I recently purchased an Exped Downmat to replace my Thermarest Prolite 3 sleeping pad after seeing one that a friend had been using. I have yet to use the Exped Downmat 7 Pump, but my initial impressions are that it is a great upgrade. I will be putting it through a rigorous test this year and I will be sure to update this review. For reference I also own a Thermarest Z-rest and will likely spend nearly 200 days in 2010 on a sleeping pad at night.

Initial Impressions

The Exped Downmat 7 is heavier and less compact than my Thermarest Prolite 3 as is to be expected. However, given the obvious comfort and warmth improvement it is lighter and more compact than I was expecting. After inflating the pad (more on this later), the warmth and comfort improvement were as expected. I sleep on my side and never had any problem with my hip or shoulder hitting the ground. In a matter of minutes I could feel the wonderful insulation that the down provides keeping me warm. Overall my expectations for warmth and comfort were met and the tradeoff between that and weight/size is well in favor of the Exped Downmat.

Now on to the pump. Unlike other inflatable pads, you can not simply blow this pad up in a few breaths because there is much more air needed and the down can not hold up the moisture. With this pad there is a built in pump that works simply enough. It took me a couple minutes to inflate the pad, but it was not difficult to do and the valves seem to work well. This is certainly something to be aware of when thinking about this pad, but I think a couple minutes are worth it.

Durability wise it seems to be similar to any other inflatable pad.

I would recommend this pad to anyone else that camps and sleeps on the ground as often as I do and needs the increased warmth and comfort without the corresponding increase in weight and size found in other luxury sleeping pads.


Other Reviews

Exped Downmat 7 Short - blog review
Exped Downmat 9 (2006) - backpackgeartest review

I just purchased a down sleeping bag from Western Mountaineering that should keep me warm in the 15F to 40F temperature range, a range that I was missing a good down bag. Prior to this bag, I had a cheapo 15F synthetic that wasn't doing the job.

The Western Mountaineering Ultralite 20F Down Bag is definitely high quality and worth every penny. The build is just outstanding and it looks great.

When showing pictures from my many backpacking trips, one of the parts I like to point out is my campsite location and what I wake up to in the morning. Here are some of my backpacking photos featuring a tent:



Thanks to TwoHeelDrive and Backpacker.com for the ideas.

As I pack to fly out to Idaho for my job as a trail crew leader it has become obvious that I have way too much backpacking gear. While I often justify certain items for specific situations, such as a 32 degree sleeping bag for summer and a 0 degree bag for colder times, having to fit all of my gear into one checked luggage bag has forced me to realize what I actually need.

I'm only bringing one sleeping bag, one backpack, one shelter, one sleeping pad, one stove etc... Although I have four sleeping bags, my 15 degreee synthetic is best for an all purpose bag that can take a beating. It's much the same for backpacks, my Granite Gear Latitude Vapor may be lightweight, but my Arc'Teryx Bora 80 won't leave any question about having enough room.

Anyways, isn't backpacking about carrying only what is needed and maximizing the use of that gear? I think this experience may be a turning point in my gear addiction and if anything, I might be more inclined to create, modify or fix gear to get the most out of the least. My homemade alcohol backpacking stove may be just the start!

I recently purchased some shoes from Innov8. I selected the extremely lightweight ROCLITE 295. I was immediately impressed with the weight of the shoes, a little under 12 ounces for a size 11 mens on my scale for one shoe. I have never had anything so light that wasn't a sandal.

I quickly put them on and took off for a short run/hike and am happy to report the flexible, but supportive feel that I prefer in my hiking shoes. The shoes allow me to feel the trail unlike hiking boots. The sole of the Inov8 Roclite 295 is very aggressive and will do great in muddy and slippery conditions; although, I haven't tested them out on wet rock so far. One negative is that they are not non-marking soles.

The shoes have a very breathable mesh upper that should strike a good balance between breathability and keeping rocks and or dirt out. These shoes are not goretex or waterproof.

Overall, I am extremely pleased with these shoes. The Inov8 Roclite 295s will be put to the test as I try to find an ultralight hiking shoe for my thruhike of the continental divide trail in 2009.

I have owned my Arc'Teryx Bora 80 backpack for over a year and am satisfied with the pack. It has met all of my expectations and then some in terms of durability, quality, and load bearing. I purchased the pack not for a desire to be ultralight, but for my job leading trail crews. I often have a huge load, well over 50 pounds, and I need a backpack that would handle the beating. I have also been using the pack on shorter backpacking trips where I was not concerned about the extra size and weight. It is an indispensable part of my collection of backpacking gear!

What do I like about the pack? The pack itself is of the highest quality. I have no rips, tears, holes or any other signs of wear. This durability is after I have slid the pack down a scree field in Death Valley NP, used it to carry various trail tools to job sites, and regularly used it as my checked luggage on cross-country flights. The attention to detail is what separates the Arc'Teryx Bora backpack from others. The quality zippers are just one example of that.

I find the large outside pocket extremely useful for keeping anything that I may need quickly or need to keep out of the main compartment; for example, a wet rain-fly. The 'brain', top compartment, is also large enough for my 'necessities'.

The most important quality of this pack has been that it performs exceptionally when loaded with a huge load. I can easily adjust the weight how I want and can transfer it to my hips without any problems. On a trips in the southwest US and due to water weight, I have carried 70-80 lbs as if it were only 40 lbs.

What don't I like about the pack? Not much really. I never use the side zipper. The shoulder straps and hip belt are a bit stiff. It is heavy, but that is expected and needed for a pack of this size and durability. Price. All of my complaints are relatively minor in my opinion.

This pack has seen some beautiful places... Lost Lake, Chugach NF, Alaska...

I purchased my first set of snowshoes, the MSR Denali Classics, this winter and and have enjoyed many miles of snowshowing. Luckily, Wisconsin had a far above average snowfall and over three feet of snow in many places. I also tried them out while I was in Montana in February in the Gallatin National Forest.

Overall, I am very satisfied with my purchase and the MSR Denali Classics perform at or above any other snowshoes I have tried. These snowshoes are tough, supportive and versatile. Perfect for the all purpose snowshoe with a great price.

I am most satisfied with the bindings on the MSR Denali Classics. I can easily attach the snowshoes with gloves or mittens. It is very easy to adjust the tightness and I have never had them come off. After watching others in cheaper snowshoes with poor bindings in Montana and experiencing the same problems with my father's old snowshoes, I think that bindings are the most important aspect for snowshoes and I couldn't be happier about the MSR Denali Classics.

After the bindings, the most important factor to me is the durability. The MSR Denali Classics are unlike many other snowshoes and have exceeded my expectations. The MSRs are formed out of a one piece molded plastic. Other than a few scratches, I have had no problems and expect them to last me many years.

Other bonuses: crampons and traction for icy hardpack sidehills, price, versatility with floatation tails.

Complaints: heavier than some snowshoes the same size, do not work well with small boots.

Specs: 3lbs 10 oz(manufacturer's weight), retail price $139.

Buy MSR Denali Classic Snowshoes - Backcountry.com affiliate link

I was reading a forum discussing what to bring backpacking in the desert and felt as though I had some useful knowledge to share since I am often sleeping on sand. Here is what I wrote:

I'm lucky enough to get to camp out in the desert for 10 day intervals as part of my job. The challenging part is that I must camp 3 miles from the border in the Yuha Desert in southern California. My habits may vary based upon the fact that the Yuha is lightly vegitated and extremely windy.

What I have found is that the best way to sleep in the desert in the wind is without a tent. I just lay right down on a tarp and crawl into my bag. I have never had a problem with any type of animal. Sometimes I may opt for a bivy if it is cold and windy.

For clothes, I just make sure I have pants that will not get snagged by the desert flora. Lightweight ripstop nylon works great. I am a little lazy when it comes to shirts and often end up in a cotton tshirt. I do recommend a long sleeve shirt though.

My footwear has recently been limited to my keen sandles. I have strong ankles and have worn them for almost every backpack trip this past year in the southwest; the exception being the grand canyon due to the cold(snow). I have no problem with sand and sandles; although when I went hiking in the Algodones Dunes Wilderness, I went barefoot. The only scorpion sting there was from my friend sitting on one.

Again, this may vary for you depending upon which desert.

Tom from Two Heel drive has some criticism of a gear question and answer from Outside Online.

I'm recovering from a ruptured disc and have an extended backpacking trip planned this summer, with doctor's approval granted! What's your opinion on the best packs for those of us with back problems; if not specific models, maybe manufacturers that build the best support systems?

Well, I don't think anybody is making a Ruptured Disc Edition Backpack, but certainly some are going to be better than others. I worry about the weight you'll need to carry for a long trip?more than 40 pounds, I would imagine. In my view you'd be well advised to take your pack in to see your doc, just so he/she is perfectly aware of what you propose...

Here is what Tom has to say about the answer:

This is a good start, but of course he recommends a bunch of really expensive -- and heavy -- packs and doesn't even broach the idea of looking into the whole light-weight movement. Kind of a blindered view of things, which, come to think of it, is probably what gets Climb_CA so worked up all the time.

To me, and I'm sure many other backpackers, 40 lbs for an extended trip of say 10 days is not that heavy. Heck, if you calculate how much the food alone will weigh, 1.5lbs x 10 days, you end up in the range of 15lbs. Since this is an extended trip, you will also bring additional first aid, fuel, clothing, and repair items that could easily add 2-5 lbs more. So now you have something like 10-20 lbs that you wouldn't be bringing on a short overnight hike.

So unless a backpacker make significant sacrifices, their total weight will reach approximately 40 lbs for an extended trip of about 10 days. Now when you consider that most lightweight backpacks stop working at around 30lbs, Outside Online provides exactly the answer needed. I would never suggest a flimsy lightweight backpack to someone with back problems unless the total weight was under 20lbs. Lightweight backpacks generally lack the support necessary to transfer weight to the hips. I own both the 5lb pack that can carry 60 pounds and the 2lb pack that can carry 30lbs.

Basically, Outside's answer is realistic and fits the balance most backpackers have chosen between comfort and weight. If the backpacker with the bad back wanted a summary of the trade offs, he would of asked that question.

I find it annoying on forums or anywhere else when someone starts pushing their lightweight gear and methods assuming that I haven't already considered them. Most of these people seem oblivious to the fact that lightweight backpacking involves significant sacrifices. Anyways, that's my counter rant to Tom's.