I just got back from hiking the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail on Vancouver Island, Canada. I brought my MontBell UL Sleeping Pad with me and here is what happened:



This is the third time I've had problems with MontBell's sleeping pads, and this was definitely the worst. The "blister" is approximately one foot in diameter and too big to allow me to sleep with my legs on the pad. Luckily it was very warm and dry!

I'm going to MontBell this week to complain and ask for a refund. Though I love MontBell gear (I also used their Versalite Jacket on this trip and loved it), I will never use their UL pads again.

I'd definitely want my money back! Maybe you're cursed, though? My husband and I both have the same pad (a 90 and a 120) and have had no problem with either.

Search the forums for "delamination". On the first page of the search results you will find two threads about the pads.

Jon

It's so hard to put this sort of thing into perspective --- is this an inevitable problem that's eventually going to strike every Montbell UL pad owner, or a limited quality control issue that strikes just a small percentage, or ... ?

I can only say that I have over 2000 miles of backpacking with my UL 90, mostly on the PCT last year, and it's still doing fine. I'm thinking of doing the AT next year, and would definitely bring the same pad (not just the same *type* of inflatable pad, but the very same pad).

OTOH, more often than not I put a blue foam pad under this --- as a luxury, occasionally for warmth, and to reduce wear and chance of puncture on the Montbell pad. I have no idea if this helps to prevent delamanation.

I would say it's just a case of sh*t happens. I had a Thermarest delaminate whilst i was sleeping. I woke up wondering if i was sleeping on a turtle! :)

I've been using a Montbell UL90 for a couple of years without any problems.

Hi Jon,

I was the first person to report a delamination problem with MB pads two or three years ago (and also one of the first people to use one of their pads when they first came out). I had both pads replaced back then. I didn't expect it to happen again, but there you go. I went to MontBell today and they offered to either give me my money back or replace the pad with a newer production version. I took the new version and we'll see how this one holds up.

MontBell is still one of my favorite outdoor gear manufacturers and has been since 1979 when I first used their stuff. The problem with the sleeping pads doesn't reflect on how I see the rest of their gear. I have a LOT of stuff made by MB!

I hope the new ones work out. Other than my pad experience, they seem to make great products and have excellent customer service. I like the system & creating a full length pad with the pillow and the sit-pad. The pillow is the best I have tried (in its inflatable class) and stays put when attatched to the pad. For now, I will stick with Thermarest. I never had a problem with Thermarest delaminating. I may be willing to give the MontBell another try in the future.

Jon

Edited by Jon on 09/06/2009 11:02:33 MDT.