Massive Agnes Rapide SL Insulated Sleeping Pad Evaluate

Backside Line

The Massive Agnes Rapide SL Insulated is among the extra snug backpacking pads in the marketplace – and it doesn’t damage that it’s tremendous inexpensive and sturdy, too. Gear Analyst Heather Eldridge examined this pad over 15 nights, mountain climbing over 200 miles in Oregon, together with the Timberline Path round Mt. Hood, and located it comfortable, straightforward to inflate, and sturdy. 

The Rapide SL has plush aspect rails that measure 4.25 inches thick – the deepest of any pad on our finest backpacking pads information – so that you’ll keep centered, supported, and comfy evening after evening. With many inclusive dimension choices, this pad caters to numerous physique varieties and sleep types at a aggressive value.

The draw back of this pad is that it weighs over a pound, making it one of many heavier and bulkier backpacking pads we’ve examined. Whereas we just like the valve system, it’s a bit gradual to inflate due to the large inside quantity. The pad felt colder than its 4.8 R-value signifies, so it will not be an important match should you’re a chilly sleeper or tenting in below-freezing temps. 

Nonetheless, the Rapide SL is a terrific choice for backpackers who desire a plush, high-quality sleeping pad for the backcountry at a value that’s laborious to beat.

Consolation

The Massive Agnes Rapide SL is a significantly comfortable pad for sleeping below the celebrities. This mannequin is 3.5 inches thick within the center, so it doesn’t matter what place you sleep in or how a lot you toss and switch, you received’t backside out or really feel the lumps and bumps beneath. However, its aspect rails add one other dimension: they measure 4.5 inches off the bottom, creating one of many highest quantity backpacking pads we’ve reviewed. 

The aspect rails assist to maintain you focused in the course of the pad all through the evening, particularly in case you are pressured to sleep on sloped floor. In our testing, we discovered that they work fairly nicely and stop sliding far more than the common pad. However like all product, they’re not excellent, and you continue to may slide round a bit.  

The double-layered ripstop nylon is tender and quiet to the contact, so that you received’t be disturbed by loud, crinkling noises through the evening. The inflation valve and pump sack make it straightforward to realize the perfect firmness by letting air out. We additionally recognize that Massive Agnes gives the Rapide SL in lots of sizes. This pad is an efficient alternative for all physique shapes with lengthy, large, and double pad variations.

The Rapide SL gives spectacular consolation, however there are some drawbacks. We love how thick it’s, however this plush design doesn’t work for everybody – some campers could discover it’s too tender and high-profile for his or her preferences or sleeping model. The thick nylon materials is nice to put on, but it surely makes the pad heavier than aggressive pads, so it isn’t as snug to hold on lengthy journeys. We additionally discovered throughout testing the Rapide SL isn’t as heat as its R-value signifies, so should you’re sleeping in temperatures close to freezing or beneath, this pad may really feel a bit chilly.

Weight & Packability

The Massive Agnes Rapide SL Insulated isn’t the lightest choice on the market, but it surely’s nonetheless price carrying for people who desire a plush and easy-to-use pad. Weighing in at 18 ounces, the Rapide SL gives a warmth-to-weight ratio that’s pretty common amongst backpacking sleeping pads. 

The combo of this pad’s insulation and ripstop nylon successfully minimizes extra bulk, so it’s straightforward to fold, roll, and match into its stuff sack. The pad has two valves: a one-way nozzle for inflation and a separate dump valve for rapidly releasing all of the air. Regardless of its bulk when arrange, the common Rapide SL packs right down to a small 4 by 7-inch package deal. Which means it suits in any backpack horizontally or vertically, leaving loads of room for different gear.

18 ounces is pretty heavy in comparison with different ultralight sleeping pads, so the Rapide SL’s weight could also be a downside for minimalists, ultralight backpackers, and people mountain climbing longer miles. This weight doesn’t embody the pump sack both, so that you’ll want so as to add a few ounces should you deliver it alongside. In our testing, we discovered the pump sack and inflation nozzle to be a bit clunky, so filling the Rapide is a little more tedious than deflating it. That stated, these are minor complaints for people who don’t thoughts slightly further weight through the day for lots of consolation at evening.

Heat

The Massive Agnes Rapide SL Insulated gives dependable heat, making it a strong alternative for three-season adventures. With an R-value of 4.8, this sleeping pad successfully insulates in opposition to the bottom, permitting for snug sleep in cooler circumstances. 

The three.5-inch thickness enhances warmth retention, creating a comfortable sleeping floor that minimizes warmth loss throughout chilly nights. Its sturdy supplies, like double-layer ripstop nylon, additionally contribute to its heat, and the aspect rails assist forestall warmth loss from transferring round, preserving you focused and heat all through the evening.

Whereas the heat supplied by the Rapide SL is commendable, our testers discovered the pad colder than anticipated on chilly nights. An R-value of 4.8 ought to maintain customers heat to round 20°F, however Gear Analyst Ian Krammer discovered it typically struggled beneath 40°F. He examined this pad throughout a week-long journey in Utah’s San Rafael Swell in late November, the place in a single day temperatures dipped to freezing and beneath, and the Rapide felt chilly. 

That stated, this pad continues to be an important choice for cool late spring, summer time, and early fall nights, the place, when paired with a high quality sleeping bag, the Rapide will maintain you toasty heat.

Ease of Setup

The Rapide is simple to arrange because of a wise two-valve system. The included pump sack attaches to the one-way valve, and it takes 10 to 12 repetitions for the pad to achieve most inflation or about 1 to 2 minutes. As soon as inflated, the Rapide SL holds its form nicely with out including air all through the evening. 

We love a big dump valve for quick and easy deflation, and Massive Agnes gives the most effective: merely pop the cap off the second valve for quick air launch. The nylon materials and low-bulk insulation fold simply and are easy to roll and slip in its stuff sack – key for any backpacking journey the place effectivity issues.

Our greatest gripe about organising the Rapide comes right down to its pump sack and inflation valve. The pump sack is useful, but it surely’s a bit heavier than competing choices and its flat design might be annoying to fill with air. The nozzle of the pump sack doesn’t at all times snap securely onto the sleeping pad valve, which may result in them disconnecting throughout inflation. 

The Rapide additionally has a considerable inside dimension, which suggests it takes a bit longer than lower-profile backpacking pads to inflate. This pad may also take far more vitality and breath to fill should you go away the pump sack at residence as a consequence of its excessive quantity.

Sturdiness

The Massive Agnes Rapide SL Insulated is constructed with sturdy supplies and glorious consideration to element, which makes it a dependable alternative for long-term use. The ripstop nylon floor is great at resisting punctures, injury, and tears, so rocks and sticks are much less more likely to injury it when mendacity down within the backcountry. This toughness is particularly noticeable when organising on uneven or rocky floor, so your pad will maintain air for years with minimal upkeep. 

Its sturdy aspect rails assist keep its construction even after prolonged use. The inflation and deflation valves can stand up to hundreds of inflation cycles, and aviation-grade TPU lamination on the seams and welds makes them sturdy. In case your pad does start to leak, Massive Agnes additionally contains restore patches, a storage sack, and even a substitute valve seal to extend the lifetime of the Rapide SL.

On the draw back, the Rapide SL Insulated is thicker than virtually another backpacking pad on the market, which is nice for consolation, however extra floor space means extra room for injury to happen. And whereas the supplies are powerful, the seams aren’t the strongest we’ve examined. Gear Analyst Ian Krammer had a problem with a leaky seam after solely 6 nights, though the included restore patch mounted this problem rapidly and completely. 

Lastly, whereas the aspect rails add sturdiness, they might be vulnerable to put on in high-use areas, particularly for individuals who sleep close to the sting or toss and switch all through the evening. That stated, the Rapide SL will final for years with a little bit of care and a spotlight and gives an excellent worth for its value level.

Ought to You Purchase the Massive Agnes Rapide SL Insulated Sleeping Pad?

The Massive Agnes Rapide SL Insulated is price contemplating in case your prime priorities are consolation and affordability. Because of a comfortable, thick design and huge aspect rails, this pad is nice for backpackers who desire a significantly comfortable place to put down after lengthy miles. 

It’s easy to inflate, quiet, and sturdy, making it a strong alternative for brief to medium treks from late spring till early fall. With many inclusive dimension choices, the Rapide SL accommodates completely different physique varieties and sleeping positions, and its low value makes it accessible for a lot of budgets.

However this pad is heavier than the main competitors, so it isn’t an important match for lengthy treks or ultralight backpackers. The pump sack and nozzle design make inflation a bit extra cumbersome than we’d like, and regardless of its increased R-value, our testers felt it was too chilly for 30°F nights. 

Nevertheless, relying in your wants, these might be minor points. In case your predominant goal is to maximise backcountry consolation at an inexpensive value, this is among the finest choices in the marketplace.

What Different Sleeping Pads Ought to You Think about?

Take a look at our full record of the Greatest Backpacking Sleeping Pads for all our prime suggestions. 

NEMO Tensor All-Season Evaluate: The Rapide SL is heat, however the Tensor All-Season is hotter. With a better R-value and a significantly decrease weight, the Tensor All-Season is an efficient alternative for three-season backpacking, and it’s simply as thick and simple to arrange, too. This mannequin packs a bit bigger and is a little more costly, however the enhance in sturdiness, comfort, and luxury are price it for people who sleep chilly or are headed into chilly in a single day temps. 

NEMO Tensor Path Ultralight Evaluate: In the event you’re primarily mountain climbing in heat summer time climate, this pad is a good alternative – it’s a bit costlier, however you’ll save appreciable weight for a similar thick pad, cozy consolation, and ease of use. The draw back? It’s not as heat because the Rapide SL and packs a bit bigger.

Therm-a-Relaxation NeoAir XLite NXT Evaluate: The XLite is a equally heat and sturdy 3-season backpacking pad with a watch in the direction of consolation. It’s a half-inch thinner than the Rapide SL, however because of its baffle design and ample cushioning, it feels very cozy within the backcountry. The XLite is costlier however a lot lighter, making it a more sensible choice for light-weight backpackers who don’t wish to sacrifice heat.

Klymit Static V2 Evaluate: In case your predominant goal is to decrease value as a lot as potential, the Klymit Static V2 is essentially the most inexpensive air pad on our Greatest Sleeping Pad Listing. The Klymit Static V2 gives a good steadiness of sturdiness and weight. Though it’s one of many thinner pads we’ve examined, its ease of use isn’t almost nearly as good, and it gives lower than half the heat of the Rapide SL.