User Review: Exped DownMat 7

Exped DownMat 7
Above: The current DownMat 7, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed September 3, 2005 by Carolyn Hayes

Rating:
Price Paid: $129

As an aging camper who has rediscovered mountaineering I needed a warm pad that also supported my frame well so I could sleep easy. I hiked for years w/just a thin ensolite and then a Z-rest. Recently Therm-A-Rest has been great but I needed to sleep better, especially as I got into high altitude and potentially winter adventures.

The Downmat 7 is great! Very comfortable (2.5") and with an r-value twice that of a Therm-A-Rest. It only weighs a teeny bit more and packs down as small. A fast packer might choose something lighter but if you want good sleep in the mountains this will make it possible so you're rested for the next day's adventure.

Also, the pump bag works -- takes a few minutes but the added sleep is well worth it. The mattress itself is non-slip so my bag stayed on it. My next trip will involve 2 downmats and we are thinking of just taking one pumpbag to lighten up a bit. They say you can use the pumpbag as a pillow -- nice idea but it is noisy so I did my usual clothing pile wrapped in polarfleece.

I will not do another cool weather backpack or mountain trip without it and may convince my partner to lighten up on the car camping gear (ditch the Coleman air mattresses!).