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How do you inflate your air mattress?
- Thread starter Glenn MacGrady
- Start date
I have always inflated it outside to the tent.
Even when it is raining?
I used my lungs until I noticed mold growing inside my first exped mat. The mold lead to leaking seams. I had to throw it in the garbage. That was before exped invented their schnozzle bag. Since years I use exclusively the schnozzle bag and my mats show no sign of mold anymore.
I just leave it attached to the valve and fill it with air. This way you will have to refill and pump a few more times, yes, but without "pivoting".
Under tarp.
I still use the ascend self inflating pad that I got at a Bass Pro shop several years ago. It's about an inch and half thick when inflated. I'll lay a wool military blanket over it, and I sleep very well. I've had it for several years, and no holes in it yet.
I use the stuff stack that came with my Klymit mattress - it has a built-in connector. You don't need "wind" to fill the sack, just open it and the volume of air that occupies the open space is then trapped when you start squishing. It takes about 7 bag-fulls - I don't like it too full, hips/shoulders should just barely be off the ground if side-sleeping.
that is exactly how the snozzle bag works
I have a couple of these. The big ones (Klymit Static V insulated, Thermarest insulated, and thermarest normal neoair) all require 16-20 breathes to inflate. The smallest, a Klymit Inertia(?) weighs only 8oz, and inflates in about 10 breathes, but it's thinner and only designed to support parts of you. I don't like doing any of it manually.
I've seen people use an air bag, and that seems better.
I recently got a notice from Amazon that a 3oz USB-rechargable pump was on sale down from $30-something to $23, so I bought it. Supposed to be good for 5-6 inflations. We'll see.
I've seen people use an air bag, and that seems better.
I recently got a notice from Amazon that a 3oz USB-rechargable pump was on sale down from $30-something to $23, so I bought it. Supposed to be good for 5-6 inflations. We'll see.
I've had a Nemo Roamer single XL pad for over a year now, which is a 4" thick foam-air mattress. It came with an air-capture bag pump, but even that is somewhat of a hassle since you have to breathe moist air into it. Deflating the mattress to fit in the stuff sack is an even bigger hassle for my ancient bones.
I'm buying the new Flextail Tiny Pump 3X, which can inflate and deflate and also serve as a five mode lantern, as well as a fire bellows. The only problem is that the pump doesn't have a nozzle that fits exactly into the Laylow inflation valve of the Nemo Roamer mattress. However, a guy on Etsy 3D prints an adapter for the Tiny Pump 2X and 3X for the Nemo Roamer and Tensor valves, as well as some other valves such as Big Agnes that the Flextail pumps are not entirely compatible with.
I'm buying the new Flextail Tiny Pump 3X, which can inflate and deflate and also serve as a five mode lantern, as well as a fire bellows. The only problem is that the pump doesn't have a nozzle that fits exactly into the Laylow inflation valve of the Nemo Roamer mattress. However, a guy on Etsy 3D prints an adapter for the Tiny Pump 2X and 3X for the Nemo Roamer and Tensor valves, as well as some other valves such as Big Agnes that the Flextail pumps are not entirely compatible with.
Since this was originally posted, I purchased a FlexTail Max 3 pump to replace my bag pump. I am using it on Exped mattresses when I camp with the misses.
It comes with quite a few adapters, but I never thought to check for 3D adapter options, may check that out.
It does inflate quickly, but not night and day better than a bag pump, HOWEVER, the big thing I like is the deflate option, so much faster and being able to pull air out makes the packing operation a lot easier IMO.
Brian
It comes with quite a few adapters, but I never thought to check for 3D adapter options, may check that out.
It does inflate quickly, but not night and day better than a bag pump, HOWEVER, the big thing I like is the deflate option, so much faster and being able to pull air out makes the packing operation a lot easier IMO.
Brian
I bought a small (2 oz) rechargeable air pump that doubles as a great bellows to get a fire going.
I checked that Etsy site and he doesn't show adaptors for Big Agnes pads but maybe the ones shown are compatible but he just didn't say it.
I messaged him about it. My Flextail Max 3 works okay on my Agnes but it would be better if the Flextail adaptor actually fit snugly.
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pumpsack like many mentioned in this tread
Andrew answered quickly and yes, he does have a version for Big Agnes.
The deflate mode does not work for non-foam mattresses. The bag just sucks together and stops all airflow. Flextail is great for inflation though.
Since my original post, I too puchased a flextail pump and LOVE it. I will never again bring the Exped schnozzle pumpbag unless my trip plan runs longer than the flextail's battery.
Thats odd. My Klymit, Nemo, and Amok pads all deflate with the pump. Sometimes it is a little fiddly getting started.
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