For three trips in a row, I had an inflatable sleeping mattress that didn't want to do its job: stay inflated. The first time around I didn't have the repair kit with me on a quick backpacking trip. I chalked it up to bad luck for a five-year-old mattress and moved on with life by blowing it up every few hours for a couple of summer nights. I added a midday nap or two into the mix. I got home telling myself I'd fix it. Didn't happen.
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