Lifesystems Alpenblow Micro Inflator

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Small, efficient, and thoughtfully designed—this is one gadget that earns its place in your pack.

Alpenglow Gear says: 

Weighing less than two nickels, the Alpenblow is an ultralight luxury item. This micro inflator takes about 3 minutes to quietly inflate your sleeping pad, sipping power directly from your phone or power bank. Inflating a typical sleeping pad will use <1% of an iPhone’s battery capacity. Each Alpenblow ships with multiple nozzles to support a variety of sleeping pad valves.

To power your Alpenblow with your phone, it must use the USB-C standard, which includes most Androids and recent iPhones (15 & onward). Any power bank with a 5V output is also suitable.

Inflating a regular-sized pad will consume 0.75% of an iPhone 15’s battery, or 0.25% of a NiteCore NB10000’s capacity.

Although the inflated pad will appear rigid, during testing most hikers preferred a mattress firmness that required an extra breath or two. This device is intended for backcountry sleeping pads and will struggle to inflate kayaks, rafts, and oversized mattresses.

To power your Alpenblow with your phone, it must use the USB-C standard, which includes most Androids and recent iPhones (15 & onward). Any power bank with a 5V output is also suitable.

Inflating a regular-sized pad will consume 0.75% of an iPhone 15’s battery, or 0.25% of a NiteCore NB10000’s capacity.

Although the inflated pad will appear rigid, during testing most hikers preferred a mattress firmness that required an extra breath or two. This device is intended for backcountry sleeping pads and will struggle to inflate kayaks, rafts, and oversized mattresses.

Our Verdict

The Alpenblow Micro Inflator is an impressive ultralight addition to any hiker’s kit. At just 7 grams, it’s incredibly light, yet it packs a punch when it comes to inflating your sleeping pad quickly and quietly.

During testing, the Alpenblow inflated a standard-sized sleeping pad in about three minutes while drawing minimal power from a USB-C device. A mere 0.75% of an Galaxy 2 24’s battery is all it takes, making it highly efficient for longer treks where every ounce of energy counts. It includes multiple nozzles to fit popular valve types like Therm-a-Rest, Sea-to-Summit, and NEMO, ensuring compatibility with most backcountry sleeping pads.

However, you’ll likely need to top up the pad with a few breaths to achieve the perfect firmness—a small price to pay for the sheer convenience this tiny tool provides. It’s not designed for larger inflatables like rafts or kayaks, but its singular focus on sleeping pads makes it a reliable specialist.

– Reviewed by Ultralight Outdoor Gear

Features

• Included Nozzles: Therm-a-Rest (WingLock), NEMO (Laylow), Big Agnes, Sea-to-Summit, ZenBivy, and EXPED. More nozzles sold separately!

Specifications

• Inflator Weighs: 7g
• Adaptors Weigh: 7g

(when using a NeoAir XLite pad)

• Energy Usage: 18 mAh @ 5V
• Noise Level: 42 dBA (similar to a moderate rainfall)