Meet Pad-Pal: Will It DETHRONE Zero Pump? 😱

Рет қаралды 31,284

27 күн бұрын

Is this the NEW king of mini air pumps for sleeping pads? Is it a Flextail Zero Pump killer? In this video I share my first impressions on the Rex-Creations Pad-Pal v5.2 sleeping pad inflator. This is made by a small cottage gear company out of California where one guy, Tyler Reeves, designs and makes niche and ultralight hiking gear like this little pump. It's a clever design with a lot of thought put into it. And man is it lightweight! Whether or not you are into ultralight backpacking, this camp gadget is pretty cool. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Sign up for our anti-boring email newsletter about outdoor gear and deals! 👉 outdoorempire.com/youtube-sig...
⚡️ Rx-Creations Pad-Pal - rex-creations.com/products/pa... (NOT an affiliate link)
⚡️ Flextail Zero Pump - shrsl.com/4gdf9 (affiliate link, FYI)
🔍 Find more camping tips, tricks, and reviews on our website! outdoorempire.com/
Subscribe, like, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with more exciting videos on outdoor gear and adventures! Share your thoughts in the comments below.
🎥 WATCH MORE awesome backpacking gear videos!
• This Test Proves the F...
• 2024’s Freshest Budget...
• DON'T FORGET To Check ...
• Is This Backpacking St...
• You've NEVER SEEN This...
• This New Headlamp Is G...
Follow us on Instagram at / outdoorempirecom
DISCLOSURE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links in this description are affiliate links. If you click on a link we may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Пікірлер: 100

@outdoorempirecom 26 күн бұрын

🐻 For a limited time, we'll send you a FREE STICKER when you sign up for our email newsletter about outdoor gear and deals! 👉 outdoorempire.com/youtube-sign-up/

@ryan92084 23 күн бұрын

Hah, I wasn't expecting the shoutout. I'm glad you enjoyed my suggestion! Tyler is way to humble about this product imo.

@outdoorempirecom 22 күн бұрын

You bet! Thanks for the idea, I was happy to find this.

@geometerfpv2804 4 күн бұрын

He is being honest about its limitations, I think it's a good thing. It is 50 bucks without battery, after all.

@middleearthchronicles2269 25 күн бұрын

I've been running a PadPad V5.1 for about a year now with zero issues. Its a great little pump with all of the functionality without any fuss or extra weight from a separate battery.

@outdoorempirecom 25 күн бұрын

Good to hear!

@higler. 25 күн бұрын

Nice to see someone showcasing the pad pal! Such a cool little gadget and the guy that created it is a good one. 10g is insane 😳

@outdoorempirecom 25 күн бұрын

Couldn't agree more!

@BradyPatterson 24 күн бұрын

Tyler is awesome. His continued iterations on the pump have been fun to watch!

@mikerice1599 25 күн бұрын

Okay for the weight that is pretty amazing.

@outdoorempirecom 25 күн бұрын

Agreed. Hard to believe it's a fraction the weight of my pump sack.

@KrizAkoni 25 күн бұрын

Padpal is my go to pump! It’s not let me down yet. I plan to try using it for a whole thru hike of the AT in the fall. It works great for me so far. It’s a pretty innovative design.

@outdoorempirecom 25 күн бұрын

Very cool, glad to hear from a real user like yourself. Thanks for the comment.

@WayneTheSeine 25 күн бұрын

Amazing story of innovation. This guy sounds like a real stand up guy and I wish him the very best. This is a classic example of the great positives of capitalism, free markets, and the incentive it offers. I jumped on Amazon real quick and found some perfect sized clamshell cases for less than $10. There is an earbud case that is perfect. I know ultra-lighters can improvise multi-use storage, but if I had one I would indeed throw it in a nice secure home. Great of you to review this pump and a job well done.

@outdoorempirecom 25 күн бұрын

Thank you! And great idea about a little case for it.

@stoehr 3 күн бұрын

I have one on the way and after watching this review that states it’s on the delicate side…I’m gonna find something to protect it in my bag.

@druhol6753 18 күн бұрын

I ordered a pad pal thanks to you. I was one of the early buyers of the flextail pump zero, and ever since I’ve been battling battery life issues. Flextail wants to go back and forth with troubleshooting videos. I would have expected better customer service from an established company. Oh well. Hope pad pal fits the bill

@audrafarrell766 23 күн бұрын

I loved your big review and got a pump I ended up returning cause it just seems like too much of a pain. But THIS...this is really cool.

@hikingmule 22 күн бұрын

Thanks for the review and sharing this little gem! I love that it doesn't have a battery as that never made sense to me.

@outdoorempirecom 22 күн бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@syindrome 25 күн бұрын

Amazing review on an amazing piece of gear!

@outdoorempirecom 25 күн бұрын

Thanks for watching

@GhostObsessed 18 күн бұрын

What valve option do i need for a zenbivy ultralight mattress?

@danielcluley870 25 күн бұрын

That's great. I had that Idea a couple of years ago, of why don't they just make the pump off the battery and usb-c chain it to other batteries. But I wasn't as ingenuitive as this guy!

@outdoorempirecom 25 күн бұрын

It's a good idea for sure.

@douglasbarton7440 25 күн бұрын

Very cool. I don't even backpack and I want one.

@mochmaster45 3 күн бұрын

Met the creator of this on reddit. Great dude

@ManivanAdventures 25 күн бұрын

Wow… Very cool! If I didn’t just buy the zero pump, I would definitely go for this. I imagine that it might inflate a Nemo Tensor almost all the way. I noticed that my zero pump has a little more trouble with my REI Helix, but get’s my Tensor inflated right where I want it. Regardless, I don’t mind having to add a breath or two and I think either of these pumps are totally worth ditching the pump sack for!

@outdoorempirecom 25 күн бұрын

Great point!

@BrokenBackMountains 25 күн бұрын

Very interesting and good that it isnt doubling up on weight by having a battery that would need recharged anyway. I have an early flextail but went back to a schnozzle as it is also a dry bag. Noise at level 4 is louder than any flextail but the other levels are comparable. I do think supporting the cottage manufacturers is a good way to go but I dont think Id be able to get it in Europe and as you say, blowing it up at the end makes me just keep using the schnozzle.

@outdoorempirecom 25 күн бұрын

Schnozzle for the win! This definitely isn't a necessity, but a cool tiny gadget.

@Alex-yx8wb 25 күн бұрын

This is awesome, thanks for highlighting a very innovative and clearly passionate creator. I have two questions. 1. The 4 speeds seem a bit overkill but is it possible that lower speed may produce more pressure? 2. I use the same REI pad in your video. Couldn't you use the inflation port to deflate with the pump ? Great video, thanks again.

@outdoorempirecom 25 күн бұрын

1. Not sure, haven't tested but according to the manual the lower speeds put out less pressure as well so I don't think so. 2. I don't think so on this as well. There's a rubber flap in there that prevents air from escaping while you plug the cap. I think that will also prevent you from sucking air out. Personally I don't care about this because I never use these pumps to deflate anyway.

@zakafx 25 күн бұрын

nice find. i bought into the zero pump hype but when i received it, didnt really care for it! i think i wanna try this one.

@outdoorempirecom 25 күн бұрын

Hope you like it!

@LeonidasontheTrail 25 күн бұрын

As an ultralight backpacker, the real question in my mind is when does the weight saved of using the power bank outweigh the zero pumps separate battery? On a thru hike with frequent charging opportunities I think this wins, but my concern is on longer sections with no charging opportunities, will this be the needle that breaks the camels back and means I can’t charge my inreach mini or my iPhone. Or I have to carry an extra power bank to make sure I have plenty of power.

@outdoorempirecom 25 күн бұрын

Great question, I hadn't thought of that. One could do the math. On the highest speed it took about 40 seconds to fill my long wide sleeping pad and runs at about 2.85amps according to the manual. That's about 2850 ma consumed in an hour, or about 30% of the juice from a 10000mah battery bank. And that would get you as many as 90 inflations. So it consumes very little electricity and I bet you'll get a chance to charge your batteries within 3 months. 😂 10 inflations would only consume less than 5% of a 10000 mah battery bank.

@TennesseeSlim 25 күн бұрын

This is way cool!

@username-mc7jw 15 күн бұрын

Final pad pressure is all that matters to me. The Zero Pump was a huge fail in that department. I didn't catch the spec on the Pad-Pal, but I suspect it won't fully inflate any of my pads either. Adding a breath or two is not an option for me. When you spend $200-$300 (or more) on a pad, adding moisture to the inside of it is a REALLY bad thing. I'll stick with my Flextail 2x until someone can come up with something better.

@justjonoutdoors 25 күн бұрын

I’m really happy with the zero pump - it inflates my Neoair Uberlight to exactly the right pressure for my preference.

@outdoorempirecom 25 күн бұрын

Good to know.

@geometerfpv2804 4 күн бұрын

That is literally a drone ESC, I recognize the tones it makes 😂

@kchizen100 23 күн бұрын

My battery bank died but I used my phone to operate the pad pal. Great device.

@outdoorempirecom 22 күн бұрын

Wow didn't know that was a thing. Good idea.

@nategilka4386 19 күн бұрын

I love your reviews just saying

@tukaniu 25 күн бұрын

Designer of that pump should do also some attachments for hat tent or hammock fun, also made some splash or even full waterproof USB port or whole device

@outdoorempirecom 25 күн бұрын

Good suggestions.

@twloughlin 25 күн бұрын

Sweet!

@outdoorempirecom 25 күн бұрын

Very!

@whosjulez1157 19 күн бұрын

I'll stick to pumpsacks, but nice to see competition in this segment 👍

@MrDavidcarp 24 күн бұрын

Wow please please please this thing will be so good for My DJI mini 4 pro drone because it heats up. They all do when they stood still and you are uploading new software. This will keep it nice and cool and anyone who has a mini 4 pro drone or a mini 3 pro Drone will tell you it does overheat, so it can 2 uses to cool one of those two drones and to inflate I’m in the UK if there’s any way possible that I can buy one from somewhere please let me ?know. I hope what I’m saying makes sense as I’m not good at writing.

@woodchip2782 23 күн бұрын

How do they fare when you sit on both those pumps? I still prefer my Nemo pump sack. It also serves as clothes bag.

@fredrikcarlen3212 21 күн бұрын

Why would you sit on a pump?

@chatterm17 23 күн бұрын

I have got the zero pump for 25€ on Aliexpress. From the original flextailgear site. Because its like you said a Chinese product. But 50$ for a 3d printed product. I don’t know. Whats the laws in the USA when its broken? Can you return it to the producer? Or when you put it on the battery pack and the battery pack get broken because anything of the pump doesn’t work exactly?

@outdoorempirecom 22 күн бұрын

Interesting question. We definitely don't have consumer protection laws like in Europe, so it's pretty much whatever the manufacturer promises. However, in my experience, small businesses like this are usually better at taking care of problems without a hassle anyway.

@user-no2ei6dp2q 25 күн бұрын

Even better Tennessee😊

@Francis-xl2gu 17 күн бұрын

NEXT a thimble sized air pump !!

@rkymtnoffgrd9074 18 күн бұрын

If you think the padpal is awesome you should see what Tyler Reeves has done with the ultralight cooking pot and cooking system. It's beyond next level...

@sabrinahammond5475 3 күн бұрын

Share link or information please. I only seem3 products available on the above link.

@dagnolia6004 16 күн бұрын

wow!

@cravingwilderness 19 күн бұрын

I still think that using the bag the pad comes in to inflate the matt is the best option,only takes a minute or two and no need to carry anything extra

@TennesseeSlim 25 күн бұрын

You could clip it onto a hat and attach a small battery too for a portable cooling fan

@outdoorempirecom 25 күн бұрын

I like that idea.

@-COBRA 23 күн бұрын

yeah, if you're deaf.

@TennesseeSlim 23 күн бұрын

@@-COBRA lol

@AaronVets 22 күн бұрын

@@-COBRA💀💀💀

@filfil9902 23 күн бұрын

Charging, discharging, converting voltages wastes energy. So in the long run you will Save energy compared to a device that has a build in baterry.

@anthonycatania4739 5 күн бұрын

I think it’s genius that it doesn’t have a battery!

@GrimGames1978 23 күн бұрын

Now put your battery bank on the scale with the PadPal. Because it doesn't work without your battery

@chatterm17 23 күн бұрын

Yeah the same thing coming trough my mind. That’s not a correct comparison. For a single night you don’t need a batterybank. But you have to carry it.

@Colby168 12 күн бұрын

I always carry a battery bank. Maybe I’m the only one.

@neist 25 күн бұрын

Wow, that's a noisy little thing. 🤣

@outdoorempirecom 25 күн бұрын

My kids in the background or the pump? 😂

@neist 25 күн бұрын

@@outdoorempirecom The pump. 🤣

@user-ul5yu5hk9k 23 күн бұрын

This guy should be sure to have a patent. He should put it on kick starter

@urbanoutdoorsman 23 күн бұрын

I bet someone will mod it onto a baseball cap to cool down at baseball games.

@JonHubertBristol 14 күн бұрын

Hope the gain was set a little lower on other videos.

@shawnr6117 25 күн бұрын

Interesting but think I'll just keep using the pump I've got

@outdoorempirecom 25 күн бұрын

Good on ya.

@anotheryoutuber_ 14 күн бұрын

this is a cool gadget but im still sold on pump bags.

@-COBRA 23 күн бұрын

good gadget, sadly not enough pressure

@stevebobrowicz9626 24 күн бұрын

My dog would not be happy with the high speed noise!

@dangerpudge1922 24 күн бұрын

IMO the pin depression on the inflate keeps the diaphragm open, so it's likely you'd do the deflate from the inflate opening. I don't think either of these really does the job. If you have to put breaths into it to finalize it you defeat the purpose of keeping your breath out, and that means you're using a pump sack which could have done the job to completion anyway. I think the original Flextail pump is the correct answer, plus you get a battery bank and a lantern.

@outdoorempirecom 24 күн бұрын

Good observations.

@Findraen 24 күн бұрын

I feel like if you're going to weigh the zero pump with the battery and the nozzle since that's what's needed for it to work, you should include the nozzle and the weight of the battery bank with the pad pal, since it also doesn't work without them. Yes, you're probably already carrying a battery bank and a charging cable, but it still seems like weighing all the necessary components of both, including the battery bank, would be a fairer comparison. Personally, I prefer the zero pump because I have a tiny battery bank and don't want to waste extra power on yet another electronic item. I also hate how loud other air pumps are.

@photooutdoor2574 24 күн бұрын

The zero can make it easily, when you let it sit for longer. No Problem!

@outdoorempirecom 24 күн бұрын

I've let it sit for several minutes before and it just won't do any more pressure with my pad.

@carlguo1614 25 күн бұрын

camping hacker🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@cahbee123 19 күн бұрын

I purchased the Flextail Zero and my exsperience with the device has been garbage. Stay away from it. Perfect name (Zero).

@themodularmodular 24 күн бұрын

I really don't get how few ounces could bother or hurt anyone, just like stressing over chopping toothbrush handle. The UL community has weird race to flex.

@MarkMcLarenVaingit 24 күн бұрын

I'm going to say it, the noise these make are shocking in the wilderness. The fact these don't actually achieve the job ie. fill it fully makes them redundant to me. The objective is to fill my mat without me contaminating it with moist air. I'll stick to a pump sack. Regarding the weight, I'll head to the toilet on the trail head before hiking to match the difference.... Sorry to be direct and blunt...

@ryan92084 23 күн бұрын

the moist air concerns are overblown (see tests by gearskeptic on youtube) but i agree on the noise. I have own a flextail mini but i don't bring it backpacking it is for group camping or tubing.

@MarkMcLarenVaingit 23 күн бұрын

@@ryan92084 to be fair I've not had any issues with moist air. I also own a flextail tiny pump 2x and a flextail mat. But prefer to use a pump sack with an adapter. Even this model struggle to fully inflate.

@MIAMIC70 25 күн бұрын

That looks like crap and build quality and durability seem suspect as hell.

@higler. 25 күн бұрын

Lmao the flextail is arguably crappier with is pathetic cheapo aluminum threads that are ready to mis-thread. This device is actually thought out and the guy(yes the one guy) that makes it obviously cares about his product and can ensure better quality control than flextail with their outsourced Chinese manufacturing. Don't let cheap capitalism fool ya.

@BrokenBackMountains 25 күн бұрын

Not bad for something 3d printed by a cottage industry.

@LeonidasontheTrail 25 күн бұрын

Not bad for a random guy on Reddit with a 3D printer.

@outdoorempirecom 25 күн бұрын

Definitely not a high end fit and finish, but it's functional and other than crushing it, I don't think it'll break. It's so light that gravity gots nothing on it.

@MrDavidcarp 24 күн бұрын