Originally Posted by
Arden
I'm going to try that. I can lay it out on the floor in my bedroom, then try slipping into my bag for a while. I should be able to know within a few hours whether it will work. Of course, a wooden floor won't have the same 'hardness' as the tent floor on hard ground, but it should give me an idea of what it will be like without having to drag myself (and all my gear) onto the trail.
I have attempted to 'over-inflate' the air mattress, but either I don't have strong enough lungs, or I'm not doing it right. Is there a mechanical pump that could help out? Some sort of bellows with a hose that fits over the valve on the mattress, but at the same time allows one to twist the valve closed...
I wish they used a one-way valve with a release button for deflating. It would make inflation much easier.