The Alpenblow Micro Inflator is an ultralight system for inflating air mattresses that weighs 8.1 grams (0.3 oz). That’s not a typo. It doesn’t have a really highly effective motor, so it could’t inflate an enormous heavy sleeping pad like an Exped Megamat, however it’s greater than ample for inflating the air mattresses that backpackers use. For instance, I’ve examined it out on the NEMO Tensor Elite, the Exped Extremely 5R, the Thermarest NeoAir Xtherm NXT Max, and the Sea-to-Summit Etherlite XT Insulated and it inflates all of them with ease. You continue to need to prime off the pad with just a few breathes on the finish, however not having to blow it up from scratch or wrestle with an inflation sack is a aid after a tough day of mountaineering.
- Weight: 8.1g
- Energy: 2.0 W
- Vitality: 18 mAh at 5V
- Anticipated Lifetime: 30,000 hrs
- Pad Adapters: NEMO, Therm-a-Relaxation, Exped, Huge Agnes, Sea-to-Summit
The Alpenblow is a tiny battery powered fan that comes with adapters that match completely different sleeping pad valves. It doesn’t have an onboard battery and even an on-off swap, which is why its so light-weight. It has a USB-C port so it may be powered with an influence financial institution which most backpackers carry today to recharge their telephones, headlamps, or satellite tv for pc messengers.
You merely plug in a USB-C connector and it’ll run till you unplug in. Inflation occasions will fluctuate relying on the scale of your pad, nevertheless it solely takes a couple of minutes to inflate most pads. There’s a desk of inflation occasions for various pads at https://www.alpenglowgear.co/pump-performance and should you submit a time on your pad, you get 20% off coupon!
In the event you’ve stepped away through the inflation course of, no worries. The fan isn’t highly effective sufficient to over inflate your pad or trigger it to burst. Whereas the fan will preserve working so long as it has energy, the air circulate with reverse path and circulate out the again of the unit.
The Alpenblow comes with 4 sleeping pad adapters out of the field the are appropriate with NEMO Layflow, Huge Agnes, Exped, Sea-to-Summit, and Therm-a-Relaxation Winglock valves. A further adapter pack is obtainable for Legacy Therm-a-Relaxation, Legacy NEMO, and Klymit air mattresses. The one draw back to this method is that the adapters are straightforward to lose though it helps that they’re coloured sizzling pink!
Whereas the Alpenblow is a neat and helpful gizmo, one of many issues I respect probably the most about it’s that it does NOT have a built-in battery. Most backpackers carry a backup battery at the moment (which is seldom drained fully) so having yet one more system with its personal battery would have added pointless weight. Intelligent.
Disclosure: Alpenglow donated an Alpenblow for evaluation.
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