Most of my blowups developed a leak in a couple of years.  I was told one time that I blew them up too tight. The hammock eliminates the need for a pad but I remember when I was a ground dweller it helped.

Oh Hi MP.........

I have been absent for a bit........funny I should read this now. I know you sent it quite a few weeks ago but I just opened the box last night.......busy, busy!!

I toyed with it a bit and found I like it more than I thought I would plus it doubles as a pillow. Interesting........

During the cold snap several weeks prior I stayed with a friend in Louisville KY.........it was a full house with several other guys from my town in Florida also showing up.......they were hunting and I was placing work, sort of a fun coincidence but we were at a loss for sleeping arrangements so I volunteered to sleep on the floor.........after all I had my Big Agnes bag and pad with me as well as all my other camping gear. Great I thought, I can try out the Big Agnes air bag on my pad. It was OK.......better with than without but not as spiffy as I had hoped. But it starts the project out rather nicely but I still ended the process with some huffing and puffing.

About 1 A.M. I awoke with the distinctly uncomfortable feeling of hardwood floor against my tush. Yikes, a leak! Some huffing and puffing got me back to sleep for about an hour only to be rudely awakened once again. Glad it happened there instead of on a trip........have yet to evaluate what the deal is but I am a bit disappointed since I took pains to not blow out the ends with aggressive deflation. Maybe its just a leak I can patch........or maybe I take it back to my favorite camping store REI and start screaming and yelling (whats that? all I have to say is I am dissatisfied and get a replacement....whoa!).

Time will tell........first I have to purchase the pad and then try it out. But I think it might hold some promise.

Mt
Have your tried that pillow pump?  I found it more hassle than it was worth. What your evaluation?

Interesting......up here in the great white north of Michigan hanging out at REi last night trying to keep my mind off the upcoming polar vortex which will slam me my last few days in town (when did I become such a wimp > over the hill? What hill, I don't remember no stinkin hill)

I checked out the UL 7. The reviews I read were not particularly complimentary of the integrated pump but rather lauded what Wally 13 has, schnozel and airbag. "Checked it out" is probably the wrong terminology, I didn't even try one out but rather hefted it, looked at the price (ouch!) and then picked up a big Agnes airbag as per Gavia. Hopefully the thing will hang in there a few more years before I put on my sorrowful "please help me" face and see what REI will do for me.

MT- if your bag fits a rectangular mat I believe the exped and the big agnes standard sized are the same (20 x 70). I got a exped Downmat 9 and have not wanted to use my Big Agnes pad since. So much more comfortable and an order of magnitude warmer in cold conditions. Unfortunately I have the integrated pump, which is better than blowing it up but would be my least favorite camp chore.....

MT,

Sorry for holding out on my UL7 mattress.  I have owned a Thermarest since 1979 and thought it was about time I upgrade. I followed Bill Conners recommendation and got a UL7 and Scnozzel. I used both on my solo to Gons this summer and couldn't be happier. I wanted lightweight and comfort and the UL7 delivers both. I like the vertical baffels as they seem to be more comfortable than horizontal ridges to sleep on.

I must say that I am still a bit worried about its durability as it is quite "thin". Inflating it was quick and easy with a Schnozzel. Another fellow paddler said that Exped prefers that you not blow moisture into the mattress. Hence the Schnozzel for inflation. The Schnozzel weighs next to nothing and only takes about 3 full inflations to fill the mattress. I found the mattress to be most comfortable when it was about 2/3 full. I am a side sleeper.

I am a summer camper and sleep hot so I picked the UL7... It doesn't have much R value. If you are a spring or fall paddler I would go with one of the Exped mattresses that has more insulation value.

I absolutely LOVE the Big Agnes Pumphouse.  It works with my Big Agnes air pads as well as my REI Stratus pad.  Dunno about Exped.  No more hyperventilation!

I wonder if the exped UL7 would fit my big agnes sleeping bag which I am quite fond of (No more waking up in a knot or struggling to find the zipper).

I checked the reviews on Backcountry and figured a few things out. First don't over inflate.........guys (2) that did ended up with one of the tubes being "huge" which would be very uncomfortable. Another poster (1) talked about laying it outside and having had the wind blow it a mere few feet and abrasion occurred causing leaks. I found it interesting that all would still purchase the product again in spite of the miscues.

Not so keen on the price......ouch, especially if it is fickle. But my Big Agnes pad has now developed a slow leak in spite of a contentious effort to not be hasty in forcing the air out. The Exped is definitely an option if it will fit my bag.

Bill Conner and Wally 13.........ummm, why did you not share a gear evaluation if you really liked it? Your holding out on us.........probably 1/2 my gear is from suggestions here on QJ and most of it has made my trips lots better.
I try and help out where I can (hey, have you seen the Savage Gear shrimp??    ).

zski wrote on Oct 17^th, 2014 at 5:20pm:


It won't. Went to Philmont year before this and other adult had REI almost identical to my Synmat UL7 and did not fit.

Like Bill Conner I got an Exped Schnozell and Exped Synmat UL7 set up this year at Copia and used it on my Saganagons solo this year. I thought the Schnozzle worked great. Quickly and easily inflated my mattress. I highly recommend it.