Long-term Inflatable Sleeping Pad Storage

According to the directions for my 3/4 Thermarest, it says for long term storage to store unrolled, filled w/ air in a dry place w/ the valve open (such as under a bed or behind a couch). As for oral inflation, the directions for this particular pad don't discourage this. In fact, it says in the case of a pad that has been stored rolled for an extended period of time to inflate w/ several breaths to restore its loft. I'd imagine that if you did orally inflate the pad it would eventually air itself out by leaving the valve open during storage. I'm not sure how this varies between different brands of pads. I also can't beleive that 1: I still have the directions, and 2: that I actually knew where the hell I put them :) Hope this helps!

I'm always reminded that when these Thermarest pads are made, they are vacuum sucked and packaged rolled tight and wrapped. They sometimes take up to a year or so to be sold and unwrapped.

It isn't proof positive that we shouldn't store them flat in the inflated or near inflated state at home. But, it suggests that being radical about this long term flat storage thing might be unwarranted.

I was off backpacking for 20 years, and my Thermarests were stored rolled with the valve open. They were just fine when I hauled them out for use.

My Therm-a-Rest and Decathlon pads stand up behind the door of my study, valves open. Although I don't think that storing them rolled necessarily causes damage, it does appear to slow the re-inflation of the mat after a while; and to be honest they're less in the way behind the door than rolled up in a cupboard.

I don't have a study, so flat, under the bed, with the valve open. :)

Just some thoughts, but when the pads are manufactured and mechanically deflated there's little or no moisture inside. After we use them, particularly if we backpack in humid climates, perhaps they get moisture inside, and they definitely will if we blow them up ourselves.
So, if all that's true then it might be that the moisture could lead to mold. Not much we can do about it if in a humid climate I suppose.
I work for REI and the Thermarest rep says that storing them flat with the valve open is the best way because they'll self-inflate better. I have room to store mine but if space is an issue then the guy that stores his loosely rolled with the valve open may be onto something.

I'd recommend cleaning valves with alcohol or other good disinfectant after a trip. This means pouring the alcohol INTO the open valve, letting it lay there 10 min. then draining it out. Before using the mattress again wipe the alcohol residue off to avoid alcohol taste.

Bacteria from our mouths multiplies, dries up then lays dormant and the next time we use the matress there is a possibility of getting a mild sore throat from the bacteria on the valve.

As a turkey hunter and duck hunter I always disinfected my calls for the same reason. This was after I discovered why I always got a mild sore throat in hunting season. After I began disinfection my calls no more sore throats.

Eric

I personally have stored my Thermarest folded in half and lying on top of all of my other gear in a Rubbermade bin and haven't had any real issues with it.

However, I've only used this pad on one weekend canoe trip so far. The concept of rinsing the insides out in an effort to sterilize it is intresting. How long have you been doing this and have you noticed any premature wear while doing this? I'd be worried about the effects on the foam interior.

I suppose if you rinsed it with rubbing alcohol and set it in the sun with the valve open for a few minutes the alcohol would vaporize fairly quickly and wouldn't leave any residual inside.