Exped MultiMat Review – A Versatile Outdoor Tool

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In this Exped MultiMat review, I present a great multi-functional backpacking and camping piece of equipment from a renown brand. This is a foam sleeping pad, but with very specific features.

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Description

Exped MultiMat has essentially 2 layers:

• 2 millimeters EVA closed cell foam on the underside. This layer itself is waterproof.
• Waterproof and lightweight uncoated ripstop nylon on the upper side.

Closed cell foam is a great insulator of course. Here, you have closed air bubbles completely trapped inside the foam, as opposed to the open-cell foam.

The foam layer provides a moderate insulation and cushioning. The nominal R-value is 1.2. But, as you will realize, this is a very wide pad, so when you fold it you have effectively 2.4 R-value.

It is also very long, so after being folded in width, it can be folded again in length and the R-value will double again to reach 4.8. But what you get in this case is indeed very short, only around 1 meter and this can hardly be used as a normal sleeping pad.

Though you may fold it differently, to have 4 thicknesses of the mat beneath the upper part of the body, 2 thicknesses beneath the lower part of the torso, and nothing below your knees. This is somewhat similar to a 3/4 length mattress.

Versatility

This tool can be used in the following ways:

• Sleeping pad in a tent or in a bivy bag. But do not expect a lot of comfort, it is rather thin.
• Tent footprint, i.e., ground layer under the tent, to protect it from the ground and to insulate it.
• Inside a tent as an extra tent liner, a floor for cushioning, and an additional protection of your sleeping bag.
• As a vestibule liner for your tent.
• As a sitting pad, for one or more people.
• As a protection for a sleeping bag in general. So you can use it in combination with an ultra-lightweight sleeping bag.
• As a mat for picnics and for a beach.
• As an insulated emergency blanket.
• It has snaps at the edges, so you can snap a couple of them together.
• You have loops at the corners of the mat, so you can stake it out. This you can use to make a shelter from the rain, remember it is a waterproof tool.

A very comprehensive review with field testing you may find here. I warmly recommend you to have a look there. It may answer any questions you might have.

Technical specifications & summary of features

• Use: multi-functional.
• Weight: 12.9 oz (366 g).
• Size: 78.7  x 39.4 x 0.1 in (200 x 100 x 0.25 cm).
• Packed size: 20 x 5 in (51 x 12.7 cm).
• Material:
  – closed-cell foam bottom,
  – 40 D ripstop nylon top.
• R-value: 1.2.
• Stuff sack included.
• Warranty: 5 years.

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So to summarize this Exped MultiMat review, this is a nice and versatile tool as you can see from the text. In my view, the best use of this ultra-lightweight mat is in combination with an inflatable ultra-lightweight sleeping pad, or with self-inflating pads, to add physical protection from below and extra insulation. Even an inflatable pad with a modest R-value around 3 would do. The combined insulation of such two pads would make them a 4-season tool.

You might want to see yet another insulated pad from the same brand, with the R factor 5.3, Synmat Mega 12.

I hope you find this text useful. Thank you for reading. For the update about the price of this product please follow the links given above.

Let me know what you think about this mat, there is a comment box below. Have a nice day.