Pinholes & Payback: How I’m Bulletproofing My Haven XL Air Pad

Jason
Jul 17
6 min read

Updated: 6 days ago

Five nights. No sleep. Just a slowly collapsing Haven XL air pad and a pinhole leak I couldn’t find. By morning, it was flat. Within 20 minutes? Halfway to becoming a taco.

The Haven XL is a brilliant design—flat lay, solid protection, smart suspension. But the whole system depends on one thing: the air pad. And if that goes, the rest goes with it.

No flat surface. No comfort. No backup. Just frustration and regret.

I’m not letting that happen again. Here’s how I’m bulletproofing my pad to make sure I never repeat that trip.

The Weak Link in a Brilliant System

The Haven XL doesn’t work without its inflatable pad. Whether you run the standard or the insulated True Level version, the whole suspended bed relies on that pad holding air.

Mine didn’t. For five nights.

And that failure exposed the truth: there’s no fallback. No foam. No underquilt. Just the slow realization that you’re in a fabric taco with nowhere to go.

Now I treat the pad like a critical component—because it is.

Pre-Trip Testing: The New Rule

I don’t leave for any trip without testing the pad first. Period.

Here’s what I do now:

Inflate with a pump – I use a low-pressure air pump that won’t overinflate or stress the seams.
Soap test or submerge – If I have a tub, I dunk the pad and look for bubbles. Otherwise, I brush on a biodegradable soap-and-water mix to spot leaks.
Let it sit for 6–12 hours – That slow leak I missed last time took hours to show itself.
Patch and verify – Haven’s repair kit works well if applied right. Clean, press, wait, retest.

And yes—I pack soap on every trip now. It's the only way I found the leak once I got home.

Storage & Maintenance of the Haven XL

Once I’m back:

Clean the pad – Dirt and sweat wear down TPU over time. Mild soap only.
Dry it fully – Inside and out. Mold and trapped moisture are slow killers.
Store it loose – No tight rolls. That strains seams. I let mine breathe in the oversized stuff sack.

I also inspect it before packing again: valve, seams, baffles—anything that could be breaking down.

Camp Setup: Small Moves, Big Payoffs

Even though the Haven hangs, what’s underneath still matters.

Choose solid trees – 10–15 feet apart for clean tension.
Clear beneath the hammock – Not because I roll my pad on the ground (I don’t), but to keep grit and thorns from sticking to the floor when I pack up.
Ground cloth – I use Tyvek or polycro—not for the pad, but for my feet. Keeps dirt off the floor when I get in and out.

I also avoid overhanging branches, sharp brush, or gritty wind zones. Suspended doesn’t mean invincible.

Gear Handling: No More Screw-Ups

Inflate smart – My pump can’t overdo it. But if you use a pump sack or a powerful air pump, ease up. If you see “tacoing,” you’ve overfilled.
Tuck the pad in right – It needs to be seated fully in the corners or it’ll shift and rub.
Watch your gear – No trekking pole tips or sharp edges inside the tent. Boots off. Be gentle with zippers.

This isn’t rugged gear. It’s critical gear.

Bivy Mode: Respect the Stakes

Stake out guy lines tight and clean. A floppy setup moves more, rubs more, and raises your risk of tears.

Backups & Repairs

I don’t carry a backup foam pad. Too bulky, too heavy. Instead, I focus on prevention and repairs:

Repair kit with patches and adhesive
Tenacious Tape for field fixes
Small bottle of soap for leak detection

Lightweight, effective, and tested. That’s my insurance.

Final Thoughts: Trust, But Verify

The Haven XL system is brilliant. But it has one failure point—and I learned the hard way what happens when you ignore it.

Now I test before I go. I bring soap. I inspect. I clean. I handle it like it matters—because it does.

If you use a Haven XL, do yourself a favor:

✅ Test it

✅ Clean it

✅ Store it right

✅ Camp smart

✅ Handle it like critical gear

✅ Bring the damn soap

Your back—and your sanity—will thank you.

Field Checklist: Haven Pad Protection

✅ Do This	⚠️ Avoid This
Inflate with a low-pressure pump	Overinflating with a strong air pump
Soap-test or submerge 6–12 hrs before trips	Assuming a pad that holds air for 10 mins is “good enough”
Clean + dry pad completely post-trip	Storing dirty or damp
Tuck pad securely into corner pockets	Letting it shift or bunch
Sweep beneath your hammock	Packing grit into the floor
Keep zippers, tools, and pole tips smooth	Sharp or dirty objects in the tent
Carry repair kit + leak-detection soap	Heading out without a fix strategy

***Update:

As I mentioned above, it wasn't until I got home that I found the leak using soapy water, but i did not check to see if it was fixed until yesterday and realized it still has a leak. So I have to go through the process of locating the other leak(s) or just get a new pad.

Replacement pads from Haven are very expensive. $110.00 for the cheap one! I searched and searched for air pads that would fit the Haven XL. The dimensions are just not standard and I had no luck... until the other day. I found a very close fit, for the price of $40.00! I tested it and it will work in the Haven XL. What is it and where can you find it?

The OneTigris Camping Sleeping Pad is 78.8"L x 28.3"W x 2.7"Th. It is not a perfect fit, but it does work.

You can find it on Amazon here. I just check and the price is $49 now- I must have gotten it when it was on sale.

Overall it is not as thick and it does not fit snuggly into the corners of the Haven XL hammock tent, but it is comfortable and it does lay flat. This is the only pad I have found that works that is not a Haven brand.

You can see it doesn't quite fit snug.

And it is a little thinner.

Haven XL Wear and Tear

I have used my Haven XL Hammock Tent extensively for over 2 years. I generally use it every month for 3-5 nights on my backpacking adventures. I'm not going to do the math- you do the math lol, but it has been used and I treat it gently and care for it as it is my shelter and comfortable resting place.

Overall it has held up fairly well. There are issues to be aware of and maybe Haven has already addressed them.

First is the zippers; I've hated the zippers from the first time I've used the HavenXL. There are 2 zippers- one for each side. Which means you need to pull the zipper the entire lenght of the hammock to get in and out- which is particularly a pain when you are in the hammock. Your weight puts stress on the zippers, so I have to adjust my weight to zip and unzip- and that can be awkward. And if you try to just power through- you will damage the zippers. Remember you have to zip and unzip the entire lenght! They should have put 2 zippers on each side!

The next issue to be aware of is the rainfly. I haven't had much of a problem with it, but you need to be aware that if condensation starts forming on the underside- it will soak through the mesh and drop onto you. The rainfly basically sits right on top of the mesh- I often modify mine so that it doesn't. I have also felt the need to coat the rainfly with waterproofing spray every so often.

Now the big concern is the seams and tape. I think the photos will speak for themselves. At this point, it is concerning and I have to think- if it rips anymore and I fall through- what am I going to do!! Keep in mind this is after over 2 years of use and I weigh 190 pounds.