exped

**fred** · 11-01-2009, 18:42

Has anyone tried an exped downmat in their hammock?

**Alan** · 11-01-2009, 19:44

Originally Posted by fred

Has anyone tried an exped downmat in their hammock?

I recently purchased an Exped DownMat 9 DLX from REI and have tested it in the backyard with my hammocks. Love it! Can't wait to field-test it in a couple of weeks.

Any particular questions or concerns you might have?

**Take-a-knee** · 11-01-2009, 20:12

Just Jeff compares the Downmat and others:

http://www.tothewoods.net/HammockCampingWarm.html#Pads

**slowhike** · 11-01-2009, 20:17

I've been using one regularly for a few years now. I tend to use a Big Agnes Insulated Air Core in warmer months for outside.
Sometimes I envy the ones that only use an under quilt, because the air mat adds another steep to set up & take down, but I find that the increased (heavenly) comfort makes it worth it for me.

With practice, inflation & deflation becomes second nature (kinda), but if I were doing a long hike, I'm not sure how I would feel about it at times.

I have had some issues w/ the Exped DAM (not to mention the leaking problems w/ the BA Air Core).
There are pictures of a broken valve in my gallery (about page 11 I think?) that I had to repair w/ glue & a stick in the field. Exped said that was a first for them & replaced it w/ a new one.

Later, two of the welds that create the channels began to turn loose, making a "balloon" effect. Exped replaced that one w/ a new one.

Just this past weekend, I noticed for the first time that one of the welds is failing on the latest one. It wouldn't be to big a deal if it would just stop w/ that, but I'm afraid it might continue.

Keep in mind that I sleep in my hammock every night, inside or out, & most of the time I use the Exped DAM.

I just share this for information on issues I have had. I still love my DAM.
I'll be contacting Exped through my local outfitter tomorrow to see what they say. I'm sure they won't just keep replacing the DAM forever, but the last time they said they had changed the process that welds the channels, so this one should be better.

I'll let ya know what they say this time.

If I'm camping in very cold weather, I still use an under quilt or an Segmented Pad Extender (SPE, by Speer Hammocks). You may still need some kind of insulation on the sides if it's very cold (50s f maybe?), but it's great insulation on the bottom, as well as extremely comfortable.

**pedro** · 11-01-2009, 20:23

I use an exped downmat 7 short, and it is comfy, comfy, comfy! Also great insurance for going to ground.

**UncleMJM** · 11-01-2009, 20:27

I love my Exped 9 DLX.

Toasty warm in the 30s, and I expect it can go much lower. The key for me is to not inflate it too much, just enough for the down to "fluff" a bit.

**slowhike** · 11-01-2009, 20:38

Forgot to say, I use an Exped DAM 7, full length.

**Darby** · 11-01-2009, 21:13

I have a Exped DAM 9 and love it. I only use it for the lower temps, 40 and below, but have used it to -10 with a SPE and had no problems.

**Rockdawg69** · 11-01-2009, 21:28

Originally Posted by slowhike

Forgot to say, I use an Exped DAM 7, full length.

Same here. Have not had any problems yet after about a year. It really keeps my HULBA spread out for a comfortable sleep. Only use when I'm truck camping. Too much weight for backpacking.

**IndyDan** · 11-01-2009, 21:47

I've had the same problems as Slowhike with leaking problems. So I got the Exped DAM replaced and after using a few times the leaking problems occurred, again! I could not find any leaks … so I think the problem was with the valve. The valve was difficult to open and close. The few times it held air all night … it worked great! I don’t know if it was a manufacture valve failure or just my failure to close the valve with enough force. I purchased the downmat two years ago … maybe newer units have a better valve, now. I would not buy a used Exped Dam for that reason.