Would you add ~1 oz to a sleeping pad for a built-in pump?

Heidi, I’m glad that you asked. Yes, I would gladly consider a product like the one that you mention. Perhaps everyone here cares about the added weight, but for my part, I care a lot about simplicity, too. If I can simplify my setup at night with the product that you describe, I’ll be glad to do so. With four qualifications:

1. Full inflation. The pump must fully inflate the pad. (Usually, that’s an Exped Ultra 3R.) No topping off.
2. Noise. The pump can’t be too noisy. When I’m in a beautiful wilderness, I don’t want to disturb it by making a ruckus. The Alpenblow Lux is advertised as “43dB at 30cm,” and that was OK by me—but it couldn’t fully inflate my pad. By contrast, the Flextail Tiny Pump X, with its 4 kPA of pressure, could fully inflate my pad—but it was just too noisy.
3. Reliability issues mentioned in other comments.
4. The pad itself actually needs to be competitive with other market offerings, independent of the pump.

And for what it’s worth, I’ve never cared about the electric deflation that some pumps offer. Getting air out of my pads is so easy. It’s the inflation that’s a little tiresome.

An on/off switch won’t work correctly with a battery.

Not true. I have one I linked in my previous comments with an on/off switch. It’s a little gem.

https://www.nitecore.us/product/ap01

I guess I found it redundant in other cases. My batteries shut off when there’s no draw.

I have no interest in the Aerogogo. It’s what I came up with after a quick search for a like product to the one proposed. I remembered seeing one advertised which was the Flextail, which may not be too bad. An inflatable pad with a pump isn’t unique . Sort of a gimmick where quality often comes second.

Thanks @John B — this is really helpful, especially the distinction between “convenient” and actually worth carrying.

Full inflation is definitely important to me too. If I still have to top the pad off by pump sack, then a lot of the convenience disappears.

Your noise comparison is also really useful.

And I completely agree on the pad itself — the pump can only be an added benefit. The pad still has to be competitive on comfort, weight, warmth and reliability on its own.

Really appreciate the clear criteria.

Full inflation is definitely important to me too.
I am going to be contrary here. My pillow pump could get a fairly firm, even maybe hard, inflation. But I find a fully inflated air pad is very uncomfortable. I find there needs to be some ‘squoosh’ to accommodate my shoulders and hips. Many times I have even let a wee bit of air OUT of my pad before sleeping.

Cheers

Many times I have even let a wee bit of air OUT of my pad before sleeping.

That’s a fair point – firmness is probably more personal than I made it sound.

What I really mean is that the pump should be able to get the pad to the user’s preferred firmness without needing to finish it manually.

Easy adjustment after inflation probably matters just as much.

Adjustable insulation with height adjusters.

I guess I like my equipment designed by those in the outdoors with intimate knowledge greater than my own. Those looking for problems that need solving, tweaks that need doing. Knowledge to design a product on their own or in collaboration with other outdoor professionals. Here we are explaining the basic concepts while simple internet exploration is left undone. I support the cottage outdoor industry that is actually derived from the outdoors and those who love it. If the O.P. spent one night on a sleeping pad, they would know enough to adjust it. This is simply an investigation into advertising. What points to make to unsuspecting customers.

My pump (flextail Tiny pump 3x, weighs 2.3oz) can inflate my sleeping pad, and pillow – all without getting breath moisture into the pad or pillow AND functions as a tent lamp[/spare flashlight.

So, for me, I would NOT be interested in a sleeping pad with a built in pump because the built-in pump would only do one thing, whereas an external pump can do several things.

This does not smell like advertisement to me but basic market research.  Since the forum is open to all, maybe they will gather enough information to launch a better product.  Isn’t that a win-win scenario.  My 2 cents.

Research would show that the product already existed. There is no mention of insulation or anything else involving pad construction. How is the pump attached? It’s all about what two existing products can I put together to sell you while knowing very little about the 2 products. “What can I sell you”, is the whole premise before I stamp my name on an existing product. No real innovation. No real study. No knowledge of the subject  Only market research.

I have no way of knowing, but wonder if this person is from China and/or involved with a Chinese manufacturer looking to develop a product (Liu is certainly a Chinese surname)? I have no problem with this. No one put a gun to my head to open this thread or participate in it. As Jon Fong rightly pointed out, this forum is open to all… who will pay :)

I don’t understand why this should be a problem… the OP has been nothing but curious, open and polite.

yeah, we’re a tough crowd here

and, I have no problem with people making products for mass market, emphasizing marketing more than technical performance

Sure, this is a good place for market research. Lots of experience of many types here.

But Terran makes a good point: this is not very sophisticated market research.

Brad suggested:

What the world really needs is a 25″ x 72″ x 1″ R-5 self-inflating pad that weighs under 17 oz’s.

That is a better suggestion. Like an evolution of the old Thermarest Prolite. Maybe more durable, if that is possible without adding half a pound.

In other words, forget the pump and make a better pad.

I have a circa 2014 Size Regular Thermarest Prolite pad (20″ x 72″ x 1″). It weighs 16.32 oz’s. This was the Apex of self-inflating pad design. Then it stopped, and the world went insane for ever thicker inflatables – like the proverbial Manhattan skyline, the race was upward.

I find it all pretty dumb, but that’s what people “think” they need. It’s a bit of “which came first, the chicken or the egg” – ie, were we all clamoring for 4″ thick pads, or did manufacturers create the “need.” Likely a bit of both. But to me the whole thing is out of hand. Even though i own several, I don’t actually want a pad that “needs” an inflator lol.

I want the pad I laid out on the page – a durable 25″ x 72″ x 1″ R-5 self-inflating pad that weighs under 17 oz’s.

While the masses will want thicker pads, I know there is a market for such a pad. Hang out a bit at Reddit Ultralite lol.

I think the reason Thermarest keeps making models that are even heavier is because of delamination.

They keep reformulating the foam and adhesive