Best for fast and light travel and thru-hiking in cold conditions

Plusses: Thick, warm, quick to inflate and easy to adjust
Minuses: Narrow foot area

581g / R7.1

Features: Exped’s proven DownMat technology insulates this mat with responsibly sourced down enclosed within a 20D recycled polyester ripstop face fabric. The 9cm thick longitudinal air chambers are thicker at the outside to prevent roll-off. Large and separate FlatValves are easy to use, and its long-nozzled pump bag can also be used as a roll-top dry bag.

Shape: Its pronounced mummy shape contributes to its light weight but some people may find it narrow at the foot. It’s available in medium (183 x 52cm) and long-wide (197 x 65cm).

Comfort: All three mats are comparable in thickness and plushness, but the Exped fabric seemed slightly stretchier, which gave it an overall edge in comfort. However, it needs to be inflated slightly more firmly. While it’s thick and comfy, the weight-saving mummy shape comes at the cost of not providing much ground coverage inside a tent, and it’s easier to lose your feet off the narrow foot area.

In use: The mat’s compact packed size and light weight was appreciated in a pack loaded with winter equipment. The huge pump bag and large valve allow rapid inflation, and the wide valve diameter is easy to operate for fine-tuning by deflation, even with a glove on and when fumbling in the dark. There is a separate rapid deflation valve. I found the length of the mat ample, but because the thicker side baffles narrow towards the foot of the mat, my feet had a tendency to hang off the edge, especially if the ground wasn’t flat. Note that down-filled mats are best stored unrolled with the valve open, so a little more care is required. The repair kit contains patches and glue that requires curing time, so maybe take instant repair tape too.

Value: Considering its price, weight, thickness and R-value compared with its competitors, the Ultra 7R Mummy is very good value.

Verdict: This mat ticks a lot of boxes for those wanting a four-season mat at a good price with appealing weight and packing size.