4 Season sleeping pad question.

I use the Downmat 7 ul for winter trips, the synmat 9 was not available at the time though.

I use the Downmat UL 7, too.
The Synmat UL 9 gives it some serious competition, though. The difference in cost(no Schnozzel included), packed size and weight are minimal, but it's a 3.5" pad vs. 2.8" for the Downmat. I don't care to have a thicker/taller pad, but some people might like that…

That's pretty much what it comes down to Owen. The pads are very similar weight wise and packed size and almost identical R values. It comes down to 3.5 inches vs 2.8. I know to get the full R value the pad needs to be inflated fully, however, I don't find that firmness comfortable. I like to have the pads at around 75%-80% full. I have slept two nights on the Downmat UL 7 and sometimes I could feel my tail bone getting pretty close to the ground and this concerns me because when it is very cold I'd be losing a lot of heat there.

This leads me to wonder if the Synmat UL 9 would be better for me. Would sleeping on the Synmat at 75% inflated be just as comfortable but substantially more warm?

Hi Jordan,

I had the same issue you mention on snow with my Down mat 7 UL, placing a foam pad under it really helped (which I carry in winter anyway)