Podcast 113 | Pad Pumps

[Backpacking Light]

Companion forum thread to: Podcast 113 | Pad Pumps

In episode 113 of the Backpacking Light Podcast, we talk about current PAD PUMP trends in the ultralight cottage industry, the challenges faced by small businesses during the holiday season plus a few interesting stocking stuffers.

[Ryan Jordan]

I know lots of people here use pumps like the Flextail, but curious to know if anyone has moved over to the little tiny ones powered by a battery bank, and what you think of that style.

[JG H]

I have the PadPal v5.2 and I love it. It’s super light and works like a champ. It’s a little loud on the highest setting, but that’s a small inconvenience given it’s size, weight, and functionality.

I do have a zero pump, too, for weekenders when I don’t carry a power pack.

[Charlie Brenneman]

I think one of these might be an item I probably wouldn’t buy for myself, but is perfect for my girls to get me for Christmas. Even on a longer trip the battery life of my iPhone, Coros watch, headlamp, and inReach is so good I have juice left in my power bank so why not put it to use. Plus my jump to a wide pad from the regular width seems like more than 25% more breaths at the end of a long day!

Anyone know how much louder the Pad Pal is versus Alpenglow? On lowest Pad Pal setting is it still loud, and what is roughly the time difference to inflate a pad at lowest vs highest setting?

[Tom “Gadget” Liggett]

There’s a video on Alpenglow Gear’s Instagram  (@alpenglow_gear) that demoes how loud the Alpenblow is. I haven’t seen a comparison vs. the Pad-Pal but it is much quieter (albeit slower) than a Flextail Zero. (Disclaimer: I’m affiliated with Alpenglow Gear)

[David D]

Alpenglow is supposedly quite a bit quieter but that’s compared to the pad pal at it’s highest and faster setting.  Would be nice to see comparison at the same CFMs

[Link .]

Justin talks about the difference between the PadPal and the Alpenglow including which one is louder and which one is faster(not in great detail) in this video

2024 Ultralight Backpacking Gear Awards

Alpenglow:Energy usage: 18 mAh at 5V
Noise Level: 48 dBA (similar to a moderate rainfall)

Pad Pal:On the low mode the sound is 50-54 decibels. On high it is 70-76 decibels. There is some variance in sound due to propeller imbalance.

 

[Matthew / BPL]

Has anyone found a good way to carry a Pad Pal to keep it from getting crushed? I don’t like the idea of keeping it in my cookpot. I’d rather keep it in my gear ditty but I’d like to prevent crushing it.

[Terran Terran]

Coin pouch?

[Philip Tschersich]

I picked up an Alpenblow during the sale. Pretty sweet little thing. It blows up my XL sized Thermarest Uberlight in 3 1/2 minutes, and my size XL Xtherm in 4 minutes. I think the Xtherm takes longer because the fabric is stiffer and heavier and the pump produces very little pressure. It is a very quiet pump.

For protection I cut up and glued together closed-cell foam packing materials and made a pump ‘onigiri’. I am half tempted to paint it to look like a Twinkie. It weighs 2 g. The pump frankly does not seem that delicate, so I might end up just sewing a mini silnylon bag instead.

[Terran Terran]

You could make a seal-a-meal pouch.

[Matthew / BPL]

That case is wonderful. What type of glue did you use?

[Jerry Adams]

You could make a case with 3D mesh.

Pretty light, a little bit of protection.

If you need to protect from water, put that into a ziploc bag.

If you want to be anal, use a seal-a-meal to make the ziploc bag the right size.  And save a gram:)

[Philip Tschersich]

The glue is E6000. I held the pieces in place with a bit of tape until it set. Cheers

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