Tks Ben! Great detailed instruction, just what I needed. I've got a super comfy 10cm double and was struggling with it. Hopefully it should be much better this time around.
You can use a pump in reverse to suck the air out, you just need to be careful not to cause damage. Most 12V pumps wouldn't have the power available to cause problems though. ~ Ben
I have a darche single swag, are matts like the zempire 10cm self inflating or the Oztrail FATMAT Lite really an upgrade?? and does the swag pack down alot smaller??. thnx Sid
I think they are an upgrade given you are usually going from 5-7cm up to 10cm in thickness. They do pack up smaller, as long as you take the time to squeeze all the air out, which means it make take a little longer to roll up, not by much though. ~ Ben
Fold. Unfold. Roll. We have both Exped Megamat and Zempire Monstamat. It's easier to just do both of them the 'Exped way'. Open the deflate valve. Fold into 3rds. Put your weight on it until most air is out. Unfold. Now just roll. This pushes any remnants of air out. Done. Both always fit in the bag with room to spare and you're not fighting it as much to get it to roll.
Yeah, I usually find that a quick roll followed by a tighter roll is enough, especially now that manufacturers are being realistic with the size of their storage bags. Thanks for the advice. ~ Ben
That's a good idea, Kevo, they aren't overly powerful so are unlikely to cause issues. They are also compact and handy to have in your camp kit anyway. ~ Ben
It is just a high volume low pressure pump used for blowing up matress or floaties. You can usually attach a hose to the suction side. You van get one from a camping shop or Kmart. It doesn’t have to be expensive so I have 2 in case 1 dies on me.
Yep, storing inflated is better for the foam. It's a good idea to leave the valves open while you aren't using it to allow any moisture to escape. ~ Ben
I’d never considered using a vacuum till I was watching this. I’m sure there are small battery powered blower/vacs. Next time I need to do this at home I might suck the air out with a vacuum. I guess there is a risk of compressing the foam too much.
I'd say that as long as you aren't using anything industrial then you'd likely be ok, Brenton. Not something I've tried, or anything I've seen recommended by manufacturers before though. ~ Ben
How to roll the self inflating Mat... fold first - BUT - if you don't have a valve to stop out coming back, then IDK I guess I don't know HOW to afterall LOL.... let me tell you.... with great patience and large amounts of effort and make sure the surface you do it on is NOT slippery. Have your straps ready.
@@SnowysOutdoors yeah they might not go flat as easy over night, might be warmer and ok for a single hiker... But... they don't save any space, they're expensive, they take ages to pack up, people use pumps on them anyway, even vacuums to deflate 🤣
Prefer the onetime hassle of packing a SI pad up than a sleepless night on a regular air pad which deflates overnight leaving one waking up sore from lack of support.
@feralkat9370 I've got an air mattress with a built in air pump, it has 2 motors, one silently keeps the bed inflated over night. The other inflates in in a couple of minutes. It lasts days, never gone anywhere near flat battery so not sure how long it lasts. And it packs down small, u like a self inflating foam mattress, you might as well take a full swag with those giant things.
I like to fold mine in half and lay on it to get most of the air out and then roll it up once. Fits in the bag every time :)
Great advice thanks, Tiger Lily. ~ Ben
Tks Ben!
Great detailed instruction, just what I needed. I've got a super comfy 10cm double and was struggling with it. Hopefully it should be much better this time around.
Hope this makes it easier for you. ~ Ben
I wonder if the newer exped have made larger deflate valves
Exped have put larger deflate valves on some of their newer mats, Karen. ~ Ben
Hi, can you use a deflatable air pump to pack up the zempire mattress?
You can use a pump in reverse to suck the air out, you just need to be careful not to cause damage. Most 12V pumps wouldn't have the power available to cause problems though. ~ Ben
Thanks Ben!
Happy to help
~ Ben
Ben, I use a vacuum cleaner and that is fantastic.
Good idea, as long as you don't damage the mat I guess, but it's a sure way to get all the air out. ~ Ben
I have a darche single swag, are matts like the zempire 10cm self inflating or the Oztrail FATMAT Lite really an upgrade?? and does the swag pack down alot smaller??.
thnx Sid
I think they are an upgrade given you are usually going from 5-7cm up to 10cm in thickness. They do pack up smaller, as long as you take the time to squeeze all the air out, which means it make take a little longer to roll up, not by much though. ~ Ben
Fold. Unfold. Roll.
We have both Exped Megamat and Zempire Monstamat. It's easier to just do both of them the 'Exped way'. Open the deflate valve.
Fold into 3rds.
Put your weight on it until most air is out.
Unfold.
Now just roll.
This pushes any remnants of air out. Done.
Both always fit in the bag with room to spare and you're not fighting it as much to get it to roll.
Yeah, I usually find that a quick roll followed by a tighter roll is enough, especially now that manufacturers are being realistic with the size of their storage bags. Thanks for the advice. ~ Ben
I use the car plug in inflatable blower in reverse to suck the air out, makes it easy.
That's a good idea, Kevo, they aren't overly powerful so are unlikely to cause issues. They are also compact and handy to have in your camp kit anyway. ~ Ben
Me, too! Makes the whole thing go so much faster; though I do it the old-fashioned multi-"roll and squish" way when I have to.
What brand makes a nice deflating pump
It is just a high volume low pressure pump used for blowing up matress or floaties. You can usually attach a hose to the suction side. You van get one from a camping shop or Kmart. It doesn’t have to be expensive so I have 2 in case 1 dies on me.
I have a double matress. Is it ok to leave inflated all the time?
Preferred way to store it is inflated
Yep, storing inflated is better for the foam. It's a good idea to leave the valves open while you aren't using it to allow any moisture to escape. ~ Ben
I’d never considered using a vacuum till I was watching this. I’m sure there are small battery powered blower/vacs. Next time I need to do this at home I might suck the air out with a vacuum. I guess there is a risk of compressing the foam too much.
I'd say that as long as you aren't using anything industrial then you'd likely be ok, Brenton. Not something I've tried, or anything I've seen recommended by manufacturers before though. ~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors Makita make a cordless blower vacuum which is handy for many uses when camping.
@@craigclarke1628 good one, handy for cleaning out your tent/camper and car as well I guess. ~ Ben
How to roll the self inflating Mat... fold first - BUT - if you don't have a valve to stop out coming back, then IDK I guess I don't know HOW to afterall LOL.... let me tell you.... with great patience and large amounts of effort and make sure the surface you do it on is NOT slippery. Have your straps ready.
If you don't have a valve then it becomes a little more difficult, you'll just need to wrestle it I guess. ~ Ben
You're better off with a normal air mattress 🤣 the pack up process defeats the whole self inflating time saving.
Alot of benefits to self inflating mattress' over air ones, but they do have their value.
~ Lauren
@@SnowysOutdoors yeah they might not go flat as easy over night, might be warmer and ok for a single hiker... But... they don't save any space, they're expensive, they take ages to pack up, people use pumps on them anyway, even vacuums to deflate 🤣
Prefer the onetime hassle of packing a SI pad up than a sleepless night on a regular air pad which deflates overnight leaving one waking up sore from lack of support.
@feralkat9370 I've got an air mattress with a built in air pump, it has 2 motors, one silently keeps the bed inflated over night. The other inflates in in a couple of minutes. It lasts days, never gone anywhere near flat battery so not sure how long it lasts. And it packs down small, u like a self inflating foam mattress, you might as well take a full swag with those giant things.