Complete newbie callow greenhorn question about self-inflating mats

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If they're new, you have to b-l-o-w to get them all thick and cushiony, yes?

I just bought a Wee Airic (4 footer) for DS1 on ebay. Seller said it had never been used, just removed from packaging and then rolled up again. I know storing them rolled isn't best, but they arer rolled when you buy them new (I presume) so surely this is just the same.

Anyway, I unfurled it and tis still all flaccid. I have to orally inflate it, don't I? I just don't want to balls it up. The valve is open and everything.

That ebay seller hasn't just passed a punctured fat airic off on me, has he?

Give it a few puffs and see how you go.

Sometimes they need a bit of a kickstart.

You won't break it by blowing it up the first time.

You'll know if you have a duff one if

a) when you lie on it when it is inflated and the valve is shut it deflates.
b)after initial assisted inflation it doesn't self inflate second time round.

Yup. It seems ok. At least, a). Will try b) tomorrow! I just didn't want to over-inflate it by mouth. Thanks!

no worries.

you would have to have lungs of steel (lungs of steel no that's a crap metaphor, lungs of steel would be rubbish...lungs of something strong and exhilatory, like a pair of strong lungs, SPERM WHALE LUNGS) to over inflate one to bursting level I think.

mind you a sperm whale would have problems getting it's lips around the valve to get a good seal tbh

Heh heh, whales, heh heh heh.

I was wondering the same about the ones I've just bought from Lidl.

Should you not store them rolled then? Where the hell are you supposed to put them?!

Bumper, no you shouldn't. Very bad for them (apparently).

Ours go unrolled, valve open onto of the joists in the garage roof. Have read on here people keeping theirs behind doors and wardrobes.

Ok good advice, thanks.

you can also store them under your mattress - i always forget and leave mine rolled up though - so far no harm done (probably regret saying that...)

I got a Lidl one too - I'd never heard the tip about storing them unrolled.