Exped Fail Big fail

[Moondog55]

I was sleeping on the Synmat 7 last nite at home [ we are still renovating] when the was a very loud bang and the earth moved under me.
The mat suffered an explosive delamination of one of the internal baffles
As I bought the mat S/H from a forum member and I didn't get the original receipt and I always assumed it was out of the warranty period I don't think I have any come back
Has this happened to anybody else on the forum?
If so what did you do about it? The mattress wasn't exactly cheap even S/H and it is now pretty much unusable as my hips hit the ground
It wasn't over inflated either

[stry]

There seem to have been a few of these, (even allowing for the propensity of the internet to multiply problems)

I reckon it could be well worth the trouble to gently explore the warranty possibilities. The vendor may have the receipt, or some other relevant info. Even if documentation can't be found, you've got nothing to lose, and a pleasant outcome may be the result .

My UL 7 DM is the most comfortable bed that I have ever carried on my back, and these problems aren't helpful to my tranquility. I do however weigh only 60kg, and I do carry a very thin CCF as backup/protection, so fingers crossed.

[hobbitle]

There seem to have been a few of these, (even allowing for the propensity of the internet to multiply problems)

I reckon it could be well worth the trouble to gently explore the warranty possibilities. The vendor may have the receipt, or some other relevant info. Even if documentation can't be found, you've got nothing to lose, and a pleasant outcome may be the result .

My UL 7 DM is the most comfortable bed that I have ever carried on my back, and these problems aren't helpful to my tranquility. I do however weigh only 60kg, and I do carry a very thin CCF as backup/protection, so fingers crossed.

Same thing happened to me two weeks ago with my UL 7. I had purchased from Bogong in Melb CBD - no receipt but I had an online bank statement with the transaction date. If you can track down the date the initial person purchased it and where from you should be able to claim warrantee (provided it was less than 2 years ago).

They replaced it no fuss.

[Moondog55]

Stupidly I cannot remember which member I purchased it from, I actually bought both of the ones they had for sale.

[Tortoise]

Stupidly I cannot remember which member I purchased it from, I actually bought both of the ones they had for sale.

http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=20014&hilit=Exped
This one?

[benjabimon]

Thankfully this has not happened to me with a mat, but the Exped inflatable pillow that used to own delaminated on me. Without the creases in the middle giving it shape it just turned into a big balloon

[Moondog55]

Thanx Tortoise
I just sent Legend a message, I can't place any blame on the seller for this
A 2 year warranty on something this expensive is unreasonable. I wonder if it's worth doing the small claims thing on these?

[GPSGuided]

MD55, it's the weight reduction that one pays for here. We have two of them and so far so good. Have always carefully gauged the level of inflation and avoid a 'jump' or 'drop' on them. Can imagine how they'd explode when over pressurised as for a balloon.

[neilmny]

Thanx Tortoise
I just sent Legend a message, I can't place any blame on the seller for this
A 2 year warranty on something this expensive is unreasonable. I wonder if it's worth doing the small claims thing on these?

Hmm.....depending how conditional the warranty is, 2 years is a pretty good warranty for something in the price range MD.
I dare say the price reflects an inbuilt premium to cover 2 years warranty as well.

I have the Synmat UL9LW and everytime I read one of these accounts I feel a bit uneasy.

[Moondog55]

Neil for that sort of money new I would expect an unconditional lifetime warranty as per Thermarest/S2S
Chasing the lowest possible weight does come with problems tho doesn't it.

[GPSGuided]

Chasing the lowest possible weight does come with problems tho doesn't it.

That's a given except for many Ti gears.

[Don R]

When I saw "Exped Fail Big Fail" as a topic, I thought of the time earlier this year I was in Bogong Equipment looking at an Exped Spica tent set up in the upstairs area. I was interested in purchasing until I saw the huge tear down the middle of the inner. Must be very windy in Little Bourke Street. Later an acquaintance who used to work in the gear industry told me that Exped has lots of warranty returns but generally honours them. Recently, I had problems with new gear from two major name manufacturers, who will remain nameless, but both took the goods back without a fight (in one case because it was a piece of gear which had failed for many other purchasers). Give Exped an email, for all you know they replace these things everyday..... Not bagging any manufacturer of course, but they are hardly going to advertise that they had dud runs for particular items.

[walkon]

Recently, I had problems with new gear from two major name manufacturers, who will remain nameless, but both took the goods back without a fight (in one case because it was a piece of gear which had failed for many other purchasers). Give Exped an email, for all you know they replace these things everyday..... Not bagging any manufacturer of course, but they are hardly going to advertise that they had dud runs for particular items.

Hi Don

It is nice for us to know who the manufacturers are and what gear it was though. That's part of the idea of this forum. If hiking gear was food or automotive products there would be a public recall, as it is the manufacturers just quietly replace some of the defects not all

[pazzar]

This is a pretty common problem with vertically baffled sleeping mats, not just an Exped issue. The baffles are high frequency welded, which tend to be weaker on the inside of the weld. This happened to my Synmat 7 as well, the night before I was supposed to be headed into the Western Arthurs for a week.

[legend]

From memory they are both about 7 years old. Hardly been used except for a few trips - too big and heavy for walking with, but good for 4wd and guests sleeping on the floor.
I was very sorry to hear about this, as they looked to be in very good order and always kept clean. They were never blown up to hard as I like a softish bed where my whole body is supported

[Moondog55]

I just received an email from Exped in Switzerland
A known problem; but apparently it only effects about 2% of the product and most warranty claims happen in the first year.
I guess you should have used it more often Legend

[2leggedtahr]

I had one do it to me and replaced it under warranty. A mate has had it happen twice. No more for me if it happens to the one I have now.

[Moondog55]

I'll never buy another one; new or S/H and although their other gear may be fine I doubt I will buy any Exped gear at all; ever.

[horsecat]

Exped is great gear. Own lots of it and well worth the cost. One very happy and loyal customer here but only ever bought it new though

[Moondog55]

It's the refusal to take responsibility for a substandard quality control and the lack of a reasonable warranty that will stop me from purchasing any of their gear

[horsecat]

A known problem; but apparently it only effects about 2% of the product and most warranty claims happen in the first year

A 98% success rate. More than acceptable.

for that sort of money new I would expect an unconditional lifetime warranty

Why? It isn't very expensive and to have an unconditional lifetime warranty is unrealistic. So many factors involved so a warranty of two years is very reasonable. I mean you could be 200kg or something for all they know, plus this mat has had more than one owner. Where do you draw a line with a warranty v value of the item? My car cost over $60,000 so...And by many accounts they do stand by reasonable and legitimate claims.

Anyway, as I said I love my Exped mats and sleeping bags and have used them in far more trying conditions than my lounge room floor without issue and hope the guys at this company don't suffer from misinformation as a result of unreasonable claims. I see this sort of thing all the time in business and it can be very harmful when these sorts of accusations are bantered about.

After all that it sounds best that the OP shouldn't buy Exped quality though.

[whitefang]

A known problem; but apparently it only effects about 2% of the product and most warranty claims happen in the first year

A 98% success rate. More than acceptable.

for that sort of money new I would expect an unconditional lifetime warranty

Why? It isn't very expensive and to have an unconditional lifetime warranty is unrealistic. So many factors involved so a warranty of two years is very reasonable. I mean you could be 200kg or something for all they know, plus this mat has had more than one owner. Where do you draw a line with a warranty v value of the item? My car cost over $60,000 so...And by many accounts they do stand by reasonable and legitimate claims.

Anyway, as I said I love my Exped mats and sleeping bags and have used them in far more trying conditions than my lounge room floor without issue and hope the guys at this company don't suffer from misinformation as a result of unreasonable claims. I see this sort of thing all the time in business and it can be very harmful when these sorts of accusations are bantered about.

After all that it sounds best that the OP shouldn't buy Exped quality though.

I think a lifetime warranty on a mattress like that is rather realistic to cover any manufacturers defects. Both Therm-a-rest and Sea to Summit offer lifetime warranties on their mattresses. Obviously therm-a-rests are a lot more expensive (in Australia) than most exped mats, but the sea to summit mats are in a very similar price range. If this is a known defect that effects 2% of their mats then why not just replace them? I can't see them losing out on too much money if they did that when 98% of mats don't fail.

[Moondog55]

@ Horsecat Try selling a climbing rope or harness with that sort of failure rate
Obviously our definitions of expensive would be set by the amount of disposable income; mine being about $2k a year maximum which has to include travel and fuel money

[horsecat]

@ Horsecat Try selling a climbing rope or harness with that sort of failure rate

. Sorry, I didnt realise you use your sleeping mat for absailing. Me bad.

Obviously our definitions of expensive would be set by the amount of disposable income; mine being about $2k a year maximum which has to include travel and fuel money

I'd say so, but I won't go into the reasons.

Anyway I'm finished with this place; there's too much petty crap, arrogance and weirdness on here nowadays (and plenty of members on here that I'm sure do very little regular walking, or anything of real interest, etc - apologies to those that do though for that comment). So don't bother replying as I won't be reading it.

[Moondog55]

Obviously HC won't be reading this but as I do most of my camping above the snow-line in winter reliability is my #1 priority, I'm sorry he couldn't see that
Even Ford MoCo have a better QC than a 2% total failure rate
I come from a totally different bushwalking tradition I guess

[GPSGuided]

Horsecat, don't let differences with one member affect your participation. We are all individuals and differences are invariable on a forum.

If Exped is good enough or the type of walking and climbing you do, then it's good enough for me. As a matter fact, I'm a fan of Exped designs and have quite a few of their products. No problems so far.

[Moondog55]

I'm sorry if Horsecat took a personal opinion as a personal attack, it wasn't, it is just my way of looking at things and playing the Devils Advocate on occasion

[Thornbill]

Needing a new sleeping mat, I've been tossing up between a Synmat or S2S for a while now. There's clearly benefits of the Synmat, but reading things like this make me lean towards S2S. Durability is pretty high on my priority list.

[neilmny]

It's all very interesting Thornbill, I don't have experience with S to S mats but I really do like my Trek 3 SB.
I have an Exped Synmat UL9LW, for me luxury and so far so good on the durability.
One thing that comes to mind to is that it's not much good if your mat is uncomfortable....lying awake
because the mat doesn't work for you I doubt you'd care how durable it was.

[GPSGuided]

If durability is a priority, none of these lightweight products should come into the equation. They'll all blow their 'gaskets' when pushed.