Rab Sleeping Mat Technology Explained
Oct 02, 2026
Harnessing decades of experience in insulation and innovative heat-reflective technology, Rab have created a range of lightweight, packable, comfortable sleeping mats as the perfect foundation to your sleep system, whether you’re hiking between alpine bivis or hunkering down in arctic environments.
Rab's new collection of inflatable sleeping mats are designed to insulate you from the chill and support you on all terrain, providing all the retreat you need from bitter conditions and plummeting temperatures. From compact, ultralight sleeping pads for fast and light missions, to robust self-inflating roll mats for regular camping use, to winter sleeping mats built to insulate you from the deep freeze. Packable warmth and comfort, so you can explore further.
Ultrasphere 1.5 Sleeping Mats
Rab has slashed weight and volume wherever they can with the Ultrasphere 1.5, crafting the definitive sleep mat for when every gram counts. It uses innovative offset air chambers to disrupt the flow of convection currents inside and trap heat, keeping you warm on wild overnights without the need for bulky insulation. Combined with a soft, exceptionally lightweight fabric, its weight-saving construction makes it ideal for summer bikepacking, thru-hiking, and multi-day mountain running.
With a comfortable tapered mummy shape that keeps things compact, the mat is thick and supportive, so that you can catch vital rest and restore the energy reserves needed for your action-fuelled days on the trail. When it’s time to pitch for the night, the low-profile two-way valve and inflation sack make camp setup quick and easy.
Featuring an included repair kit, the Ultrasphere 1.5 is fully equipped for your multi-day trips where low weight and bulk are critical.
Ultrasphere 1.5 Regular (R: 1.4 & Weighs: 316g ex bag)
Ultrasphere 1.5 Long Wide (R: 1.4 & Weighs: 439g ex bag)
Ultrasphere 5 Sleeping Mats
When both warmth and low weight are crucial, the Ultrasphere 5 is the ultimate packable, featherlight air mat, honed for fast-paced exploring in demanding mountain conditions. Its groundbreaking design includes two layers of TILT, which boosts the mat’s warmth-to-weight ratio by reflecting heat back towards your body, all for a fraction of a gram. It also features new offset air chambers that trap heat within the construction, allowing you to recharge comfortably without the need for high-volume insulation. Highly comfortable and supportive, the Ultrasphere 5 is the ideal foundation for thru-hiking, bikepacking, and multi-day mountain runs.
The tapered shape keeps pack size down while still offering a supportive platform in camp. At 8cm thick, it feels stable, with a structure that holds you in place well through the night. It is not the most spacious design, but it suits side sleepers. The included pump sack is efficient and straightforward to use, weighing 68g, and makes setup quick while avoiding moisture build-up inside the mat.
The mat looks impressively small in the supplied stuff sack, though getting it back into the bag can be frustrating without time and care. In practice, it makes more sense to leave it behind and use a simple stuff sack or elasticated band, which achieves the same result with far less hassle.
Ultrasphere 5 Sleeping Mat Regular (R: 4.9 & Weighs: 345g ex bag)
Ultrasphere 5 Sleeping Mat Regular Wide (R: 4.9 & Weighs: 441g ex bag)
Ultrasphere 5 Sleeping Mat Long Wide (R: 5.5 & Weighs: 478g ex bag)
Ionosphere Sleeping Mats
Crafted for extreme temperatures and hostile environments, the Ionosphere is fully equipped with the tech to insulate you from the freeze. Its design reduces heat loss through both radiation and convection, thanks to the heat-reflective TILT technology and air-trapping Stratus™ R insulation. With a superior warmth-to-weight ratio and small pack size, it’s the perfect high-comfort sleep mat for alpinists and mountaineers who need to hunker down in the world’s most challenging conditions.
At 8cm thick, it feels very supportive. The long vertical baffles suit side sleeping, while the mat’s oversized side baffles help cradle you and keep you on the mat at night. Big fan of the rectangular shape, which means a few more grams but a larger sleeping surface that feels less restrictive.
The mat looks impressively small in the supplied stuff sack. Though getting it back into the bag can be frustrating, especially when packing away quickly in the confines of a small tent, it makes more sense to use a simple stuff sack or an elasticated band instead.
Overall, this is a dependable option that combines warmth, comfort, and a stable sleeping platform for colder nights on the trail.
Ionosphere 5 Regular (R: 4.8 & Weighs: 513g ex bag)
Ionosphere 5 Long Wide (R: 4.8 & Weighs: 729 ex bag)
Ionosphere 5.5 Regular (R: 5.5 & Weighs: 661g ex bag)
Ionosphere 5.5 Long Wide (R: 5.5 & Weighs: 881g ex bag)
What is TILT Technology?
A radical, heat retaining tech that works like an emergency blanket reflecting heat back towards your body, while maintaining breathability and comfort. Boosting thermal efficiency, it keeps you warm when the temperature plummets.
Rab's TILT fabric (Thermo Ionic Lining Technology), is used in the inner lining of their top-of-the-line sleeping bags, sleeping mats and down jackets. This technology reflects heat back toward the body, reducing radiative heat loss and increasing warmth. It significantly improves the warmth-to-weight ratio without altering the fabric's original properties or adding weight. At Ultralight Outdoor Gear, we prioritize this balance - enhancing the insulating capabilities of gear without increasing its weight. Improvements like these earn our enthusiastic endorsement.
Stratosphere Sleeping Mats
Lightweight and compact, the Stratosphere 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 is a robust and reliable sleep mat which you can depend on to keep you comfortable, warm, and well-rested throughout the seasons.
Stratosphere 4 Regular (R: 3.8 & Weighs: 732g ex bag)
Stratosphere 4 Regular Wide (R: 3.8 & Weighs: 890g ex bag)
Stratosphere 4 Long Wide (R: 3.8 & Weighs: 997 ex bag)
Stratosphere 5.5 Regular (R: 5.5 & Weighs: 824g ex bag)
Stratosphere 5.5 Regular Wide (R: 5.5 & Weighs: 969g ex bag)
Stratosphere 5.5 Long Wide (R: 5.5 & Weighs: 1119g ex bag)
What is Stratus™ R Insulation?
Resilient synthetic insulation developed with 100% recycled post-consumer material. Designed to trap the maximum amount of air possible, Stratus™ R boasts superior warmth for its weight, retains warmth when wet, and dries quickly.
Hypersphere 9.5 Down Sleep Mats
The Hypersphere 9.5 is the result of our 40 years of down mastery combining with the technologies we’ve honed for our lightweight sleep mat collection. This thick, ultra-warm down-filled sleep mat offers unmatched comfort and insulation for when you’re hunkering down at high altitudes or on expeditions to polar regions. With a hardwearing fabric and uncompromisingly comfortable design, it’s rugged, versatile, and adapts easily to remote and challenging environments.
The Rab Hypersphere 9.5 Sleeping Mat is a robust and exceptionally warm option for those venturing into extremely cold, expedition environments. Weighing 895 grams (regular), it offers an industry-leading R-value of 9.5—the highest currently available—ensuring unparalleled insulation against freezing ground temperatures.
The mat’s 10 cm thickness provides excellent comfort, while oversized outer chambers cradle you in place, preventing unwanted midnight slides. The durable 75D recycled polyester fabric holds up well in rugged terrain, making it a reliable choice for demanding expeditions. Inflation is quick and hassle-free thanks to Rab’s pump sack, saving your lungs from a post-hike workout.
While the Hypersphere 9.5 is slightly heavier than some alternatives, no other mat matches its insulation performance. This is the mat to beat if warmth, comfort, and durability are your top priorities in extreme conditions.
Hypersphere 9.5 Sleeping Mat Regular (R: 9.5 & Weighs: 895g ex bag)
Hypersphere 9.5 Sleeping Mat Regular Wide (R: 9.5 & Weighs: 1049g ex bag)
Hypersphere 9.5 Sleeping Mat Long Wide (R: 9.5 & Weighs: 1151g ex bag)
Rab has slashed weight and volume wherever they can with the Ultrasphere, crafting the definitive sleep mat for when every gram counts. It uses innovative offset air chambers to disrupt the flow of convection currents inside and trap heat, keeping you warm on wild overnights without the need for bulky insulation. Combined with a soft, exceptionally lightweight fabric, its weight-saving construction makes it ideal for summer bikepacking, thru-hiking, and multi-day mountain running. With a comfortable tapered mummy shape that keeps things compact, the mat is thick and supportive, so that you can catch vital rest and restore the energy reserves needed for your action-fuelled days on the trail.