This down filled air mattress offers tremendous comfort and is claimed to be three times warmer than any other mat of similar weight. Also it packs down well as it has no foam in it. So you end up with a product that is little heavier or bulkier than a Basecamp Thermarest. Whether it is three times warmer is hard to know, but we can say, after three weeks testing in the Arctic (see photo!), that it is definitely warmer. Below is what Exped say about it:
Tests conducted by Exped and EMPA, the Swiss government's material test and research laboratory, showed that heat loss to the ground is typically 3 x greater than to exposed air. However the down fill insulation reduced this heat loss by 65%. Money is perhaps better spent on a mat that reduces heat loss than on a warmer sleeping bag.
Extremely lightweight: No other outdoor mat of comparable weight offers Down Air Mattress' heat resistance of 1.6 m2 x K/W). (A 1" self-inflating mat offers a heat resistance value of only 0.5 m2 x K/W, or 1/3)!
Only one locking valve is needed for inflation, but dual, locking valves permit fast deflation.
Similar in concept to down sleeping bags, baffles between the shell's six chambers eliminate cold spots, prevent down shift, and further improve the air cushion.
The laminated polyester fabric surfaces are textured for slip proof comfort and are absolutely airtight. High frequency welded seams, offer the most secure method of fusing fabrics. (In fact, welded seams are stronger than the fabric itself). Neutral colours dry quickly.
Built in foam pump: pumping air, rather than blowing it, prevents humidity from reaching the down, which could clump or freeze.
US R value is 8.0 (= 14.1 Tog!).
| Exped Down Air Mattress 9cm |
| Dimensions | 178 x 52 x 9cm |
| Packed | 23 x 16cm |
| Fill | 250g 700 Goosedown |
| Weight | 940g (? stuffsack) |
| Temp | -38°C |