FamilySherpa
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Post by FamilySherpa on Sept 8, 2020 4:51:02 GMT -8
What are your best tips for finding the leak in a sleeping pad?
I've got 5 thermarest pads that dont seem to hold air for more than 3-4 hours now and i'd like to try and repair them before I throw them out.
Ive filled them all up and listened for leaks and can't hear anything. Tried the soapy water trick on all the areas that dont have a fabric outer layer and get no bubbles anywhere.
Someone suggested filling a bathtub with water and submerging them to look for bubbles, but my bathtub just doesn't seem big enough to do this effectively.
Any other ideas?
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Post by Coolkat on Sept 8, 2020 5:03:56 GMT -8
If you get good answers to this I'm all ears. I have a pad that has a very slow leak also. I took the time to put it in a swimming pool to find the leak but no luck.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Sept 8, 2020 5:30:23 GMT -8
I have a big swimming pool in my backyard, and have still had trouble finding a leak in some pads. Total submersion by putting 40#s of dumbells on one pad, with still no good results. As a last resort, I might use some of the field repair kits that include a glue you heat up in hot water. That seems to work best around the valve.
Of course, the edges and the valve are the most difficult to repair. They're also the most likely place to have a leak that gives you difficulty in locating it. If your bathtub looks too small to fit the entire pad into, try feeding it in from one end, like a page in a printer. Keep a sharp eye out for the bubbles, and slide the pad up the wall, submerging different parts of the pad until you have gone over the entire thing, both sides, several times. That's all I got
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Post by Freestone on Sept 8, 2020 6:40:16 GMT -8
I just did the pool test on my BA AXL pad. when I submerged the valve end with the valve flap opened, I noticed a small stream of bubbles, when I closed the flap, the bubbling stopped, so I'm now still not so sure it's the valve or the fact that as the night air cools, the air in the pad shrinks. This is why I have been carrying a ZLite pad in addition to the air pad lately. Very frustrating.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Sept 8, 2020 7:16:15 GMT -8
It's either the valve, or something very close to it, for the flap to make a difference
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Sept 8, 2020 7:22:35 GMT -8
The only other tip I’ve got (and it worked on one pad) is to use hot water in the tub. That will make the air in the pad expand and increase the pressure inside, upping the odds the leak will be fast enough to spot. But a once-a-night leak is very slow and can be really hard to find. I’m actually okay with having to blow it up once, since I’m up in the middle of the night anyway. Twice in a night starts to interfere with sleep :D
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Post by Coolkat on Sept 8, 2020 7:38:16 GMT -8
But a once-a-night leak is very slow and can be really hard to find. This is where I'm at. I contacted the manufacturer of my pad (granted it was a cheap-o off amazon) but they sent me a new one. However, this probably means I'll go back to my ridgerest. Yes, it's very bulky but it's only 14oz and it's comfortable down into the low 20's so I think my brief experiment with air sleeping pads is over. I don't have to blow it up or worry about leaks. |
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Sept 8, 2020 7:41:29 GMT -8
I'm too old for closed cell pads, so inflatables are where I'm at. Can't say I'm envious of those who can sleep on CC pads, at least not as long as mine doesn't leak.
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FamilySherpa
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Post by FamilySherpa on Sept 8, 2020 7:57:34 GMT -8
I might try the hot water trick. Thanks Rebecca.
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walkswithblackflies
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Post by walkswithblackflies on Sept 8, 2020 8:04:02 GMT -8
If the bathtub/pool don't do the trick, maybe try filling the pad with an odorous gas (tee-hee!) and see if you can sniff the leak. Maybe add a drop of peppermint extract through the valve or something.
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Post by Coolkat on Sept 8, 2020 8:09:46 GMT -8
Can't say I'm envious of those who can sleep on CC pads, at least not as long as mine doesn't leak. Nothing to be envious of anyway, well at least in my estimation. I only tried an air sleeping pad on my hike in July only because I was hoping I'd sleep better but I didn't. I've never slept well in the backcountry. Not sure why as I thoroughly enjoy it. I probably wake up 4 or 5 times a night and that didn't change with an air sleeping pad. So that also plays a big factor in ending my relationship with air sleeping pads. Maybe add a drop of peppermint extract through the valve or something. Actually, I like that idea. I might actually try that. I'll let you know what happens. |
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kayman
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Post by kayman on Sept 8, 2020 12:22:26 GMT -8
I had a leak in my Neoair a few years back and couldn’t find it. I contacted Thermarest and they had me send it back. They told me if they couldn’t fix it they would send me a new one. A couple of weeks later I received a new one.
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Post by bluefish on Sept 10, 2020 4:39:35 GMT -8
Cascade Designs were good about replacing my wife's neo- air when it developed a very small, undetectable leak. Mine has been good for 150 nights or so. Getting down into the buck a night range.
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Post by Coolkat on Sept 10, 2020 5:19:21 GMT -8
Mine has been good for 150 nights or so. I guess I have to admit that is pretty good as far as reliability goes. Mine was a cheapo that got decent reviews but it failed on night 9 of a 10 day trip so I only had issues the last night. |
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FamilySherpa
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Post by FamilySherpa on Sept 10, 2020 12:39:35 GMT -8
I know it would add weight, but would anyone consider adding a stop leak solution to their pad. Like you would add to a tire?
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