This is more of a fix your own gear question than MYOG but this is where I’d expect to find the knowledge I’m looking for. I have a Kooka Bay DAM which for a long time worked very well for me. But the down has migrated over time to the end tubes and more towards the top (valve end) of the tubes. Probably from rolling it up to get the air out each time. The valve has a screen to keep the down from coming out which also makes it difficult for the air to come out. So I roll it from bottom to top and then fold it in half and do it again. I think this review of a Kooka Bay DAM seems to point to the issue with the down migrating:
“The goose down is now sealed within each tube of the air mat. This keeps it distributed very evenly. This also allows for a standard valve to be used”
So mine was made before this change. I’d love to fix this pad if possible and am willing to risk ruining it since it’s no longer effective. So far I haven’t identified a pad that would replace it or I’d just get a new pad. But I’d like a 72×25 well insulated pad that is not noisy, good for a side sleeper, not a lot heavier than the 25 oz this weighs and nothing seems to match all that. I’d imagine there’s a way to re-seal it if I cut it open (no idea how that is done) and move the down around, and that may be good enough for quite a while, but it would be nice to be able to prevent the down from moving out of the tubes if possible. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.
