Having some "issues" with my big Agnes mat so after hearing about some other QJ members getting the exped ul7 I decided to go for it.

A big part of the equation was the fill bag. I picked up a big Agnes fill bag for the big Agnes mat and was left less than impressed. Filling air mattresses has become my least favorite camp chore.

I picked up the down version of the ul7 because I intend on keeping the big Agnes sleeping bag system which has no insulation underneath. I generally work hard all day long and am dependent on a good nights sleep to get back in the game. Hard to sleep if your cold.

Well it came the other day (nice sale at backcountry) and I am left with some initial impressions. First off the mat seems, well, rather thin and fragile. Hopefully I am mistaken (all the reviews I have read are favorable). Secondly, the fill bag seems, well, fragile. Like you could easily get a hole or burst the seems. The fill valve on the ul7 only works with the mated fill valve on the air bag (please correct me if I am mistaken).........if you do get a hole or pop the seams on the fill bag I am assuming filling the mat might be difficult? Best have a repair kit to fix the bag/mat or even a backup airbag. I will have to look into failure of the airbag.

Having said all that I am quite pleased how easily the mat inflates using the fill bag. Excellent! Very nice! And the mat itself is fine comfort wise.

Time will tell. Easy does it on this equipment, watch what your doing and avoid anything sharp.

MT,

What are the 'issues' with your BA pad?  I'm still lovin' mine and no issues.  There was the nearly inevitable leak...but that was not the pad's fault.  My paddling buddy went to the Exped and when out together, it's easily inflated with my homemade (and self-proclaimed....) 'super instaflator'.  It's cuben fiber cloth.  I have some pics posted my inuk photo page.

pd

okay....maybe I called it the Cubenflator....yessir, yessir, two bags full - that's all it takes to fill a standard 72x20 BA mattress

pd

PD.........

After several posters complained about BA mats having seam seal issues I surmised it was probably due to hasty deflation and using excessive force...........so naturally I babied mine and did not use what I would consider excessive force when evacuating air. I also do all the business inside my tent to avoid briars and other sharp objects........

But alas........last time I used it I wound up on my buddies hardwood floor and had to reinflate a few times during the night. Throw in the lousy performance of the fill bag and the great reviews of the UL7 on various camping forums and how terrific their fill bag works and I didn't even check where the Big Agnes was leaking (Hey, interested in a Big Agnes mat ;) )
You have a Cuben Fiber fill bag? I want to hang out with you! We can take your private Jet to the airport in Ely. I was checking Cuben Fiber tents yesterday and thinking about getting one but the cheap ones start at 2K.........Ouch, crazy expensive! No thanks......

Anyways, glad your fill bag works great........maybe I didn't do something correctly. I like the UL7 as the valves mate perfectly.......zero hassle which is part of the MT creed.

Yeah, that stuff ain't cheap!  I built this myself from 1 yd x 54" wide .74 oz cloth I ordered from BearPawwd fabrics at $35/yd and the double sided 3M tape them sell with it.  That and the hard parts from the original Instaflator someone commercially sells/sold.  I always thought the BA fill bag (Pumphouse) woefully undersize.

What model/size BA pad do you have? I might could be interested.  I got most of my BA pads from the REI attic sales (now called garage sales....) second hand. 

I'm interested to hear how the UL7 works for you.  Maybe I could help you out with a cuben fill bag? 

pd

....now where are the keys to that dang jet again.....