Pacific Outdoor
Equipment Hyper High Mtn Sleeping Pad
Initial Report - February
2007
Field Report - April 2007
Long Term Report - June 2007
Tester
Information:
Name: Pam Wyant
Age: 49
Gender: Female
Height: 5 ft 5 in
(1.65 m)
Weight: 165 lb (77
kg)
E-mail
address: pamwyant(at)yahoo(dot)com
Location: Western
West Virginia, U.S.A.
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Backpacking Background:
Pursuing
a long-time interest, I started backpacking 3 years ago, beginning with
day-hiking and single overnights. Currently
I’m mostly a ‘weekend warrior’, but managed a
week long section
of the Appalachian Trail (AT) last year. I
hike and backpack mainly in the hills and valleys of
West Virginia,
but will be section hiking more of the AT this year.
I’m usually a hammock sleeper, but will soon be testing a
Tarptent. In general my backpacking style is
lightweight and
minimalist, and I try to cut as muck pack weight as I can without
sacrificing
warmth, comfort, or safety.
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Initial Report - February
2007
Product
Information:
Manufacturer: Pacific Outdoor Equipment
(P.O.E.)
Manufacturer Website: http://www.pacoutdoor.com
Year of manufacture: 2007
Model: Hyper High Mtn Regular (HMH72)
Color: Mandarin
MSRP: $165 US
Manufacturer's stated size: 20 x 72 x 1.5
in (51 x 183 x 3.8 cm)
Measured size: 20 x 71.5 in (pad) (51 x 182 cm) + .5 in (1.27 cm)
valve length
Measured rolled size: approximately 7 x 20 in (18 x 51 cm)
[Note: I was unable to effectively measure the thickness of the
self-inflating portion of the pad due to it's unique
construction. The outer edges of the pad measure 0.50 in (1.27
cm) and the self-inflating portion is obviously a good bit thicker]
Manufacturer's stated weight: 24.7 oz (700 g)
Measured weight: 25.1 oz (712 g) pad only, 26.6 oz (754 g) in
mesh storage bag with repair kit
Construction: PE + 13mm EVA foam with Aspen Aerogel insulation layer
under torso and feet
Product
Description:
The Hyper High Mtn is one of P.O.E.'s HYPER-LITE
series sleeping pads, intended for cold weather use, and described as a
'four season' pad. Standard features for this pad include
anti-fungal treatment; DWR (durable
water repellent) finish; and a hard annondized
aluminum valve, according to the manufacturer's website. Unlike
many other sleeping pads that are constructed of only one or two types
of material (i.e. closed cell foam or open cell foam encased in a shell
fabric), the Hyper High Mtn is constructed of several types
material. The bottom of the pad consists of a .25 in (.64
cm) thick layer of red EVA foam. The top of the pad has a
charcoal colored layer of PE foam of the same thickness, with an
orangish red self-inflating style insert in the torso to hip
area. The PE foam is cored with a diamond pattern at the top and
in the leg area of the pad. The truly unique material in this pad
is Aspen Aerogel, which is sandwiched between the layers, and which is
purported to provide maximum insulation for minimum weight.
Although it can't be seen, I can tell where it is, because I hear a
slight 'crunchy' sound in the areas where the Aspen Aerogel is located
when I flex the pad material. The pad is slightly different than
what I expected from viewing it on the manufacturer website, mainly
because the diamond shaped coring and the bottom of the pad being a
different color aren't visible from the website photo, and the actual
pad is slightly different in color shade than I expected. The
overall shape of the pad and the insert are consistent with the website
photo.
The top of the pad measures 9 in (23 cm) across, tapering down to its
full width of 20 in (51 cm) about 11 in
(28 cm) down from the top edge. It
remains at the full 20 in (51 cm) width
for about 30 in (76 cm), at which point it begins gradually tapering to
12 in (30.5 cm) wide at the foot end. The manufacturer name and
logo and the words "aspen/aerogels" are printed on the self-inflating
section of the pad on the front and in the corresponding area on the
back of the pad.
The mesh storage bag provided has a nylon bottom with a small pocket on
the inside containing a repair kit (for the self-inflating portion of
the pad) in a small zip-lock bag. The repair kit consists of two
fabric swatches (red and black), a small tube of adhesive, and repair
instructions. No care instructions or warranty information was
provided with the pad, but these are available on the manufacturer
website as of the time of this report. The care instructions are
fairly simple - make sure the pad is dry before storing and avoid
storing in damp areas to prevent mildew, clean with mild soap
and warm water with the pad valve closed and air dry, keep the mat away
from flames or sparks, avoid using it on sharp or abrasive surfaces,
keep it out of swimming pools, and avoid using a pump and overinflating
it. The pad has a lifetime warranty against defects in materials
and workmanship.
Initial Impressions:
Overall the pad appears to be well constructed. The materials are
smoothly cut, no glue or other laminating material shows anywhere, and
the fabric covering the self-inflating section appears flawless.The
inflating valve opens and closes smoothly. It only takes about
two long breaths to fully fill the pad with air. The
self-inflating portions of the pad are well positioned beneath my
shoulders and hips when I lay on the pad, and in early 'in-home' tests
it seems cushy enough to be comfortable whether lying on my
side, stomach, or back. The pad is long enough that I can fully
stretch out on it, including extending my toes, without any part of my
body hanging over the edges.
The pad is easy to roll up and slide back into the provided mesh
storage bag. When it arrived, the self-inflating portion was
rolled to the inside of the pad, but this results in the pad curling up
at the ends when unrolled. I plan to try storing and packing it
with the EVA side rolled to the inside to see if the pad will lay
flatter when I unroll it in my hammock or tent.
The one downside that I've noticed so far is that the pad readily picks
up, and hangs onto pet hair, especially on the EVA foam side. Pet
hair isn't a big problem when I'm camping, but this makes me wonder if
leaf litter and other natural debris will stick to it. The pet
hair was easily removed with an adhesive type lint roller, but I don't
normally carry one of those along on backpacking trips, so I wonder how
difficult it will be to keep the pad clean on trips. Of special
concern to me is that I don't end up carrying seeds of an invasive type
plant from one area to another, so I typically try to make sure my
equipment is as clean as possible before I pack it up. The EVA
foam side also tends to hold imprints, as evidenced by the dents from
the self-inflating portions of the pad and the die-cut sections.
These correspond to the way the pad was rolled. Hopefully this
won't result in the pad compressing excessively, and thus losing warmth
over the course of the test.
More To Come:
I'm primarily a side/stomach sleeper, although I tend to toss from side
to side, and I like to sleep warmly. While I don't consider
myself a
particularly cold sleeper, I always like to make sure I bring adequate
insulation to keep me warm, even if that means toting extra
weight. Of
special interest to me are how easy it is to remain on this pad through
the night, and whether the unique construction of this pad
will result in warmer sleeping conditions while still keeping my pack
fairly light. I'll be summarizing these findings after field
testing of the pad.
Field Report - April 2007
Field Conditions:
In February I used the Hyper High Mtn in my Hennessy Hammock on an
overnight backpacking trip in
western West Virginia. The overnight low temperature
was around 35 F (2 C), and it was breezy, and with blowing rain for at
least an
hour. I used a thin
closed cell foam pad folded in half and placed on my right side to
supplement the Hyper High Mtn to add insulation on the side, necessary
due to the way a hammock wraps around the
sleeper. I also used the Hyper High Mtn in March at Girl Scout
camp,
sleeping under the stars using a plastic
drop cloth underneath. Temperatures were around 35 F (2 C) with
only a very slight occasional breeze and no precipitation. In
April I used the Hyper High Mtn on an overnight backpacking trip on the
Appalachian Trail (AT) in Tennessee, in
Curley Maple Gap
Shelter. For those who may not be familiar with AT shelters, they
vary somewhat in construction, but usually have a roof, floor, and
three sides, with the front being open. Curley Maple Shelter has
a plywood floor, concrete block walls, a metal roof, and a covered
'porch' area created by the roof extending in front of the
shelter. Temperatures dropped to
around 20 F (-7 C) during the
night, with light breezes. Also in April, I used the pad in the
Tarptent Double Rainbow on an overnight backpacking trip in southern
West Virginia, where the overnight low was 35 F (2 C), with no
precipitation, but high humidity.
Field Use:
The Hyper High Mtn has been comfortable and warm in all circumstances
so far. It was fairly easy to position inside my hammock and
stayed in place better than other closed cell foam pads I've used in
the past. I also found it easy to remain on the pad during the
night, and it provided good, warm insulation. I was very
pleasantly surprised to find it was quite comfortable when sleeping on
the ground and the plywood floor of the Appalachian Trail
shelter. The inflating portion of the pad provided enough cushion
that I felt comfortable through eight hours of sleep, turning only
occasionally. I did find the pad shifted a little during the
night on the silnylon floor of the Tarptent, which was not
unexpected. Even in 20 F (-7 C) temperatures, I can feel heat
radiating back to my body from the pad, making for a pleasantly warm
sleep when combined with a warm sleeping bag.
I've found it has worked best to roll the pad with the self inflating
portion to the outside when storing it in the mesh bag, which keeps it
from curling up when I unroll
it. The self inflating portion takes only a few puffs of air to
fill, then I twist the valve shut and the pad is ready to sleep
on. The pad deflates easily by twisting the valve open and
rolling it up from the foot end, pushing the air out as I roll the pad
up. Closing the valve again makes it easier to fit the deflated
pad into the mesh storage bag. Although the rolled pad is bulky,
I've found I can fit it inside of both my Granite Gear Stratus Latitude
pack and my Go-Lite Quest, and still have room for my sleeping bag,
warm clothing, food, and other essentials for a weekend backpacking
trip. In the Quest, I've found it works best not to store the pad
inside the mesh bag, but to roll it loosely with the EVA foam side to
the outside, place it in the pack, and push the pad against the
perimeter of the pack walls. I can then store my other gear
inside the pad, which seems to work better than trying to stuff it
along side the pad if it is tightly rolled together. Items with
sharp edges will leave impressions on the pad, which remain for a
long time, but sometimes eventually disappear. The pad has also
developed a few gouges on the EVA side. While I don't remember
any especially rough encounters with anything, these types of gouges
have occured with other closed foam pads I've used in the past, which
are usually caused from normal encounters with small twigs, pebbles, or
other debris that ends up on sleeping surfaces, or during trail
encounters with stray limbs or other brush when I pack a pad on the
outside of my pack. These don't appear to affect the insulating
ability of the pad in any way, and I chalk them up to 'normal wear and
tear'.
Conclusions:
So far I'm very pleased with the P.O.E. Hyper High Mtn sleeping
pad. It has provided adequate warmth on its own down to 20 F (-7
C). It does show a few gouges and scratches on the EVA foam side,
but so far, no more than other foam pads I've used. The pad has
good 'grip' on the surfaces I've tested it on so far, except the
silnylon floor of the Tarptent, staying put on
plywood, plastic, and in my nylon hammock.
This concludes my Field Report.
Long Term Report - June 2007
Field Conditions:
In early May I used the P.O.E. Hyper High Mtn for two nights at Girl
Scout Camp, the first camping in a field near one of gravel access
roads, and the second on a short overnight backpacking trip.
The first evening temperatures were around 60 F (16 C) overnight with
some light breeze, with a high around 75 F (25 C) the next day.
The elevation was around
700
ft (200 m), and the ground was fairly level, with somewhat compacted
ground covered in short grass. The second night the
overnight temperatures were in
the low 40 F (4 C) range, with steady moderate rain in the evening
through
the middle of the night, with little to no wind. The elevation
around 900
ft (300 m), and the ground was slightly sloped, loamy, with light duff
on top. My shelter was a Tarptent Double Rainbow, and I slept in
a Sierra Designs Mist 0F/-18C sleeping bag.
In late May, I used the Hyper High Mtn on a 28 mi (45 km), three day
backpacking trip to the Cranberry
Wilderness and Backcountry in southeastern West Virginia.
Temperatures ranged from overnight lows of 50 F
(10 C) to highs about 75 F (25 C). Elevations varied from
around 2800 to 4200 ft (850 to 1300 m). Skies were clear to
partly cloudy, with only a few scattered rain drops one evening, but
high humidity during the entire trip. I again used the Tarptent
Double Rainbow as my shelter, but this time I used a Jack's-R-Better
Nest Down Under converted to a top quilt for upper insulation.
In early June, I used the Hyper High Mtn two nights at Girl Scout camp
in northern West Virginia. Temperatures were in the mid 40 F (7
C) range the first night, with moderate to heavy rain, and in the 50 F
(10 C) range the second night with clear skies. Elevation was
around 1000 ft (300 m). Due to having a lot of first time campers
who have a hard time adjusting to night noises at camp, and not a lot
of set up time, I slept in a platform tent on a cot with a 4 in (10 cm)
thick foam mattress, using the Hyper High Mtn on top mainly as a
cleaner surface than the cot mattresses which sometimes have some spots
of mildew, and usually are very hot and sticky if a sheet, sleeping
bag, or other surface isn't used between the sleeper and the
mattress. I used a customized Nunatak ghost quilt for upper
insulation.
Field Use:
For the
early May trips at Girl Scout camp, I packed the P.O.E. Hyper High Mtn
inside a GoLite Quest pack with the EVA side next to the pack sides,
leaving the center of the pack open for my other gear. The pad
fits inside okay, but doesn't leave a lot of room to pack other
items. Fortunately, these days I pack pretty lightly, so this
works out all right. When I unrolled the pad, I found the head
and foot area wanted to curl up slightly, but the weight of the
sleeping bag was sufficient to hold the curled edges down. I
experienced some light condensation overnight on the tent both
evenings, but no condensation built up on the pad. The first
night at camp the ground was pretty level, and I did not use the pad
locks on the Sierra Designs Mist bag. I found I slid off the pad
a few times during the night, but the temperatures were warm enough
that this didn't chill me. In fact, using the 0 F/-18 C rated
Mist, I appreciated the opportunity to cool off a little, as the bag
was too warm. I didn't really feel the pad was too warm though,
as I never felt overly hot underneath, just on top. The pad felt
comfortable most of the night, but around 5 am I began feeling the need
to shift positions fairly often to stay comfortable.
The second night, on the short backpacking trip, the ground was more
sloped, and using the pad on the slippery silnylon floor of the
Tarptent Double Rainbow, I found the pad kept sliding down to the lower
mesh wall. I found placing some wet clothing under the pad edge
on the low side helped keep the pad from sliding as rapidly, but it
still worked it's way down the slope gradually during the night.
In spite of the wet conditions, I stayed warm and dry all night on the
pad, with no noticeable condensation. On the softer surface of
loamy soil, I didn't feel the need to turn as frequently as the night
before to stay comfortable.
For the trip in late May, I also carried the pad unrolled inside the
GoLite Quest pack with gear packed in the
center. I had painted some spots of seam sealer on the floor of
the Double Rainbow, and I found this helped the pad stay in place very
well. My tent site was fairly level, and I found the pad didn't
move at all unless I moved it. I slept in a pair of light silk
weight synthetic long john bottoms, a light wool T-shirt and a light
long sleeved wool top each night, under a down quilt. There was
light condensation on the top of the Tarptent, but no noticeable
condensation on the pad. For some reason, perhaps being tired
from little sleep the night before, or perhaps from not eating enough
calories that day, I felt a slight chill in my legs the first night,
and added a second long sleeved wool top. While I'm normally a
side sleeper, I found that if I laid on my stomach as flat as I could
against the pad, I could feel heat radiating back to me and this kept
me warmer. Even though temperatures were about the same both
nights, I slept warmly the second night without adding the second wool
shirt or needing to press myself more firmly against the pad for extra
warmth.
During the weekend at Girl Scout camp in late May, I used the mesh
storage bag to carry the pad loosely in the back of my Jeep, and just
carried the mesh bag, a stuff sack with my quilt, and a duffel bag of
clothing and miscellaneous items a few yards from my vehicle to the
platform tent. The pad was naturally comfortable laying on top of
the foam cot mattresses. One concern I had was that the pad might
slip around on the vinlyl mattress covers, but this proved to be an
unfounded worry, as it stayed in place all night. I slept in a
synthetic T-shirt and shorts each night. Again, the first night I
felt a little chilled in my legs, using a Nunatak Ghost quilt that was
custom built with an ounce less down to be a warmer weather quilt, but
warmed up by turning on my stomach and pressing myself flatly against
the pad. Again, I could noticeably feel the warmth radiating back
to me from the pad. The second night was warmer, and I felt
completely warm and comfortable sleeping on my side.
Conclusions:
Overall
I am very pleased with the performance of the Hyper High Mtn.
I've found it adequately cushioned enough to be comfortable sleeping in
my preferred side position for most of a night without having to shift
positions too often, and amply warm for all the temperatures I
experienced, without being overly hot. I was very impressed that
it did not seem to collect condensation in most circumstances, although
I noticed a very small amount early in the test period in sub-freezing
temperatures. Even then, the design of the die-cut upper layer
kept the condensation away from my sleeping bag, and it dried quickly
during the morning.
The dents and gouges the pad developed early in the test don't seem to
be any worse after additional months of testing, and the pad seems to
be durable. I haven't needed to use the included patch kit, since
the self inflating portion has remained like new without any tears or
even abraded areas. I have found that items I pack can make
temporary impressions on the pad, such as the small ring from my cook
pot shown in the photo to the side, but these go away within a day.
Due to its bulk, the pad is a little difficult to pack. I find I
have to roll it up carefully and hold it tightly together to get it
back inside it's mesh bag. When I packed it inside the outer
edges of my pack, I have to push strongly to keep it against the pack
walls, and it takes up most of the pack interior. I've had to be
fairly careful with the way I pack my clothing and other items so that
they will still fit inside the long narrow space left inside the
pack. Still, this isn't unexpected, since all full length closed
cell foam pads are bulky, and I've had to find a way to deal with the
bulk when I've wanted the extra warmth at moderate weight and cost that
these type of pads provide.
As warmer weather approaches, I plan to use a less bulky pad than
the Hyper High Mtn the next several months, but will undoubtedly go
back to using this warm and comfortable pad in the late fall when I
expect to experience temperatures that could fall below freezing.
Thanks to Pacific Outdoor Equipment and BackpackGearTest
for
the
opportunity to test the Hyper High Mtn sleeping pad.
Read more reviews of Pacific Outdoor Equipment gear
Read more gear reviews by Pamela Wyant
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