REI Flash pad and pillow

Hi Thomas,

I own the REI Flash Pad and the Exped SynmatUL7. I think the Rei Flash Pad is comfortable and that it's a good pad for the money. The only complaints I've seen against it are due to its mummy shape.

One benefit of it using the Exped valves is that you can use the Schnozzle Bag to inflate it which is what I do.

If you're fine with the mummy shape then I'd recommend this pad. I have no experience with the REI pillow so can't say. I have the Exped UL size large pillow and think it's great.

I've owned both pads you are talking about. Suffice it to say that I now own only one of those pads.

The mummy cut is annoying to me. Also, my shoulders were too wide for the flash sleeping pad.

My wife didn't mind the flash pad but ultimately we both returned our flash sleeping pads for expeds.

I prefer the long wide version of the exped and my wife the medium.

If you can stand the mummy cut you'll be fine. It's a great pad, just not for me or my wife.

Sleeping positions most accommodating with the pad is only one. sleeping on your back, possibly stomach depending on how you want your arms laying.

I cannot comment on the materials used in the pad BUT I can say that the exped seems to be a better more comfortable and tougher than the flash.

Buy the flash at rei, try it out, exchange it for the exped if need be.

Exped also has a medium wide pad as well. More options!

I was already leaning towards dropping more dough on the pad to get the exped synmat ul7. The mummy cut just worries me a little bit.

The thing I am most curious about is if anybody has bought the flash pillow ($22.xx) at REI right now, made by exped. The dimensions are 9×12, whereas the exped medium is 10×15, plus the REI pillow has a small piece of elastic in lieu of a stuff sack. Here's the kicker: the REI pillow costs half as much AND weighs half as much (per manufacturers specs). So I was thinking somebody should be a guinea pig and go try one, and it could become a pretty popular pillow, considering the Exped pillow's success. I would volunteer but I live 2.5 hours from the nearest REI, sad face.

If you haven't made a decision by Monday I knight stop by there for the tail end of their sale,

What positions would you like me to review?

Back and side sleeping positions?

Those are the only two sleeping positions I use, so those would work well. Also, let me know how you think it compares to a standard Exped medium air pillow.

Bonus points if you take your scale and weigh them for weight discrepancies!

Will do. Pm me Monday to remind me!!!

Thank you kindly! I will be sure to message you!

I was looking at the flash pillow also but for some reason I couldn't find the height listed anywhere at the time (which seemed pretty stupid).

I picked up the sea to summit Aeros UL pillow in medium and really like it. It's only $30 and came in at 1.9 oz on my scale.

Good luck in your search. It took me a while to find what I wanted as well.

I have the Flash pad (and the Exped UL7). The Flash pad is as warm and comfortable to sleep on as the Exped. Others have mentioned the mummy shape — it doesn't bother me, but it is a matter of preference. My only real issue with the Flash pad is the location of the valves. I normally inflate the pad to almost full and then deflate it a little until it is "perfect." With the Exped, that is fairly easy to do, since both valves are at the same end — and since it is a rectangle, they can be at the head or the foot depending on how you put it down. With the Flash, the deflate valve is at the foot. In order to let out just a little bit of air, you need to roll off the pad and reach to the foot. It isn't a huge issue, just a minor annoyance. YMMV.