Reconsidering my EXPED choice

[Where's Bruce?]

I have the long/wide UL9 which is a bit heavy but amazingly comfortable (3.5" thick with a high R rating for warmth) however, I read a story about a guy who poked a whole in his pad and nearly froze to death. I use EE quilts 90% of the time so a comfortable and warm pad is essential for me (6 motorcycle crashed means I need some padding when I sleep). Perhaps an inflatable isn't the best choice? Are there lighter alternatives that still provide some cush that cannot deflate?

 

[Jarrod Renaud]

Check out Sea To Summit comfort series. I just got the comfort plus because of the fact it has two seperate layers in case by some chance you put a hole in one. the thing is super comfortable, quiet and warm with an R value of 5. I first went with the light version but decided I wanted the peace of mind of having two seperate layers of air.

 

[Jarrod Renaud]

If there's an REI near you, they'll carry the whole line. Go try them out

 

[muleman]

I read a story about a guy who poked a whole in his pad and nearly froze to death.

Was the hole too big to patch with the include Exped patch kit?

 

[aclawrence]

I would just take the patch kit and be careful with it. Never had a problem with my Exped. If your wanting comfort I would stick with the inflatable.

 

[Kevin_t]

I do not like to rely on an inflatable only. I've been there, done that, had failures and slept like crud. I often use a torso prolite with a trip dependent CCF (EVA for lightest trips / Thermarest for more comfort ). This combo was 11 ounces plus whatever CCF (8 - 20 ounces) for a total of 19 - 31 ish ounces. I recently (like yesterday) got a synmat hyperlight long wide at 15 ounces. I think this pad may change my approach, where I use the synmat hyperlight with enough of a CCF pad to get by and am still in the 23 - 24 ounce range for the complete package. For cold / cold trips the UL downmat may still get the call, but most of the time I suspect it will be this.

 

[Take-a-knee]

I do not like to rely on an inflatable only. I've been there, done that, had failures and slept like crud. I often use a torso prolite with a trip dependent CCF (EVA for lightest trips / Thermarest for more comfort ).

That set up works well for me. The XS/torso length Prolite weighs 9oz IIRC. I have a 3/8th's evazote pad that weighs 9oz as well. A Ridgerest is probably slightly warmer but adds five or so ounces. I'd not used this lower than the teens but I suspect with the two pads under my torso that would take me down pretty low.

 

[Kevin_t]

I used the combo a few nights ago at 20F. Where you had both pads it was ok, where there was one was borderline or a bit chilled in the foot area

 

[Shrek]

The guy poked a hole in his pad and he nearly froze to death ? If true then what a moron ! Can't patch his pad , can't think to put his clothes on or at least under him , can't build a fire , can't build a bed of broughs or other materials to get off the ground . Probably an ultralight BP with a philosophy degree who cut the ounce patch kit and couldn't sleep well and got home and promptly wrote a pompous , hyperbole filled , and truth obfuscated blog post. Bruce , come back to reality. Take the patch kit and the worst that's going to happen is your going to have a bad nights sleep and need to hike out and find the patch kit you cut to make the 35lb weight standard that you bought into.

 

[JG358]

Perhaps an inflatable isn't the best choice? Are there lighter alternatives that still provide some cush that cannot deflate?

Not that I've seen. Take the patch kit and dont worry about it. I've been using one of my expeds for at least 5 years and have never had an issue with it.

 

[colonel00]

For my XLite and XTherm, I have the little patch kit that comes with it. Also somewhere in my gear I have some AquaSeal UV, Tenacious tape and some duct tape. If I can't patch up the pad with any or all of those, I am really having a bad day.

 

[Kevin_t]

Field patching is not always possible. Sometimes it requires submersion to find the leak as was the case for me and even then it was difficult. I could get 30 to 45'minutes out of it inflated but that wouldn't result in a good nights sleep either. Fire / Pine boughs all good but not always feasible either depending on location and regulations . Now I did have an instance where I used a dry sack stuffed with local materials and captured with a little air and it worked ,but not everyone has a 65 L Big River around either

 

[Daniel_M]

Synthetic or Down UL9? I barely got a season out of a set, the internal seams had separated causing massive lumps in the pad. If using a DownMat, may I also suggest using a NeoAir mini-pump, as the lungs will expel moisture and potentially affect the loft and insulation rating. I have since switched to the Big Agnes QC pads and have not had an issue.

2.3oz and works great to kick up the wood stoves.
http://www.amazon.com/Therm-A-Rest-Therm-a-Rest-NeoAir-Mini-Pump/dp/B00AZZAWJY

 

[Shrek]

Daniel_M , did you return the pads for warranty ? If the internal seams gave up then I'd have to send it back. I use a snozzle bag to inflate my UL 9 Synmat and then stuff it with my clothes for a pillow.
Kevin t , I agree that you may not always be able to patch it in the field but in the majority of the instances you can. So , usually they hold up fine and when the they do get holes you can usually patch them and if you can't then an uncomfortable nights sleep and and a hike back to get a replacement is what's on the line. I don't think you can match the comfort of a thick airpad with anything else you could stand to carry in so with a patch kit in the kit you have a low probability of having a real issue but the comfort is unmatched so I'll continue to carry my UL9 and patch kit and take my chances.

 

[Kevin_t]

Correct and to each his own. I've taken the chances before and it didn't work out so well. Nothing sleeps like a big air mat but the prolite CCF combo is good enough in most instances for me as long as I choose my sleeping spot well ( no alpine bunch grass or rock protrusions ) . That being said I'll probably use the hyper light CCF combo to balance risk now ... It's just a bit different risk with more upside and more downside.

 

[Daniel_M]

Daniel_M , did you return the pads for warranty ? If the internal seams gave up then I'd have to send it back.

Absolutely, I was given a full refund. 1 pad having an issue, sure. I can live with that. But 2 of them in one summer led me elsewhere. Notably, Exped as a whole has great reviews. But the failures simply led me down another path.

 

[Take-a-knee]

I used the combo a few nights ago at 20F. Where you had both pads it was ok, where there was one was borderline or a bit chilled in the foot area

Maybe stick a CCF sit-pad in the footsack of your quilt?

 

[5MilesBack]

I'm a redundant system kind of guy in a lot of cases. However, sometimes you just have to go with it and cross the bridge when you get to it. I've spent the night out on a winter hunt before in a blizzard without any shelter that I brought with me. So if I actually have a shelter and a flat pad and quilt or bag, I'm way ahead of that game.

 

[blgoode]

I am trying a Thermarest Xlite on top of a piece of tyvek. If it deflates I'll be fine because in colder temps I always take a cc pad to have under it.
I'm hoping the Xlite is as durable as my prolite plus.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

The guy managed to slice a nice hole in his pad while sleeping on it...something loose inside the tent caused the rip, forget what it was. But he was in mountain goat country surrounded by rock and wind. Made me think. I've seen guys carrying those foldup and roll up mats and thought maybe that's a better (albeit bulkier) solution. I also recall reading something on this website about some guys returning to their camp to find marmots had chewed the crap outt their gear...i suppose Murphy's Law can prevail when you are least able to afford it so am trying to minimize the risk. Anyone with sciatic nerve issues will understand. I'm no wuss but without a nice pad I would be unable to hike out because of my age and back inuries. That would truly suck.