Air mattress has a ballooned section… can it be fixed?

Hello there, I’ve inherited this camping mattress but it has this nasty ballooning in it. Is there anything I can do to save it?

I had an inflatable pad with a similar issue, and it turned out to be delaminated. Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do to fix it. I switched to a Klymit Insulated Static V, which doesn’t have lamination issues. Hope this helps!

@Taylor
Your English is great! Thanks for sharing your experience.

@Taylor
Just so you know, my Klymit Insulated Static V (the orange one) delaminated last year after about 7 years of use.

Valen said:
@Taylor
Just so you know, my Klymit Insulated Static V (the orange one) delaminated last year after about 7 years of use.

Same here—my non-insulated Klymit Static V had areas where the material separated entirely. Paired with a leak, it was the end of the pad for me.

@Taylor
What magic does Klymit use to make their adhesive or lamination last? Seems like it’s hit or miss for most pads.

@Taylor
Agreed, this is the way to go.

This reminds me of the sleeping pad I was issued in the army. It was terrible. Sorry to say, but it looks like your mattress is beyond saving.

Zorion said:
This reminds me of the sleeping pad I was issued in the army. It was terrible. Sorry to say, but it looks like your mattress is beyond saving.

No worries, and thanks for the advice. Hopefully no flashbacks!

This happened to my old Exped pad after using it with the Exped chair kit. I won’t use the chair kit with my new pad again—it seems to add pressure and heat that cause delamination.

@Keir
Haha, that sounds like an adventure. Knowing me, it would take hours and probably not work, so I’ll just cut my losses. Thanks for the detailed advice!

Shawn said:
@Keir
Haha, that sounds like an adventure. Knowing me, it would take hours and probably not work, so I’ll just cut my losses. Thanks for the detailed advice!

If you’re throwing it away anyway, why not try? Worst-case scenario, it ends up in the trash like you planned.

@Quinn
I’d love to, but I’ve got a toddler at home, and free time is hard to come by.

@Quinn
Fair point, but sometimes a little destruction can be fun!

@Keir
I feel your tinkering spirit! My gloves tore on my last trip, and I’m about to take them apart to see what can be done. Keep experimenting!

Hayes said:
@Keir
I feel your tinkering spirit! My gloves tore on my last trip, and I’m about to take them apart to see what can be done. Keep experimenting!

Good luck with the gloves! Repairs can be tricky but rewarding.

I’ve had a self-inflating pad do the same thing. Once it starts, there’s no turning back.

No way to fix it. The manufacturer might help if it’s a reputable brand, but with no name pads, you’re out of luck.

Rory said:
No way to fix it. The manufacturer might help if it’s a reputable brand, but with no name pads, you’re out of luck.

It’s a good brand, but I’m not sure how old it is. Might be the end of the road.

@Shawn
Still worth asking. Some brands take pride in standing by their products long after the warranty expires.