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Exped Schnozzel UL Pumpbag Review

Exped Schnozzel Pumpbag Review

The Exped Schnozzel UL is a large 42L pump bag and roll-top stuff sack that can be used to inflate Exped,  Sea-to-Summit, and REI inflatable sleeping pads which have a flat inflation valve. The Schnozzel Pumpbag UL is also available in a smaller 20L size. You can even buy a shower attachment for it for base camp and backcountry bathing, as well as a universal adapter for use with pads from other manufacturers.

Exped Schnozzel UL Pumpbag

Ease of Inflation
Weight
Durability
Packed Size
Pad Compatibility

Multi-use Pump Bag and Pack Liner

The Exped Schnozzel is a 42L ultralight drybag that can serve double duty as a backpack liner to keep your gear dry. But its biggest benefit is in sleeping pad inflation. You'll never have to struggle to inflate your pad again.

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The Schnozzel UL is so-called because of its long tubular appendage, that looks like an elephant’s nose. The nose has an outlet that connects to your pad’s intake valve, and a cap, that closes the outlet when you want to use the pump bag as a waterproof stuff sack or backpack liner.

For example, it takes me 25-30 breaths to inflate my current sleeping pad, which is a 4″ thick Sea-to-Summit Etherlight Insulated XT Air Mattress, at sea level. I shudder to think how long that would take at 12,000 feet. That same pad takes 2-3 bagful of air to inflate with the Exped Schnozzel UL and I’m not left gasping for oxygen at the end of the process.

The Schnozzel UL can be used to inflate Sea-to-Summit, Exped, and REI sleeping pads that have flat valves.
The Schnozzel UL Pumpbag can be used to inflate Sea-to-Summit, Exped, and REI sleeping pads that have flat valves.

But the value of the Schnozzel doesn’t stop there. It has a high enough volume that it can serve as a pack liner or a huge stuff sack to protect your gear from moisture. Weighing just 2 oz, it’s lighter weight than a white trash compactor bag and a heck of a lot more durable. It also has a roll top, which makes it easy to compress or remove any extra capacity. In fact, you can purge any extra air through the nose, before capping it closed.

For example, I’ve used the Schnozzel UL in a number of different ways, as:

  • a pack liner to keep my gear dry when it rains,
  • a food bag for carrying a week’s worth of food
  • a stuff sack to hold my clothes
  • a waterproof sack to carry a wet tent inside my backpack

To inflate a pad, you connect the Schnozzel outlet your pad, hold the pump bag open about 2 feet in front of your face, and blow gently into it. The movement of your breath pulls surrounding air into the pump bag, inflating it. Scooping air into the bag also works. Grasp the edges of the sack together like a roll top and push the resulting balloon of air into your air mattress. I can inflate most full-size air mattresses with 2-3 bag fulls or air. It’s wonderful.

Push the air in the Pumpbag into your sleeping pad to inflate it
Push the air in the Pumpbag into your sleeping pad to inflate it

What about stick valves or flat valves that are sized differently than Exped, Sea-to-Summit, or REI’s flat valved pads? Exped also sells a universal valve adapter for use with the Schnozzel.

When shopping for a Schnozzel UL, it’s important to make sure that you purchase the right Schnozzel. Exped also makes a heavier version of the Schnozzel that doesn’t have the UL suffix. I think you’re better off buying the UL version which is made with 20d silnylon and plenty durable for this application. I love my 42L Schnozzel UL pump bag (2.1 oz), which I can rationalize carrying because it can be used in so many different ways.

Disclosure: Exped provided the author with a Schnozzel UL M for review.

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10 comments

  1. WHY use the Exped snozzle and NOT the better inflating bag that came with your Sea To Summit matress? That makes use of the venuri effect and is marvelous.

  2. I love this thing. My quilt, liner, pad, pillow, and sleep clothes go inside. I seal the top and kneel on it to squeeze air out through the nozzle, with a more compressed result than I can get from a regular rolltop sack. I don’t worry about my quilt getting wet in my pack. Using the inflator keeps my moisture laden breath out of the pad. If I ever switch to a closed cell versus inflatable pad, I’ll still use this as the dry sack for my quilt.

  3. Is this in fact waterproof? I saw a review on REI website that reported at times his gear got wet because of water soaking thru the nylon.
    Any thoughts?

    • I’d treat any end-user reviews you read on the REI website with suspicion. Often they’re just user error. It might not be in this case. I couldn’t say. I treat this like a waterproof pack liner and have never had any problems with it.

    • I used one to keep my down puffy and extra clothing dry on last year’s section hike. One day, I hiked in torrential rain, which turned to sleet and then snow with howling winds. When I got to the shelter where my buddies were, other than my sleeping bag which was in its own waterproof eVent stuff sack, everything I owned was soaked EXCEPT for what was in the Schnozzel. Its contents were bone dry. I have full confidence in it.

  4. Philip, which size do you recommend? Medium (42L)?

    Thanks

  5. You’re right about making sure you order the right one. It’s dicey – because everyone calls everything ultralight, & most are not the “pumpbag UL”. Question: I use a HMG 3400 Southwest with a large POD in the bottom with my sleeping bag in it. This goes inside my trash compactor bag. The medium (42L) Schnozzel wouldn’t replace this would it – not big enough? I’m thinking I keep that setup & use the schnozzel as a dry bag up top with extra clothes in it. Or will the schnozzel accommodate the big POD? Make sense? Thanks for any advice – as always.

  6. No worries, I ordered a medium that I think is the UL & we’ll see what’s best use case. Thanks for the review Philip.

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