Instaflator heads up

I finally bit the bullet and traded out my trusty and indestructible 3/4 Closed Cell for the comfort of a NeoAir Xlite (Regular). My concern was moisture getting inside and lowering the R value, so naturally I checked out the instaflator. I took a look at the connection and figured it must be able to improved/lightened for the fill valve for a mattress. Well I successfully cut the weight from 1.8 to 1.2 oz :) a 33% reduction!

I cut a 1/4" cylindrical piece off of the original black fill port, slid the clear hose section over the bag end, inserted the 1/4" black section, and then slid the clear hose down with the bag 'captured' to hang back over the end. It took some huffing and puffing to get it to go. I think a hair dryer would have helped soften up the clear plastic, but I worried about weakening the bag. It's a seriously tight connection. The bag did move a bit with the clear tube and occluded the airway. I used a very small pair of scissors to trim the excess bag in the opening to ensure that it didn't block the airflow. With this Mod, I had full access to the connection. If if you don't want to do all that to save half an oz, I recommend that you slide the collar back (just give it a twist) and pull back or trim the excess if you're having a blockage.

Cool mod. I just used an Instaflator for the first time over a week in the Sierra and found the blockage from spillover bag in the throat of the black collar, too. A few slices with the skinny Baladeo and we were back in action.

As my buddy, who borrowed the Instaflator every day after he saw me use it, said, "this thing sure beats huffing and puffing at the end of the day!" A-freaking-men!

I copied your modification, with the addition of a 1-1/2'' hunk of large-diameter drinking straw shoved down the throat to keep it open. A local restaurant serves them with milk shakes. Too chubby to fit inside the Instaflator's nozzle, but once slit lengthwise it rolled nice and small, then it expanded to push the bag material out of the way and provide a nice open airway. Boiling the clear vinyl tubing made it soft enough so it slipped over. This will be much better than trying to inflate my mattress through an occluded (nice, appropriate word there!) airway.

I'm sure you could cut the plastic bag material in half possibly, I wonder how much weight that would save?

Also a cuben .51 bag would be sweet.

Cutting the bag in half would save a couple of grams, maybe. It's a very light bag / tube.

Our local store still stocks these, even after I bought six of them for a buck a piece and handed them out to buddies.

I never had issues with mine and have been using one for a while now.

It's lighter or as light as other options and much easier and quicker to use.

Blowing up with your mouth is not a good option and reduces the insulation factor, especially on a long hike where it would be difficult to dry out the accumulated moisture.

The instaflator is the best! I have used it many times with no issues. When the whole family goes we have 4 different air pads to inflate and the instaflator makes short work of them!

I really like the mod. I have used ours a few times on vacation to blow up rafts at the beach so I think I'll pick up an extra to mod just for backpacking.