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Rab’s first foray into the mat market is an impressive attempt. It’s a good mat that can take a little more abuse than some ultralight pads; it’s also very reasonably priced for what you get.
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 mat works well for side sleepers; it’s 8cm and keeps you well off the ground and very well cushioned. Two oversized baffles keep help keep you on the mat, which is especially good for those of us who toss and turn in our sleep.
The mat is rectangular, which I prefer over mats that taper at the feet; I always find that my legs have slipped off during the night on narrower mats, especially if I'm using a quilt. A rectangular mat will add some weight, but I'll happily carry a few more grams for a good night’s sleep. It’s a nice quiet mat, so you won’t disturb your campmates tossing and turning during the night.
The pump sack Rab has come up with is the most impressive I have seen; it inflates easily, holds a lot of air, and only weighs 71 grams. The elephant detailing is also a nice touch. The flat-bottomed design takes up little floor space, so pumping it up in a confined tent is painless. It took three and a half sacksful of air to inflate the mat fully.
I like the roll-away stuff sack. It’s an ergonomic design that, in principle, works really well; however, as is usually the case, it could be a bit bigger. Unless you are able to perfectly roll the mat away (and that just doesn’t happen in the backcountry), it won’t always fit back into the bag. For context, I used the Long Wide version of the mat, so this may not be the case if you use a regular size. A small grumble, I know, but it’s worth pointing out.
- Reviewed by Ultralight Outdoor Gear
Features
- 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
- Stratus R 100% recycled polyester 250gsm insulation
Specifications
- Weight: 824g (excludes storage bag)
- Dimensions: 183 x 51cm
- ASTM R-Value: 5.5
- Thickness: 8cm
- Packed Size: 24 x 13cm
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.
Material & Construction
- 75D Recycled Polyester outer fabric with internal TPU Coating and fluorocarbon free DWR
- 190T/75D 100% Recycled Polyester TPU Coated
