I’ve used an Exped downmat
for about three years now and it is by far the most comfortable and best for cold weather.
But, hey, I’m old!
We used Thermarest Prolite 4’s before the expeds and, except for really cold weather, they were pretty darned comfortable.
PS I’m selling the prolite 4’s with trekker lounges and stuff sacks in the forum classifieds.
Wink, wink.
Fatty - Boom - Batty
– Last Updated: Mar-25-10 11:40 AM EST –
Granted its terribly heavy and a bit pricey, but I have been extremely happy with the Dream-Time mattress from Therm-a-Rest.
http://www.cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest/mattresses/camp-and-comfort/dreamtime/product
I used this mattress during my 6 week base camping trip last fall and slept like a baby every night ... in fact my back didn't bother me at all until I returned home and spent a few nights on our cheap home mattress. Now when my back bothers me I pull out the Dream-Time and sleep blissfuly on the floor !
Question to the Exped…
…using modern man, crazed lady midst the Silver River monkeys, and the wilderness-wide-Webb:
Presuming your Exped inflatable is using the storage stuffsack-as-bellows/inflator system, as does my Exped Downmat 9 (very warm and comfy, by-the-way), so as to keep the moisture of one’s breathe from entering and possibly inducing bio growth, what’s the average number of times you find yourself rolling/unrolling/rolling to inflate your mattress?
Exped seemed to indicate about 7 times should do it. I’m usually around 20 to 25. Sometimes after a long day’s paddle or hike, after putting up the tent and other misc. tasks, while half-sitting/half-prone in my small tent, it sure can seem like a tedious session winding that windbag of cc-little return.
I’m someone who usually inflates canoe airbags by mouth-n-lung, but the Exped has me considering toting a small foot bellows.
another TW
Man! You could safely…
…land three Romanian gymnasts vaulting from a passing U2 on that baby!
Whaddaya think, Jsaults, oh yee of horrid back? Dream Time or still hangin’ there in your Jack-n-dream-of-Jill Hennessy?
Big agnes
The Aircore is Available in a 25" width as opposed to the standard 20" This makes a big difference, don’t over inflate any pad, a little less air makes them much more comfortable.
Hmmmm
I’ll count next time I inflate it but it’s probably around 16. Be sure to inflate slowly, that seems to make a big difference.
Thanks Michael.
I’ll see in a couple weekends when I inflate the mat if I can lower my count by using a slower, more deliberate approach.
I know the last time I used the mat (about three weekends back at a cold Assateague Island) I made certain to have that stuffsack tube probiscus on tight to the mat’s valve, and to stretch wide the sack’s mouth opening each time before clasping the rands tight together amd rolling.
I was almost wishing for a bagpipe, as squeezing a rounder bellowing bag betwixt ribcage and arm would have made for an easier method whilst laying out on my side inside a tent.
But, once inflated, she sure beat all of the Therma-Rest and Slumberjack/Wenzel mattresses I’ve used in the past. And, as others noted, packing down to a large coffee can sized parcel is definately a plus.
It is a pricey procurement. I was able to get my Exped Downmat 9 DLX from Sierra Trading Post about a year ago, when additional buyer discounting brought the price down around $105 with free shipping, I believe. Checking the web now, I think I was rather fortunate with that price.
TW
“Old” Model Exped
– Last Updated: Mar-25-10 3:55 PM EST –
I do believe mine's as big as Topher's (SLEEPING PAD, that is). You COULD land a couple Eastern European gymmasts on my old model Exped(LOL)! I've Got the "EXPED SIM Light CF 9 DLX." Heck, it's got as many ID numbers as an aircraft carrier, 'eh, TW? Anyhow, mine was built prior to the fancy pump-bags and the new, nifty self-pump. Mine has endured my oral and respiratory germs since I bought it 4 or 5 years ago and is no worse the wear. I believe it was 2005. Never measured how many breaths it takes to finish the job, but it's always a few too many. Knowing I always end up over-inflating it, I've learned to put the valve on the top end to allow me to let some air out. The old model only folds and mashes down to about the size of a 4 man tent, again, not as nice as the new ones. But the darn thing is tough, and I have plenty of room for it in my canoes!
On a whim I did try my wifes tiny little Thermarest Neo-air; the 72"x20" on a river trip last summer. It was nice, light and small. 'Nuff said. I'm not, and all 3 nights I cursed myself for leaving my big, fat, comfy Exped at home! Here's a pic that compares my Exped, a Big Agnes, and the wifey's little Neo-air. WW
http://www.pbase.com/ozarkpaddler/image/123030408
mine has
a built-in hand pump inflation mechanism. slower than filling it by breath, but it does work. to deflate, you open a different port on the end, roll it once to get most of the air out, unroll and fold it in thirds lengthwise and roll again tightly to stuffsack size.
what part of the area did ya spend that
kind of time in? I’m gonna go to the Seattle area this summer for a couple weeks. I’m not sure where I’m gonna be the whole time, but if at all possible, I’m gonna come down the west coast some…at least into Oregon… I’m bringing some padlling stuff so’s all I have to do is rent a boat. My kid’s gonna be flying jets out of some Navy Air base on Peuget Sound. For Topher only…I’ve talked to Phil …He’s in school and doing well…them Bradford guys…they’re okay…
Smallest packing mattress
was the MEC summer Kelvin. It fit in a drybag the size of a liter nalgene. Unfortunately due to the ridge pattern it was prone to blowouts. Hopefully MEC will fix that. I blew two up after two or three weeks on each.
Big Agnes Aircore (insulated) packed almost as small but a bad valve design wore through the fabric and made a wee annoying leak after 50 nights.
Now Im on a Exped Synmat (20x72) with an internal pump. You get to practice CPR every night. Its got 20 nights so far this year. It does pack bigger and needs a 4 liter drybag.
I think I am past the Prolite 3 though its certainly usable on the moss covered boreal forest floor.
If he’s flying jets for the Navy…
…he’s probably at NAS Whidbey, just south of Deception Pass. There is a WCP camp out there the weekend of May 22.
What’s he flying? A-6?
big agnes inflatable
It’s not your father’s inflatable. Smaller and lighter than thermarest solid foam pads.
Hammocks are great until it gets cold or your back gets old.
Neo Air
I upgraded to an extra large NeoAir by Thermarest this year. Like it so far.
Multiple awards:
Backpacker Magazine Editors’ 2009 Choice Award for outstanding innovation in design, materials and performance.
Popular Science Magazine 2009 winner of the annual Best of What’s New Awards for its breakthrough design and performance.
Gold OutDoor INDUSTRY AWARD 2008 from the OutDoor European Trade Fair to recognize outstanding design innovation, choice of materials and performance in the outdoors. The NeoAir mattress is one of only two top Gold award winners from a pool of 280 product submissions.
Pros: XL is only 19oz. Roomy at 25" wide by 77" long. 2.5" thick. Warm with R 2.5 rating. Comfortable. Packs small at 11"x 4.5".
Cons: Requires lung power to inflate. Expensive, so shop around. Considering the cost I feel it’s petty of Cascade Designs to not include a repair kit and stuff sack.
Thermarest NeoAir
I’ve heard good things about the Thermarest NeoAir
http://www.rei.com/product/781096
With its baffles running width-wise rather than lengthwise, it’s supposed to be really comfortable and light. Tinny complains about it in this first review, but raves about it in subsequent reviews.
http://www.youtube.com/user/minibulldesign#p/search/0/4YPYVLJbhZw
Big Agnes
My Big Agnes air mattress is excellent. It rolls up into a tiny package, and it slides into a sleeve in the sleeping bag so you don’t slide off the air mattress during the night.You pretty much have to use a Big Agnes air mattress with a Big Agnes Sleeping bag, but you could use their air mattress under any accordingly -sized sleeping bag.
The Hills of NorCal
I spent last fall helping out on a buddies “off the grid” ranch … its a tough job, but someone has to do it.
Glad to hear Phil is doing well … but then he’s a fairly cat-like and generally lands on his feet.
Let me know when your going to be in Oregon … I might be able to cut loose a bit and do some paddling with ya.
comparison for 3 comfortable mats
Avid user of self inflating mats for years (I have owned probably more than a dozen)I have compiled a comparison for 3 mats that are deemed the most comfortable in the biz (and trasportable in a kayak!)
I really like the NeoAir however a thick self inflating Thermarest is pretty good too.
If size and comfort matters, you can find more details at: http://gnarlydognews.blogspot.com/2009/06/sleeping-mats-less-is-more.html
Mine also has
A built in hand pump.
I have a Outdoorsman Lab Ultralight Inflatable, so it weighs just 1 lbs, but it’s 1 lbs of comfort!
It can be inflated like in 10-15 breaths. (counted myself).Unlike most sleeping pads, the valve is present at the bottom surface rather than the top. The valve also contains an automatic shut off button so that you can close the valve, catch your breath and easily continue inflating the pad.
That said, I’m 5’9” and 168 on a Regular sized pad, but Outdoorsman Lab isn’t scamming anybody on the quality of their gear. Even the packaging it came in wasn’t brilliant.