inflating stuff

[patrickg450]

so are yous guys carrying a separate pump to inflate your sleeping pad? I was wondering of I could make some soft of adapter for my slime pump.

Any members got any great inventions?

 

[Wanderer]

Howdy,
This is what I use for the mattress. I believe you could adapt your tire pump to work but it may take awhile to fill the mattress. Tire pumps, especially in the size we use, are usually high pressure low volume while the mattress pump will be high volume low pressure.

http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-12-Volt-QuickPump-Colors-Vary/dp/B0009PUQEG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393859065&sr=8-1&keywords=coleman+12v+pump

Later,
Norm

 

[arjayes]

I used the inflatable Coleman mattresses during Cub Scouts but got really tired of the pumps. For car camping I now use one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/ALPS-Mountaineering-Comfort-Series-Air/dp/B000MQ80DG

on top of one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/ALPS-Mountaineering-Titan-Large-19-5-Inch/dp/B0036QZCLC

The pad is self-inflating and I like that much better than the big Coleman air bags that lose air over time. With these self-inflators the work is in getting the air out (compressing it to roll it up).

For bike camping I use one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Exped-DownMat-Pump-Sleeping-Pad/dp/B0038WRMVW

Kind of pricey but is well-insulated and packs reasonably small. Has a built-in hand pump for inflating it. Works well.

 

[offcamber]

Compressors that are desinged for tires will take a long time...their focus is on presure not volume. You are better off with a pump desinged to inflate mattresses.

One nice thing I like about my Nemo sleeping pad is a foot pump is integrated into the pad....that and its uber comfy

http://www.nemoequipment.com/product/?p=Cosmo+Air+%26+Pillowtop+1P+SE

I picked up mine at Eastern Mountain Sports for under $100

 

[sportsguy]

Lips...

 

[snakebitten]

Lol. Blue lips.

 

[patrickg450]

we had a small pump last time we camped............but it did not have enough UMPH to blow up the pads. Once there go to be some pressure it just buzzed up and hissed air out the seems. Cheap POS, thats why I thought I would ask around.

 

[Ramseybella]

Don't blow up your Thermarest if you just drank a beer.
You let the air out the next morning is like waking up in some Cheap hotel room with a cheap bar pickup..
Nasty stuff, blow it up before you pop a beer..
Smart SOB>>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=hyK_5B06KhM#t=247

 

[Maxified]

Ha! Sounds like the voice of direct experience which is nearly always good advice. I use the self-inflatable, not quite as cushiony but convenient.

 

[Ramseybella]

Ha! Sounds like the voice of direct experience which is nearly always good advice. I use the self-inflatable, not quite as cushiony but convenient.

I do use a self inflating pad Thermarest Base camp but most of the time I have to add some air to get it the way I like it.

 

[snakebitten]

Ok, I gotta admit I'm an air mattress snob. On a short trip, 1 or 2 nights in a tent, I will rough it with the thin camping mattress. But anything longer, I buy the big huge wallyworld Colman and the 4D battery pump. Queen size!
Then usually gift someone around the campground before heading home.

 

[patrickg450]

so where do you pack that huge thing on your scooter?

 

[snakebitten]

That's why I buy it after I make camp.

 

[timothy.davis]

Fire starting is an added benefit of having the blowers around. Using electric tape I join a small length 1/2 inch copper tubing to the end of the hose. Extreme caution must be used but one can quickly have a blaze going. I us a plug in variety at home for the wood stove. I have a three foot section of 1/2 inch pipe attached to get to the hard to reach ambers. The down side is if you are not extremely careful you have the ability blow super-heated coals to destinations they shouldn’t be. With safety awareness and a little practice it works great.

 

[Boondocker]

I use a Big Agnes Pumphouse https://www.bigagnes.com/Products/Detail/Accessory/Pumphouse

At first it seems like more effort than it's worth, but when you get the hang of it, it's quicker than huffing and puffing. Also saves on passing out from hyper-ventilating at higher elevations. It's useful dry bag when not doing pumping duty.

I've used closed-cell foam and self-expanding mattresses, but my Big Agnes Long Ranger bag with integrated air mattress is by far the most comfortable and compact that I've used. As a bonus, they come in regular (6') and long (6.5') lengths and left or right side zippers. I have a long left zipper, my wife has a regular right zipper. We zip the bags together for cuddle time in the tent and tune each pad to our liking.

 

[pub610]

The trash bag thing works like a charm.

 

[PowersUSA]

Below is a link to an air mattress that works on the same principle as what all allows the trash-bag to fill quickly with minimal breaths.

http://www.windcatchergear.com/

 

[gunner]

This thread got me looking for a similar solution for my Exped mattress and I found the Exped Schnozzel Pumpbag:

http://www.campsaver.com/schnozzel-pumpbag?gclid=COrPgqqX0L4CFcpQ7AodVXcANA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3ecMAIfkts

If you have an Exped with an integrated pump, then you will also need a flatvalve adapter:

http://www.campsaver.com/flatvalve-adapter

http://www.exped.com/usa/en/product-category/mats/flatvalve-adapter

I just ordered one.

Thanks,

Steve

 

[lacofdfireman]

Trash bag idea is cheap and genius.

 

[West]

Trash bag idea is cheap and genius.

Yes and it's easy to master. No more passing out or filling your insulated air mattress with stale spit and stagnate vapor from your lungs.