Exped DownMat 9 Air Pad With Pump
A down-filled air pad was an unusual idea when this was written and it turned out to be a very good one. Exped still makes the DownMat line, which makes this one of the reviews here you can act on.
Why down inside an air pad works. Air on its own convects, so a plain inflatable is a poor insulator whatever its thickness. Filling the chambers with down stops the air moving and produces a very warm pad for its weight: the DownMat family sits around R5 to R8, which is winter and snow territory.
The standardised R-value is the update here. Since 2020 there is a single industry test, so you can compare Exped's numbers with everyone else's directly. That was not possible in 2010 and is the main reason pad shopping got easier.
The pump is not an accessory, it is the point. You must never inflate a down-filled pad by mouth: breath moisture gets into the down, mats it, and destroys the insulation permanently. The integrated or separate pump exists for that reason. This applies to any insulated inflatable, and it is the single most common way people ruin an expensive pad.
The trade-offs, honestly: it is heavier and considerably more expensive than a synthetic-filled equivalent of the same warmth, and a puncture in a down pad is a worse problem than in a foam one. Carry the patches.
Who should buy it: anyone camping on snow or in real cold. For summer, a much cheaper and lighter pad is the better answer.
Part of the guide to sleeping bags and pads.