No, you don’t need to carry a sleeping bag pump. But with a built-in, dimmable lantern, the Exped Ultra Pump makes a strong case for doing it
Exped Ultra Pump (Photo: Courtesy)
Updated June 2, 2026 12:47PM
If, like me, you hate blowing up sleeping pads, you have a couple of options. You can forgo them for closed-cell pads and get used to feeling the rocks and roots below you. You can knuckle down and just do it. Or you can pack a sleeping pad inflator to do the work for you. While sleeping pad inflators are certainly a luxury, some, like the 8-gram Alpenblow Micro Inflator are shockingly light, while others pack in more than one functionality. At 3.5 ounces, the Exped Ultra Pump isn’t the most featherweight on the market, but it’s one of the most multifunctional. Besides blowing up your pad (adapters can match it to nearly any brand’s products), the Ultra’s built-in lantern can output up to 300 lumens of soft white light, while a clip allows you to hang it from your tent peak or a branch.
