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The Rab Stratosphere 5.5 is a premium sleeping pad, designed for cool weather camping and backpacking. It offers impressive warmth, despite its lightweight and compact size. It's also durable and well-constructed.
Rab says:
Lightweight and compact, the Stratosphere 5.5 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 5.5 is a robust and reliable sleep mat which you can depend on to keep you comfortable, warm, and well-rested throughout the seasons.
Our Verdict
The Rab Stratosphere 5.5 is a premium insulated sleeping pad designed for camping and backpacking in cooler conditions. Utilising high-loft recycled Stratus R insulation, it provides an impressive R-value of 5.5 for reliable warmth from frozen ground.
Despite the high warmth rating, the 5.5 weighs just 969g and packs down to 30x15cm - impressive for such a well-insulated full-length mat. The 8cm thickness offers plush comfort and protection from lumpy surfaces, and it works well for side sleepers.
While the Stratosphere may not be the lightest mat on the market, it compensates with its durable construction and competitive price. Striking the balance between weight and durability is a common challenge in gear selection. It's refreshing to have a well-built option that prioritises robustness as an option.
Key features include the oversized outer baffles to centre you on the mat, a low-profile dual valve for easy inflation/deflation, and an included pump sack. The rectangular shape allows plenty of room to shift sleeping positions.
The durable 75D recycled polyester shell has a TPU coating and fluorocarbon-free DWR to shed moisture. Rab's typical quality construction ensures reliable warmth and cushioning all night long.
The 5.5 is an excellent option for cool weather adventures where a warmer sleep is needed, but packability is still vital. The premium insulation combines with the cushy thickness to deliver a cosy rest.
- Reviewed by Ultralight Outdoor Gear
Features
- 75D Recycled Polyester outer fabric with internal TPU Coating and fluorocarbon free DWR
- Stratus™ R 100% recycled polyester 250gsm insulation
- Stratus™ R insulation traps air and reduces heat loss from convective currents
- Lightweight construction and insulation for superb warmth-to-weight ratio and minimal pack size.
- Oversized outer chambers helps keep you centralised on the mat
- Hybrid rectangular shape allows various comfortable sleeping positions
- Low profile two-way valve for easy inflation and deflation
- Pump sack included for rapid and hygienic inflation
- Roll-away stuff sack with repair kit included
Specifications
- Weight: 969g (excluding bag + pump)
- Dimensions: 183 x 64cm
- Thickness: 8cm
- Packed Size: 30 x 15cm
- R-Value: 5.5
Material & Construction
- 190T/75D 100% Recycled Polyester TPU Coated
ASTM R-Value:
From 2020, there is a new industry standard for measuring the R-value (level of insulation) of sleeping mats – ASTM F3340-18. This new standard is the sleeping mat equivalent to the EN rating for sleeping bags.
You can now directly compare the R-value of mats rated using the ASTM F3340-18 with confidence that is a fair and accurate comparison between mats. In simple terms, the higher the R-value, the warmer the mat.
In general terms, an R-value below 2.0 is for summer use, 2.0 to 4.0 is for cooler 3 season use and 4.0+ is for winter temperatures. This will be also be dependent on your sleeping bag, how cold you sleep etc. Please contact our customer service team if you need advice on choosing the right mat for your activity.
