Is this REI mattress really THAT good?

BTW, the reflective material is listed as Mylar.

I’m hoping it is much more durable than my emergency space blanket Mylar B/C it is going to have to withstand hundreds of roll-ups, roll-outs and inflation/deflation cycles – plus my bod rolling about on it all night.

https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/new-2017rei-co-op-flash-insulated-air-sleeping-pad/

Last year.

Looks like a good pad for the money, but reading through the reviews on REI, there are an unsettling number accounts of it springing leaks at the weld points.  This is something that afflicted the early TAR XLights.  The interior surface is an adhesive that serves to bond the weld sites.  It also does double duty by making the material air tight.  When the welds start to pull apart from use and repeated inflation/deflation, that adhesive layer is torn and the pad develops (multiple) slow leaks.  It took TAR a few years to correct this…my original rectangular XLight lasted about 2.5 years.  Luckily TAR replaces pads no questions asked.

Hopefully whomever is manufacturing this for REI will learn the hard lessons that TAR learned, and the pad will evolve into something quite trustworthy.  Today, I’d be concerned that REI’s 1 year return limit would not be long enough to catch most of these types of failures.

I’ve been using REI Stratus mats for a while now (5 years or so) and have been very happy with them.  I think they are a heck of a deal.  I own 4 of them and two developed leaks at the seam weld this past summer.  REI, under there more restrictive return policy, took them back without an issue after I showed them that the leak was at the weld and not a hole.

My girlfriend has one, but has only taken it out a handful of times. I remember watching a PCT Vlog from last year and the guy on there had one and said it was springing leaks a lot and that everyone else he had seen with one also complained about this. It is pretty comfortable but buy with caution if you do.

I purchased one last summer and found it to be comfortable. I did not get to put it through its paces often, so cannot contribute to durability questions. It’s been stored all fall and winter, so we’ll see if that contributes to aging/leaking issues. I experienced an epiphany about pad storage, reading a blog–I don’t have to roll it up tight, I can fold it and lay it on the bottom of my pack. My main complaint with inflatables is the time to deflate and roll and stuff. Also, the cylindrical package isn’t always the easiest shape to pack, around soft comfortable shapes. Folding it to the shape of the bottom of the pack will hopefully be faster, and maybe will move fold lines around to reduce fatigue of the materials.

Be aware that as of early this year, there are now 2 Flash pads, the original Flash and the new Flash All-Season.   Ample reviews are available on that model.

I have seen the new all season model.  Specs are quite impressive, and it is available as a regular-wide size.

Old thread, but just stumbled upon it.

If anyone is still interested, I can post pics/more details, but here’s a few quick thoughts.  I bought one of these Flash Insulated pads (20×78, long) 3 years ago, and slept on it for months in a sailboat. Also used for multiple outdoor trips in that period, I would guess a couple dozen nights. No leaks in the first year that I can recall (during the 9 months I lived on a sailboat using it as my mattress), and began to develop leaks at the weld points during year 2 and 3 (non-sailboat, just trips). I’ve used Gear Aid Seam Grip WP to now seal 4 leaks on the bottom. Holds air fine, but I know it will develop more leaks as it ages. The seam grip will not run out soon, so it’s an inexpensive but annoying maintenance. I would say at 3 years it’s nearing the end of it’s days. Paid around 30 bucks for it combining discounts and REI dividend. Looking for a more durable pad next.

UPDATE:

I called REI customer service and inquired about the guarantee and was assured REI WOULD STAND BEHIND ANY SEAM LEAKS. Punctures don’t count for the guarantee.

So I bought not only the 3 season FLASH insulated (R 3.7 and 15 oz.) mattress but the FLASH All Season insulated (R 5.3) mattress. Also I got the Sea to Summit dry bag/inflation bag and I’m happy I got it. It doubles as a clothes bag, natch.

So far so good but I’ll likely never give them the use Luke has as in long term daily use.  But these mattresses are among the lightest for the R value and comfortable.

On the REI website’s Features section for the Flash pads, it states:

“Updated construction includes strong welds that ensure great durability”.

Perhaps they’ve improved the weld construction; time will tell.  I own a flash pad, and found it comfortable.