Exped Downmat 7 Sleeping Pad

fletcher jackson - 2008-09-17

Best in its class
I was seriously pleased with this sleeping pad. Over the past few years I have started camping more but was always uncomfortable sleeping on small pads and this cures it. Great comfort, great package size and weight. My only complaint is that at first it seems impossible to use the sac as the pump (took a while to get it inflated) but once I got the hang of it-it got easier! I also recommend inflating it a few times before you go camping so you know what to expect-just in case you have to do it in the dark!

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Anonymous - 2008-08-25

Best mattress for the backpacker
Do your body a favor and get this pad. I've been backpacking for 35 years. I've used closed cell foam pads to Thermarest pads. This is by far the best pad you can use. You will be comfortable and warm. If you get flooded by water this pad will add extra height to keep you off the ground. I've backpacked in the Sierras, the Grand Canyon and everywhere in between.

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Anonymous - 2008-07-14

Packs smaller but is thicker than a thermarest
I used this in a hammock for an entire week. It kept me warm on 20 degree nights during thunderstorms. I can't get over how small it packs down. There were some nights I woke up thinking I was in bed at home.

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> Read All 18 Reviews

fletcher jackson - 2008-09-17

Best in its class
I was seriously pleased with this sleeping pad. Over the past few years I have started camping more but was always uncomfortable sleeping on small pads and this cures it. Great comfort, great package size and weight. My only complaint is that at first it seems impossible to use the sac as the pump (took a while to get it inflated) but once I got the hang of it-it got easier! I also recommend inflating it a few times before you go camping so you know what to expect-just in case you have to do it in the dark!

Was this Exped Downmat 7 Sleeping Pad Review Helpful? - Yes - No (3 of 3 liked this review)

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Anonymous - 2008-08-25

Best mattress for the backpacker
Do your body a favor and get this pad. I've been backpacking for 35 years. I've used closed cell foam pads to Thermarest pads. This is by far the best pad you can use. You will be comfortable and warm. If you get flooded by water this pad will add extra height to keep you off the ground. I've backpacked in the Sierras, the Grand Canyon and everywhere in between.

Is this Handy? - Yes - No (1 of 1 liked this review)

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Anonymous - 2008-07-14

Packs smaller but is thicker than a thermarest
I used this in a hammock for an entire week. It kept me warm on 20 degree nights during thunderstorms. I can't get over how small it packs down. There were some nights I woke up thinking I was in bed at home.

Is this Useful? - Yes - No (1 of 1 liked this review)

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Walter Bungard - 2008-06-28

Best sleeping mat I've ever laid on.
Cushy, warm, extremely light, small packed size. Very wow and cool. I've backpacked and camped for 40+ years. This is the best mattress that I have ever owned. Bag works well for a pump, and a pillow (with some clothes stuffed inside). Highly recommended.

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Anonymous - 2008-01-25

Sleep Like a Baby
Great pad and worth the money. I used it on the trail for 5 nights with temps. in the teens. Kept me insulated from the cold ground. Practice blowing up the pad at home, as it takes awhile to learn.

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Larry - 2008-01-03

Worth Every Cent
I couldn't be more pleased with this pad. I've tried several and this is by far the best. The pad thickness keeps the rocks at bay and the down keeps the cold ground from getting to you. A must-buy.

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Anonymous - 2007-11-03

All I hoped it would be!
This pad fit my Big Agnes perfectly. No issues with using the storage bag to fill it with air. Took about 3 minutes. The air valves were accessable right at the top of the bag. I'm totally satisfied with the quality and performance. I kept it in my bag for three nights and never had to refill it. Fantastic!

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R.H. Merrick - 2007-04-09

Excellent!
Perfect for my Big Agnes Lost Ranger sleeping bag!! Works as stated and - superbly at that! It provides a wonderful nights sleep after a long day on the trail. I've tried many pads while camping and this one has no equal! Believe me, it's worth every penny!

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TheWalkman - 2006-12-23

Great Product (Down Mat 7 short)
Great product. Over the past few years my Thermarest(s) just weren't as comfortable as I'd like for a good nights rest. (Has global warming caused the ground to get harder????) I'd seen the Expeds over the years and thought they were a gimmick. After a recent backpacking trip where I tossed and turned all night, I read a few reviews and decided that a good nights rest might be worth the price. It was. Try pumping the mat up a few times at home before you go out and you won't have any problems at all inflating the pad. Inflation is really quite easy and only takes a couple of minutes. Your hiking buddies may roll their eyes when they see your Exped but once inflated, let them lie on it for a minute; you'll get the last laugh (and good nights sleep!)

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M. A. Booher - 2006-06-13

Thumbs Up!!!
I really like this product. I was initially drawn to this ground pad due to its packed size. It functions nice and provides a comfortable night sleep on both hot and cool evenings. Despite my apprehension from several reviews that I read, the stuff sack/bellows pump are remarkably easy to use, and it appeared the nativities reviews I read relating to this topic were nothing more than a case of someone taking gear into the field before they knew how to use it. I would highly recommend this product.

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Gary - 2006-04-18

light weight, pump works, and can be used as pillow.
would purchase again

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Kris - 2005-09-27

Beyond my expectation!
I have a bad disc in my lower back so I’ve been looking for some major comfort and warmth during colder season backpacking. The Downmat 7 fulfilled my needs beyond expectation. The stuff sack is pure genius, from inflation of the mat to being a down filled pillow. The mat itself radiated back so much of my body heat that I opened up my sleeping bag and just used it like a blanket while I slept directly on the Downmat 7. For me, the weight (2lb) was is well worth the comfort for my back (and I’m an ultra light backpacker!). The price hurt a little, yet I have to say worth it.

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Kevin Dupre - 2005-08-07

Light warm sleeping pad
Exped downmat 7 is well made rugged sleeping mat. It packs small and is warm creating a barrier between you and the ground. Comfort level is great.

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Carrolleigh C - 2005-07-31

Lush comfort and easy of operation make this product great
I was impressed how easy the mat pumped up. Mine is fit with a Big Agnes sleeping bag. A married system! I've used self inflating models many times but am now converted! Great product.

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Anonymous - 2008-09-23

Best camping pad I have ever used
Bought two for recent two-week trek in high Andes, Peru. Outstanding warmth and comfort at tent temperatures of -5 degrees C.We used half a closed cell foam pad each under hip area; when your weight is focused (while sitting), you bottom out on the ground. When weight is spread out, delightfully comfortable. When you get your downmat, open it and inflate several times before you leave for your first trip. You get the knack of inflating with the bag but it takes a few tries. Also, one of our downmats had a defective valve we discovered the first night of the trek. It was really tricky to close, so we kept it closed the whole trip, inflating thru one valve only. The downmat is MUCH more comfortable than any thermarest I have ever used. We had gotten to the point where we were each taking 2 thermarests and a closed cell foam pad on every trip. You will love these pads, I guarantee it.Besides, they deflate and roll up to a volume half the size of a thermarest. Great product.

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Michelle Walker - 2008-04-24

Good and warm, yet a little narrow, easier to blow up by mouth
Good and warm, lots of cushion, yet a bit narrow and much easier to blow up by mouth instead of using the bag Loved the ease of packing it, small and compact

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JustDouxIt - 2006-02-06

Pump Sack takes practice
Sept 2005 I purchased the DownMat 7 Regular length ($139 includes stuff sack/pump) over the Therm a Rest Women’s ProLite 4 ($90 self-inflating + $13 for stuff sack) Pros: It’s 4 inches longer in length (I have an extra long sleeping bag ALL of me fit on the pad) It’s 1.3 inches thicker which made sleeping on my side more comfortable It’s 3 oz lighter It packed up 1 inch shorter making for a better fit inside my Marmot Eiger 36 pack Cons: Even after practicing, over and over again, I don’t get the stuff sack pump to work the first time. Last weekend, after cross country skiing out to the Bradley Hut in a heavy snow storm, I wished I’d had a self-inflator. It took several attempts to get the DownMat inflated. At one point I even lacked the confidence that I’d succeed. By the time I did, my hands were numb with cold. In spite of the Pump Sack I still like it. It’s warmer, comfier, and, I get a better night’s rest

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Tim - 2007-05-13

I like to keep it simple.
I thought the drysack/pump bag was a bit strange. You fill the sack with air while it is connected to the valve, and then press or roll the air trapped in the bag and make it go into the valve. It took some practice but it also took time. After I was familiar with the whole operation, I then tried the Pillow Pump, it was much better! Throw the drysack out! I would never use the Pillow Pump as a pillow though, it's a small piece of foam with a hard plastic valve on it. I prefer my thick down jacket as my pillow. So now I have two items to store and take care of instead of only one, I have the pad and the pump. Do I also have 28 oz of pad and now a pillow pump to add to it? I can't help thinking, if it's a little bit of a pain in my living room, what's it going to be like when it's raining or when it's dark or when I'm really tired? I had to pull the plug, and send the Exped 7 back, I'm going to go with the Thermarest Prolite 4, it's half a pound lighter and easier to use, open the valve and throw it in the tent.

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