Customer Reviews

Exped SynMat 7 Sleeping Pad (Terracotta, Long Wide)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Cycling is hard work. Constantly straining your muscles and pushing yourself to the limit brings on major fatigue at the end of the day, and having a proper way to rest is essential. One of the dilemmas I faced while preparing for the tour was to find the right mattress pad that fit my budget, comfort level, and weight limitations. After some extensive searching, I chose the Exped SynMat 7 LW Mattress:

The mat has been around in various forms since 2006 - and received an innards reworking in 2008 based on customer response winning multiple awards from well known periodicals based on its design and overall value. I've got the 2008+ model and couldn't be happier. They've improved some of the stability of the cells and added an internal pump to inflate the unit in short order without having to rely on the old clunky stuff sack integrated inflation system.

Size:

Weighing in at 877 grams (<2lbs) , the unit has a length almost 6.5 feet to satisfy the needs of most average humans and an extra wide width of just over 2 feet for those who like to sleep on their sides (70% of population) - fetal position like, as opposed to on their back (20% of population) or stomach (10%). Packed tightly in its included stuff sack it measures 11' x 6', small enough to fit inside my Ortlieb Rack Pack along with my Sleeping Bag, Pillow, Tent, and bicycle spare parts kit with ease. I noticed that other sleeping pads from competitor Therma-rest were unable to fold to this small space, forcing one to leave the mat outside while riding potentially becoming dirty, wet from weather conditions.

Construction:

The two-toned laminated polyester fabric is durable, airtight and humidity resistant. The shell's top surface (Orange) provides excellent slip resistance and comfort next to the skin. I found at first it felt velvet like and didn't cause any abrasions on my skin even when sleeping on the mat bare without a sleeping bag. The bottom-side offers a grey colour and a much smoother texture. Both sides should they become moist with sweat, condensation, or liquids dry quickly after a few short minutes in open air yet have the downside of collecting stains from dirt (whether being on the tent floor or from a dirty sweaty-haven't-showered-in-4-days cyclist). I also found that it collects quite an odour, hard to place, but surely rank none the less. The bottom side contains two valves for inflation and deflation with high quality rigid caps. Internally, 150 g/qm of synthetic microfiber fill is placed in the baffles, which seem to be individually partitioned making sure it doesn't all collect in one cell. Exped was nice enough to include a repair kit containing glue and a few spare patches should the unit get punctured, something I've yet to do even though I've camped in some not so recommended spots like thorn bushes, and spots littered with twigs and stumps. Repairing a hole would be similar to repairing a punctured tire.

Setup:


Inflation of the unit is fairly straight forward. Remove the unit from the stuff sack,and lay out flat plugging the deflate hole, and opening the inflate valve. With two hands, simply place them over the hand guide on the corner of the unit covering the inflate valve while depressing. A slow pace with steady movements seems to inflate the unit in about 80 depressions or about a minute. While this can be a pain at the end of the touring cyclists day, the results are worth it. The unit inflates to a firm sleeping platform offering 7 cm (2.8 inches) of protection from the ground below. Deflation of the unit was frustrating the first few times but once I got into the routine of purging as much air as possible from the mattress before folding it into thirds to roll up turned the process into less of a pain and could be accomplished in under a minute. It's easy to get back into the stuff sack, which can also double as a pillow, and can attach to the mattress with its included loops on one end.

Usage:

Sleeping on the unit is wonderful. Making sure one keeps the pump end at the foot of their tent as opposed to close to their head will ensure sound operation, as I noticed the unit `wheezes' every once in a while, likely due to a laziness in setup not closing the valve properly. I left the mattress inflated for 4 days and on day 3 it needed a top-up shot of air to become firm once again.When kneeling, I could feel artifacts under the mattress, but felt nothing while sleeping on my side, stomach or back, often thrashing around in my sleep. I've experienced no back, arm, or shoulder pains from using the mattress in over 100 days of usage and have yet to feel cold in the morning even though the actual tent floor was fairly chilly in freezing conditions thanks to the units insulating R Value of 4.9 which is claimed to be good down to -17 celsius. I doubt I'll be touring in these conditions, but it's good to know should a freak storm may its way over to where I am sleeping.
Conclusion:

Other than the fact the unit carries a stink after repeat usage and the wheezing sound that sometimes caused frustration, I think this pad is a real winner for those backpacking, cycle touring, or just looking to have a lightweight addition to their 4 season camping gear arsenal While it's price tag comes in a bit heftier than other models, the small size, excellent insulation properties and wide footprint offsets the cost and ensures that one is able to have a consistent sleeping experience day after day. Should the unit fail in service I will update this review and provide details. For those who are looking for a smaller unit, Exped also offers a model 6' shorter in length and width, and for those who wish a thicker sleeping pad, a 9cm thick version is also available, at a higher cost, and wight, although changing the insulating R value to a whopping 6.0.

Its a great alternative to their higher priced models which have similar sizing, construction and weight, yet forgo the synthetic fill for down, and I'd recommend anyone who's looking for a compact mattress to suit their needs invest in the Exped SynMat. If you've liked this review, and wish to purchase, try using the link below, and assist me in getting around the world on your bicycle and send me your comments on how the mattress treated you!

Update: 2011-05-26 - The wheezing sound became more and more noticeable throughout the first part of 2011, until the unit started deflating at night forcing me to wake up and reinflate the mat. After testing for any leaks I was unable to find any and contacted Exped Support. Dave @ Exped was very helpful in helping me troubleshoot the issue, and determined there was a manufacturing fault with the unit and sent me a brand new unit which is now known as the Exped Synmat 7 LW. I still recommend the pad for its packability, and commend them on helping their existing customers.

This is the best mat I have ever used. It is insulated, so it keeps you warm and stops that chill from the ground. It is thick and comfy, with a baffled construction for added warmth and stability so it does not feel like a raft. The fabric is non-slip and cozy, unlike Big Agnes mats. The mat is quality, it is well constructed and durable. The mat's inflation system is wonderfully designed. It inflates easily due to the integrated pump and deflates fast due to the large valves. The pad is a good size, with bigger bolstering on either side to keep you on it. This mat also packs small and lightweight (not the DLX version). Some people say this mat is too heavy or too big, but I have to disagree. I am a minimalist and find the quality, features and design make this a critical piece of my gear when kayak camping or hiking.

This mat although a little pricey, is in my opinion worth every penny. This mat is rock solid. It is the first air mattress that I ever used that did not lose air overnight and leave me sleeping on the hard ground. It also pumps up very fast....at first it does not seem like the pump is doing anything...and then shazam... it is full of air.

I will be taking it up to the high country this weekend to my spot I call Camp Bigfoot. - [...] - The night temps are expected to get down into the 20's, and I know I can count on this mat to keep me warm.

I bought the longer, wider version of the Synmat 7 because it keeps your arms from falling off the sides. That might not sound important, but it really impacts your comfort.

For comfort in a mattress that's light enough for backpacking, the Exped Synmat 7 only has a couple of competitors that come close. One would be the Big Agnes Insulated Air Core. Having owned both, I can say for certain that the Exped is more comfortable: the tubes are wider, the mattress is thicker, and it has a soft nonslip fabric on both sides, compared to the slippery Big Agnes. The Big Agnes has no advantages over the Synmat except that it's lighter.

On a comfort scale of 1 to 10, I would give the Synmat 7 a rating of about 8. I have back and hip problems, so that's saying a lot. It is both soft and supportive. If you inflate it properly, it will have just the right amount of cushioning for bad joints while keeping your back properly aligned. The vertical tubes don't bother me at all, because they're so wide. I don't even notice them. I am very, very picky about my sleep comfort, and I'm pleased with this mattress.

The large mattress just barely qualifies as a backpacking mattress because it's a bit heavy. To get around that, I took one pound off my sleeping bag and now I'm ok with the weight of the Synmat. The Synmat 7 is suitable for ALL types of camping: car, bike, kayak, and backpack. I can't think of any other mattress that you can say that about. You wouldn't take the thinner Big Agnes Insulated Air Core car camping, for example. I have even used the Synmat at home when I have guests. I can't really think of a car camping mattress that would be more comfortable than this. It's a do-all mattress.

The Synmat 7 only has one irritating feature, which has not been solved adequately by any air mattress company: it's a pain to inflate with the built-in pump. I am giving it only 4 stars for that reason---otherwise this would be a 5-star product. It takes over 100 pumps and whatever position you try---kneeling, standing, or sitting---is going to be uncomfortable. The instructions say to use your hands to inflate it, but you can just as well use your foot. You can use a regular hand pump with this mattress if you cut out a foam disc, insert it tightly into the OUT valve, and insert the pump nozzle into a hole in the center of the disk. That way inflating the Synmat takes about 30 seconds. But I don't feel like carrying a pump around.

I have used this mattress about 20 times. No leaks, no tears, seems very rugged.

This is by far the best pad I've ever owned. Lightweight, compact, easy inflation, adjustable firmness, warm and MOST importantly, comfortable. After a 10+ hours of hiking a good nights rest is about all you can think about as the day comes to a close. The SynMat makes sleeping on the ground like sleeping in a bed. The built in hand-pump will get you to full pressure in just over 90-seconds and is very easy to use and EXTREMELY convenient. Over the past year I've used this on 5 hikes and a few sleep overs for my nephews so durability does not seem to be an issue. I pack ultra-light (Osprey ATMOS-35) and the SynMat takes up very little volume which is a big plus for me. Prior to this I had the Therm-A-Rest NeoAir. The NeoAir was a great pad but I found it to be very prone to punctures. After about the 3rd patch, it just wouldn't stay inflated all night. The SynMat is about 12g heavier than the NeoAir but I'll gladly pay the wight penalty for durability. I also used the Therm-A-Rest Z Lite foam mattress but there is simply no comparison. Overall, in my opinion, the SynMat is the best mattress you can get.

This mattress bests many that I've used in my home or car camping. However, it is the one I use backpacking. It packs small and is very light weight. Rolling it takes practice to get it into the stuff sack, but is quick when you've done it a few times.

I've used this in cold nights at Grand Canyon & various less exotic, but still cold conditions. Also, it's a treat in warm weather. Nice thickness keeps you off the ground, and the insulation works well.

Be sure to store this and all gear (like sleeping bags) properly. Do NOT leave them in their stuff sacks. Instead, get a duffel bag and allow them to be unencumbered. This will make them last much longer. I've had mine for years and it still works like new.

It pumps up relatively quickly, around 3 minutes for me. I have had the most comfortable nights of sleep on this mat. I would use it again, and recommend it to anyone camping in the backwoods or just a few feet from your vehicle.

A great product.

I slept on this mat for a week in Haiti staying on the concrete floor of a church/school. The mat kept me perfectly comfortable. I have used other mats, and usually my hip will lie on the ground when I roll to my side. Not the SynMat. I was genuinely confortable and it packs down quite small. I have the long/wide version as I am a bigger boy at 6'1" and 210 lbs. My legs don't dangle off the edge and I'm not in danger of rolling off.

I can't speak to long term reliability, but it worked great for the trip. i put it through the ringer a little, lying on it at weird angles during break times and getting in quite dirty. It held up great and a wet cloth cleaned it nicely when I got home.

It takes a few minutes to inflate, but I don't knock it any stars for that because it beats inflating by mouth or carrying an inflater.

Spend the extra money on this one. You will be glad that you did!

I bought my Synmat7 about 18 months ago. I used it on about 4 trips ranging from 2 days to a week each. In October on a 5 day trip to the Paria River Canyon, the pad failed about 3am and left me shivering until morning. Later that day I found the leak. It was at the valve where the material came away from the plastic. Clearly this was not a puncture but some kind of manufacturing defect.

I repaired it that day with the glue provided as a repair kit. It held the rest of the trip. A month later I was camping as a leader with my son's Boy Scout troop and it fail me one more time. I will not repair it again since I don't trust it now.

Quite frankly, other than the failure, I really liked the pad. It was much more comfortable than my old Thermarest. However, I am going to go back to a Thermarest pad. It may not be as thick and as comfortable, but at least I can count on not being left sleeping on the cold ground.

I am a big fan of this sleeping pad. Hold air very and keeps me off the ground. It packs up pretty small but the packed shape is not the most convienent for most backpacks.