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I use a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir sleeping pad. This is not self inflating, so I have to breathe in to the sleeping pad to inflate it.

Are there any precautions for storing the bag to avoid gnarly bacteria / mold from growing inside the sleeping pad since I'm inflating it with such moist air? Is it enough to just store it with the valve open?

Benzo
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    Good quetsion. I worry about this too. – Russell Steen Oct 09 '12 at 23:16
  • I thought about building an adapter for use with my bike pump in case I needed it, since most of my backpacking is really bikepacking...

    http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?page_id=163597

     – Benzo Oct 12 '12 at 12:51
  • Also, there's an adapter to make any airtite bag a pump. http://cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest/accessories/neoair-airtap-pump/product – Benzo Oct 12 '12 at 12:56

2 Answers2

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No. It's a good thought, but I have had one that I have inflated by mouth for over 10 years. I usually store it valve open partially inflated. I live in Arizona and the temp in the shed can get to over 150 degrees F some days so valve closed would cause the bubble to pop. It has never given me trouble.

I have heard that this is an issue from people who have never owned one before, and usually as a selling point for solid mattresses. But I have never heard it as an issue from someone who owned one.

MaskedPlant
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  • Do you store it fully laid out? I think if it were rolled tightly, it wouldn't much matter if the valve is open. – Elliott B Oct 05 '17 at 00:28
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My understanding that the only time inflating a pad by breath is bad is when it will be used in sub-zero conditions, as the moisture can freeze inside the mattress.

furtive
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