Exped Down Mat- Multi holed

Sat 21 May, 2011 9:28 pm

Anyone else had this problem . I just got out my Exped down mat ( 3yrs old used on several trips in tent with footprint only)as winter is nearing and I am preping for a few trips and I noticed my down mat has multiple very small holes around the air stems and multiple minute holes on both sides . When checking some reviews , I noticed this one and mine is the same . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDC_DewtAOk.
I lov(ed) my mat but now not too sure. Any comments? Steve C

Sun 22 May, 2011 8:15 am

you can get a silicon waterproofing spray in a can tthat leaves a coating of silicon behind.... it might be suitable to seal it up a bit..... maybe glue the larger leaksfirst..... stops bedding slipping as much too.... otherwise i would look at a warranty job on it first!

Sun 22 May, 2011 8:50 am

Hi
I think that I have the same problem with mine. I have tried several times to find any hole but have been unsuccessful . Nevertheless the mat goes flat (slowly).
I just bought another one (built in pump) hoping that it will not happen again.
The "faulty" one is probably 10 years old..
I really do not think that a silicone spray or something like that would hold the pressure.
Franco

Sun 22 May, 2011 9:07 am

I put a couple of bandaids over a hole in my first self-inflating mat (a cheap Trailmaster from KMart). It worked for six years, though it now needs to be replaced. Might use something heavier duty this time.
Not really practical to wrap an entire mat in duct tape, though.

Sun 22 May, 2011 10:48 am

This is disappointing in a couple of ways.
Its a well known fault that i have rattled on about several times previously.
You have de-lamination between the fabric layers, I doubt anything will be a successful fix (not that i could imagine (or found) with them anyhow).
My advice would be to just send it back, dont try to fix it.

Sun 22 May, 2011 3:09 pm

Nuts wrote:This is disappointing in a couple of ways.
Its a well known fault that i have rattled on about several times previously.
You have de-lamination between the fabric layers, I doubt anything will be a successful fix (not that i could imagine (or found) with them anyhow).
My advice would be to just send it back, dont try to fix it.

Hi Nuts, Is this a problem you've seen with only the early version? Have you seen this problem on the newer versions with the built in pump?

Sun 22 May, 2011 6:09 pm

Phil, the first model de-laminated.
The new style that I replaced them with didnt last long enough, they did this within the first summer:

: file-1.jpg (83.11 KiB) Viewed 10997 times

see here:http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2871&hilit=exped+mat+nuts&start=60

While I dont want to bad mouth any business (afterall, it is Us that demand lighter, comfier, often cheaper and expect a thin pressure vessel to last a lifetime) I see from comments around the place that they have the same standard response... 'it has happened to a few' and on 'rare occasions'... this is bs.. 'a few'...

Some now rave about the synmat U/L but am wondering whether the long vertical baffles are as stable as thermarests horizontal ones with more joined distance per mat?

Sun 22 May, 2011 6:41 pm

So far my Downmat 9 DLX is performing great. I've used my mat for 28 nights. I've read somewhere that the newer model with the built-in pump suppose to have eliminated this problem.

Sun 22 May, 2011 6:51 pm

Clearly not, though good luck with it :wink:

Sun 22 May, 2011 7:42 pm

I have two of the older ones without the built in pump. Have performed faultlessly so far over about 20 nights each. There does seem to be some issues out there, but IMO they are the most comfortable mat out there.

Sun 22 May, 2011 7:57 pm

Nuts wrote:Clearly not, though good luck with it

The mat in the image, is it still useable?

Sun 22 May, 2011 8:53 pm

No, not really Phil. Even if you under inflate them the air tends to just push into that space. That particular one may have been passable for a side sleeper but i'd say the separation would keep spreading.

Mon 23 May, 2011 11:16 am

Thanks for the link you posted above Nuts, If I had of read this before purchasing my Exped Downmat, I probably would have purchased the Neoair. In saying that, I'm very happy with the Exped Downmat, Hopefully I will not have the problems you have had with the Downmat's. I have heard of this problem before purchasing the Exped mat, but was under the impression that this problem had been eliminated with the newer Built in Pump version.

I'll be putting my Exped to the test next week at the Gold Coast Hinterland and Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Not sure how cold it will drop down to, but I expect 2 or 5 degrees possibly lower.

I picked up my Exped as a bonus deal from the states when I purchased my Hilleberg Tent from Moontrail, using the bonus points from my Hilleberg Tent the Exped Mat only cost me Apx $40.00

Mon 23 May, 2011 11:47 am

You may be fine Phil, many people report 'years' of good service, does sound like you use yours a lot though...
No question they are comfortable. The guy on that y-tube vid probably wouldn't agree 'You are responsible for my misery' lol

Mon 23 May, 2011 2:24 pm

Yeah, I wonder if Exped watched that video. :lol:

He appears to be happy with the replacement he received.

I slept on mine for 3 weeks straight while in Sydney and the Royal National Park last month.

Fri 27 May, 2011 10:11 am

Multiple, undefined holes in your mat, or a mat that goes flat for no obvious reason is clear indication that it has delaminated - something of an issue with EXPED. Send it back via point of purchase and ask for a replacement.

N

Wed 03 Apr, 2013 10:54 am

hi there just like to let you know dont buy a down mat from this manafacturer
ive had 2 and they both delaminated along the seams and let go like a cheap blowup
plastic camping mat, the cells let go into a big lump and then they leak air along the seams.
its just product failure.you cant fix them. the second mat was a replacement for the first one which
self destructed. yeah i looked after them.
bad luck if your out here commited to living the dream.
all the best,

Wed 03 Apr, 2013 12:58 pm

leroy wrote:hi there just like to let you know dont buy a down mat from this manafacturer
ive had 2 and they both delaminated along the seams and let go like a cheap blowup
plastic camping mat, the cells let go into a big lump and then they leak air along the seams.
its just product failure.you cant fix them. the second mat was a replacement for the first one which
self destructed. yeah i looked after them.
bad luck if your out here commited to living the dream.
all the best,

That is an old issue and has long been recognised and rectified by Exped.

Wed 03 Apr, 2013 1:46 pm

My downmat is still going strong, no problems with it, I use it, when vehicle based camping.

Wed 03 Apr, 2013 4:49 pm

No problem either for me. I even had 2 friends sleeping on one (it's a large), no trouble.

Thu 04 Apr, 2013 3:52 pm

I had the same problem with mine. After 'speaking' with certain people, there was a degree of admission to a delaminating problem at one stage. They happily swapped mine over.

Thu 04 Apr, 2013 4:00 pm

Phillipsart wrote:My downmat is still going strong, no problems with it, I use it, when vehicle based camping.

Needs, more commas, in this sentence, I think Phil :wink:

Exped Down Mat- Multi holed

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