Exped SynMat UL 7 M Sleeping Pad ($165msrp)
Specs: R-VALUE: 3.1 THICKNESS: 2.8in WEIGHT: 14oz
Rating: 5/5
I purchased the Exped SynMat UL 7 M to use inside the integrated pad sleeve of our Big Agnes double sleeping bag last winter. I had been sleeping on the same 3/4 length Thermarest ProLite since college and wasn't entirely convinced it was time to upgrade, but I needed something relatively the same thickness as Steve's Thermarest NeoAir so that we wouldn't be sleeping on two different levels. Since we would be laying our pads side by side I wanted a square shaped pad that was around 3 inches thick but still packed down as small as my one-inch Thermarest. After searching for quite some time I ran across the Exped in a gear shop in Moab which seemed to fit the bill perfectly.
The Good:
When it comes to comfort the Exped is light years ahead of my old Thermarest. I prefer a firmer sleeping surface, so I was worried that I would sink into a thicker mattress and be uncomfortable, but it was easy to make the mattress as firm as I wanted, so the thickness just translates into more insulation. The sides of the sleeping pad are slightly thicker than the center, which helps keep me from rolling off at night and waking up on the cold ground.
The Exped is made of a very sturdy material which seems more durable than other lightweight sleeping pads like the NeoAir, and it comes with a small patch kit just in case. Since most lightweight sleeping pads are designed with backpackers in mind and are intended to be re-inflated every day, I was pleasantly surprised at the long-term air retention of the pad. At the end of a three week road trip sleeping in the back of our truck, the pad was just as firm as the day I blew it up. In contrast, Steve's NeoAir required a top off every other day or so.
The feature I'm most impressed with on the Exped are the two one-way valves set flush with the sleeping pad, that allow for much easier inflation and deflation than the traditional two-way valve found on most sleeping pads. With my old pad I used to have to maintain a constant seal with my mouth around the valve during inflation or else risk loosing all that hard-earned air in between breaths. With the one-way inflation valve there is no risk of air escaping if you decide to take a break while blowing it up, and the one-way deflation valve means the air you roll out when preparing to pack your pad stays out, allowing you to pack it down to the size of a .5L Nalgene bottle.
The Bad:
After months of use I have yet to come up with any legitimate complaints about the Exped. One downside to the thickness of the mattress is that it takes a lot of air to inflate, so it takes a while to blow up and could potentially leave you out of breath at higher altitudes. If you want to save your breath and time you could order the Schnozzle Pumpbag for an additional $30. It has a valve on the bottom that connects with the inflation valve so it doubles as both a bellows-type pump and a 45 liter waterproof stuff stack to store your clothes. The pumpbag takes care of all the hard work, but I've found I still need to add two or three breaths of air at the end to get it as firm as I like.
The Bottom Line:
The Exped is a well-designed, functional sleeping pad that is great for one night or several weeks of comfortable sleep. It is small and lightweight without sacrificing comfort or durability. It is definitely worth it to spring for the pumpbag.
Specs: R-VALUE: 3.1 THICKNESS: 2.8in WEIGHT: 14oz
Rating: 5/5
I purchased the Exped SynMat UL 7 M to use inside the integrated pad sleeve of our Big Agnes double sleeping bag last winter. I had been sleeping on the same 3/4 length Thermarest ProLite since college and wasn't entirely convinced it was time to upgrade, but I needed something relatively the same thickness as Steve's Thermarest NeoAir so that we wouldn't be sleeping on two different levels. Since we would be laying our pads side by side I wanted a square shaped pad that was around 3 inches thick but still packed down as small as my one-inch Thermarest. After searching for quite some time I ran across the Exped in a gear shop in Moab which seemed to fit the bill perfectly.
The Good:
When it comes to comfort the Exped is light years ahead of my old Thermarest. I prefer a firmer sleeping surface, so I was worried that I would sink into a thicker mattress and be uncomfortable, but it was easy to make the mattress as firm as I wanted, so the thickness just translates into more insulation. The sides of the sleeping pad are slightly thicker than the center, which helps keep me from rolling off at night and waking up on the cold ground.
The Exped is made of a very sturdy material which seems more durable than other lightweight sleeping pads like the NeoAir, and it comes with a small patch kit just in case. Since most lightweight sleeping pads are designed with backpackers in mind and are intended to be re-inflated every day, I was pleasantly surprised at the long-term air retention of the pad. At the end of a three week road trip sleeping in the back of our truck, the pad was just as firm as the day I blew it up. In contrast, Steve's NeoAir required a top off every other day or so.
The feature I'm most impressed with on the Exped are the two one-way valves set flush with the sleeping pad, that allow for much easier inflation and deflation than the traditional two-way valve found on most sleeping pads. With my old pad I used to have to maintain a constant seal with my mouth around the valve during inflation or else risk loosing all that hard-earned air in between breaths. With the one-way inflation valve there is no risk of air escaping if you decide to take a break while blowing it up, and the one-way deflation valve means the air you roll out when preparing to pack your pad stays out, allowing you to pack it down to the size of a .5L Nalgene bottle.
The Bad:
After months of use I have yet to come up with any legitimate complaints about the Exped. One downside to the thickness of the mattress is that it takes a lot of air to inflate, so it takes a while to blow up and could potentially leave you out of breath at higher altitudes. If you want to save your breath and time you could order the Schnozzle Pumpbag for an additional $30. It has a valve on the bottom that connects with the inflation valve so it doubles as both a bellows-type pump and a 45 liter waterproof stuff stack to store your clothes. The pumpbag takes care of all the hard work, but I've found I still need to add two or three breaths of air at the end to get it as firm as I like.
The Bottom Line:
The Exped is a well-designed, functional sleeping pad that is great for one night or several weeks of comfortable sleep. It is small and lightweight without sacrificing comfort or durability. It is definitely worth it to spring for the pumpbag.
RSS Feed