Which Exped pad?

Although I don't have direct experience with the exped line of air mats, I can relay some reports I've heard. The downmat ul, at r=5.9, is wonderfully warm in cold weather, but particularly hot in summer weather. Several people have commented that the pad is probably overkill for higher temperatures. And that is really too bad. It's too bad, b/c the downmat is only a few ounces heavier than the synmat ul, yet much warmer (r 5.9 vs 3.1). Based on your temps and being a warm sleeper, I say skip the downmat.

The airmat looks too specialist to me, being really comfortable for only hot weather due to a miniscule r value, even for a hot sleeper. If it was less pricey, I would say buy it and another pad! If you plan to use a cc pad under your air mats anyways, though, the right combination could work out for lower temps. You can bet on bulky though.

Now to the synmat ul: At 3.1, it's r value appears to be about perfect for the conditions you describe (~40deg). You will probably be able to use it below freezing with no problems – many members here claim to be comfortable on their r2.5 neoairs at freezing. Plus, for extra insurance, you could take a 1/8 – 3/8in cc pad to use under it, adding even more warmth for those rare winter lows. And you will be able to use it at much warmer temperatures without sweating yourself dehydrated.

IF the downmat isn't too warm for 60+ degree nights, I say get it. It would then be the most flexible pad. IMO, the synmat, although it seems like a waste when looking at it weight and price wise compared to a downmat ul, might be superior for your uses. It will save you enough cash to buy something pretty nice actually – replace the right item and save even more ounces.. I doubt the synmat would be too hot for a warm sleeper at those temps.

-Arch

Ive used my synmat UL for about a year and a half and I LOVE IT!! I was afraid my sleeping-on-the-ground days were going to come to a premature end between my back, hips, neck…I could never get a good night's sleep and holy cow was I achy when I got up in the morning. I was very skeptical of the blow-up type mattresses, but a friend had the massive downmat (r of 9!!!) and I was quite amazed at how comfy it was,

I didn't want to lug that much around, and the synmat UL is perfect. I've slept in the upper teens without too much chill, but that's about as low as I'd go. Comfort-wise, I've never slept this well on the ground, and I cannot speak highly enough about it.

The thin yellow fabric does show some mildew after a while…and I've gone ahead and bought the pillow pump that mates with it (a – see the pillow discussion on this site, and b- now I don't have to breathe my wet breath into my expensive mat). I've only tried it on my living room floor so far, but it seemed like its worth the room in my pack. We'll see…..

Another friend has the big Agnes Q core and wow does that look awesome! A bit big and heavy for my taste, but if the synmat isnt thick enough for you….

I have both a DownMat 7 M and a SynMat UL 7 M and I love both although I tore my SynMat just last Saturday night because of massive user stupidity. I put a small right angle tare in the bottom fabric about 1/4 inch long on each side. I used the provided repair kit and covered it with a large patch but it leaked. I would just role over in my bivy so that the mat was on top of me, blow it up, and then role back. I had to do this about three times and the ruined SynMat UL went into the trash when I got home on Sunday. I had used the mat for about 40 nights and found it to be rather durable, excepting user error, although the logo was rubbing off. I have back ordered a NeoAir UL Small to replace it, but if the NeoAir does not work out, I will be right back on a SynMat UL 7.

The DownMat 7 is wonderfully warm in the winter and wonderfully cool in the summer. The idea that it is hot in the summer is nonsense as the matt simply insulates you from the grown. I will be sleeping on the DownMat 7 all of next week when I take the kids to Boy Scout summer camp in Oklahoma with the daytime highs in the triple digits. Just like a thermos bottle keeps cold liquids cold and hot liquids hot, so also does the DownMat 7. Pads with radiant reflectors might behave somewhat differently, but a DAM works great to keep the heat from the ground from baking you all night long.

In colder weather, I have a Nunatak quilt with 11 oz of fill and this is comfortable down to about 20 on the DownMat and down to about 32 on the SynMat UL. Colder than that, and I have to start putting on extra layers. When the weather was going to be significantly below freezing, not common in Texas, I would take the DownMat over the SynMat.

I find the texture of the material on the DownMat to be more comfortable against the bare skin than on the SynMat UL which has kind of a plastic sticky feel. If I could have only one, It would definitely be the SynMat UL as it is half the weight for the same size and similar comfort. For very hot or cold weather, the much better R value of the DownMat makes it worth the extra wight.

I ordered the NeoAir UL Small because I want to try using that with the bit of blue foam I use for a pack frame and kneeling pad, this will save me about 8 Oz, but if this doesn't work then REI can have it back and I will gladly get another SynMat UL 7.

I hope this helps,
Richard

That's a big help, Richard!

You're comments on the insulation in hot and cold weather definitely makes sense based on how insulation works. I had my mind wrapped around the thermarest reflectors for no reason. It seems those could contribute heat when it's not needed. The effect might be minimal enough. Then again, I wonder if radiant heat increases as skin and peripheral temperature does – a likely outcome in hot weather – thereby increasing radiant heat reflected back to the user? Body heat stays the same, however, and core body temp is probably responsible for most radiated heat anyways.

Downmat UL or synmat UL. It's so hard to choose if you're not a gram weenie like me. Actually, a gram weenie probably isn't even looking at these pads…those brave souls.

Arch

Thanks alot for the help!

I'm torn now between the Synmat UL 7 and the Downmat UL 7. I could get the XS downmat at 14.8oz and still be lighter than the Synmat which in small is 15.2oz. The downmat also comes with the Schnozzel Pumpbag which is only 1oz and doubles as a drysack. I have to test something with the dimensions of the XS downmat to see if I can sleep comfortable in such small space.

Alf,

I am a bit of a gram counter, but comfort is subjective and getting a good night's sleep is important. I once met an older backpacker, not that I am young, who was so obsessive about grams that he slept on a very thin foam pad and used Vicodine to deal with his pains. He bragged about his ultra light base weight which did not include the weight of his Vicodine, a consumable, but did include the weight of the zip lock he used to store his Vicodine.

For a sleep system, I want the lightest gear that I can get and still have a great night's sleep. I love sleeping outside under God's blanket of stars and it is an important part of the total outdoor experience for me. If I needed a big heavy pad to be comfortable, I would not hesitate to put it in my pack with no regrets at all, just a little bit of envy of those younger men with better hip and shoulder joints.

I bought a NeoAir when they first came out and used it for ages and always thought it was uncomfortable but assumed it was as comfortable as a lightweight mat could be. Then I tried a UL Synmat 7 and was blown away. 50 more grams for infinitely more comfort. I know some people have found the opposite, many reviewers have described the NeoAir as extremely comfortable, but for me the Synmat is awesome and the NeoAir is now for sale.

+1

Last year I used a UL 7 Synmat and really liked it but felt a bit cool at freezing. I must admit that I have been pushing the limits of a 40f quilt into the 20's, but out of curiosity I purchased a UL Downmat and was much warmer in cool temps and didn't notice any more warmth in warmer temps. I also LOVE the snozzle pumpsack and would get it even if you decide on the UL 7 Synmat. When you look at the cost of the Symat + pumpsack, it makes it an even harder decision since the Downmat comes with it.

Love my exped synmat; and this season I bought the Schnozzle, which is terrific and as already stated doubles as a pack liner. If I had it to do over again, I'd now buy the downmat, which wasn't available when I bought the synmat last year. Just to have one pad to cover those nights that get to 35 and below.

p.s. you gotta baby that Schnozzle! It's incredibly thin.

I have used the Synmat for 6 trips and it's great but I would not use it by itself below 0, an as new down mat Ul popped up on gear swap recently and I picked it up, I have yet to use it.

Even though the Downmat is a bit heavier than the Synamt it came with a snozzle which I can use as pack liner and pillow (with some clothes inisde and a buff over it) saving weight over my exped foam pillow pump and a pack liner, I did this for a trip in Colorado last weekend with the Synmat.

@ Richard, If your thrash has not been collected you should send the pad to exped for repair, they will only charge a minimal fee.

I know Stuart D on here had major rips on his (from his dog) and he effected a repair with Tenacious tape.

*I have used the Synmat for 6 trips and it's great but I would not use it by itself below 0*

I haven't used the Synmat in super negatives, but I used it to bivy in NZ when it got slightly below 0C (I assume you mean 0C not 0F) overnight and there was frost on the bags in the morning.

I reckon it would be pretty easy to push it down colder with only a fairly light and thin supplementary foam mat. Maybe something like Gossamer Gear's 1/4 inch thinlight pads.

It was indeed 0c, I also tried it at about -8c with a Zlite underneath it and it was fine.