Pros: Lightweight, dual-purpose, easy to use, mitigates wear on your sleeping pad by reducing moisture inside the pad, which can lead to all sorts of problems like mildew and loss of insulation due to frozen/cutting water droplets.
Cons: with adapter in place, the Schnozzel cannot be sealed to create a water tight fitting at the bottom of the bag...probably not an issue if using the bag as a pack liner, unless you dunk your pack in a river.
This is a dual-purpose pack liner that works incredibly well as a fill bag for your sleeping pad. While designed to only work with Exped pads, a simple modification can adapt it for Therm-a-rest pads.
Specs:
Length: 27" Width: 19" Weight: 2 oz.
Volume: 42 liters (2563 cu.in.). Warranty: 5 years
Materials:
Top: 15 D Ripstop Nylon, Silicone/PU coated, 1500 mm water column.
Bottom: 15 D Ripstop Nylon, Silicone/PU coated, 1500 mm water column20 D Polyester, TPU Polyether Film Laminate, Hydrolysis resistant, Honeycomb embossed.
Background:
I had previously been using the Exped mini-pump to inflate my Therm-a-rest Neoair Xlite, after I discovered that a small piece of bicycle tubing (road bike size 700c) fit over both the Exped fitting and the standard Therm-a-rest inflator. It takes a little effort to stretch the tubing over the Exped fitting, so once in place, I just leave it there. The other end of the tubing will then slide easily over a Therm-a-rest inflator but still creates a seal (don't ever throw away your flatted tubes...they can be re-purposed for many uses!).
But the Exped mini-pump, while compact and lightweight, only serves one purpose. It is also a chore to fully inflate a pad (but still not as tiring as blowing air in yourself).
Enter the Exped Schnozzel bag, which can be adapted in the same way described above, and has the dual purpose of serving as a pack liner.
Pack liner versus Pack cover:
I won't go into all the detail as to why I prefer a pack liner over a pack cover but just consider what good a pack cover will do if you fall down in water. Since I hike in regions where water often covers the trail, a pack liner just makes the most sense. I also like to keep a trim profile on my pack. Pack covers tend to become sails in windy conditions and also snag easily on trees and vegetation.
Ease of Use:
So if you've already come to the conclusion that a pack liner works best for you, then why not have it serve an additional purpose? And as a fill bag for your sleeping pad, the Schnozzel bag does a stunningly good job. I would venture to bet that after one or two uses, you will wonder how you ever got on without it. It is so quick and easy to fully inflate my Neoair Xlite, taking only 1.5-2 bags to fill. The trick is in waving the open end of the bag around slightly to 'grab' a good load of air and then quickly rolling the top (just like a dry bag) to begin forcing the air into the pad. It takes minimal time and effort...invaluable at the end of a long day. Having to inflate the pad with my lungs alone used to be a dreaded task, often leaving me lightheaded and out of breath.
And why, other than simply the ease of saving your lungs the effort, should you be concerned over how the air enters your pad? There are very practical reasons, in fact. Consider that all those water molecules that come from your moisture rich lungs wreak havoc on the interior of your expensive pad. Namely, mold can form, which not only makes for unsanitary conditions but also destroys the materials the pad is made of. Water droplets also decrease the insulation abilities of the pad. In freezing conditions, these water droplets can even turn into ice, potentially damaging the pad material.
As a pack liner, the Schnozzel bag performs as expected. In past trips, I was able to stuff all my clothes, sleeping bag, hammock, and Therm-a-rest into the bag, with room to spare. The hole in the bottom allows air to escape, so you can get a really compressed fit inside your pack (I'm using this in lieu of a compression sack for my sleeping bag). Like similar pack liners, it's made with very lightweight silnylon, so there is little weight penalty..well worth the security of knowing your gear will be kept dry.
But on that note, I have to deduct a star from this otherwise excellent product. Since Exped designed the Schnozzel to be used only with their pads, my modification takes away one of its key features. The fill opening is designed to be folded over and pressed into the female end, just like a snap, to effectively seal the schnozzel part of the bag. But with the tubing adapter left in place, I can't do this. Instead, I simply twist the schnozzel a few times and call it good. Once stuffed into my pack, it's unlikely that water would be able to work its way inside, up the twisted schnozzel. But it would be nice if Exped made an adapter to fit other pads...I heard that they used to but I guess I can understand their reluctance in somewhat endorsing competing products.
It should be noted that Therm-a-rest sells an adapter to re-purpose a standard packliner/drybag in this way, but I've heard mixed reviews about it. I think what really sets the Schnozzel apart is in fact the Schnozzel appendage...it allows the manipulation of the bag to 'grab' air while still maintaining a passageway/connection with the pad...I don't know how to explain it otherwise. It just works.
Construction & Durability: As with any pack liner, you will have to take care not to let other things in your pack (like stoves/utensils) rub a hole or puncture the liner. But if it does get a hole, it can be repaired fairly easily. A 5 year warranty from Exped is a nice factor.
