Exped Downmat inflation issues

Try just turning clockwise without pressing down. I've never had to press down with mine, and I can always feel when they are tight and closed.

Otherwise, I'd say you have defective valves. All of my climbing and hiking partners have 7s and 9s and no one has had an issue with the valves like this. Fortunately, REI is about the easiest place in the world to exchange or return. Good luck.

Sounds like you might have gotten a lemon, REI will make it right though. It's possible the o-ring or whatever in the valve wasn't set right or has a flaw.

Give them a chance to make it right, Exped normally has excellent quality.

Andrew,
I purchased my DM7 short about 2 years ago. The first night I took it out, I had the same issues. I would inflate the pad, lie on it and at some point in the middle of the night it would open and then deflate. It happened so many times over the 2 night period that I started to just inflate it by mouth so I could do it from the warmth of my sleeping bag. What a PITA.
I exchanged it after the trip and told the person the valves were defective and that they would open during the night. I actually had the same issue with the next one until my friend realized I wasn't closing the valves properly. While they tighten clockwise, you should feel it "lock" when it gets to the correct position. This "indent/bump/notch" is what will stop it from loosening on it's own.
Soooo, while it very well may be a defective valve, try to turn it all the way until you feel it lock. Also, I don't press down during this exercise. Hopefully that will fix the problem.

Wow, thanks for the timely and useful feedback folks. I'll mess with the valve knob a little more tonight to see if I can get the thing to click, and then it's back to REI if no joy.

OK, I messed with it tonight and lo and behold, I was able to turn the valve and get it to lock. I had to turn it a lot harder than I would have expected before I finally felt it engage. I wish I'd figured that out before my last trip! Thanks again for the help.

"Am I missing something basic here on how to use these mats? Any shared experience is appreciated. Thanks."

its a sign… stay off the ground!
hehe
glad you figgered it out Andy. Buckskin must have been cold!
see you soon

I hear you dude. While I was huddling on the ground trying to stay warm and comfortable on my Sitlight pad and flattened Downmat I was thinking about my hanging rig and how much I missed it. There were a few trees at the Buckskin Gulch/Paria confluence that might have served me, but it's pretty sparse. For sure it's back off the ground for the Sedona West Fork trip this weekend.

Nice! Glad that worked out for you. I remember cursing all night when that happened to me.

Don't give up the ground too quickly! The first time I took out my DM7 (after I figured out the valves) I fell in love with it. Enjoy.

All this has been helpful to me, as I've had the same problem with the valves (almost always, it seems, on cold, rainy nights). I think careful "locking" may be the answer.

sounds like you're suggesting hammock camping. if so, do you use a pad? have slept quite comfortably in my hennessey with a thermarest, but am thinking about changing out to a exped downmat for added warmth. any suggestions?

~wild

just saw mike's winter hammock set-up. cool.

Would someone be so kind as to post a picture of an Downmat valve?

I'm considering a Downmat and want to know what I am up against.

Thanks.

The new DownMats and SynMats don't have a traditional valve anymore, it is more of a plug and the issue described in this thread won't apply. I have the new SynMat and have not had any problems.

From the exped web site…

Flat valve technology eliminates traditional valve malfunction issues (patent pending)

Sadly for my budget, this just may be enough to convince me to buy a new one. Thanks for posting.