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Kookabay pads ?
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Apr 5, 2010 at 11:08 am #1257336
I had never heard of these pads until reading about them here recently. Can someone please tell me; are they down filled AND inflatable? Sorry to be thick headed but down fill in an inflatable pad is a new concept for me.
I'm currently on a Thermarest Prolite 3 48" pad. I'm looking for more comfort, meaning more padding under me primarily, more insulation would be welcomed as well (without significant increase in weight).
My wife is a on REI Trekker pad. Comfort is more important than weight to her but it would be nice to find her a lighter option as well so I'm wondering about these pads…
Apr 5, 2010 at 11:15 am #1594441Bender will make just about anything you want as far as a pad or pillow. I have both a pad and 2 pillows and they are top notch workmanship.
MikeApr 5, 2010 at 11:24 am #1594444.
Apr 5, 2010 at 11:39 am #1594454Thanks to you both, I was just about to ask who or what Bender is. Can either of you just clarify for me if the pads are indeed inflatable down filled pads (as opposed to just inflatable, or just down filled?). I guess they can be custom made, I was just looking at the pads on the site.
As far as comfort, what mainstream products are they comparable to (if not better than)?
Apr 5, 2010 at 11:43 am #1594459Jacob,
I just got an inflatable down mat. Yes, it is inflatable, and there is down inside. Think of a Big Agnes Air Core, with a bunch of down feathers inside. You shouldn't really blow it up with air from your lungs because of the moisture in your breath, but the BA Pumphouse works really well for blowing it up.Apr 5, 2010 at 11:51 am #1594463.
Apr 5, 2010 at 11:54 am #1594466Jacob,
To answer your question, there is no down or other insulation inside of the pads that Bender sells on his website. If you want a down or synthetic insulated pad, you need to email him directly. I have both a down-insulated and a non-insulated pad, and they are both great!
– Ben
Apr 5, 2010 at 12:01 pm #1594471Yes, Ben makes a good point. The down mats must be custom ordered.
Apr 5, 2010 at 12:56 pm #1594497Sounds good I will get in touch with him.
@Ben
How does the weight on your down filled vs. regular inflatable compare? As far as cushion goes, do you have any experience on Thermarest or BA pads to compare to?Thanks again, everyone.
Apr 5, 2010 at 1:12 pm #1594507Bender currently has three fabric available from a 30d, 70d, and 200d. In addition you can go no insulation, synthetic, or down. Add in the fact that you can get custom sizes and it is difficult to determine the weight.
I am moving from a 21oz Exped down mat short (48" x 20") and a 31oz Exped down mat reg (70"x20")with both rated an R5.9 and 2.8" thick. Bender is making me a 60"x24" that is rated to R6 and 3.5" thick and should come in at 21oz in the 70d (standard weight) material.
In my mind I get much more comfort for the same weight as the short Exped but if I had gone with a 60"x20" R5 pad in the 30d material, it would have come in around 14oz.
Apr 5, 2010 at 3:41 pm #1594553Jacob I just got my Kooka Bay pad. It is 74x24x3-1/2, 70 D fabric down filled. It weighs 27 oz (765 g).
My Exped DownMat 9 (old style) is 70x20x3-1/2 and weighs 32.6 oz (924 g)
My Big Agnes Dual Core Mummy Long is 20x78x2-1/2 (mummy-shaped) and weighs 35.9 oz (1018 g)
Last, my BA Insulated Air Core rectangular long is 20x78x2-1/2 and weighs 26.3 oz (746 g)
I used it on snow with a quilt over me and was very warm.
Apr 5, 2010 at 4:15 pm #1594565Some great info provided here.
@John and Raymond
Thanks for sharing the comparison vs. your other pads, that's helpful. That 3.5" thick pad looks more plush than my bed :)Apr 5, 2010 at 4:56 pm #1594585I just fired off an email to Bender. Looking forward to hearing what he has to say.
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