Another Exped downmat fail

A place to share systematic reviews of bushwalking equipment, services and idea.
Forum rules
Forum rules
This is a place to share fair and systematic reviews of gear. Share the good, bad and ugly as well as including how you tested it and reviewed the gear. This is not the place to carry on about a bit of gear that failed, sometimes good gear has a lemon - this is more about systematic reviews. Although this can be a way to help gear manufactures with feedback, this is not the place to hassle them or ask for money back.

Start each thread with
[tag]Brand, product, RRP in AUD. The tags have two parts the type of gear and type of testing/review. eg
[Sleeping bag | Unboxing] Kmart Summit Hooded $29
[Stove | Field test]Jetboil, flash $150

Suggested review types. Unboxing, field test, 1 year on, stress test, teardown.
If someone else has already reviewed the same product in a similar method then please use the initial thread to include your review. Please note if the gear was provide to you for free, loan, discount or if you paid full RRP.

Another Exped downmat fail

Postby andrewa » Sun 01 Jul, 2018 4:45 pm

image.jpeg


Having not had an Exped mat fail yet, I didn't appreciate how bad it could be. All the internal seams on one half popped progressively as it was inflated, rendering it completely useless, and resulting in us having to bail on a night on Bogong. Very unimpressed. Whilst it's probably 4-5 yrs old, I doubt it would have been used more than 12-15 nights.

A
andrewa
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1426
Joined: Sat 05 Mar, 2011 5:55 pm
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: None
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: Another Exped downmat fail

Postby Nuts » Mon 02 Jul, 2018 7:56 am

I had the experience of being ejected off an aero-bed when the baffles gave way. It happened in a loud pop and was quite impressive.. even with the hard landing. Completely useless from then, couldn't even stay on..

Recall recently you mentioned having had no dramas with your mats.
Maybe make a nice pillow? :)
User avatar
Nuts
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 8632
Joined: Sat 05 Apr, 2008 12:22 pm
Region: Tasmania

Re: Another Exped downmat fail

Postby andrewa » Mon 02 Jul, 2018 9:50 am

Yes, I did recently say that I'd had no problems with my other Exped mats - obviously I spoke too soon!!

A
andrewa
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1426
Joined: Sat 05 Mar, 2011 5:55 pm
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: None
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: Another Exped downmat fail

Postby CasualNerd » Mon 02 Jul, 2018 12:58 pm

If anyone has a failed mat they're about to throw away, I'm looking for a valve and bits to disassemble and play with so I can try making my own heat sealed inflatable pillow. Happy to pay for postage ! :D
User avatar
CasualNerd
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 495
Joined: Wed 03 Aug, 2011 3:33 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Another Exped downmat fail

Postby andrewa » Mon 02 Jul, 2018 1:49 pm

Be happy to offload it, coz otherwise it's going in the bin.

Pm me.
andrewa
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1426
Joined: Sat 05 Mar, 2011 5:55 pm
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: None
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: Another Exped downmat fail

Postby jdeks » Mon 02 Jul, 2018 3:16 pm

andrewa would you mind adding your experience to this thread, for the sake of posterity/googleability?

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=27865
jdeks
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 349
Joined: Sat 15 Mar, 2014 5:05 pm
Region: Australia

Re: Another Exped downmat fail

Postby andrewa » Mon 02 Jul, 2018 10:00 pm

Added to other thread as requested.
A
andrewa
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1426
Joined: Sat 05 Mar, 2011 5:55 pm
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: None
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: Another Exped downmat fail

Postby Moondog55 » Tue 10 Jul, 2018 2:06 pm

CasualNerd wrote:If anyone has a failed mat they're about to throw away, I'm looking for a valve and bits to disassemble and play with so I can try making my own heat sealed inflatable pillow. Happy to pay for postage ! :D

I think I have one here I'll check and get back to you
Ve are too soon old und too late schmart
Moondog55
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 11066
Joined: Thu 03 Dec, 2009 4:15 pm
Location: Norlane Geelong Victoria Australia
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: Another Exped downmat fail

Postby CasualNerd » Tue 10 Jul, 2018 7:16 pm

Moondog55 wrote:I think I have one here I'll check and get back to you

andrewa has kindly sent me one to play with, but I'll wait to see what i can do it it before I take another ;)

I have ordered a special mini iron I'm hoping will allow me to reseal it somehow, or at least learn more about how they're made and repaired.
User avatar
CasualNerd
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 495
Joined: Wed 03 Aug, 2011 3:33 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Another Exped downmat fail

Postby Nerdtrails » Sun 22 Jul, 2018 9:11 am

CasualNerd wrote:I have ordered a special mini iron I'm hoping will allow me to reseal it somehow, or at least learn more about how they're made and repaired.


My UL7 blew out two baffles down the middle a week ago two days into a five day hike which made for some sleepless nights.
I am planning on doing some experimenting with it as well so I would be very interested to hear how you go.
Nerdtrails
Nothofagus gunnii
Nothofagus gunnii
 
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed 14 Jan, 2015 11:05 am
Region: Queensland

Re: Another Exped downmat fail

Postby CasualNerd » Sun 22 Jul, 2018 9:34 am

Nerdtrails wrote:My UL7 blew out two baffles down the middle a week ago two days into a five day hike which made for some sleepless nights.
I am planning on doing some experimenting with it as well so I would be very interested to hear how you go.

A lot of people cut and reseal thermarests to shorten them without issue, but I haven't found anyone fixing expeds yet, which is weird being that they're so expensive, frequently fail, and probably constructed the same way.
User avatar
CasualNerd
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 495
Joined: Wed 03 Aug, 2011 3:33 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Another Exped downmat fail

Postby Nerdtrails » Sun 22 Jul, 2018 11:46 am

CasualNerd wrote:A lot of people cut and reseal thermarests to shorten them without issue, but I haven't found anyone fixing expeds yet, which is weird being that they're so expensive, frequently fail, and probably constructed the same way.


Somebody posted a picture on the forum a while ago of partially cut open Exped showing how the baffle had torn inside and that it's a different type of material to the outer that may not be as easily bonded which may be the reason for people not being able to fix them.

In my case if two baffles had not failed 2/3rds the length of the pad down the centre starting at the valves I would have tried just cutting and shortening the pad or reducing the width if it was a side baffle.
Over all a bad spot for easy repairs unfortunately.
Nerdtrails
Nothofagus gunnii
Nothofagus gunnii
 
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed 14 Jan, 2015 11:05 am
Region: Queensland

Re: Another Exped downmat fail

Postby CasualNerd » Sun 22 Jul, 2018 2:09 pm

Nerdtrails wrote:Somebody posted a picture on the forum a while ago of partially cut open Exped showing how the baffle had torn inside and that it's a different type of material to the outer that may not be as easily bonded which may be the reason for people not being able to fix them.

I don't suppose you have a link ? I tried searching for this !

I've ordered some TPU tape too, maybe I'm a bit too hopeful but it's worth having a go.
User avatar
CasualNerd
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 495
Joined: Wed 03 Aug, 2011 3:33 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Another Exped downmat fail

Postby Nerdtrails » Sun 22 Jul, 2018 2:51 pm

CasualNerd wrote:I don't suppose you have a link ? I tried searching for this !

I've ordered some TPU tape too, maybe I'm a bit too hopeful but it's worth having a go.


Here you go http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=27919.
Nerdtrails
Nothofagus gunnii
Nothofagus gunnii
 
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed 14 Jan, 2015 11:05 am
Region: Queensland

Re: Another Exped downmat fail

Postby CasualNerd » Sun 22 Jul, 2018 5:31 pm

Thanks !

Looks like some wide TPU tape would make it possible to repair, but would be a fiddly job.

If anyone has a failed mat they should definitely cut it up and post some pics before tossing it !
User avatar
CasualNerd
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 495
Joined: Wed 03 Aug, 2011 3:33 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Another Exped downmat fail

Postby CasualNerd » Tue 24 Jul, 2018 4:49 pm

20180724_163716.jpg


So the exped opens up very easily with a mini heat sealing iron set at 200c, just warm the edge and pull it apart. Sadly it's a down mat so there's a mess of feathers making it a messy job.

The baffles failed in exactly the same way as those in the other thread (or at least the one baffle I've reached) by cracking through the connecting clear joining tape.

I think I can make some strips of lightweight TPU packraft material and seal them in at the original baffle locations and seal it all back up. Easier said than done, but who knows !
User avatar
CasualNerd
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 495
Joined: Wed 03 Aug, 2011 3:33 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Another Exped downmat fail

Postby andrewa » Tue 24 Jul, 2018 8:04 pm

I'll be fascinated to see the outcome!

I've replaced it with another Exped UL downmat - but another Exped failure, and I'll be on to another brand.

A
andrewa
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1426
Joined: Sat 05 Mar, 2011 5:55 pm
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: None
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: Another Exped downmat fail

Postby Petew » Tue 14 May, 2019 11:47 am

I was recently speaking to the manager of Bogong about this issue. The baffles don't pull away as such, they tear. He said that the UL type mats have had a different baffle material since 2017 which has resulted in significantly less issues. I have six exped mats, three of which are the burlier synmats( no problems, two Synmat 7 UL, one of which was replaced under warranty.
Petew
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 711
Joined: Wed 05 Oct, 2016 12:07 pm
Region: New South Wales
Gender: Male

Re: Another Exped downmat fail

Postby zebee » Fri 09 Oct, 2020 8:09 pm

My Airmat 7 that has been sitting rolled up loosely under my bed for about 4 years delaminated with some impressive bangs when I inflated it yesterday. The downmat which had been sitting with it is so far fine.

If anyone in sydney or elsewhere wants the carcase...
zebee
Nothofagus gunnii
Nothofagus gunnii
 
Posts: 34
Joined: Mon 23 Jun, 2014 7:26 pm
Region: New South Wales


Return to Gear Reviews

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: JohnnoMcJohnno and 6 guests