Review: Rab Ionosphere 5 Sleep Mat

A sleek lightweight, packable sleep mat with impressive warmth-to-weight ratio perfect for on the move adventures in any season.

The Rab Ionosphere 5 Sleep Mat hits the sweet spot between comfort and weight when every gram counts. The included pump sack allows efficient and hygienic inflation, it has reasonable pack size and weight compared to similarly technical mats, and the build quality is exceptional. This sleep mat would be great for alpinists, backpackers and bikepackers alike.

Rab Ionosphere 5 Sleeping Mat: The stats

Features of the Rab Ionosphere 5 Sleeping Mat

Valve

The mat has a low profile two-way valve which is pump sack compatible. Whilst the valve seems very good quality, I worry about damaging it or the seal between the valve and the mat fabric over time as you have to pull the toggle hard to open it. There is also no easy way to let just a little bit of air out to slightly adjust the firmness of the mat to comfort. When you open the value, the air releases very quickly.

Insulation and outer fabric

With an impressive 4.8 R-value, the Rab Ionosphere is suitable for sub-zero ground temperatures. To achieve this, the insulation system uses dual technology. The Stratus R 160gsm recycled polyester insulation traps air and reduces heat loss from convection. Within this insulation, the added TILT reflective film layer reduces radiant heat loss by reflecting heat back to the user. The outer fabric has a lightweight 20 denier recycled polyester, which is laminated to an airtight internal TPU coating. On the face, there is a fluorocarbon free DWR to repel moisture.

Shape and construction

For optimal weight saving, the mat has a very sleek, tapered mummy shape. It’s definitely a more extreme taper than other mats I’ve used, but this doesn’t negatively impact comfort for me. The mat has longitudinal 8cm thick baffles, the outermost of which are slightly larger to keep you central on the mat. Rab have also added a graduated grip print to the outer fabric to reduce sleeping bag slip.

Packability

Though not the smallest pack size on the market for a comparable quality mat, the 23 x 11 cm pack size is competitive. This includes the stuff sack and repair kit as well as the mat itself.

Also included

The mat comes fully functional with a stuff sack for storage, pump sack for inflation and a repair kit in a handy little pouch on the inside of the stuff sack. One note is that to save weight, I carry the mat inside the pump sack and leave the stuff sack at home. I have only just realised this means I have been without the repair kit on all my outings so far! Oops!

Rab Ionosphere 5 Sleeping Mat review

In years gone by, I used a beg, steal or borrow approach to camping kit because I didn’t camp often enough to justify buying my own. Camping a lot more now, including backpacking trips, I invest in the best kit I can afford. Technical kit makes the world of difference. A sleep mat was one of the remaining things on my ‘upgrade’ list and this Ionosphere 5 from Rab came along at exactly the right time for some upcoming adventures. I have used this mat so far on wild camping trips, bothy nights and on campsites. I use it often, but I am yet to use it for more than 3 consecutive nights.

First impressions

Being a Rab product, my expectations of the sleep mat were set very high. To me, the Rab brand is synonymous with excellent quality. The sleep mat comes in two sizes and the only reservation I had before receiving the mat was the size and shape of the Regular version I would be reviewing. I am just shy of 6ft and not slim built, so the inflated dimensions made me nervous, especially taking into account the tapered bottom half and the fact I am a side sleeper. On receiving the mat all of my expectations about quality were met. As soon as you use the mat, you can feel the build quality.

Comfort

With my initial reservations about the size and shape of the mat, I should discuss comfort next. Put simply, I get an awesome night’s sleep on this mat! Even when I first lay on it, I worried that any turning in the night would shift the mat away from me or that my knees would be left dangling off the side. That hasn’t happened once. It doesn’t budge an inch under my sleeping bag and I always feel supported and comfortable, no matter how often I change position. I’m not quite sure how such a tight shape works so well, but it does for me. It must be the grip print coating really keeping my sleeping bag secure. I can’t say I notice that the outer baffles are larger when sleeping on the mat, but maybe they also help. I like a really firm base when sleeping and find it easy to achieve that with this mat, with no air escaping through the night.

Noise

When I talk to anyone about my new sleep mat, the first question is always ‘is it noisy?’. Thankfully I have used the mat in company so I can answer that question because it’s certainly not noisy enough to disturb my own sleep when solo. A friend did tell me that my moving around during the night had woken them, but they wondered if how firm I had the mat was contributing to the rustling. I softened the inflation for the next night and it helped reduce the noise. I also spent a night side by side with a friend who was using a very similar mat from a different brand and I found them comparable for rustling when turning. It’s minimal, in my opinion.

Ease of inflation

I had been poised to buy myself a mini electric pump to inflate this mat if there was any ‘faff’ with using the provided stuff sack, but there isn’t. I am very haphazard with my approach to filling the stuff sack with air and I never take more than 5 sackfuls to firmly inflate the mat. I easily do this in the very confined space of my tent. As I previously mentioned, my only gripe with inflating the mat is that there isn’t an easy way to release a small amount of air if you overshoot the desired firmness. You have to release the valve, a rush of air escapes and then build up the pressure again.

Packability

When I received the Ionosphere 5, my first thought was ‘I’m never getting it back in a bag that tight’, but I’m happy to report I was wrong. The first time I tried putting the mat back in the stuff sack it took me two quick attempts, which is fair. I have other kit that I almost have to wrestle with to get it back in the provided bag. Now I have the hang of it, I can return it to its bag on the first attempt, every time. I don’t do this when wild camping because my tent is too tight a space to roll it precisely. I store it in the pump sack, which is bigger and allows you to pack up very easily.

Weight

The weight of the sleep mat is competitive with other similar mats. There are lighter mats out there, but we are talking only very slightly. I am really happy with the quality of this mat for the few extra grams. After my initial reservations about the Regular version of this mat, I now wouldn’t swap it for the Long Wide version. The larger size takes the mat from 550g to 810g. When the more compact version is so comfortable, I would save the extra weight (and money) unless you really need the extra 13cm length and 13cm width.

What I love the most about the Rab Ionosphere 5 Sleeping Mat

The Rab Ionosphere 5 would be hard to beat in terms of quality and comfort. I trust the construction of the sleep mat, and for an inflatable mat, that is important. I’ve had so many good night’s sleep on it already and whilst I’ve only had it a couple of months, it is still pristine. Being an air mat it won’t be infallible, but I have high hopes for its durability. The mat makes getting set up for the night something I look forward to, rather than a chore. It’s quick and easy to inflate at the end of a long day and I am guaranteed a comfortable night.

What I don’t love so much about the Rab Ionosphere 5 Sleeping Mat

There are two things I’d change about the mat if I could: the valve and the baffle design. I would love for there to be an easy way of adjusting the inflation without fully releasing the valve and only time will tell if how hard opening the valve is will damage it. I am hoping it just eases off with more use. I am being really picky here, but latitudinal baffles or a celled baffle design would allow for more flexibility in how the mat moulds to both your shape and the contour of the ground if you can’t find a perfectly flat pitch.

Verdict

I am impressed with this sleep mat. It is sleek in design, shape, size and weight. If you are looking for a comfortable sleep mat for long distance adventures, the Rab Ionosphere 5 is a great option. I think it’s good value, but also check out the Rab Ultrasphere 4.5 sleep mat, which is the same price. It has a slightly lower R-value than the Ionosphere 5, but latitudinal baffles and a 370g pack weight. If you aren’t going to be venturing out in the coldest temperatures, the warmth/weight trade off is perhaps worth it. I am giving the Ionosphere 5 sleep mat a solid 4.5/5. I wish there was a way to gently adjust the firmness and I would prefer a different baffle design.

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Disclaimer: Cool of the Wild received this product free in return for an honest review. We only recommend gear that we love from companies we trust and we are under no obligation to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are that of the reviewer and we are in no way influenced by the brand or company.

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