I know size isn’t everything, but the mat isn’t much bigger than a 1 L Nalgene. (The supplied bag is 1.7 L in capacity but long and skinny – 24 x 9.4 centimetres.) It’s light too, weighing in at 535 grams with all the necessary bits.

The ‘necessary bits’ is where it gets different. The Synmat comes with the snappily named Schnozzel Pumpbag (must be said with a German accent) – basically a large ultra-lightweight stuff sack with a drybag fastening at the top, ending in a long tentacle with a plastic valve. This clicks into a matching valve on the mat and you’re ready to inflate. With a graceful wave or two of the pumpbag you fill it with air, then use the rolltop closure to seal it off, before squeezing the air down the fabric tube into the mat. It took me about four bags and two minutes to inflate, but I’m sure you’d get quicker and more efficient with practice. (It would also help to have some space in the tent so your ‘graceful waves’ don’t take anyone out.)

Once inflated, the Synmat is pretty comfy to sleep on, feeling like a warmer, high-tech version of a Lilo. (Mostly because it is!) The microfibre insulation laminated to the top and bottom of the mat (60 g/m2) is said to give durable loft and insulation for the life of the mat, with an R-value of 3.3 keeping you comfortable down to -4°C. It certainly coped with a balmy summer’s night in the Blue Mountains…

There’s a separate valve for deflating the mat, a quick and easy process: open the valve, roll the mat up and slip it into the included stuff sack, along with the Schnozzel and handy repair kit.

The positives of the Synmat are its tiny size and weight and its relative comfort for an ultralight mat. Inflation is a bit more involved than with a standard self-inflating mat, but it’s pretty simple once you get the knack. Drawbacks are the noise: it’s made from a polyester laminate that rustles and crinkles as you move in the night. I’ve also heard reports of the compartments delaminating with use. However, it is an ultra-lightweight product: it’s not going to be as robust as heavier-duty products and should be handled with care. Exped back it well: the Synmat comes with a two-year warranty on materials and workmanship, the fabled badge of ‘Swiss design’, and each mat is individually tested for quality.

Review: M Holbeck

RRP: $219.95
www.expeditionequipment.com.au