Instaflator quality issues

[Jeff McWilliams]

Is anyone else having issues with their instaflator pad inflators?

I bought two of them about 5 weeks ago, based on good comments here. One was for me, and one was given to a backpacking friend.

Mine worked fine when tested at home, and again on an overnight trip 4 weeks ago.

I went to use mine again on a weekend trip last week, and it had developed a large tear about 4 – 8 inches away from the nozzle. I'm not sure how. I use it, then roll it up and put it in my pack. At home, it's stored in a gear bin until used again.

My friend tried hers for the first time this weekend. It had been in the original packaging until being taken out for use overnight. She says it looks like a seam on hers had given out, also about 4-8" away from the nozzle.

Kinda bummed. I REALLY like the idea of this device, but it seems to have quality issues.

Jeff

[Craig .]

One problem I encountered was the bag twisting where it connects to the nozzle. This will seal the bag and the air will have no place to go. Keep trying to inflate and some thing is gonna give.

As an aside I used the Instaflator on my hair just before that foto was taken. No connection to the company just a happy customer.

–BGR–

[J R]

Right out of the package mine had a small split (1") at one of the seams where it is pleated down into the nozzle. I patched it and its been fine since.

I don't try to inflate the pad all the way with it, there's a point where the air already inflated into the pad together with the pad construction are stronger than the Instaflator, so it would seem that trying to force that last air could cause the 'flator to pop.

[Randy Martin]

Doesn't sounds like this was the issue with yours but I avoid putting major pressure on it. Similar to the issues with Sawyer squeeze bags, I find that rolling up instead of squeezing down and putting more pressure on the material is a likely culprit to seem failures.

[USA Duane Hall]

Cut some of the sleeve off and re-install. I cut mine in half, so I have a second part if the first fails.
Duane

[Jeff McWilliams]

How do you affix the nozzle to the plastic film after cutting out the defective section?

[USA Duane Hall]

I was just guessing from looking at mine a few weeks ago that that was how it was put together, two pieces wedged into each other with the material in-between them. I'm at work on my break, so would not be able to look until Friday.
Duane

[Craig .]

The nozzle is two pieces. Grab each end with pliers and gently twist apart.

Looks like the bag needs to be tapered where it connects to the nozzle. As a test I tried using the non tapered end but the extra material restricts the air flow.

[USA Duane Hall]

Bummer.
Duane

[Josh Brock]

what kind of pad are you inflating?

I love my exped shnozzle. Filled up my syn mat ul7 in no time. Three bag fulls and about a minute and bam done.

Saw pics on the interwebz. What is that thing made out of?

[Jeff McWilliams]

NeoAir XLite. I would about 1 1/2 instaflator fills of air to get the NeoAir reasonably inflated, and top if off with a few breaths to firm it up.

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