Exped SynMat HL Duo

My wife and I have owned this mat now for just over two months, and our one-word opinion of this mat went from questionable to incredible.

We bought this mat in December of 2016, getting ready for a two-year trip where we will be visiting conservation destinations around the world, many of which will be national parks, and in many of which we'll be camping. We've been using two ultralight Thermarests for the last several years, which have been great, and when reviewing every opportunity to cut down on space and weight, we came across this mat.

The concept of the mat made complete sense. Why were we sleeping on two separate pads that seem to act as negatively-attractive magnets, pushing each other apart throughout the night, inviting a stream of cold air to come between us?  The single mat seemed to be an obvious idea that we never thought of. So after a few checks of reviews, all of which seemed to be good, we paid what seemed to be a large amount of money for this Exped Hyperlite Duo mat.

We inflated it once in the house before using it camping to ensure it didn't have leaks. The mat's valves were different than the Thermarests', for which we'd been using a tiny electric pump which really eases the fill process and avoids moisture buildup inside the mat. Unfortunately, the Exped's valves are different and do not fit the pump, so filling was a bit more tricky—trying to use a combination of holding the pump to the hole, and then filling the last bit with our lungs. (This really is not a big deal though, and I feel weird even writing about it.) The stress of leaving on a two-year trip probably added to our questioning of whether or not to change our sleeping mat system, but we decided to bring it along.

We've now had the mat for two months, and all I can say is that it has made our sleeping system something to get excited about. Aside from the mat, we have two Sea to Summit sleeping bags that zip together, so the whole setup seems something that one might call glamping. But it's more lightweight and compact than our previous system, so I'll accept whatever names people want to call it.

This mat is incredibly comfortable and warm, and the two-chamber system really works well in preventing noticing when your partner is tossing and turning. The lack of a crack between my wife and me is truly amazing. We can sleep in comfort, knowing that our mats are not going to slide apart, and the added warmth of the zipped bags without the mat separation is something that deserves to be emphasized.  

If you camp with a wife or partner, the double mat is really the way to go. I don't see any reason to go back. The only holdback might be the price, but it's easy to justify when you just think how expensive hotels are compared to a few nice pieces of camping gear.

Why didn't this exist before!!

I based my review with the understanding that this mattresses is oriented to people that do not mind closeness. While camping such oddity as space isn't a matter to me nor my outdoor partners. The point is to share and not to distance one from another, thus enjoying warmth and company.

This mattress fits perfectly the smallest of two-people tents including the ultralight. By using all the floor space available, it places the mattress in a firm and unmovable position, which I do appreciate. No more moving mattresses at night.

It inflates with the pump included sack in a separate valve for either side, thus allowing to set your own preferred firmness. Deflation valves are separated as well for a total of four valves.

Since I tried this mattress, individual mattresses have never been used again except while solo. It is small enough as to name it a space saver for minimalists. It is a bit above the size of a Nalgene 1 liter bottle while packed.

Warm enough for early winter and it has been serving my outings for over two years now.  I may not state any negative issues whatsoever. Big enough for two men 6-feet tall. 

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