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Kookabay pads ?


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  • #1257336
    Jacob D
    BPL Member

    @jacobd

    Locale: North Bay

    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…

    #1594441
    Michael Crosby
    BPL Member

    @djjmikie

    Locale: Ky

    Bender 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.
    Mike

    #1594444
    Link .
    BPL Member

    @annapurna

    .

    #1594454
    Jacob D
    BPL Member

    @jacobd

    Locale: North Bay

    Thanks 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)?

    #1594459
    Travis Leanna
    BPL Member

    @t-l

    Locale: Wisconsin

    Jacob,
    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.

    #1594463
    Link .
    BPL Member

    @annapurna

    .

    #1594466
    Ben Smith
    BPL Member

    @goosefeet

    Locale: Georgia

    Jacob,

    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

    #1594471
    Travis Leanna
    BPL Member

    @t-l

    Locale: Wisconsin

    Yes, Ben makes a good point. The down mats must be custom ordered.

    #1594497
    Jacob D
    BPL Member

    @jacobd

    Locale: North Bay

    Sounds 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.

    #1594507
    John Vance
    BPL Member

    @servingko

    Locale: Intermountain West

    Bender 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.

    #1594553
    Raymond Estrella
    Member

    @rayestrella

    Locale: Northern Minnesota

    Jacob 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.Kooka on snow

    #1594565
    Jacob D
    BPL Member

    @jacobd

    Locale: North Bay

    Some 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 :)

    #1594585
    Jacob D
    BPL Member

    @jacobd

    Locale: North Bay

    I just fired off an email to Bender. Looking forward to hearing what he has to say.

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