thermarest

[ScottC]

In the instructions it says they should be left inflated and unrolled in between trips, what do you do? Will it really affect it much if I just keep it in the bag? Otherwise it just gets in the way.

 

[falcon]

I've taken them at their word and it slides behind the wardrobe in the spare room....it would also fit under the bed. Seems pretty creased when unfolded after use and there's no point "testing" the manufacturer's advice IMHO. Cracking kit though.....even comfortable lying on quarry tiles testing it out when I bought it a year or so ago

 

[Squidders]

I leave mine rolled up... the only problem I have had is that the self inflating nature is of a lesser performance these days. Other than it taking ages to inflate on its own, I have noticed no other ill effects of leaving it rolled up.

It never hurts to follow manufacturers guidelines though because long term, I suspect that i'm not doing it any favours... i'm working on the principle that there will be something better in 5 years anyway that I'll just have to go any buy because I have no self control.

The same goes for my down jacket that's only out for a few months a year... it spends the rest of its life in the stuff sack - it takes about 2 days to get back to it's fully lofted state but I can live with that... not like I don't know when winter is due

Cheers,

Joe

 

[-Switch-]

... not like I don't know when winter is due

Cheers,

Joe

Don't suppose you'd enlighten the rest of us as to when it's due? I'm still waiting for this long and rather cold autumn to finish

 

[scanker]

I leave my thermarest copy unrolled and with the valve open.

 

[ScottC]

Cheers.. I'll just have to find space for it then.

 

[Ahjno]

I store mine underneath my bed Valve open and unrolled.
As Squidders already mentioned if you keep it packed it'll take ages to inflate on its own. Slept on the TaR of a mate when I kipped at his place for the night (didn't fancy to drive on a motorway with no lights alongside it, whilst it was snowing like mad ) - took about an hour for it to get its proper shape back ... Had to help it in the end though

 

[Squidders]

It's strange though that all these things get shipped rolled in to the most impossibly tight roll... They are probably stored rolled up for months on end in this way before they get purchased.

I'm not sure about the name "self inflating" either, from new, it's got to a point of inflation that couldn't be slept on and always needed topping up.

 

[leon-1]

Hi Scott, it does make a difference especially if you change enviroments a lot.

Moisture will eventually effect a thermarest as you will get mildew build up inside, this will make a difference to the self inflating properties, if you leave the valve open it will allow air to circulate naturally and keep it dry to the conditions that you are subject to.

I have a therma rest that is getting on a bit (I bought it in 1991) and it is still going strong, I don't always store it witrh the valve open, but I do when I get back in for a week or so before rolling it up with the valve open.

 

[gregorach]

I keep mine unrolled, valve open. Had it for about 10 years and still going strong.

 

[Ditch Monkey]

mine is no longer self inflating, have to blow it up mself, not too much of a problem, alwas leave it out flat so I don't know how this came about.

I use a bicycle puncture repair kit to fix mine, far too fiddly to be messing about with pots of boiling water and who knows what else.