I have always heard that it is no good idea to blow an airbed up by mouth (apart from the good lungs this requires...), because of the humidity of the breath.
I wonder what to do about my SIM? It is self-inflating of course, but not enough, and I have heard that it is very common to give it some extra air. Problem is that there is no air pump fitting on this self-inflating thingie on it. Any suggestions?
Blew some extra air in this weekend by mouth and now have this idea that mould is eating my SIM up from the inside...
------------- Proud owner of a 1987 Sprite Alpine 370 EK, a cheap popup tent and a beloved retro Trio frame tent from the early seventies, called Giraffen.
Think of it this way, when you open the valve of the Sim it draws air in, along with that it will draw in moisture from the air. no difference to blowing air into it which you should only have to do once when you first use the sim, after that it should manage to inflate itself. if not then it is a cheap sim.
I agree with most of what Roachford6 says, any air that goes in will have a moisture content. If you were to inflate a normal air bed with just lung power it would leave a fair amount of moisture inside due to sheer volume. The small amount you breathe into a sim I would have thought was negligible.
We have 5 Alpkit SIMs and they were not cheap, all of them require just a couple of lung fulls each time they are used.
Thanks for your thoughts, now I feel I haven't murdered my poor SIM in the blossom of its youth!
------------- Proud owner of a 1987 Sprite Alpine 370 EK, a cheap popup tent and a beloved retro Trio frame tent from the early seventies, called Giraffen.
Quote: Originally posted by Paper clip on 06/6/2011
I agree with most of what Roachford6 says, any air that goes in will have a moisture content. If you were to inflate a normal air bed with just lung power it would leave a fair amount of moisture inside due to sheer volume. The small amount you breathe into a sim I would have thought was negligible.
We have 5 Alpkit SIMs and they were not cheap, all of them require just a couple of lung fulls each time they are used.
Ive got a two Fat airic's and five Vango 7.5 sims and as has been said above they only need a couple of breath's to give a little more firmness. I really won't worry about moisture from 3/4 breath's. Plus storing them with the valves fully open should help.
------------- 2 adults and 3 children.
Previously Vango Diablo 900, Khyam XL excelsior and very poor quality vango infinity 800. Currently a Very happy Outwell(best quaily I've seen) Michigan 8 owner. Happpy Dayz
Quote: Originally posted by thehintons on 06/6/2011
we have just bought our first SIMs when they are not in use (stored till the next trip) should they be stored flat or rolled up in the bag?
Instructions on mine say to store flat and inflated.
I didn't read this (typical bloke!) until I'd had the first one for a year, but definitely stays thicker now.
Ooops. Always store mine rolled up in it's bag. Not sure if I have the space for storing it inflated and flat!
------------- Proud owner of a 1987 Sprite Alpine 370 EK, a cheap popup tent and a beloved retro Trio frame tent from the early seventies, called Giraffen.
Don't have them to hand, but I'm sure my fatairic instructions said to leave unrolled with the valves open. Mine are stored on their side but that is still flat.
------------- Canvas tent, paraffin light, petrol stove. Heaven
I'd rather be kayaking.
Spent up, not pent up, just had my new tent up.
It would help keep you dry, and the wind off your back. If you fell over it would cushion the fall. See, loads of reasons to leave it inflated. Also a large item that weighs the same as a smaller item always feels lighter.The list is endless, unlike this post
------------- Canvas tent, paraffin light, petrol stove. Heaven
I'd rather be kayaking.
Spent up, not pent up, just had my new tent up.