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Reviews > Sleep Gear > Pads and Air Mattresses > Exped 7.5 AirMat DLX > Owner Review by Brian Mikels
EXPED AIRMAT 7.5 PUMP DLX
TESTER INFORMATION
Backpacking Background: I started backpacking when I was 10 and picked it back up about 4 years ago. My backcountry companions are my wife & our two 8 year old twins. I'm obsessed with light gear; however I tend to err on the side of safety, being well fed, and keeping everyone reasonably comfortable. I do the bulk of my backpacking March thru November in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park doing 1-3 nighters at 6-12 miles (10-19 km) per day. PRODUCT INFORMATION
Manufacturer: Exped Product Description:
The pad comes shipped in its stuff sack complete with a repair kit and is constructed of a polyester fabric that is similar to ripstop nylon in appearance, minus the slippery surface. The pad has a total of eight baffles approximately 3.5" (9 cm) in diameter divided into 2 separate air chambers. Two plastic deflation/inflation twist lock valves are located at the foot of the pad. The integrated pump has an open cell foam pad in its center and 2 flexible inflation valves on the under side of the pad. There are two small sleeping bag attachment loops at the foot of the pad, each 3" (7.6 cm) off of the centerline for the pad. The stuff sack is constructed of ripstop nylon and has a simple drawstring and cord lock closure with a 1.5" (3.8 cm) wide handle on the bottom of the sack. The repair kit comes in a small resealable bag and contains a 0.2 oz (5 g) aluminum tube of adhesive & two 3.5" (9 cm) by 5" (13 cm) patches. Inflation:
Inflating the pad using the integrated pump took me a few tries to figure out. The deflation valves must first be closed and the inflation valve stops opened. Covering the inflation valve with my foot and pressing downward forces the air trapped within the pump through a one-way valve into the air chamber. Removing my foot from the opening allows the foam to expand and the pump is ready for another stomp. Describing the pump as a pillow is misleading as it doesn't protrude much (if any) beyond the top plane of the pad. It's really a pump that's integrated into the pad. Once I got the hang of it, I could inflate the pad with very little effort in less than a minute. I also have inflated the pad by blowing air into it and found the effort required to be minimal and was able to fully inflate the pad in just slightly over a minute. Although I think the integrated pump design is quite clever, I believe it to be an unnecessary luxury and the additional weight this feature adds isn't worth the convenience. Field Use:
I'm a warm sleeper and carry a 30 F (-1 C) Marmot Arroyo long sleeping bag. When the low temps are above 55 F (13 C), I sleep directly on the pad utilizing my unzipped bag as a blanket and have experienced no discomfort due to a cold pad. I have used the pad down to 25 F (-4 C) with my bag fully zipped, my Capilene 3s on, and a sock hat with very little discomfort from the cold. Summary:
All things considered, this pad is pretty comfortable given the available alternatives; however I think the width is a little excessive. I have recently purchased the Exped 7.5 AirMat which is 19" (48 cm) wide. Things I like:
1. The piece of mind that comes with two separate air chambers Things I don't like:
1. Pad does not prevent my shoulders & hips from getting sore Read more reviews of Exped gear Read more gear reviews by Brian Mikels Reviews > Sleep Gear > Pads and Air Mattresses > Exped 7.5 AirMat DLX > Owner Review by Brian Mikels |