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Reviews > Sleep Gear > Accessories > Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Pump Sack > Owner Review by Ray Estrella
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Pump Sack
April 05, 2012
TESTER INFORMATION
I've been backpacking for over 30 years, all over California, Minnesota, and many western states. I hike year-round in all weather, and average 500+ miles (800+ km) per year. I make a point of using lightweight gear, and smaller volume packs. Doubting I can ever be truly ultralight, I try to be as light as I can yet still be comfortable. I start early and hike hard so as to enjoy the afternoons exploring/chilling. I usually take a freestanding tent and enjoy hot evening meals. If not hiking solo I am usually with my brother-in-law Dave or my twin children. The Product
Manufacturer: Cascade Designs Inc. Quick & Dirty, Nitty Gritty Winter backpacking brings plenty of frustration to what, in milder conditions, are mundane tasks. Sleeping pad inflation is one chore that I have always disliked as I was not happy with the choices available to get air into my pads without blowing them up by mouth (which introduces moisture inside them). The multi-function Therm-a-Rest Pump Sack will not only inflate my pads quickly, it also protects my gear and can ease my sore rump. How? Please read on. Product Description
The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Pump Sack (hereafter referred to as the Pump Sack) is a very interesting piece of gear. It is about the size of a sleeping bag storage sack but instead of cotton it is made of waterproof 70 denier ripstop nylon. This bright sack is what the company calls Daybreak Orange (but what I always think of as MSR orange having owned many tents of this color over the years). The plug is a disk of flexible clear urethane-type material that is chemically welded to the nylon of the Pump Sack. It is pushed over the inflation valve of a sleeping pad, stretching as it does so. The pressure from stretching and the inherent stickiness of the urethane keep it place. Above is a shot of the plug in the proper position on a NeoAir All-Season pad. Once plugged onto the valve the Pump Sack is grabbed by the top and shaken to open the sack fully. The top is then closed, either by pulling the draw-cord quickly or, as I do, just pinching it and rolling down like closing a dry-sack. By rolling the Pump Sack down towards the bottom, air is forced from the Pump Sack into the pad. Therm-a-Rest says that a regular sized NeoAir mattress can be filled with just over two bags of air. Once I got the hang of it I was hitting that mark myself. A full three can most times even fill my Large size pads, but sometimes a partial fourth is needed. The company suggests that the Pump Sack is useful for other things as well, one of which being a water-proof backpack liner. Here is a picture of it in my Osprey Exos 34 while packing for a hike. The company also suggests that the Pump Sack may be used as a stool by inserting a partially inflated NeoAir pad inside it rolled up on its end and then closing the sack. The resulting cylinder is used upright so that the NeoAir's tubes are running vertically. Field Locations
These are some of the backpacking and camping trips I have used the NeoAir Pump Sack during the fall of 2011, all in the state of Minnesota. Observations
I have been heavy into winter backpacking since 2003. One of the biggest problems with it is finding a way to easily inflate my sleeping pads that will keep moisture from my breath from being introduced to the inside of the pad where it will freeze, compromising the r-value and adding weight. After spending many years trying many different inflation devices I finally found a good one last winter and honestly never expected to try anything else. Little did I know that I would end up with not one but two new inflation devices this year. This is the story of one of them. While Therm-a-Rest says that the Pump Sack may be used as a seat I never tried this for a couple of reasons. First I did not like the idea of the 70d nylon being the only thing between my precious NeoAir and a possible burr on the ground. (Burdock is horrible here in the fall.) Second I was already using a Jembe Seat kit (see review) which does the same thing but uses much burlier material. But hey! Two out of three ain't bad. I envision using the Pump Sack in the future on hikes that I expect a lot of rain, to take advantage of its dual nature. I leave with a picture of it being used on the Woodtick Trail. This report was created with the BackpackGearTest.org Report Writer Version 1.5 Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Read more reviews of Cascade Designs gear Read more gear reviews by Ray Estrella Reviews > Sleep Gear > Accessories > Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Pump Sack > Owner Review by Ray Estrella |