A close look at two sleeping pads buyers cross-shop. The Stratosphere 5.5 takes a modest overall edge, led by warmth, but the Flyer Cloud has its own case.
| Rab Stratosphere 5.5 | NEMO Flyer Cloud | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 75✓ | 68 |
| Warmth (R-value) | 5.5 R✓ | 5.1 R |
| Weight | 27.7 oz✓ | 29.0 oz |
| Warmth-to-weight | 0.70 R/100g✓ | 0.62 R/100g |
| Packed size | 3.19 L✓ | 8.64 L |
| Thickness | 3.1 in✓ | 3.0 in |
| Durability | 70 /100✓ | 12 /100 |
| Price | $150✓ | $160 |
| Features | 2Pump sack included, Repair kit included✓ | 1Repair kit included |
| Type | Inflatable | Self-inflating |
| Shape | Rectangular | n/s |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Stratosphere 5.5 in blue, Flyer Cloud in amber. A blank spec is never counted as a win. GearScore is the rating for the Overall use-case (0 to 100). Pick another above to re-score. Prices are current MSRP.
Put the Rab Stratosphere 5.5 next to the NEMO Flyer Cloud and the trade-offs are clear. The Stratosphere 5.5 wins on warmth and low weight, and the Flyer Cloud pushes back on value.
The Stratosphere 5.5 is warmer (R 5.5 vs R 5.1), 1 oz lighter, and stronger on warmth-to-weight. On the default GearScore the Stratosphere 5.5 leads 75 to 68.
Pick the Stratosphere 5.5 if you care most about warmth and low weight, which makes it the better call for colder nights and shoulder-season trips. Pick the Flyer Cloud if you would rather save the difference.
The Rab Stratosphere 5.5. It is warmer (R 5.5 vs R 5.1) than the Flyer Cloud.
The Rab Stratosphere 5.5. It is 1 oz lighter than the Flyer Cloud.
The Rab Stratosphere 5.5, 75 to 68 on the default algorithm. You can re-weight the factors to match your trip.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the Stratosphere 5.5 for warmth, or the Flyer Cloud for the price. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.