Exped SynMat Winterlite Failure

While Exped has a generous return policy (and I got a brand new downmat for nothing), a return policy is useless on a winter trip when I'm in the middle of nowhere at 0F. So, it's all about reliability but Exped fails the test. No matter how fancy or expensive their pads may be, if the company can't work out their weld technology then more and more of their failed pads will be pictured on the interweb.

"it seems like $200 air mats should be more reliable than what we are seeing here." Of course that's true — but if we want ultralight gear, that means products can't be 5X or 10X over-engineered. It's inevitable that hiccups like this will sometimes occur. So long as Exped are standing by their product, which they seem to be without quibble even when pads are out of warranty, so far as I'm concerned their reputation is still strong.

Their warranty/replacement policy is strong, it's the actual product that is not. As Tipi mentions – "While Exped has a generous return policy (and I got a brand new downmat for nothing), a return policy is useless on a … trip." I could care less if the mat fails while testing on the living room floor. But failing on night 17 (since purchase) with 8 to go is not acceptable to me.

Every brand of mat will have failed at some point. Everything in the universe wears out. I think it's a bit much to find things wearing out to be "unacceptable". Hard to know how much user error is involved as well. Look, I understand that failure after a month or two is "unacceptable", but what exactly do you propose? By all means buy another brand; However, as I mentioned, Exped mats have been entirely dependable for me. My guess is that the luck of the draw will strike every backpacking item over time. There will be failures in packs and bags and canisters and boots–all part of life. Unacceptable? "I can't go on; I'll go on." Sam Beckett.