Gear Review: Alpenblow Micro Inflator By Alpenglow Gear
Check out our gear review of the backpacking gadget you didn't know you need! The Alpenblow Micro Inflator by Alpenglow Gear is an ultralight luxury gadget that inflates sleeping pads in three minutes, allowing you to relax and breath easy during camp set-up.
Have you ever backpacked miles and miles only to get to camp exhausted and needing to inflate your sleeping pad before you can relax? It's not a great feeling, and often times inflating a sleep pad in such a state leads to dizziness. It's a hassle. Alpenglow Gear decided to solve this camp problem when they invented the Alpenblow Micro Inflator!
If you're thinking who the heck needs this thing?! that checks out. I thought that initially too. But then I considered how much it does suck to get dizzy spells trying to inflate a pad when all I want to do is get my food ready and lay down. So I gave the Alpenblow Micro Inflator a try. And now I get it. It's very clutch.
Quick Rundown of the Alpenblow Micro Inflator by Alpenglow Gear
- Takes roughly 2.5 minutes to inflate most sleeping pads
- Weight: 0.28 ounces
- Nozzles for Thermarest (WingLock™), NEMO™, Sea-to-Summit™, EXPED™, ZenBivy™, and Big Agnes™
- Noise Level: 48 dBA - similar to a light rain
- Connects to USB-C standard phones or power bricks
- Nozzle expansion packs are available for different sleeping pads
My Experience with the Alpenblow Micro Inflator by Alpenglow Gear
I brought the Alpenblow Micro Inflator along on a quick camping trip and used it to inflate my Sea To Summit pad. It was easy to attach the appropriate nozzle, and the nozzle fit pretty easily into the pad. The seal wasn't perfect, but it fit well enough to lock in.
I plugged the Alpenblow into my power bank and it immediately started to inflate my pad. The noise it made was nearly impossible to hear. Maybe that's just my middle aged punk rock ears, but I didn't notice any sound coming from the micro inflator. So that's nice.
Alpenglow Gear says that most sleeping pads take about 3 minutes to fully inflate. I actually ran a timer during the inflation process and clocked it at 2.5 minutes to pump up my pad to a great place. It was a set it and forget it kind of thing too, which I appreciate. The nozzle stayed in place as the pad inflated.
I thought about the Alpenblow Micro Inflator for a while as I went about my camp business of decompressing my sleeping bag and getting the inside of my tent organized. And you know what? I think the Alpenblow will be a part of my kit from here on out. Its weight is so ultralight that it really doesn't make a difference to me as far as weight is concerned. And it uses very little battery up to run. It felt nice not having to blow up my sleeping pad with my breath or with a bag. I enjoyed the ease of using the Alpenblow.
I'm not a big fan of gadgets when I go adventuring. Heck, in so many ways my adventures are about getting away from gadgets! But this is a nifty little tool that brings ease and joy to the camp set-up process.
If you're looking to pick up a new piece of gear that's a nice little luxury, Alpenglow Gear's Alpenblow Micro Inflator is worth checking out. It's super easy to use, weighs pretty much nothing and will save you a bit of energy when it matters most.
Alpenblow Micro Inflator by Alpenglow Gear: Pros and Cons
The Alpenblow Micro Inflator by Alpenglow Gear is an ultralight and efficient tool that makes camping setups a breeze. Check out the pros and cons below:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Ultralight | It's a luxury item in every way |
| Super quiet | |
| Works well | |
| Makes camp set-up easier |
Click here to learn more and purchase the Alpenblow Micro Inflator by Alpenglow Gear for your next camping adventure!
My review is independent of the supplier and reflects my own opinions. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if purchases are made through those links at no additional cost to you.
