Downmat UL 7 LW

**Red Wing** · 03-17-2013, 16:19

Used this last night at Mohican. Dont' know how cold it got but we had a few flurries through the night. Though I was using a 30* down bag, I was warmer on top than on bottom. My pad is rated for -11F, made with down. My back was never really cold, but never warmed up like with a UQ. I was using a fast fly tarp so I had little to no side coverage but I wouldn't think convection would be an issue with a dowmat. Clearly I have a faction of my kit that needs addressing, just can't figure if it's possibly the tarp and convection or what. Any ideas why the downmat can't keep me warm in a WBRR? Ate and peed before bed so should've been prime to cook in there.

**turnerminator** · 03-18-2013, 07:40

This happened with a new 7UL a couple of weeks ago on a camp. A friend was using it on the floor and kept noticing cold spots that he doesn't get with the normal 7.

I don't know if the UL versions have a reflective layer, but the original ones I believe do.
Lying on the grey side and not the black side isn't as warm.

In use, I find the downmats not to feel quite as cosy as an UQ, even with added underquilts . I do find that underquilts stop a lot more draughts-the mat opens the hammock out a little and lets more air flow.

**Red Wing** · 03-18-2013, 12:19

I"ll have to try flipping it over and sleeping on the black side at the hang at mohican this weekend. That's exactly what it felt like, cold spots. Back was warm, but not as warm with UQ. Mid section upper back to knees would get random cold spots. I was thinking maybe air was drafting down my pad sleeve but my back wasn't getting cold. I'm going to email Exped about it I think. For a -11F rating, 25* didn't even kick the tires on this thing and I was getting cold. No Go.

**turnerminator** · 03-18-2013, 18:09

Originally Posted by Slo

I"ll have to try flipping it over and sleeping on the black side at the hang at mohican this weekend. That's exactly what it felt like, cold spots. Back was warm, but not as warm with UQ. Mid section upper back to knees would get random cold spots. I was thinking maybe air was drafting down my pad sleeve but my back wasn't getting cold. I'm going to email Exped about it I think. For a -11F rating, 25* didn't even kick the tires on this thing and I was getting cold. No Go.

Please let us know what Exped come back with Slo.

Expeds temp ratings are accurate IME. I do notice though, that the mat isn't as warm in the hammock-probably due to the mat being partially inflated.

**Red Wing** · 03-18-2013, 18:36

Originally Posted by turnerminator

Please let us know what Exped come back with Slo.

Expeds temp ratings are accurate IME. I do notice though, that the mat isn't as warm in the hammock-probably due to the mat being partially inflated.

I actually completely inflated it, wanting to utilize as much "loft" as I could.

I'll definitely report back the response from Exped and thanks for the upside down tip, hopefully that and reflectix keep me warm at the Ohio Hang this weekend.

The Hammock itself is EPIC though. Unreal hammock.

**bodhran4me** · 03-18-2013, 19:47

I have used my Exped 9 DLX in a DD Frontline(a double layer) and it has been warm . It is much more comfortable and still warm while underinflated (about 30-50% inflation). It also seems to mke the hammock less tippy. Keeping it underinflated allows it to curl around you better, more like an UQ I guess. Even if only 50% inflated the Exped 7 would still be 3.5 cm thick. That should be ample to allow the loft to provide adequate insulation at the temps you described . This may help eliminate your cold spots/drafts. It does tend to shift around at times but I haven't found this to be much of an issue. Some folks have apparently had luck by adding stripes of silicon to the underside of the mat to give it some grip on the hammock material.

Keep us posted on how things turn out.

**cfi on the fly** · 03-18-2013, 20:35

Ive used the exped ul7 down lx down to -2 and was plenty warm from under neath. This was used black side down in a tent.

**Red Wing** · 03-18-2013, 20:46

Originally Posted by cfi on the fly

Ive used the exped ul7 down lx down to -2 and was plenty warm from under neath. This was used black side down in a tent.

That's the exact model I have and completely expected it to work. They're the Cadillac of mats. Can't believe I had issues, really was the part of my system of was least worried about.

Still waiting for a response from exped but it's only been an hour

**Red Wing** · 03-20-2013, 14:17

Hi Brad,

Thank you for your email, and sorry to hear about the cold spot issue you're having with your new DownMat UL 7 LW. Barring any leaks in your mat (please confirm if that was an issue at all), the initial thought that comes to mind is that the down was not lofted properly within the mat. Just like with a down sleeping bag or a down jacket, it is required to re-loft the insulation when it is unpacked from a compressed state to create the maximum insulation. To do so, you want to inflate the mat completely and give is a healthy shake while changing the angle of the mat (top to bottom). By doing so, this will help to distribute the down evenly throughout the mat, and allow it to re-loft completely from a compressed state.

In regards to flipping the mat to the black side for increased insulation: From a design standpoint, this should have no bearing on the insulating value of the mat. Each chamber of the mat is separated from each other in order to prevent down from migrating between the baffles, but they are open top-to-bottom. The fact that it seemed to increase the insulating value in your buddies mat leads me to wonder if the simple act of flipping the mat over caused a bit of loft in the insulation, albeit not a complete loft.

Overall, I would completely recommend that the mat be used for these sub-freezing temperatures. The re-lofting practice is something that should become a part of the process each time during set-up, and I would expect that this would provide adequate insulation for the temperatures you're expecting. Let me know what you think, and if you have any further feedback that would help me to understand your specific situation a bit better. Also, let me know if you have any questions.

Best regards,

Brendan Collins
Customer Service Specialist

This was the response from Exped. Makes sense to me, gonna give it a shot at the Mohican hang this weekend and see if I fair any better.