Comments on Hard Light: Steve Walton's Outdoor Blog: Exped Downmat 7 Short

Great review, thank you. Have linked it into a pos...

2010-10-23T08:30:40.987+01:00

Great review, thank you. Have linked it into a post I am writing about winter kit, so thanks for the detailed analysis and great photos.

Great work thanks much.. Just in time it will not ...

2010-08-03T08:27:09.921+01:00

Great work thanks much.. Just in time it will not be too long before hiking season here in Alabama!

I have to try mats. I have an old "rug" ...

2010-04-08T19:25:26.253+01:00

I have to try mats.
I have an old "rug" of isoprene which needs to be replaced.
I winter I place pine branches underneath it.
This mat looks cozy though...
Cheers!

Thanks, Karl. You are correct!

2010-01-13T20:11:35.057Z

Thanks, Karl. You are correct!

On the pics it looks like you haven't equalize...

2010-01-13T07:27:17.366Z

On the pics it looks like you haven't equalized the pressure between the pump and the rest of the mat.
I didn't know you could do this when I first used mine, and it gets a bit uncomfrtable if you end up lying on the non-equalized pump area.
All you have to do after having closed all valves (including the pump one) is to, with your hand, locate the inside valve between the pump and the main mat body. Then squeeze this valve between your fingers to make it open and, voila, some air will seep back from the main compartment into the pump area making the whole of the mat nice and puffy.
Makes for warm and comfy nights.
/ Karl

It's long past time, Martin. Old bones and al...

2010-01-01T20:31:55.086Z

It's long past time, Martin. Old bones and all that!

I like it. Sleep warm and comfy. For only a few g...

2009-12-31T21:05:37.303Z

I like it. Sleep warm and comfy. For only a few grams more. Sounds good to me.

Wickes laminate, Hendrik! I got the short version...

2009-12-30T09:54:55.917Z

Wickes laminate, Hendrik!

I got the short version because of the small packed size and weight. I've never used a full length mat since the days of my old yellow closed-cell Karrimat. That was a long time ago! If I need more insulation under my legs, it's the Mountain Equipment duvet and/or my back pack.

I like your floorboards, very nice colour. Parquet...

2009-12-30T08:44:32.954Z

I like your floorboards, very nice colour. Parquet?

Ah ja, the Downmat 7 also looks superb. Any reason you got the short version instead of the regular version?

Thanks, Dave. The pump works quite well and the Do...

2009-12-29T22:36:07.593Z

Thanks, Dave. The pump works quite well and the Downmat is much warmer than the old Ultralite. Can't knock the T-a-R too much though. It's served me well for over a decade and a half without a problem and still has years of use left in it. There was a time when that mat was the one to have!

Great mats. I'm sure you'll be very happy ...

2009-12-29T20:29:03.763Z

Great mats. I'm sure you'll be very happy together.

Had the downmat 7 for a few years now and am very impressed. Toasty warm and boxspring comfortable. In use, can't be beaten as a winter mat I feel. Mine lacks the internal pump. Inflating the thing with teh stuff sack is a bind. I think the internal pump is likely to be a great improvment.