Big Agnes - Rapide SL Insulated Sleeping Pad

Big Agnes rapide sl, the wide long version is a great sleeping mat

I tried a half dozen different mummy bags before immediately returning them. I'm 6'3" 235lbs, pretty tight fit. Perfect solution for me was a Katabatic down quilt. Really good quality and versatile. Paired it with a Big Agnes Rapide pad. Most comfortable pad I've ever used.

Yes it's a matter of seeing what works for you. Personally - I am a side and stomach sleeper. Mummy type bags and narrow tiny pads suck. I used to use a Nemo bag with a sleeve to receive a Klymit V. This worked ok, but not great at all. I finally got fed up and too the extra weight. I now use a Big Agnes Rapide double wide and a Kelty Galactic down rectangular bag. Went on a trip last week and it was the best camping sleep I ever had.

Big Agnes rapide SL wide and a queen fitted sheet. I know you said no air mats but you’ll never get a better night sleep camping, and IIRC they also do a double sized mat. Also IIRC lifetime guarantee.

I’m similar size, and I’ll echo others I. The Big Agnes Rapide SL, but get the wide lad and opt for the long pad as well. Is almost as comfortable as my bed at home, has cool side rails to keep you on the pad as well. Packs up reasonably light and small as well. I’ve used it down to about freezing temps and it doesn’t feel cold at all - it has a down top with a heat reflector apparently which helps reflect body heat when it’s cold…but also doesn’t make it hot to sleep on when it’s warm and muggy nights like we had this summer. I’m also a side/stomach smelter and it’s great for that too.

We have gone through five different sleeping pads over the years. I know you said you’re on a budget, but man a good sleeping pad is one of the most important pieces of kit you can buy. We bought these red inflatable air mattresses from Amazon for our kids and they’re fine, but my daughter isn’t a fan of the ridges they have on them. We have finally settled on Big Agnes Rapide mats. They are expensive, but when I say they are as comfortable as my bed at home that isn’t hyperbole.

I have no experience with the vectair but we did upgrade a couple years ago from self inflating MEC pads to a similar thickness air pad (Big Agnes Rapide SL) The comfort upgrade of the new pads ks night and day difference. My wife’s biggest complaint is how her hips bugged her on the old pads, it’s a non issue. Such a great upgrade, I’d say try the vectair.

I’ve used the Rapide down to about upper-20s and stayed ~relatively~ comfortable, but that probably was more so due to having a good sleeping bag/quilt. As others have said, you could get a thin closed cell foam sleeping pad to put underneath it. R values are generally additive. If weight is a concern, I’ve heard some people say they put one of those reflective emergency blankets (extremely lightweight) under their sleeping pads. Though, it’s debated if this actually does anything. It might be better used sandwiched between a foam pad and the rapide, or on top of the rapide itself (if you don’t mind the obnoxious crinkliness)

I have the BA Rapide. I believe the outer edges are slightly larger, so your arms don't sink. They are raised just a bit and are more comfy. I find it pretty comfortable.

Im a big fan of the Big Agnes Rapide.

I had the BA Q-Core for a few years until it too developed a slow leak. Thought I had maybe punctured it during a desert trip (thorns, needles and such). Did a soap smear to check for leaks. Turned out to be a material separation between the valve and the air mat portion. Glue just gave out, I guess. Called up Big Agnes and sent them an REI screenshot of my purchase date. BA was cool enough to send me a replacement of the Q-Core (discontinued) with the Rapide SL (current equivalent). Can’t say that either air mat is “ultralight,” but they are warm (good R ratings) and comfortable. As a 3-season High Sierra hiker, sleeping through very cold nights near glacial lakes is a big deal for me. Big Agnes makes great mats, sleeping bags, and tents. Their stuff is made to be durable without making comfort a secondary consideration. Yeah, I’m a fan.

Big Agnes Rapide for me...100+ nights on one

100+ nights on a Rapide. Love it as a side sleeper. If the insulation slips BA will replace it. If slips mid-trip (happened to me) you can inflate it and shake the insulation back in place more or less.

I slept on mine in the mid 20s or lower (water bottles froze) with a 20-degree quilt. Never felt cold from the pad.

Important to know from the start: I have scoliosis as well as a lingering low back/hip injury, and at home I sleep on a probably-too-soft mattress. But I don't have any of the problems I mention below even when I sleep in a different bed with a different firmness, such as while traveling for work or family. My setup as of last year's season is a Therm-A-Rest Z Lite Sol underneath the Big Agnes Rapide SL inflatable pad (standard length, wide width). In other words, I'm not laying flat on the ground by any means - there's plenty of cushion from uneven or firm ground, and I haven't had any temperature issues (I pair these two pads with a now-discontinued Sea to Summit down bag that's plenty cozy). The Big Agnes pad was new last year, after multiple seasons attempting and failing to make a thin Therm-A-Rest Trail Scout work with the Z-Lite (I would anti-recommend the Trail Scout for this and other reasons). But this current setup isn't working very well, either. On some nights I found myself waking up with a leg or two numb on some nights because of some position that had me cutting off circulation. (This happens at home occasionally when I'm sitting flat on the floor, but rarely when I'm sleeping or lying flat.) Even though I played around with the inflation level of the Big Agnes pad, as I was worried it was maybe too firm at full inflation, that didn't seem to help much. I also prefer to sleep on my stomach, and I haven't figured out a backcountry pillow option that's flat enough to keep my neck at a comfortable angle without being non-existent, as sleeping directly on my arms puts them numb too. Out of desperation, I tried bringing my flat-yet-not-paper pillow from home for a trip last year, which feels embarrassing to write because of the pillow's weight and bulk, lol. If it had worked, I would make adjustments to my kit to bring it every time, but it didn't really fix the setup (which is probably for the best for the rest of my packing list), so I'm back to the drawing board. Given all this, I'm feeling nervous about this season's upcoming trips, as I'm not someone who functions well on a lack of sleep. I'd prefer to try and adapt my current setup before I buy new stuff, too, as these are otherwise high-quality products that I think will last a while, if I can make them work for me. For folks who have finicky backs, or sleep in ways at home that are harder to comfortably do out on trail, how do you adjust your sleep setup for overnighters? What might I change here that will help me sleep better while on trail and thus have a better trip overall? I'm considering the Nemo Fillo Elite - can any stomach sleepers attest to this or other semi-inflatable pillows as being worth the buy?