the Exosphere outer fabric is hard-wearing yet with a comfortable next-to-skin feel. This versatile and dependable sleep mat is ideal for a variety of uses, and is the perfect place for you to recharge and make tomorrow count.
- Exosphere 3.5 Regular (R: 3.6 & Weighs: 678g ex bag)
- Exosphere 3.5 Long Wide (R: 3.8 & Weighs: 912g ex bag)
What is X-Core™ Foam Technology?
The self-inflating X-Core™ foam system makes setting up camp straightforward. Supportive and comfortable, it has a honeycomb-like structure that saves weight while boosting warmth by trapping and stabilising air, to insulate you from cold ground.
Rab has slashed weight and volume wherever they can with the Ultrasphere, crafting the definitive sleep mat for when every gram counts. It uses innovative offset air chambers to disrupt the flow of convection currents inside and trap heat, keeping you warm on wild overnights without the need for bulky insulation. Combined with a soft, exceptionally lightweight fabric, its weight-saving construction makes it ideal for summer bikepacking, thru-hiking, and multi-day mountain running. With a comfortable tapered mummy shape that keeps things compact, the mat is thick and supportive, so that you can catch vital rest and restore the energy reserves needed for your action-fuelled days on the trail.