Those that read my ramblings will remember that on the Pre Challenge Daunder in the Lakes that I went on I used the new NeoAir that I had.
I’ve had time to do some further testing and the NeoAir certainly has a slow leak somewhere.
So it was the old bicycle tire fixing method (often forgotten by youngsters) of using a bath of cold water to try and find where the leak was.
Was the valve at fault or was there a tiny hole somewhere? Sadly after freezing my hands in a cold bath until they were numb, I was unable to locate any leak.
I won’t be taking this NeoAir with me on the Challenge. It is important to have faith in the kit you take with you. At the moment I have none in this NeoAir. I know it leaks, I can’t find where.
I do know that when I used it in the Lakes that it was protected from punctures by a ground sheet and a thin foam sleeping mat (that I had been using as padding for the pack). In fact it was better protected than the ones used by Alan and Richard.
Don’t get me wrong I like the NeoAir, it is really comfortable to sleep on. With the sticky surface you certainly don’t slide around on it. It packs up ridiculously small, and is light.
So at the moment the NeoAir is an expensive experiment that will have to wait until I get back from the Challenge to look further into. I certainly need to be able to prove where the fault is before I take it any further.
Hi Darren. Sorry to hear about your leaking Neo Air, the one night I have had on mine and it did not leak. But reading on BPL USA it has been reported that some deflate over night. It will be interesting to hear about your success in finding the leak.
Roger, that sounds like the same I am experiencing. What was the conclusion that they came to over there?
Just ordered the Medium. Doubt it’ll arrive for this weekend out, but should be in time for the meetup outside Braemar on your TGOc
In my experience, all mats inflated by mouth need a top-up after a while – if you inflate something with warm (body-temperature) air and then let it cool, the air contracts and it gives the impression that the mat has leaked. Sticking said mat in a cold bath will make the problem seem worse, as the contraction will be greater.
Mats inflated using a pump tend to be less-affected by contraction, as the input air is at or near to the ambient temperature and so doesn’t contract as much, if at all.
Google “Charles’s Law” and you’ll see what I mean.
BG,
thanks for that, it certainly sounds like an avenue to investigate to see if this is indeed the case that I am seeing here.
Who would of guessed that a hobby about being in the outdoors would require a knowledge of science? I would of paid more attention in class all those many moons ago.
Glad I am not the only one with this problem! I bought the short from BPL. I inflated it as per the instructions and noticed later that day that it was looking a bit squishy sat there on the sofa. So I reinflated it and left it on the top of my wardrobe with a cushion on top to stop it floating away – well they *are* very light! Within 48 hours it was as flat as a pancake. So I don’t think it would have managed a night out with my weight bearing down on it!
I have subsequently returned it to Bob & Rose who said that they would investigate.
So maybe a bad batch?
Good luck with the Challenge!
Hi Darren,
Check out my comments on Step By Step. I thought initially that I had a similar problem but, having used the NeoAir for three nights WITHOUT topping up I am convinced it is a feature of the mouth inflation method as mentioned above by BG. Mine certainly has not gone flat. It is squishy to the touch, but still plenty firm enough to sleep on.
Mmm, interesting to read the comments on the NeoAir. I used one for the first time at the Backpackers Club AGM and suffered two nights on very hard ground. I haven’t punctured this on previous use because I took it straight from the pack, blew it up and within an hour it was pretty flat. Not impressed – just seems like a fancy air mattress that we used to buy for 2/6d out of Woolworths, except that it costs a damn sight more than that now.
Thanks guys for the great comments. I’m currently doing more investigation into this.
As you know I have been using a inflate by mouth mat since 2004 and agree that you will lose some air through the night but not enough to make that much difference.
If the mat is going down a lot it’s either a puncture, a problem with the valve, or the seems aren’t sealed properly.
Glad I saved £40 and went back with the Insul mat.