One of my annoyances setting up camp is inflating mattress pads. I've wanted an inflator but it's hard finding one that fits multiple valves. This one popped up on my YouTube feed and I figured I'd give it a try:

Flextail Zero Pump

My mattress is a Thermarest Topo Luxe Large which at 77"x25"x4" is about as high volume as single camping mattresses get. I also used it on a Klymit Static V, which is a lot smaller volume. It takes less than three minutes to fill the Thermarest and about a minute to fill the Klymit. I filled the Thermarest 12 times and the Klymit 3 times before the battery started to give out. Way more than I expected, given the size of it.

With battery and the two adapters I need for four different kinds of mattresses it weighs 2.5 oz. For reference, the nylon pump sack that came with my mattress weighs 2.2 oz. More than worthwhile, IMO. Now to see how it holds up in the field. The charge port is on the battery itself, so you have to take the battery out to charge it. Also, it doesn't seem to have any water resistance, so it will need to be kept dry. The adapters aren't a perfect fit for my valves, but they work fine. Minor niggles, for now. I paid just under $40 which was an introductory price. It was supposed to arrive in November but I just got it this week, evidently they've been overwhelmed with orders.

Dan Becker's YouTube Review

I have one of these, it’s the older model all one piece, I was really sure it wouldn’t be everything it says it is. We absolutely love it. I’ve used it on single style light weight thermarests, rei kingdom xl single & my queen rei kingdom insulated mattress. Yes, a queen mattress. I was amazed it blew up the queen mattress as fast & as easily as it did. We move around on trips & it lasted the whole trip pumping up that mattress 4 times & still had power left over. Charge it with a power brick & it charges really quick too. Nice little light on one side is super bright although I didn’t buy it for the light. Used it to briefly get a smoldering fire going as well. Multi uses.

They keep on coming out with new stuff, pricey but niche items can be that way & I don’t have many other hobbies I spend money on. I give it a thumbs up. It sure does beat the Coleman 4 D battery bellows looking pump I used to carry weight wise & power wise.

Edit: I also have the small thermarest pump that is mentioned in the beginning of the video, good for my thermarest, not powerful enough for a queen mattress. I don’t remember if I ever used it on my Kingdom xl single…it’s the “CPR” style inflating mattress & wouldn’t have the power to blow it up past the mechanism. The Flextail is powerful enough to bypass that inflater & fill the Kingdom super fast.

Yeah, the Zero has less PSI than the 2X, so it may not work on your REI mattresses. But they have kept the 2X around, probably for that reason.

I was looking at Thermarest ones for a couple years but their pumps don't work on all the valves I need them to so I always held off.

I should also mention that the Zero's RCR123 battery is the same as what some headlamps and flashlights use. So while you have to take it out to charge, it's also replaceable and somewhat common. So not necessarily a disadvantage.

Plmn, thanks for introducing the zero pump. I had seen it but never paid much attention. I consider weight and bulk but comfort and convenience will often trump both.

The ability to inflate your large Topo Luxe in about 3 minutes and 12 times is helpful information. Twelve inflations would cover my typical trip. My current sleeping pad has less volume than the Topo Luxe and requires about 10 minutes to inflate with the pump sack while inside my tent. The pump sack weighs 1.5 oz. and doubles as a storage bag so I would probably continue to include it.

We have the older version but love it! I kind of surprised us just how easy and convenient it made inflating the mattress pads at the end of a long day. Highly recommend their products.

I bought one but haven't tried it yet.

"Pricey niche products" is a good description, and they fished me in on this and the shower. I got that one for hot western hunts when we are dying out on the prairie and smelling bad.

My guess is that the Flextail Zero Pump is sold out or out of production because I have been unable to find one for sale or to find any information about future availability.

Tomcat: "My guess is that the Flextail Zero Pump is sold out or out of production because I have been unable to find one for sale or to find any information about future availability."

I just saw it the other day. It’s at least for sale on their website. https://www.flextail.com/products/zero-pump

Mine took a very long time to arrive. But the shower came right on schedule, so I assume they are behind on orders. Hopefully all gear orders appear in time for the season.

EmmaMorgan: "

Tomcat: "My guess is that the Flextail Zero Pump is sold out or out of production because I have been unable to find one for sale or to find any information about future availability."

I just saw it the other day. It’s at least for sale on their website. https://www.flextail.com/products/zero-pump "

There are coupon codes out there too, they still are advertising a Black Friday sale in Facebook for 20% off and they say it is still good. Use code "BF20".

I see the Flextail Zero Pump advertised for sale but every link I have clicked on has been unresponsive, no product page available, included the one posted previously in this thread.

Tomcat: "I see the Flextail Zero Pump advertised for sale but every link I have clicked on has been unresponsive, no product page available, included the one posted previously in this thread."

Not sure why that would be. Both links here work on my PC using Chrome or Edge and on my phone using Chrome. You may want to try going to www.flextail.com and go from there.

Plan, I was unable to connect using my Chrome Book so when you said you had no issues I tried using my cell phone and was able to connect first try. Thanks

I bought the Flextail Zero pump. It took 30 days to arrive. It will inflate my Alps Mountaineering sleeping pad about 30 times with the fully charged rechargeable battery. Inflation takes about 1 minute. An adapter that fits my pad is included but the pump head without the adapter fits the sleeping pad valve well enough that the valve adapter is not required as long as I hold the pump in position while inflating. The Flextail pump with battery weight is 49.4 g and the Alps pump sack weight is 43.3 g.

I intend to spend more time evaluating the pump but I will probably leave the Alps pump sack at home and take the Flextail pump without the adapter on my next trip.

I bought the Flextail Tiny Pump , slightly larger, a bit cheaper with a decent light included. I have an Exped with the Schnozzle pump- which works easy if you are pumping in a wind, is a pain if the air is still, and near suicide-inducing if trying to inflate in the tent on a rainy night. Took about a minute, hands free, to inflate my Downmat 9XL with the Flextail. Also sort of psyched to use it to start fires on wet days when I don't feel up to flailing with my frisbee.

I just ordered the Tiny Pump 2X. Same one that was in Banksiana's link. With the FLASH promo code, it was only $32 and shipping was free. For that price and only 3 ounces, you can't go wrong. No more hand pumping or jokes about what I'm doing in there... This just seems like a no brainer.

I do have a campfire dragon, the hose with a mouthpiece and metal end, so I don't know if I will use it for stoking the fire at all, but we'll see.

We purchased one of these last summer and were skeptical but it's so small and lightweight that we figured it was worth a try.

We love it! Highly recommend it.

Dangit, I thought I didn't need any new gear for a while. Sigh.

Gonna give it a try. This forum is dangerous.

ok, did I get a dud?

It arrived today. I charged battery til green, then took a regular Exped pad and tried inflating. Pump started "whining" as pad inflated. After filling about 90% in under 2 minutes, the pump wound down and died. I could turn it back on for about 10 seconds but it couldn't complete the fill.

What am I doing wrong?

BWPaddler: "ok, did I get a dud?


It arrived today. I charged battery til green, then took a regular Exped pad and tried inflating. Pump started "whining" as pad inflated. After filling about 90% in under 2 minutes, the pump wound down and died. I could turn it back on for about 10 seconds but it couldn't complete the fill.


What am I doing wrong?"

It should run for about 20 minutes on a charge I think, so yeah it seems something isn't right. Unless maybe your pad has a valve it's having trouble overcoming? Even then it should last longer. I'd contact them.

For the record, I only fill my mattresses up enough to keep my hip off the ground when I'm on my side. Any more defeats the purpose of a thick mat, IMO.

I'll grab a second pad and try it tomorrow. It can still run, with zero resistance (in my hand) but not connected to pad.

Anyone tried contacting tech support?

I ordered the Zero pump and it arrived last night. It took about a week to be delivered with their standard free shipping. I was very excited for it, but it has a bad power switch. It must be a loose connection or something as it take 10-20 tries for it to turn on. I'll be sending it back.

Saberboys: "I ordered the Zero pump and it arrived last night. It took about a week to be delivered with their standard free shipping. I was very excited for it, but it has a bad power switch. It must be a loose connection or something as it take 10-20 tries for it to turn on. I'll be sending it back."

Just checking, you are aware that double click turns it on and single click turns it off.

Tomcat: "

Saberboys: "I ordered the Zero pump and it arrived last night. It took about a week to be delivered with their standard free shipping. I was very excited for it, but it has a bad power switch. It must be a loose connection or something as it take 10-20 tries for it to turn on. I'll be sending it back."

Just checking, you are aware that double click turns it on and single click turns it off."

Ummm...I did not realize that, lol. Thanks for the tip Tomcat, works like a charm!

I've got a Flextail Zero, too. It's been working well. Gets a surprising amount of a charge. Just figured out that it is also great for float bags!