my new innovation!

[dmb658]

So the other dayi got my new sleeping pad, the Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Pad, 25$ at the rei super clearance. One of my co-workers at rei told me how he had made a pump out of a sea-to-summit 20L drybag, and of course ths caught my attention, because i really don't want to blow my bag up everynight with my own lungs...

SO, i decided to make one for myself, i had to buy some plastic tubing and a connector piece. The connector piece went on the inside of the bag to the bottom, and from the outside i slid the tubing over the connector piece(as well as the drybag). i then cut the tubing to length, now the only thing stopping me was a piece of fabric that was stretched over the covering of the whole. SO i used a bic ligter to heat up a screwdriver and when it was hot enough, i melted a perfect sized hole inside the tubing

The bag will double as my clothing bag, so it may be a little bit of a hassle, but in the end, i think it will be worth it, It works great, blows up real fast, air does come back out of the mattress it self but it is so slow, that it doesnt even make a difference

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/lowcarbscoop/pump2.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/lowcarbscoop/pump3.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b47/lowcarbscoop/Pump1.jpg

[mudhead]

How long would it take to inflate that pad without the gadget?

[dmb658]

i cant give you exact timing but there is a significant change in time between the two, the bag is fairly quick and effective. its very easy to inflate, its awkward at first, but once you figure out a good method its amazing how easy it is

[generoll]

so you open the top to fill the bag, seal it and then squeeze? each 'stroke'? i'm still not clear on how you put the connector onto the base of the bag. what size tubing did you use? 3/8?

[dmb658]

i didnt actually buy these parts, so i don't know the sizing on them, i CAN find out and will let you know.

but yes you fill the bag up, seal it, then i squeeze it, its a lot easier than it sounds.

[generoll]

FWIW, depending on how tired I am, it takes me about 20-22 breaths to fill my BA mummy pad. I wish I'd seen the REI clearance sale. That was some deal.

My only concern with using the clothes bag as the pump is finding a way to seal the tubing when I'm using it for my clothes. I'd hate to have a wet pack and wet clothes.

[dmb658]

http://www.epinions.com/pr-Irrigation-Orbit_SunMate_Universal_Hose_Mender_Female_End_581 03

For the "Universal Female mender" (this is the connector piece) have the 5/8" - 3/4" size

as for the tubing, i am 90% sure it has 3/4" Inside Diameter

[tomsawyer222]

Well a company called exped already manufacturers bags just like that to inflate their downmats with..... designed to fit right on the mat valve

http://exped.com/exped/web/exped_homepage.nsf/b43HomePageE?openframeset

[dmb658]

i had seen the mat in my store, it was on super clearance, but i do not know how much this was selling for, i think thats where my buddy got the idea from

[walkinfool]

Nice job, DMB. I love simple but really useful innovations like that. I recently decided to go with a closed-cell sleeping pad because I didn't feel like blowing up my inflatable pad every night. Hadn't thought of using a stuff sack to blow it up.

[Tinker]

Stephenson Warmlite has been using the sleeping bag stuffsack (with a plug attached) to inflate their down air mattresses since around 1970. I bought one in 1986. Not a new idea, but a nice do it yourself project. :)