Are all inflatable pads measured by their deflated dimensions?

[Mitch Chesney]

I found my first foray into inflatables left a sour taste and slight distrust. My new Neoair Xtherm measures on 23" inflated but the full 25" once delated. We don't measure tent footprints by laying out the fly flat on the ground… Why is measuring the packed (aka, useless) dimensions acceptable for this genre?

[David Thomas]

So, like fast-food burgers, sleeping pads are advertised using their "pre-cooked" weights?

Get a good law firm, research the misleading diagonal measurement lawsuit (that was over $100 million), and consider a class-action suit. Although I doubt it would add up to $100 million.

[Roger Caffin]

> Why is measuring the packed (aka, useless) dimensions acceptable for this genre?
A very good question, but I can think of a number of answers.

Because that is a measurement which anyone can make, reproducibly.

Because the inflated dimension varies according to the amount of inflation.

Because that is how the mfr cuts out the fabric.

And finally, the fine print often states that the measurement is taken with the mat deflated.

Yeah, I know, not exactly what you wanted, but have you tried measuring pack volumes to the ASTM Standard and comparing that to the mfr's claims? Packs are far worse.

Cheers

[Bob Gross]

Roger, the exception to the "deflated" measurements is the thickness. That is always the "inflated" measurement.

–B.G.–

[Mitch Chesney]

That would be a welcomed improvement for listed specs… a table showing width at various inflations:

0% (deflated) 25in wide
50% (soft) 24in wide
100% (firm) 23in wide

[AT Hiker]

Do any of the inflatable manufactures provide the inflated dimensions? I would add that I find the weights provided by Thermarest to be overstated compared to actual weights.

[Mobile Calculator]

…

[Gordon Gray]

Manufactures are full of $hit. They purposefully fool us, but just enough to not get in trouble.

As someone above mentioned, think of the thickness. They ALWAYS state the inflated amount. However, with length and width, they ALWAYS mention the deflated size. Essientially, what ever is bigger. It is in their favor. Not ours.

Think of tent weights – trail weight, packed weight, and minimal weight.

Fast food joints measure their burgers' calorie amounts based on sandwhiches without cheese, mayo, ext….. who gets these?

[Roger Caffin]

Hi Bob

> Roger, the exception to the "deflated" measurements is the thickness. That is always
> the "inflated" measurement.
True, but when you lie on the mat, it is never that thick :-)

Cheers

[Nick Gatel]

Now why didn't I ever think of this problem? But then I have never measured an inflatable pad. I just blow them up and sleep on 'em :)

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