DIY Exped Schnozzle?

THIS is a DIY solution that’s been around a while…

Combined with a pack liner such as a Nylofume bag, should work well.

I use one of those Instaflator roll-up things and really like it, but they stopped making those. Glad I bought 2 of them when I did.

If you’re carrying the pack liner anyway then your weight savings would be 2.4oz (before any DIY components added back in). If you’re not carrying the pack liner anyway then you should broaden your view of the alternatives to the Exped Schnozzle. For example, the Instaflator is purpose-built for this need, cut down it weighs the same 1.3 oz as the pack liner but has a nozzle built in.

Hmmm…I just use the Schnozzel as the pack liner.  Dual purpose and all that.

OK, I didn’t realize the Schnozzel pump bag was that big.

And a further note on the GG pack liners… I took a look at those on their website and it appears they might well be Nylofume bags.

I inflate my Synmat UL7 with a pump sack I made from a turkey size oven bag. I cut a small hole in the corner, and then stretched an appropriate size hose through it. It was a little too narrow to seal on the valve and stay in place, so I added a 1 inch section of bicycle inner tube over the end of the hose. I also added duct tape to the hose-bag connection for a better seal. It stays in place and works fairly well after a little practice. It does take quite a few inflation “pumps” because of the size, but I haven’t seen the need to improve it yet. The hose is a thin but rigid plastic one from an aquarium filter skimmer attachment.

Total weight is around 1.3 oz, I think.

To clarify, yes, I use my Schnozzle as a pack liner too.  But again, I’m trying to save weight by having a lighter pack liner / pump.  I’m also not entirely sold on the roll top design and slick fabric.  A plastic liner, such as the one sold by Gossamer Gear (does LiteTrail still exist?) seems to be easier to work with (albeit more “crinkly”). I will have to give that DIY solution referenced above a try, although I’m really looking for a slightly more permanent solution.  Essentially, what I need is a tube of some sort that exactly fits the hole in the mattress, then insert that into the bottom of my GG pack liner.

What I may do in the end is take the nozzle on my existing Exped Schnozzle and take some scissors to it…to see the result.  Maybe rig an attachment to connect the Schnozzle end to my GG pack liner? When you want to go UL, just pull out the scissors…right? (the sorts of things we obsess over here)

David, actually I might have a solution that doesn’t involve schlicing your Schnozzel. :^)

Remember the spare Instaflator I mentioned above? Well it has a couple of extra adapters molded into the little plastic fitting where the filler is located, and one of them might fit Exped. I use Thermarest products and therefore cut off those extra adapters and threw them in the trash, but they’re still in the package with the brand-new Instaflator that I haven’t touched. I’ll check later today to see if it fits and can pop it in the mail to you if you want to give that a try along with your GG bag liner.

The Schnozzle is gargantuan :) It easily holds everything in my pack except food and water and still can roll shut 3 times. I like being able to leave the ‘trunk’ unattached providing an exit path for air which allows the bag to compress as needed.

I’ve never really found it to be that unwieldy and always assumed it was a great deal more sturdy than a nyloflume or GG bag (although I have no experience with either). I warm up the Schnozzle nozzle in my mouth for a moment (to make it more pliable) then jam it on the TAR nozzle.

I would hate to see anyone have to schlice their Schnozzle :)

@Bob

Yeah, keep me posted. Essentially what I’m after is a nozzle that will fit the exped valve so I can set up a DIY solution with my GG pack liner.

@John

I’m not sure why I prefer the GG liner, I suppose I’m just used to it.  What I like about the GG liner is that you can push to compress your sleeping bag and then twist to shut off air.  Also, it’s clear so I can see the contents.  With the Schnozzle, air seems to leak in, allowing the sleeping bag to loft up again.  There isn’t really a way to seal off air fro the Schnozzle unless you twist, but twisting is hard with the roll-top design.  Maybe the solution is just to cut off the roll top, probably would save me around .3 oz or so.

By the way, I’m curious if my Schnozzle is heavier than most?  I recall someone posting here that their Schnozzle weighed in at 1.5 oz.  Mine is 2.4 oz.  :(

David, I’m sorry to report that the other adapters with the Instaflator did not fit Exped (I have the Exped pillow w/ the same valve). They were only for beach balls, kiddie wading pools, etc.

However, another thought occurred that you might be able to use one of those wine vacuum stoppers with the center drilled out.

David, I’m certain that the Schnozzle, like most other gear, varies a bit from unit to unit but would be very surprised to discover one that weighed as little as 1.5oz. Exped claims 2.1 for the (yellow) Schnozzel Pumpbag UL M, which is what I have (apparently there are 3 different products named “Schnozzle”).

FWIW, mine weighs 58.7g or 2.07oz.