MontBell U.L.Comfort System Pads?

Steve, I have the short Montbell pad and find it to be comfortable. Combined with the Montbell inflatable pillow, it's really comfortable. And layered over my 3/8" Thinlite pad for colder weather, it's downright decadent. After removing the toggles and the strap, the Montbell pad weighs 9 oz. even on my scale. I've no experience with the Torsolites, so can't compare them. No leakage problems so far, but it's new for me so I can't comment on long-term durability.

How do the MontBell pads compare to the Thermarest ProLites in the comfort department?

I own neither but have a thought : ). The torsolite is probably has a higher R rating and is more durable than the Montbell, simply by looking at the weights and dimensions of the two pads. The Montbell has a place to put your arms though so they don't hang down on the cold ground if you are not using a second pad under it.

Ben, I've only tried Prolites in the store and so can't directly compare them to the Montbell. Comparing the Montbell with the older purple Thermarest UL, I find them to be equal in comfort.

Thanks, Dondo. Happy New Year.

Right back at you, Ben. And best wishes for more time in the field in 2007.

Happy New Year Everyone!

I've bought my first, 120 cm length MontBell pad last March and then the 90 cm one in June. I've been using the 90 cm on almost all my trips until about November. The pad is the right length and thickness for the same comfort as the Torsolite, but like others have said here, it is wider so your arms don't fall on the ground while you are sleeping. I've used it for sitting on the ground outside my shelter, too, for cooking and just lounging about and there have been no problems with punctures. Since I also have the MontBell UL Comfort Pillow I really liked how it was easy to attach with the toggles so the pillow doesn't slip around on the silnylon floor at night.

However… and I'm not sure why it happened… in November the pad developed a slow leak along the seam at one corner that was really hard to find. I tried patching with the included patch kit, but the leak continued. Also, there were two points on the surface of the pad that started to delaminate and form small air bubbles (about a centimeter in diameter each). With time the air bubbles grew a little. I'm not sure if this is because of sitting on the ground with the pad, bad construction, or my imagination. None of this ever happened with my Torsolite or earlier MontBell pads. Last week I brought the pad to be repaired at the MontBell head store here in Tokyo. Hopefully the problems are just unique to my one pad.

Steve, I have the MontBell 120, with attachable pillow and sit pad. I did not remove the toggles because I consider them a great feature not found in any pad this light.

I also have the Prolite3, and a Coleman. The MB is the most versitile due to the three joined components.
The 90cm version of the MB is wider than the BMW, lighter, and because it is solid foam (not die cut) probably warmer. I have used it maybe 20 times, including as a bench sit-pad for two people; it is resistant to splinters and I've had no problems. If I did, I could swap it out at Montbell. I highly recommend it. For an upcoming snow camping trip I am pairing it with two 1/8 GossamerGear ThinLights.

If you like, see my previous post for a detailed comparison of MB and BMW.

Thanks for all the feedback. Miguel's feedback is a little disconcerting. Think I'll wait to find out what MontBell tells Miguel.

Brett:

How does the MB compare with the Prolite 3 in the comfort department?

Benjamin,
The pads are the same thickness, 2.5cm, and feel the same to me. BUT, as you know, the MB pad attaches to its pillow with toggles, so all 3 components (+sit pad extension) remain in alignment throughout the night, which results in more comfort because my pillow is always exactly where I need it. Using it for the first time, was the first time I ever slept through the night while camping; that was such a difference in my restfullness.

I recently discovered yet another configuration; clip the toggles, flip the pillow back onto the pad, and it raises the pillow by 2.5cm; better for sleeping on one's side.

I am taking it snow camping this weekend (weather permitting); I'll let you know how warm it is sleeping on snow (with a 1/8 GG Thinlight).

Different but related MB subject; Im going to Montbell today to get a second set of the wool long underwear pants. This is a great product. Since I don't have a drier I just put them on wet and they dry in 20 minutes.

PS, Ill be back in the states in a few days, and mail your UL pillow. Thanks for being patient.

Thanks, Brett! Have fun snow camping!

Just got a call from MontBell yesterday and I went to the head store to pick up the mat (90 cm, short version). They had told me on the phone that they weren’t able to fix the mat and so were giving me a new one. Now this left me quite concerned so I discussed the problem with the store clerks (one of whom was very knowledgeable and was able to answer all technical questions on the spot).

There had been two problems with the original mat: 1) a slow leak somewhere around the vulcanized patch I put on after I found the pinhole by immersing the mat under water in the bathtub. Three times I had fully inflated and left the mat standing in the corner of my room to determine if there really was a slow leak. Each time the mat was flat the following day, whereas my Torsolite has been standing inflated since the end of October and is still as tight as ever. 2) Two small penny-sized blisters under the skin of the mat developed after a summer of use and were slowly growing every time I inflated the mat.

It seems that the leak provided no problems for repair and the old mat would have been returned, but there was nothing MontBell could do about the blisters and that is why they decided to give me a new mat.

That still left me concerned about what would happen if I was out in the field and another puncture developed that, again, I would not be able to fix with the provided patches and cement. They seemed unable to answer that and so all I can do now is get out into the field again with the new mat and see how it performs. I trust MontBell’s attention to detail and their field testing before selling a product. I’ve been using MontBell gear since 1977, two years after the store was established, and never once before has a single piece of their gear let me down (my only complaint is with their zippers and the accompanying stormflaps, on nearly all their gear) and I have a lot of their gear. I’d be surprised if the new pad presents problems again.

I just bought a pair of the Breeze Dry-tec cycling rain pants for riding to work and a pair of goretex rain shorts from their bargain bin in their outlet store. I’m hoping the rain shorts, since I rarely wear rain pants in the summer (I always wear a pair of Mammut Schoeller Courmayeur pants, usually rolled up to the knees), but don’t like sitting down and getting my bottom and crotch wet, will solve the problem of walking in the rain without rain pants (my real desire is to find or make a just-below-the-knee length cagoule made of eVent, from the style so popular back in the 70’s and 80’s but which are almost impossible to find now… blousy at the bottom hems, like a poncho, with wide arms, that I can pull over my knees when sitting in the rain. MontBell makes a very good rain cagoule, but it is too narrow to pull over my knees when I squat down).

I’ll let you know how the new mat fares after a few months of field use.

Thanks for the update Miguel.

Miguel,

The MB pad I purchased recently has also delaminated. I have sent it back to Montbell.

Jon

..thanks for the update. Good news is they exchanged the pad with no fuss. Bad news is two posters including y ourself have reported delaminated pads. Mine has been cycled (unrolled-inflated-used-deflated-rolled) about 20 times with no problems yet; and as the lightest pad on the market I love it and will keep it.(and the reciept in case of any problems)

Brett – Did you ever use the pad snowcamping? If you did, was the GG pad necessary to keep warm?

Diana, this is my first winter with the MB pad, and I have not slept on snow with it- only been on day hikes this winter. I have gossamer gear thinlight pads in 1/8" and 1/4" to test with it. I am going on 16-18 Feb.
I expect to need the 1/4" pad to get the well accepted R value of 3.0 for comfort on snow.
Since it is solid foam, not die cut, it is warmer per inch than Thermarest.. according to MB!
I will certainly report back.

Sorry you haven't made it camping yet this winter. I haven't either, and it's making me crazy. Looking forward to seeing your results!

Montbell replaced my delaminated pad (the 120) at no cost. I will report back any problems.

Jon

Hi, apologies for resurrecting this old thread, but I'm very interested in the MontBell sleep system that Brett was describing in this thread, i.e. the MontBell 120, with attachable pillow and sit pad – this sounds like a a really useful and flexible system.

Unfortunately MontBell gear doesn't seem to be easily available in the UK, does anyone know where I could get this shipped internationally cheaply? Is Brett himself able to supply these items?

BTW Brett, what is the official name for the MontBell sit pad you use, I'm unsure which item this is. I guess the other option would be to get the 180 pad instead of the 120/sit pad combination. Thanks

Hi Paul,
I've shipped many items into the UK, including Montbell stuff. My advice would be to ONLY use USPS. My experience with USPS, is that around 20% of purchases will be grabbed by UK Customs. They are too busy to check every package.

If you use Fedex or UPS, you WILL incurr Customs fees and taxes. They seem to check every package through Customs.

Thanks for the shipping tips

I started an AT thru-hike in '07 with a 90. At less than 200 miles the seam began leaking. Not just on a single spot, but the whole length of the seam. I switched back to a prolite 3 at that point. I contacted the Montbell rep at trail days in Damascus and he gladly shipped me out a new replacement pad. The replacement lasted 6 nights before the seam began leaking just as the first pad did. I was able to return it for full credit. In talking with Montbell CS, they acknowledged having a bad production run on the pads. Great CS but in my opinion not a good move on the company's part, knowingly selling on the company's website and a retailers a product known to have potential failures. I love my Montbell #2, but as for the bads, steer clear.