Best way to inflate neoair xlite

NeoAir XLite Instructions

NeoAir Mattress User Guide and Warranty Information

To Inflate
Unroll your air mattress and open the valve. Blow air into the first section of the mattress and close the valve. Push the air from the inflated section into the bottom, noninflated section of the mattress with the valve still closed. Open the valve and continue inflation. A regular length mattress takes an average of 20 strong breaths to fully inflate. Once inflated, you can personalize firmness by lying on the mattress with the valve near your head. Simply reach up and open the valve slightly to create your ideal level of support.

(from the Instructions pdf)

Therm-a-Rest FAQs

What’s the best way to inflate my NeoAir mattress?

Whether you choose the versatility of a Pump Sack, the ease of a NeoAir air pump, or the ultimate reliability of mouth inflation, here are some tips for inflating your NeoAir mattress: Unroll your NeoAir mattress and open the valve. Blow air into the first section of the mattress and close the valve. Push the air from the inflated section into the bottom, non-inflated section of the mattress with the valve still closed. Open the valve and continue inflation. A regular length mattress takes an average of 20 strong breaths to inflate fully. Once inflated, you can personalize firmness by lying on the mattress with the valve near your head. Simply reach up and open the valve slightly to create your ideal level of support.

I was told the moisture in your breath is not good for it…not true? Nothing else that cuts cuts down on the lung workout?

Get a little doo-hickey called the Instaflator, about one dollar. Check Leslie's Pool Supplies, I've found them there. Basically a giant plastic tube, about the same kind of plastic as grocery bags are made from, attached to a nozzle.

Anyone know how to remove the water accumulated inside a pad such as an X-Lite?

It doesn't appear that Leslie's sells the instaflator anymore. I wasn't able to find it on their website and the manufacturer is out of stock as well. Any ideas where else might sell them? Thanks for the help!

Inflate it and stand on end with valve down for starters. Always store flat with valve open.

"Anyone know how to remove the water accumulated inside a pad such as an X-Lite?"

+1 to what Kens says.

If you have a tall south facing window and good sun, you can be a little more proactive. I have and Exped UL, which is pretty translucent, allowing me to see the beads of water inside. I under-inflate with a pump, then stand the matt in the window and let it heat up. I can tell by the pressure. Then I deflate it and repeat. I can see the condensed water diminishing. Doing 4 to 6 cycles across the day gets the job done. (I do have the advantage of living in Colorado, with an inside humidity of about 20%.)

Ben-to-World uses a fish tank air bubbler for about 24 hours, unattended, to accomplish the same thing.

due to the horizontal baffles, to remove condensate, I would think it be best to prop up at an inclined angle sideways so they can drain, then drain to the valve.

However, I expect that does very very little for tiny condensate droplets.

To dry it you would need to repeatedly inflate/deflate with unsaturated air.

IE if you use an instaflator or other device repeatedly once back home in air conditioned house, you will evaporate the water out.

I just got one of these for Christmas so I have no experience yet. Blowing it up seemed easy enough to me — I would think easier than futzing around with various inflation mechanisms. But then I haven't tried it after a long day of hiking yet.

The only reason there would be significant water build up is if condensation accumulates on the cold (bottom) side with each use. Does anyone know if that happens under typical 3 season conditions? I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to set this out in the morning sun, bottom side up, for a few minutes each day before deflation. Any evaporated water will exit with deflation.

Back to original post, I wouldn't necessarily predict that bone dry air would be any better for baffle material (whatever it is) than slightly humid air. But really wet conditions could lead to various life forms growing, which wouldn't be good.

I've seen water collect in a NeoAir over just a season's use. It may not affect the insulation properties, but it could affect durability.

I've had good luck using the Therm-a-rest brand inflator. It's more durable than the Instaflator for me, and it's faster. Well worth the ounce it weighs.

Humm … when you cut and reseal the xlite to custom size it as lot of us have done (easy) I wonder if leaving a little bag of silicon-dioxite desiccant in the back chamber (where it gets opened) might help. This would reduce the humidity in the (low volume) CLOSED/PACKED pad to nil, hopefully reducing or eliminating condensation). When you get home do as described above – open the valve and let equilibrium set in over time (including for the SiO20 which should very gradually dry out again) under low humidity conditions if you have any. Where I live I might have to wait until spring for that.

I think the only way for the moisture to "hurt" the pad (I've seen the inside up close when I did my pad surgery) would be if mildew set in, though if it becomes a solid block of ice or water I guess that might increase its thermal conductivity "somewhat". ;-)

Is there some other type of possible damage I'm missing here …other that the emotional hit you take when your buddies laugh at (or hate) you at you because you pad makes sloshing noises at night when you turn over?

Unless you camp at temps > 98.6F, condensation can happen every time you blow it up.

The air from your lungs is warm, and essentialy saturated with moisture.Possibly not saturated when taking quick successive breaths to inflate, but close enough.

Whats needed is a second valve, then connect instaflator to one end, open the other, and blow low humidity air thru for a while to dry out.

Or, dont worry about it, and have it replaced under warranty if it degrades. This is my personal approach.

I've been using an exped schnozzle with an msr adaptor to inflate my xlite.It saves on a lot of huffing and puffing and I also put my quilt and down sweater in there for waterproofing in the pack.

"Or, dont worry about it, and have it replaced under warranty if it degrades. This is my personal approach."

I'm with you there! Personally I feel like when I am crapping in the mountains, and wiping with moss and pine cones for weeks on end, it is aesthetically unbalanced to get too prissy about my "pad maintenance". Also I think the likelihood of damage and degradation from the outside in this case FAR surpasses anything that can go on because of a little condensation. I'm usually just happy the mechanics of blowing it up are so simple at the end of a long day.

You should try Douglas Fir cones.

I blow up my Xlite, fwiw.

I use the Big Agnes Pumphouse Drysack. This is a great waterproof stuffsack with a rolltop closure. I can fit my sleeping bag, my down jacket, and all my clothes in it. It has a small nozzle at the end that can be opened or closed with a cordlock on an elastic string. It is very easy and much faster to inflate the neoair with the drysack. It works great as a pillow and as a shower. Not bad for 1.5 oz

Do you need an adapter to get it to fit onto the valve for the xlite?

You do not need an adapter. The fabric nozzle of the Big Agnes Pumpsack slides over the twist valve of the thermarest and you just cinch it down with the cord lock. It also works with the REI Flash pads or any pad with the twist valve that sticks out.

@Tom

How about using a schnozzle? What kind of MSR adapter are you referring to?

go here http://www.cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest/accessories/neoair-airtap-pump/product
I'm not familiar with the BA but it sounds similar

Did this in under 10 minutes (after reading the thread…) at no cost.
Get a light largish plastic bag
1x heavy duty rubber band
a square of tape (clear tape works )
Make a small circular hole where you want the mat nozzle to go.
Insert the valve (open) put the rubber band on from the inside
Inflate.

And the important bit here…
About 15g (1/2oz) folds down to the size of a C size battery.
(of course that depends on the bag you use)

Where do you put the tape?

Would you happen to have the name/link of that MSR valve adaptor?