The Exped SynMat UL is an incredibly lightweight sleeping mat from the Swiss masters of techy stuff. It does exactly what it says on the box, it is stupidly light, 7cm thick and a suitable for taller users for want a bit more width for extra comfort. The Ultralite is suitable for all year use particularly in Spring and Summer for those feel the cold. This longer and wider version (LW) is particularly suited to taller and larger users or for those wanting the absolute maximum insulation and comfort in extreme conditions.
The mat has been designed to be one of the lightest insulated air mattress'...in the world! The 7cm deep air chambers are filled with 60g/m² Texpedloft Microfibre which provides warmth down to -4°C yet is easily compressed for a miniscule pack size. The really clever bit is how Exped have laminated the filling to the top and bottom fabric of the mat so when it is inflated the filling is automatically pulled apart to achieve maximum loft which lasts for the life of the mat. Another really clever thing about this mat is that Exped have made the two side air chambers larger than the others, this creates a concave profile that acts to keep you centralised on the insulation and also acts to stop you rolling off the mat in the night...genius!
A honey-comb embossed slip resistant 20D polyester is used for the top of the mat and the base is made from standard 20D polyester, both fabrics have a TPU Polyether film laminate to prevent air loss and stop water ingress. The top fabric has also been coated with Exped's GripSkin coating, which, as you would expect, grips your skin to minimise the amount you slide around in the night.
Inflation is simple using the separate inflation and deflation Flat Valves (watch the video), these valves sit nice and flat against the face fabric so it is far less susceptible to damage. The use of the included UL Schnozzel Pumpbag makes inflation super quick and eliminates the ingress of moisture into the filling that may freeze and reduce the mats effectiveness.
Getting the right mat to suit your needs is far more important than the sleeping bag, you should be looking at the mat and sleeping combination to give you the temperature rating you need for the least weight and pack size. Bear in mind that your sleeping bag is only as good as the mat it lies on, once you get in your sleeping bag you compress all the insulation that’s underneath you, rendering it practically useless. Therefore it is essential to have a good insulating mat to protect you from the cold ground. An efficient insulating mat will enable you to choose a lighter sleeping bag keeping your pack-size and weight to a minimum.
-
UL Schnozzel Pumpbag included for quick and safe inflation
-
Top: 20 D Polyester, TPU polyether film laminate, hydrolysis resistant, Honeycomb Gripskin coated, Oeko-Tex 100 certified
-
Bottom: 20 D Polyester, TPU polyether film laminate, Hydrolysis resistant, Oeko-Tex 100 certified
-
Insulation: 60 g/m² Texpedloft Microfibre, Bluesign certified
-
Flat valve technology
-
Stable baffle construction
-
Fast deflation valves
-
Anti-slip GripSkin coating