![]() Holes that cause your pad to completely deflate overnight can be tiny and nearly impossible to spot, even with the usual at-home tricks. ![]() “If somebody can find the puncture, then that’s a huge accomplishment,” she says. There’s a reason why Lassesen considers this the most challenging point of the process. She also notes that if the mat is wet, and there’s enough pressure, “you can actually hear a bit of a whistle sound from where the air is coming out.” Don’t: Hesitate to Call in a Professional Then apply pressure to the mat and look for bubbles. She recommends inflating your mat fully before spraying it with a mixture of soap and water. The first and often hardest step is locating the puncture, Lassesen says. “Some punctures occur while the mat is in storage mode, so the placement of a sleeping mat while in a backpack is very important.” Keep it separated from sharp tools and utensils. “Really, it should be protected on the inside,” she says. It may seem like space-saving common sense, but Lassesen warns against this strategy. We’ve all done it (or at least considered it): lashing our bulky sleeping pad to the outside of our pack. Don’t: Strap It to the Outside of Your Pack “Cats and dogs very much enjoy our mats.” It may be cute to see your beloved furry friend snuggle up on your sleeping pad, but pets’ sharp claws pose a significant hazard to inflatable mats. With the record of 87 punctures-we knew a cat did that,” Lassesen says. “A good chunk of my repairs lately are from animals. ![]() We called her up and got her dos and don’ts for those who want to try their hand at sleeping-pad repair-turning this skeptic into a glue believer. With roughly 1,500 mats under her belt, Lassesen knows her stuff, and says she’s “all about trying to make resources available to people” so they can fix mats themselves. ![]() Her most stunning successes include a mat with 87 total punctures and one with a 17-inch tear. I’ve plunged several limp inflatable mats into my bathtub in search of streams of tiny bubbles, slapped synthetic patches over the holes, and yet still woken up in the middle of the night on my next trip with a rock jabbing me in the kidney.īut against my lackluster record stands that of Annica Lassesen, a warranty and repair specialist at Exped USA, who has patched an average of 500 mats per year during her three years at the company. If none appear, then leave the pad inflated overnight and check it in the morning to be sure no slow leak is present.Deep down, I have always believed that attempting to fix a leaking sleeping pad was a fool’s errand. Then inflate your pad and check for leaks. Check to see that the Seam Grip is slightly tacky.Īfter you apply your patch, let the Seam Grip cure overnight.Trim (round off) the corners of your cut section, then put a thin line of Seam Grip all around the perimeter of the patch (that helps prevent peeling edges later).Cut a section of Tenacious Tape, ensuring that it precisely covers the Seam Grip.Spread a small amount of Seam Grip, thinly covering a 2-inch circle with the hole at its center.Give the alcohol a minute or two to thoroughly evaporate.Wipe it clean with a small amount of rubbing alcohol.Rinse off any soap residue and deflate the pad.Squeeze it gently as you methodically check for leaks in different areas of the pad. If you can’t find the leak by sponging soapy water onto the pad, then submerge the pad. Sponge the soapy water onto the surface and watch for tiny bubbles to appear.Fill the tub with water and add a small amount of soap.The following steps will help you find an elusive micro-leak: (The temporary field repair is simply to reinflate your pad periodically.) To sleuth out the leak location at home, you’ll need: If the leak is so small you can’t pinpoint its location, then a full repair is a home project.
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