Pretty much going to purchase an Exped mat. Narrowed the choices down (no pun intended) to the Down 7LW and Syn 9LW. Only real difference I can see is .7" in height between the down (2.8") and the syn (3.5"). Everything else is almost exactly the same except the price with the syn being $20 cheaper.
Thoughts?

I own the synmat 9dlx and love it. if you sleep cold or do a lot of late fall/early spring trips you might need the extra insulation of the downmat.

insulation
weight
price
size/thickness

are all factors to consider. good luck!!

I have the synmat 7, which is fine right through fall, although you might want the downmat if you're going to camp in the winter. You can probably find the comparative R-values on their website.

I have the synmat 7, which is fine right through fall, although you might want the downmat if you're going to camp in the winter. You can probably find the comparative R-values on their website.

I have a Synmat 7 and experienced 4 nights around 28 deg last May and worked great.

If I was going to do a lot of winter camping I would have got the 9 down, but I can get by without. I usually only do one or two nights a year winter camping and its easy enough to bring extra gear along for these trips.

We do use one of the sportsman reflector blankets as an innie, don't know if that makes any difference or not.

I have the Synmat 7 and its fine for down to freezing.

I do use it below freezing in a hot tent. We let the fire go out and temps in the morning are below zero. I use workshop cushion flooring under the mat then as I don't want it freezing to the snow. Lowes sells four squares in a package of the workshop flooring and we throw it on the sled.

I have the DLX90 - I swear cooler on hot nights and warmer on cold nights. I do a weekend winter camp every year or two so wanted the down. Get the cover - kind of silky top and a tough protective bottom - and it came with a stuff sack (well - not really stuff) that protects it. I sleep better on roots and stones with the Exped than I do at home in my bed.

I own the Downmat 9 and the Synmat 7. Both are great sleeping pads. Each is equally comfortable. The downmat has a better r-value, but I have slept on the synmat at zero and it was fine. The synmat packs a little smaller than my downmat. Both have built in pumps. The downmat pumps up faster - better recoil on the handpump with the down filling. I got the synmat for $100. The downmat cost me $160.

My preference - the Downmat.

I looked at the Downmat and the Synmat and went with the Synmat 7 LW. I'm sure the Downmat is very nice but I don't winter camp and I couldn't swing the extra ching needed for the down. It rolls up great and has a great feel to it when inflated the way you like it. Either way, with the Downmat or the Synmat, you will really enjoy the product.

I have the DownMat 9 and love it. I'm a side sleeper and appreciate the extra thickness of the 9 vs 7.

Just purchased the Exped downmatLW from an outfit called basegear.com First time customers receive %20 off if you sign up for their mailing list. That's almost $34 off the retail price of $169. not bad.

Exped Downmat %20 off

I just bought the Exped Sim Comfort 10 LW for $81 with shipping on 02gearshop.com. Here is the link and I used the coupon code WELCOME77 to get an extra 15% off:

http://www.o2gearshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=2&language=en¤cy=USD&products_id=29450&zmam=55982562&zmas=1&zmac=1&zmap=29450


They also have a DownMat 7 Medium you could pick up for about $90. It was a customer return, but I have always had good luck with this store. Would have bought the DownMat, but I'm leaving for LIS North in a week and there was a 5-7 day wait to ship it. Heres the link for that one.

http://www.o2gearshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1&products_id=29825

I have been using a Prolite 4 for too long, doing a number on my back - most likely because I am a side sleeper. I know the SIM Comfort 10 is going to be more than twice as heavy and big as the prolite 4 - so I'll just have to pack lighter in other ways - or just use the Thermarest for backpacking.

I finally accepted the fact that I need a pile of sleeping pads, due to the vast number of different outdoor activities I do, in various times of the year. There is no one perfect pad for everything. I would not take the same pad rafting that I take backpacking. I used to use the same pad canoeing that I would use backpacking, but I finally broke down and admitted I want something more comfortable for canoeing, since I can take a few more comforts in a canoe. So I bought a Downmat 9DLX, and I love it. It packs down about the same size as my Thermarest, but is heavier. The comfort factor is amazing, and I haven't slept as good in the BWCA ever. I normally do early and late season trips, so the ground is a bit cooler.

They aren't cheap, but I feel the Exped pads are totally worth the money.


dave

If you buy a dlx and own a Big Agnes sleeping bag it wont fit in the sleeve 20 inch on most B/A. It will fit in the Park series B/A bags 25 inch sleeve. I just ordered a B/A Whiskey Park 0 degree bag hope it shows up before my next trip. I have the Synmat 9 dlx sleep number bed of the BW.

JB

JB,

I'm interested in getting a down mat 9 deluxe for my BA elk park bag, was wondering how it fit your whiskey park bag ?

Were you able to fully inflate it the full 3.5 inches ?

Any issues sliding it into the BA bag ?

I own an Exped Down Mat 9 and was also drawn into the chair kit / cover for it. Lots of cash to do it but since I also do multi-day backcountry ski trips it has been money well invested.

It's incredibly decadent but I'm at the age where the comfort and a good night's sleep make the difference between being an old fart that stays home or one that gets out to play. Here's a photo of it rigged for serious sitting...

quote WABobR: "I own an Exped Down Mat 9 and was also drawn into the chair kit / cover for it. Lots of cash to do it but since I also do multi-day backcountry ski trips it has been money well invested.


It's incredibly decadent but I'm at the age where the comfort and a good night's sleep make the difference between being an old fart that stays home or one that gets out to play. Here's a photo of it rigged for serious sitting...


"

Welcome to the site WABobR.

quote WABobR: "I own an Exped Down Mat 9 and was also drawn into the chair kit / cover for it. Lots of cash to do it but since I also do multi-day backcountry ski trips it has been money well invested.


It's incredibly decadent but I'm at the age where the comfort and a good night's sleep make the difference between being an old fart that stays home or one that gets out to play. Here's a photo of it rigged for serious sitting...


"

Ooh that looks sweet....

quote Sierra1: "

quote WABobR: "I own an Exped Down Mat 9 and was also drawn into the chair kit / cover for it. Lots of cash to do it but since I also do multi-day backcountry ski trips it has been money well invested.



It's incredibly decadent but I'm at the age where the comfort and a good night's sleep make the difference between being an old fart that stays home or one that gets out to play. Here's a photo of it rigged for serious sitting...



"

Ooh that looks sweet...."

I can just imagine how great that must feel to sit in after a long day of paddling. That chair kit is on my wish list for next year.

quote luft: "

quote Sierra1: "

quote WABobR: "I own an Exped Down Mat 9 and was also drawn into the chair kit / cover for it. Lots of cash to do it but since I also do multi-day backcountry ski trips it has been money well invested.



It's incredibly decadent but I'm at the age where the comfort and a good night's sleep make the difference between being an old fart that stays home or one that gets out to play. Here's a photo of it rigged for serious sitting...



"

Ooh that looks sweet...."

I can just imagine how great that must feel to sit in after a long day of paddling. That chair kit is on my wish list for next year."

You may want to ask bojibob what he thinks of the chair kit. He was useing one on his quetico trip this year and his exped popped. Said he had to sleep on a hotdog the rest of his trip. He got a new mat, but that doesn't help when you're in the middle of a trip.

quote mr.barley: "

quote luft: "

quote Sierra1: "

quote WABobR: "I own an Exped Down Mat 9 and was also drawn into the chair kit / ...


Ooh that looks sweet...."

I can just imagine how great that must feel to sit in after a long day of paddling. That chair kit is on my wish list for next year."

You may want to ask bojibob what he thinks of the chair kit. He was useing one on his quetico trip this year and his exped popped. Said he had to sleep on a hotdog the rest of his trip. He got a new mat, but that doesn't help when you're in the middle of a trip."

My condolences to bojibob. That specter of a puncture looms over me every time I sit or lie on my Exped Mat. I spend a lot of time inspecting the ground footprint for sticks, rocks, thorns, etc. before I put the mat down. So far, so good. I also always make sure I have my patch kit. I hope I don't end up resorting to sleeping on piles of clothing during a trip. While that was my standard operating procedure 4 decades ago, I'd be a mess today.

Fits like a glove a tight glove but it dose fit. I now have to get another bag Diva has confiscated mine. You'll be happy with it no slipping off or spinning your bag around looking for the zipper.


JB

quote WABobR: "I own an Exped Down Mat 9 and was also drawn into the chair kit / cover for it. Lots of cash to do it but since I also do multi-day backcountry ski trips it has been money well invested.


It's incredibly decadent but I'm at the age where the comfort and a good night's sleep make the difference between being an old fart that stays home or one that gets out to play. Here's a photo of it rigged for serious sitting...


"

Love the chair kit as well.









I had these kits fro 3 years and just never used them. Didin't know what I was missing....

T