My frustrating times with the Pacific Outdoor Equipment Peak AC

I have two of the 2/3 length pads and they seem to work fine. They do seem a little colder than the POE Max Thermos they replaced. Those pads were older both developed slow leaks and Josh at POE very competently walked me through the warranty process.

I sent my ancient, delaminated Thermarest "Lite" back to Cascade Designs and they replaced it under warranty with a new men's Prolite regular. I love it and it's even a little warmer than my old Lite, their first die cut foam mattress.

I had a Neo Air regular when they first came out but didn't like it for several reasons so ret'd. it to REI. I continued using my TR Lite until one end totally delaminated on both sides. Can't say enough about Cascade Designs customer service and warranty.

The Prolite is only an ounce or two heavier than the regular Neo-Air but the comfort (for this belly sleeper)is better. Plus the tapered foot nicely tucks into the foot of my WM Megalite when it's unzipped and used as a quilt.

Upon reflection, I guess my TR Prolite is kinda like my TT Moment tent, light but not UL and very reliable.

I'm glad that the warranty service is getting better. I had been worried that eventually I'd experience these problems, but I've been lucky that I've been able to use it for almost half a year so far and have been fine. In fact, I just used it again this weekend.

I had been using a peak ac since early July, about 20 nights. It was working fine for me until a four night trip to the Smokies. Second night it started losing air.

Sent POE an email when I returned home. Josh responded right away with a ra number. I sent it in the next day. About a week later I received an email from Josh stating that it was a manufacturing defect and a new pad would be mailed to me.

I received the new pad in about five days.

My only "problem" with the new pad is that it weighs 1/2 oz more than the previous pad. I guess I can live with that though.

Sent my POE Peak Elite AC in a few weeks ago with an RMA number. Got an email from Josh one week ago that they would replace it with a new one but would not have a shipment until mid-January. I replied that waiting a month for when they get them would be ok.

Received this response from Josh today:

Regarding your outstanding warranty for your Peak Elite AC sleeping pad.
Unfortunately we do not have any Peak Elite AC pads to replace yours.

We will no longer be dealing with Pacific Outdoor Equipment in the coming weeks.
We would like to resolve your open warranty before this happens.

We can give you a credit of $79.99 for any item in our current inventory.

Please notify us as soon as possible of item(s) you would like to receive as replacement and we will contact you asap regarding the availability of the item(s).

Customer Service

Pacific Outdoor Equipment
support@pacoutdoor.com
2134 Industrial Drive
Bozeman, MT 59715 USA
http://www.pacoutdoor.com

Has anyone else had this come up yet? I really liked my pad and want another one!

Am I reading that right? Is Pacific Outdoor Equipment customer service no longer dealing with Pacific Outdoor Equipment?

Ryan, can you clarify. Were you RMA'ing the pad through POE or through a separate retailer?

I'm thinking it's a retailer, possibly backcountry.com. I just ordered a POE oyl mtn through them and from customer comments and such it does appear as if there's a rift between POE and BC right now (i'm thinking BC is holding off until some manufacturing issues are addressed).

When I called the number associated with POE, I was brought to an umbrella/parent company (can't remember name) who represented a number of outdoor companies, including POE. It sounds like this parent company is dropping POE. I better check if my replacement pad holds air before its too late

@Ben: The text above is the exact email they sent.

@Dustin: My pad was returned to Pacific Outdoor Equipment in Montana, not a retailer. I did get an RMA number via email from them.

@Konrad: Here is their parent company, as copied from the signature of an earlier email from Josh Wise: Hyalite Equipment, Baladeo USA, Teko USA

I tried giving them a call but could not get through to anyone. This does not look good…

Interesting…apparently the warehouse is owned by the employees according to this article.

http://www.mtcdc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=144%3Amcdc-brings-california-warehouse-business-to-bozeman&catid=43&Itemid=66

Hyalite Outdoor Group is employee owned and shares the same Bozeman address as POE.

http://www.hyaliteoutdoorgroup.com/

Speculation on my part, but I am wondering if there was a separation between the employee owned warehouse and POE. It would be nice to figure out what is going on.

I received the same email after sending my POS Ether Elite back (no typo). The problem is that I had to settle for a pad that I really don't want, a womens Oyl lite pad. While Josh has been great in his dealings I really am not surprised by the mystery demise of whatever Company I was dealing with. The email was bizarre. Image sending an email to GM about a car problem and receiving back an email saying that GM is no longer dealing with GM. I would sell the PAD on Gear Swap but………

Given they would apply a credit of $79.99 for a replacement pad, what would others here consider replacing their busted Peak Elite AC with?

I put in a request for a Peak Oyl Elite or Mountain pad in regular but that might be wishful thinking.

I had bought one to put under the Christmas tree for myself…I'm now thinking about returning it.

just emailed POE…

POE offered to replace it with one of their much heavier Adventurer series pads. I inquired and may be able to get the last Peak Oyl Elite Uber they have. It should still be useful as it is very similar to the BMW Torsolite.

" going by the SOM report on it

"

What's that?

like to have mine ? just pay shipping [paypal?] from Sumas wa + a few bucks for the Letterlock service. I'm otherwise just going to chuck it, its in very fine conditon cosmetically, – a few small glue spots, but it slow leaks.

My guess is this is the VERY detailed SOTM, State Of The Market report that was published on BPL this year, about inflateable sleeping pads. Well worth the price of membership if you're buying a new sleeping pad.

I would have asked to get mine back but the leak issues were not worth the hassle. At least I will end up with a sub 10oz R3-4 self inflating torso pad.

Ryan I just ordered a POE Oyl Mtn in the uber size since bc.com was having a sale. So far it has had no leaks (test slept on it a few nights) so manufacturing is up to snuff. It weighs 13oz but I think it has an r-value of 4.5+ (depending on how the biomapping works out) which is considerably more than most torso sized self-inflates.

EDIT: double checked, you're looking for the oyl elite…POE has too convoluted a naming scheme for products =P

Also I've done a bunch of analysis on the BPL torsolite, it was a gimmick. The only innovation it offered was it's miniscule size which no other company provided. If you liked the tiny size, great product for you. However on a per oz and per sq-ft and per thickness (ie comfort) and per R-value and per $$ basis it usually fared at the bottom of the pack for what it offered.

EDIT: double checked, you're looking for the oyl elite…POE has too convoluted a naming scheme for products =P

It doesn't help that they slightly change the name of every product just about every year. It's like they don't want good reviews to help their sales.

"It doesn't help that they slightly change the name of every product just about every year. It's like they don't want good reviews to help their sales."

Or crappy reviews to hurt their sales.

Considered getting the Oyl Mountain Uber at Backcountry but had to use the POE credit for something. POE's warranty stock appears to be diminishing quick for those who need to do a claim. Figured the Uber Lite pad would be the most appropriate out of my options. I don't expect miracles out of a 1" torso pad but 10oz for warmer weather is doable; it can also serve as a loaner for friends.

At least Thermarest swapped out my leaky NeoAir for a new one which has been working fine. I use it more than anything else now that the Peak Elite AC is gone.

If you can shorten a NeoAir can or has any one "fixed" a leaking seam on a Peak Elite?

Shortening a Peak Elite should be possible but probably would not have worked on my pad. There were leaks in the seams along with what seemed to be a general leaking of air directly through the pad's face fabric.