Quick Tip: The Trash Bag Pump Sack Technique

I thought I’d give a little tidbit that I recently picked up while hiking that you may find advantageous to add to your backpacking to-do list:

The Trash Bag Pump Sack Technique

This is one I learned from my friend, Eric, who saw it in a YouTube video. I saw him blow up his air mattress with a cinch and a trash bag and I thought he was an absolute genius! I looked it up on YouTube and there are literally a bunch of videos like this, so I’m not sure who the original mastermind is. If anyone knows about the video/who came up with this, please let me know so I can give them credit!

Deric, Eric and me on the trip Eric showed me this miracle

Instead of inflating your sleeping pad with your lungs, use a trash bag! The point is to save yourself breath and extend the life of your sleeping pad. Apparently, blowing hot air into your pad makes it easier for bacteria to survive. You would think most would know this with some basic high school science classes, but alas, I still blow my pad up with my mouth. No more!

Deric chillin and Eric enjoying a nice meal on top of a mountain, proud to be a clever hiker with a mattress pad sans bacteria

The inflation device itself is called a pump sack. You can buy them at REI or probably any other outdoor store.

I first saw this blow-up-with-a-bag technique when a friend pulled out the NEMO Tensor, which comes with its own pump sack that’s more durable than a trash bag (presumably). But, if you’re not in the market for a new sleeping pad (like myself) or ran out of time to buy a pump sack and/or want to do things cheaper, use the trash bag technique!

another tip: roll your tape in mini rolls so they're light and compact

I do understand that this is a less sustainable way of operating. However, if you keep that same trash bag and name it your own personal five-cent pump sack, it can actually last quite a while.

All you need is a trash bag and a cincher. The heavy-duty black bags work best because they’re thicker than typical household trash bags, thus less likely to rip. It doesn’t matter as long as your bag is intact or you have duct tape. We had to pull out the gorilla tape because Eric's trashbag ripped, but not to worry, the method still worked perfectly!

Note: This trash-bag style will only work with external valves. It’s possible to purchase a valve attachment depending on the brand of pad you have.

Here’s how to do it:

step one

Step 1: Tear a small hole in the bottom corner of the trash bag

step two

Step 2: Place the tear around the open valve of your sleeping pad

Step 3

Step 3: Use a cinch to hold in place. I'm using a hair tie here. As long as air doesn't escape out the bottom, you're golden.

Step four

Step 4: Collect air into the garbage bag and fold the top of the bag together

Step five

Step 5: Keep pushing air into the valve until your sleeping pad is nice and full

There you have it, folks! An easy-peasy way to inflate your sleeping pad without exhausting yourself. Thanks again to Eric who showed me this ingenious trick. I hope it works well for you or, if anything, inspires you to get a pump sack.

The view from our camping spot where I learned this trick