Downmat 7 or 9 when using 3/8 in. Gossamer Gear Thinlight? Deluxe (wide) or Regular?

Probably not much help but I have a Downmat 7 Short w/ 1/8" GG Thinlite. All my pads are either in Short or Torso sizes…I find it adequate as long as I have the Thinlite and a pack under my legs. Quite frankly, if I wear insulating clothing, have a warm sleeping bag (in my case, Golite Ultra 20), and eat before I sleep, almost any pad will do just fine. Unless you are an extremely cold sleeper, you should be good wherever you go.

Hi Jeff, do you use your CCF pad above or below your Downmat? In what types of temps do you usually use your setup?

Hah. Below, obviously. I use the Downmat for colder temperatures, anywhere from 50F to -5F. For warmer weather, I use a Torsolite.

Why below obviously? If air/down insulate, and CCF insulates, why is it so obvious the foam would go below? You'll have the same cushioning either way. Just would like to understand the logic. I'll have a sturdy tent floor under the CCF and pad.

In what temps do you use your pad and CCF?

I think he's saying "below obviously" because he has a short pad and uses the closed cell pad as insulation for his legs and feet.

LOL thanks. I was so focused on abvoe pad or below pad since I posted this question for NeoAir users today.

So for those who use a CCF pad with a full-length Downmat, above or below the pad? Where is it more effective?

EJ,
First to answer your question, I would go with the DM7. The reason for this is that I think it is warm enough as it is and the DM9, while probably more comfortable and warmer, would be overkill especially with the addition of a 3/8" pad. I use my DM7 all winter long up here and it performs great.

As for the CCF foam on top or bottom: I put a 1/8" PG Sheet underneath but the reason for this is because I use a Duomid and it doubles as my groundsheet to keep snow off my pad and bag. That said, if I had a floor in my shelter it is actually warmer to put the CCF pad on top. I've mentioned this before and happily state that I have no scientific reason for it…but my theory is that the foam will actually spread your body weight out a little more evenly and therefore you will "sink" less into your DM which in turn will keep you further from the ground, hence being slightly warmer. Hope that helps.

Hi Steven, that was very helpful. And as far as the choice of width on the pad, I wish we could go with a 26 in. width for the comfort when not side sleeping to keep arms on the pad, but our tent just answered my question – just checked – our Hilleberg Allak gives us 51 in. in width – which would probably be pushing it going for two 26 in. wide pads. So will go with a Downmat 7, and stick with the regular 20 in. width, and use it with our 3/8 CCF. Also we both tend to side sleep most of the time.

Do others find the CCF pad on top of the Downmat warmer as well?

EJ,

Any reason not to get one of each size? If you loop them together, you should get essentially one big mattress, and you each get to share the extra few inches with a little more length for you.

I would get the stevenson 60. It weighs quite a bit less and is cut to a mummy shape. Also the stuff sack is much bigger and fills faster. The only thing is the color. It is bright florescent pinkish orange. They say it is for safety and you could definitely use it to flag down a plane. The exped material might be a little stronger. I have both an exped 9 and a stevenson 60.

Rod, I was thinking the same thing, especially since going solo I'd prefer to take a 25-26 in. pad, which any solo shelter I'd consider would accommodate. The 2 different size pads would not even have to be touching to get the benefit of an even platform for an arm or leg hanging out over your pad.

Trying to figure out quickly to take advantage of some nice sales going on.

Does anyone ever construct a small side platform/s for an arm or leg hanging uncomfortably off a pad with a stuff sack/s or pack?

Hi Joshua,

I don't care about the color, and actually, if it's for winter use, very bright colors are good (you can't get more safety-colored than our blaze orange Patagonia softshell jackets in my avatar photo).

I know nothing about the Stephenson mats other than that when I was reading up on the Exped Downmats people said that the Downmat pump was easier to inflate, so appreciate any info you can provide.

1) I found these specs on BPL forums: 20oz D.A.M size 60"=24"x70"x3"-4" (advertised weight 19oz) – does that sound right? How wide are they at the top of the mummy pad and how wide at the bottom by your feet?

2) Is the Stephenson 60 pad as warm as your Downmat 9 or almost as warm, say about as warm as the Dowmmat 7? We'd probably be happy with the Exped Dowmmat 7 warmth with our 3/8 in. Thinlite CCF pads, so if your Stephenson 60 is as warm as the Downmat 7, that's great.

3) How do you inflate the Stephenson? With a pillow? Is it easy and quick? I like the integrated pump on the Exped Downmat and find it inflates fairly quickly.

4) Where are some of the best places online and local to buy Stephenson pads? There are some great sales going on for Exped Downmats and NeoAir right now, so would like to compare ASAP.

Do you also have a 3 layer Stephenson bag? How do you like them? They look interesting, though quite expensive.

"There are some great sales going on for Exped Downmats and NeoAir right now"

E J, care to share who/where is having the great sales! ;-)

Moosejaw for one; and I saw another as well – both sales came up quick on Google search.

Hey EJ, I don't have the triple bag system just the DAM 60 which can be purchased separately. The DAM is 24" at the shoulders 18" at the feet and 70" long. It weighs 20 ozs with the stuff sack. I wish I would have bought the stevenson first because it is about 12 ozs lighter then the exped 9 and it is just as warm. You pump it up withe the stuff sack just like the exped but with a different style of valve.http://www.warmlite.com/bags.htm
They are worth the extra money in my opinion. I use mine year round when I'm not in a hammock. Warbonnet rocks.
They actually cost the same if you can't get the exped on sale.

Thanks for the info Josh. The DAM looks like a good choice that's light enough to carry all year, and could save us $ by having to buy only 1 pad each instead of one three season and one winter pad each. We were looking at the NeoAir for 3 season.

Is the Stephenson DAM just as easy and quick to inflate as the Exped Downmat, or is there a lot more fiddling?

For winter comes down to two Stephenson Warmlite DAM 60 pads 70 x 24 (18 in. at foot) or two Downmat 7 72 x 20 pads or one Downmat 7 plus one Downmat 7 Deluxe at 26 in wide.

How do you order from Stephenson – just email? There was no purchase interface on the website.

I'll look into the Warbonnet hammocks when I get a chance. Always wanted to try a hammock – though not much use above treeline…

BTW, Josh, what do you use for a sleeping pad/quilt for winter and for 3 season?

I use a western mountaineering caribou for summer, alpinelite for the shoulder season and a kodiak in the winter.