Balloonbed Inflatable Sleeping Pad REVIEW

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My wife laughed at it. My kids giggled. Another Backpacking Light editor (who's identity I've sworn to protect) even amusedly called it "hilarious". But, I like the Balloonbed. What other product gives you a two-inch thick sleeping pad for under three ounces? If your hiking partners tease you about it, just stare them down while wearing a balloon-animal hat!

ARTICLE OUTLINE

Introduction
What's Good
What's Not So Good
Specifications: Manufacturer, Year/Model, Shell Material, Balloons, Shell Weight, Pump Weight, Stuff Sack Weight, Balloon Weight, Total Weight, Inflated Dimensions, MSRP
Performance
Setup
Comfort
Warmth
Durability
What's Unique
Recommendations for Improvement

# WORDS: 1070
# PHOTOS: 6
# TABLES: 1

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Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

Author

Posts
Oct 3, 2006 at 7:47 pm #1219794

Carol Crooker
BPL Member

@cmcrooker
Locale: Desert Southwest, USA

Companion forum thread to:

Balloonbed Inflatable Sleeping Pad REVIEW

Mar 29, 2008 at 12:55 pm #1426112

August Hahn
Member

@august
Locale: Pacific Northwest

At one time about 20 years ago I had a simieler pad that had reusable bladders,I have tryed traction kite sites to see if I could get some custom made but have not recieved any replys the business is in China.If anyone knows anyone that could custom make tupes that would be really nice.please email me at [email protected] if you know any leads.Thanks

Sep 28, 2008 at 5:01 am #1452491

Rog Tallbloke
BPL Member

@tallbloke
Locale: DON'T LOOK DOWN!!

I'm amazed this article didn't generate any debate on a UL backpacking site.

Sep 28, 2008 at 12:16 pm #1452522

Lynn Tramper
Member

@retropump
Locale: The Antipodes of La Coruna

I see some improvements I think might be worthy of playing with. The first and most obvious is to make the shell out of lighter material….silk or cuben ala Bill Fornshell. The second is to make the shell 'baffled' like a quilt, with the baffles fitting tightly around the balloons. This would reduce the gaps where drafts sneak in, and may improve the R-Value.

The thrid possibility is to tie the balloons so they CAN be re-used. There is a technique involving twisting of the valve instead of tieing a knot that would work, but the balloons would ideally be more robust for this approach!

Definitely a fun DIY project ;)

Sep 28, 2008 at 12:57 pm #1452531

Bill Fornshell
BPL Member

@bfornshell
Locale: Southern Texas

I played with the Balloon Bed idea for several years. I found these things called "CheerStics" and started this thread:

CheerStic Air Pad

Then I went back to the ballon idea and dyed the white Silk Kilt black. The picture shows it being used at Wood's Hole Shelter on the AT in Georgia, October 2006, as the shell for my balloon bed. The balloon bed is torso length.

The Silk Kilt used alone weighs 1.9 ounces.

If you are careful you can tie a slip knot on the balloon and use it more than once. This is sort of hard so it you try this carry a few extra balloons. I am only about 50% successful with a slip knot.

The balloons alone have about "0" insulation value.

I use a self-inflating balloon that weigh about 3 grams each.

Sep 28, 2008 at 2:17 pm #1452542

Roger Caffin
BPL Member

@rcaffin
Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

Hi Bill

> I use a self-inflating balloon that weigh about 3 grams each.

I am sure we would all love to know how you make a self-inflating balloon! Or do I misunderstand?

Cheers

Sep 28, 2008 at 3:48 pm #1452550

Lynn Tramper
Member

@retropump
Locale: The Antipodes of La Coruna

Perhaps he means he inflates himself (by mouth), rather than using a pump! I imagine this would be quicker than using a pump too. Otherwise I am intrigued….!

Sep 28, 2008 at 4:04 pm #1452555

Jay Wilkerson
BPL Member

@creachen
Locale: East Bay

Clever stuff but it does not look that cumfortable to me!!! Plus who wants to be blowing up balloons after a long day of backpacking. Balloons don't self inflate-right?

Sep 28, 2008 at 4:21 pm #1452556

Mark Verber
BPL Member

@verber
Locale: San Francisco Bay Area

> I imagine this would be quicker than using a pump too.

Depends on the person. I just don't have enough lung power to blow those balloons up… so it's use the little pump or nothing.

I wrote a brief balloonbed review around three years ago which come to many of the same conclusions that Carol did.

With the advent of the BA clearview and the soon to arrive thermarest, I would skip the balloonbed.

Sep 28, 2008 at 5:20 pm #1452561

Bill Fornshell
BPL Member

@bfornshell
Locale: Southern Texas

Hi all,

I have a special lot of balloons left over from a camp out with Harry Potter. Ha-Ha

Self-inflating – I should have said self-inflated. Anyway it means that I inflate them and don't use a balloon pump.

This is a learned skill.

All I will say about the balloon bed idea is that if you can blow up your own balloons and are only out for a few days at the lightest weight you can come up with – then the balloon bed might be worth the trouble.

My feelings about the balloon bed lead me to develop the Poly Tube Down Air Mattress.

Sep 29, 2008 at 4:01 am #1452618

Derek Goffin
Member

@derekoak
Locale: North of England

A balloon bed is very light for one night but fragile and not good for longer trips, because the balloons are not really reuseable . I wonder about a similar modular idea using the BPL 2 compartment pillows in a thin cloth or cloth/foam boxwall holder. A spare pillow would give security. That could be warm, comfortable and lighter than thermorests etc.
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Balloonbed Inflatable Sleeping Pad REVIEW

By Michael Martin

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Balloonbed Inflatable Sleeping Pad REVIEW

By Michael Martin

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By Michael Martin

Free Handbook

Get ultralight backpacking skills, gear info, philosophy, news, and more.

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