For 40 years, Rab built its reputation on sleeping bags, leveraging forward-thinking design. Now, its new gear takes the next logical step.
Since 1981, you could buy a best-in-class quality sleeping bag from Rab. Now for the first time, Rab is a one-stop shop for sleeping bags and pads.
The Sheffield, England-founded brand today announced its first line of sleeping pads. Two ultralight pads for alpine excursions, two midweight models, and a comfort-focused car camping model fill out the lineup.
Details are thin, but here’s what we know now.
(Note: Model number coefficients represent approximate R-value.)
Ionosphere 5 and Ionosphere 5.5
The two “Ionosphere” entries constitute the brand’s backcountry-focused pads. Lightweight construction anchors the designs and aims to limit pack-down size. The brand deploys Thermo Ionic Lining Technology (TILT), or coated nylon fibers that create a reflective coating, on the pad to help maintain sleep temperature.
Recycled insulation supports the same effect. The 5 looks like the super flyweight of the two, though Rab has not released physical size details.
Stratosphere 4 and Stratosphere 5.5
The Stratosphere 4 and 5.5 make up the collection’s midrange. They get the same recycled insulation but skip the TILT treatment.
Like the Ionosphere, the Stratosphere gets outer chambers designed to keep the sleeper in the middle of the pad. Each Stratosphere pad comes with a pump sack for faster inflation.
Exosphere 3.5
The Exosphere gets a layer of X-Core foam for extra comfort. And it self-inflates for easy camp setup.
Pricing information was not available as of this writing. Jon Frederick, U.S. Country Manager at Rab, did hint that the brand priced the collection accessibly.
“Forty years of crafting industry-leading sleeping bags has put Rab in a unique position to understand the needs of a backcountry sleeper and how to keep them warm and comfortable,” he said.
“We are excited to release these new models of sleeping pads to provide a new option focused on warmth-to-weight ratio at an obtainable price.”
Rab’s sleeping pads are slated for a spring/summer 2023 release.
