5 Exped SynMat Ultralite Review

Reviewer: Daniel Barron, Donegal   (18-4-2012)

I have used this mat for three nights now and it really is a fantastic product. Packs down so small it fits in the side pocket of my 40l back pack and weighs less than half of my old Synmat 7.

I'd advise getting the pillow pump or the Schnozzel bag as pumping it up with just lung power can be exhausting after a long day. Delivery was nice and fast to Ireland also, which makes a nice change.

5 3 men on a mountain, only 1 had a synmat

Reviewer: Elliott O'Brien, Te Awamutu   (15-11-2011)

Just back from an overnight trip in marginal weather on the highest mountain of the North Island in New Zealand. It was the perfect testing ground for the mat, as my two climbing companions and I decided to dig into a drift behind an equipment shelter. Late season snow conditions meant the snow cave was excavated as much by ice axe as by shovel - read icy, bumpy floor and not much room. We all got in at midnight for a few hours sleep before a dawn summit. Come 4am I awoke to find the other two missing. They had ditched the cave and set up in the shelter, unable to sleep comfortably. Their sleeping pads were an old closed cell foam sort and a basic Thermarest respectively. They were tired on the summit push, I was cruising...

The quality of the sleep, the unbelievably small size and weight when packed and the ease of inflation make this mat a new essential in my alpine kit. The baffles mean you don't tend to roll off. I can even achieve the holy grail of rolling mat, Rab Alpine 600 sleeping bag and OR Alpine Bivy bag into a single compression stuff sack for the ultimate fast deploying sleep solution.

It's not hard to see why this mat is always on back order. I would thoroughly recommend it for those who believe going fast and light shouldn't have to mean being uncomfortable.

5 Exped SynMat Ultralite Review

Reviewer: Bob Soutter, Innerleithen   (9-10-2011)

Bought this mainly for cycle touring because of it's small size and weight, and yes, it is amazingly compact and light. Doesn't take long to inflate, and is quicker to deflate than a Thermarest. Have used it for 2 weeks and find it comfortable, but not really tested for insulation yet. Will be completely useless if punctured (a punctured Thermarest probably better than nothing), but does come with a repair kit.

5 Exped SynMat Ultralite Review

Reviewer: Andrew Murray, Raynes Park   (25-8-2011)

I bought this for a mountain marathon but was undecided whether to take it because of the extra weight. Although light for the level of comfort it still weighs 300g more than the half-length Duomat which comes as part of the OMM rucsacs.

Having done a few test camps I am certainly happy to carry the extra weight that opting for the Synmat Ultralite entails because it is so much more comfortable than a Duomat. It is like sleeping on a thin air-bed and inflates pretty easily and deflates very quickly with the excellent deflate valve. Well constructed, it feels like a great bit of kit. When weight is not an issue adding the Exped chair kit cover means it doubles as a great seat for sitting round the camp-fire.