Exped DownMat for Winter?

I have no experience with the Exped 7, but I have used the 9 a bunch in temps down to 6F. This mat is awesome. It is by far the warmest and most comfortable winter pad I've ever used, and that includes pad combos. FYI, I was sleeping on snow covered ground under a tarp or out in the open. My top insulation is a homemade 3.5 inch down quilt.

The pad is awesome and wholeheartedly gets my vote. Inflation can be a pain in the neck when the valves unseal, but that is a small gripe for the comfort and insulation Exped provides.

Logan

I too am thinking about the Exped Down Mat for winter.

I am 5'10" (177cm) and thinking about the short. The Exped 7 Pump Short is 23.5 and the regular is 31.9. I am thinking that for 8.4oz, I could get a short piece of Gossamer Gear 1/8 ThinLight pad for about an oz, or even the 3/4" NightLight Torso which is about 3.8oz and 29" long.

The Exped is listed as 2.8" thick so does anyone have the Exped 7 short and feel like there legs are falling off?

Any advice?

I use the short in winter. Yes your legs would feel uncomfortable if you do nothing. I use my rucksack and a foam sitmat ontop. If that were not enough I would add something else too.

I also use my Exped 7 short in winter, adding pack and sitting pad for my feet. As the user reviews on BPL indicate, this pad is worth every dollar and every ounce for a good night's sleep.

I have the regular legth Downmat 7 with the separate pump sack. It certainly isn't ultralight, but it is comfortable, and extremely warm. I have used it by itself down to 4*F (I think they rate it to 0*F) and been plenty warm. At temps in the teens it feels like it produces its own heat.

At the temps you are looking at, it will be more than enough.

I haven't used a 7, but do have and use a 9. The 9 has kept me warm below 0*F. Great winter pad! It's some "extra" weight I'm more than willing to carry. Also, I used to combine a Ridge Rest w/a self-inflater, but with the DownMat I can just use it by itself…

I have used the Exped Downmat directly on snow, and it's kept me warm–and I'm a cold sleeper.

YES! I love the Downmat- it's my go-to winter pad.

I often use a short downmat with a full length foam pad underneath. My wife has a full-length downmat that is excellent on its own.

I have a 7. It is THE mat to use in the winter. I put a piece of closed cell foam that I use for a sit pad under my feet. Works great.

I had/have a full length 9 and frankly find it a bit too much like a pool inflatable for ultimate comfort, especially on snow where rocks, etc are not an issue. Still beats a Prolite 3 and Ridgerest combo.

However, mine developed several slow leaks, and even though OR replaced the mat, I am very hesitant to trust one alone during winter. Has anyone had any issues with leaks on the newer, built-in pump models?

Thanks for all the positive comments, guys. I think I'll get a Short 7 (or maybe even a 9 Medium – decisions, decisions) and see how it goes, will report back here in time then.

My wife and I used a Downmat 7 last winter – very comfortable and warm. However, I'd also bring a CCF pad for backup, at least torso or 3/4 length, which you can also use as a sit pad. You wouldn't want to be out in very cold weather and have your pad deflate on you.

"You wouldn't want to be out in very cold weather and have your pad deflate on you."

Was out on a 4 day trip one winter where my Thermarest deflated on the first night, and I didn't have any kind of backup. Not fun. Not fun at all.

I'll keep that in mind, E J. Might need to mis-use a yoga mat or something similar, as the thinnest CCF pad here is a one centimeter thick, and ordering a pad from GG is getting expensive with postage & customs.

We've used downmats for a couple of years and, frankly, I wouldn't still be winter camping without one. We have 9's and we've had them below -10 but I'm not sure how far.
We have a small repair kit for both that I believe came with them but after 100+ uses (each), we've never needed to repair them.
Michael, if your downmat feels like a pool inflatable you've probably over-inflated it. I guess it is kind of like the "sleep number bed." I like mine pretty inflated because I sleep mostly on my side. My husband deflates his more because he sleeps on his back…………..and snores.
;-)

Hi Hendrik.
Have you looked at the UK company Multimat?
They make mats starting at only 3mm thickness. The shipping to Finland might be more reasonable.

I used a Downmat 7 Short and wasn't impressed with it.

It wasn't very warm unless it was inflated to a firm pressure, at which point it wasn't comfortable to sleep on. Normal squishiness, I'd get cold spots at my hips, shoulders and anywhere I sunk into the pad, and I wasn't laying on a half-filled pad either. I only deflated it enough that I wasn't bucked off for it's being over-inflated.

The inflation system is clunky and inconvenient. The valve on the pad itself is prone to opening up in the middle of the night if you accidentally touch it wrong. Having to get the drybag/stuffsack out and go through the clunky re-inflation ritual while half-asleep ≠ fun.

A "short" pad in general is a good concept, but not when the pad is 3" thick and you like to sleep on your side. Unless you're a fan of having your knees bend in ways they're not supposed to.

All that hassle would be one thing if it were light, but it's not. I don't know why people like these things and why they're so popular on "ultralight" backpacking forums I am even more clueless. By contrast, my Ridgerest is warm, comfortable, convenient to use, doesn't spontaneously deflate in the middle of the night, and doesn't need to be kept away from water like Superman from kryptonite. Also it's actually lightweight.

Thanks Mike, wasn't aware from them, need to browse their offerings tonight!

Art, it sounds like you're using the old Downmat 7, the new one has a better inflation system and the valve is on the bottom of the mat, so no chance of accidentally touching it and opening it.

I'm sleeping comfortable on my NeoAir, which is the same thickness, so I am sure the Downmat should be fine. Also, I find 630 g for a mat which keeps me warm till -17°C lightweight, if I think about the weight to warmth ratio. Its probably also very comfortable, which many UL folks like, therefore why it is popular?!

Anyhow, everyone has different preferences – what works for some, doesn't for others =) I'll see for myself how the Downmat 7 works for me, and maybe I'll experience the same issues as you, who knows.

Hendrick
Exped also has the Doublemat Evazote , 4 mm, 1 meter wide (fold in two or cut…)
should be available over there.

Franco

The Exped DM #7 is amazing. By far the warmest pad I have – it feels almost like it provides radiant heat. However, as Art indicates above YMMV.

I love my PacOutdoor Aerogel pad. It's not a lightweight pad either, but a bit lighter than the Exped. And to me it's warmer. It's like the gel warms up with your bodyheat and stays warm. I've told people that, to me, I can actually feel the warmth under me. It's my go-to winter pad.

Caveat: I've nearly no experience with down or air-filled mats in general. I continue to use foam pads with great success through 4-seasons (Sierra seasons). I find this to be a combination of physiology and comfort conditioning. My frame is slight so I don't need a lot between the ground and my bones. And following some true wisdom I'm saving these cush'y mats for the years when my body needs that extra comfort.

I'm pretty happy now. These fancy sleep systems would just spoil that.

cheers all,
-Michael

oh, regarding foam and winter conditions: I find that layered mats work best. perhaps there's air trapped between the layers, but I achieve great results from a thinlite under my nightlite during the shoulder seasons. and adding another 1/2" of foam will bring me down to 10F.

My old style pumpbag DownMat finally began leaking. After much testing in the bathtub and with soapy water, could not find the leak. Looking for a solution I contacted Outdoor Research. Surprisingly, they volunteered to do an exchange at no cost to me other than shipping of the old mat to them. Come on . . . that had to be a mistake!

Today received a brand new DownMat with built-in pump in the mail. This kind of service was unexpected.

I didn't realize how dependent I had become until facing the hard reality of sleeping on anything else.

Come spend a few nights in my neck of the woods. Telluride, CO. I think winter's here already. Hi's in the 40's, low's in the teens.