Thermarest test

[The Cleaner]

What is the best way to find a slow leak in my Thermarest Prolite 4? Once inflated it seems to be okay till I lay on it about 3-4 hours then I notice I'm about half way out of air....Thanks for any help...

[M1 Thumb]

Put it in a bathtub filled with water.

[10-K]

May I be the first to suggest putting it (inflated) in a tub of water and look for air bubbles.

[Helios]

submerse in tub of water, squeeze,,, watch for bubbles.

[10-K]

Dang.. I came in second!

[The Cleaner]

Put it in a bathtub filled with water.

I thought about this ,just wondering if there was another way....Thanks anyway...

[10-K]

I thought about this ,just wondering if there was another way....Thanks anyway...

You could inflate it and dump the down from your sleeping bag out of the Jerry Cabin mouse holes and watch for the leak to blow the down!

[sixguns01]

TUB IT!

Came in 4th

[randyg45]

You could possibly just spray soapy water on it, like looking for a leak in a mounted truck tire.

[swjohnsey]

More exciting . . . fill it with butane/propane and use a match.

[10-K]

more exciting . . . Fill it with butane/propane and use a match.

+1 +1 +1 +1 +1

[ShakeyLeggs]

I have a thermarest that leaks as well. I have done tub test, sprayed with soapy water and still am I unable to find the leak. Any other suggestions?

[10-K]

I have a thermarest that leaks as well. I have done tub test, sprayed with soapy water and still am I unable to find the leak. Any other suggestions?

If it's leaking air and you've got it under water there *will* be bubbles.

There's some kind of law that says, "When air escapes under water it makes bubbles." I'm sure there's a more high falutin way of saying that....

[swjohnsey]

I have a thermarest that leaks as well. I have done tub test, sprayed with soapy water and still am I unable to find the leak. Any other suggestions?

Blow it up hard and then put your body weight on it to get it to leak. Make sure to check the valve.

[vibbertations]

I've had two that I've patched up that I just listened or felt for air . Squeeze and hold your face close and you'll feel the cold air. It might take 10-15 minutes but it beats filling up a tub of water....unless you want to take a bath afterwards.

[The Cleaner]

You could inflate it and dump the down from your sleeping bag out of the Jerry Cabin mouse holes and watch for the leak to blow the down!

That's it ....I bet those dang mice probably chewed on my Thermarest the same nite they ate into my bag!..Wonder how this year's thrus will like being chewed on ?

[Ashevillian]

Sounds dumb but this is what I did on the trail, have a smoker fill it up with cigarette smoke, lay on it or squeeze it and watch for escaping smoke.

[blackbird04217]

Sounds dumb but this is what I did on the trail, have a smoker fill it up with cigarette smoke, lay on it or squeeze it and watch for escaping smoke.

Not sure it sounds dumb, but doesn't sound ... eghm, pleasant. At least from the non-smoker standpoint, that is a smell that would never leave the thermarest. It would be interesting to watch the propane idea, if done in a safe manner... Mythbusters anyone? Or better yet - how about we talk Bear Grylls into it?

[Ashevillian]

Within two or three fills and roll ups I never smelled anything again. I did find that leak within a minute. It was funny to watch the guy get redfaced trying to blow it up tho. I guess that's why he had a Z pad.

[NerdyJohn]

I had the same problem last summer with my Thermarest. I tried the tub method, but it required pressure to actually leak.

Here's what I did: I blew the pad up hard, and had my kid sit on it in a pool with the pad between her legs. It sank a foot or so under water. She had to move the pad two or three times to get the right section under water, but presto! The leak finally showed up.