After setting the lab speed record for inflating the largest size Ukrainian hot water bottle ("size 3", which Vika demonstrated actually holds approximately 2.5litres of water), Zonah is curious whether the two smaller sizes require any more pressure. She suspects they do, since all feel like they are made with equal wall thickness, which means less area for her breath to push against, and thus a higher pressure required to expand. She begins by blowing the familiar "size 3," which requires the typical 2.6 psi to begin expansion, and then drops to around 2psi in the few breaths it takes to ...

After setting the lab speed record for inflating the largest size Ukrainian hot water bottle ("size 3", which Vika demonstrated actually holds approximately 2.5litres of water), Zonah is curious whether the two smaller sizes require any more pressure. She suspects they do, since all feel like they are made with equal wall thickness, which means less area for her breath to push against, and thus a higher pressure required to expand. She begins by blowing the familiar "size 3," which requires the typical 2.6 psi to begin expansion, and then drops to around 2psi in the few breaths it takes to make it explode. Then she begins her battle with "size 2." She pushes with all her might, repeatedly developing over 3psi, letting the air out, and trying again. She tries various techniques to increase her blowing pressure. Maddeningly, it develops the typical light-green streaks in the typical places she expects it to begin to expand. When deflated, it is also clear that the rubber has become a bit droopier due to her efforts. Fortunately, while her face muscles have relaxed enough to allow her pouches to fully expand, she has not developed the same "droopy jowls" as the hot water bottle. Ironically, all of this repeated stretching of the "grelka" makes it possible for her to pop it with the foot pump at right about 3psi. She thus demonstrates one of the core truths of hot water bottle blowing: push hard at the beginning, and make the most of each breath, especially while you are fresh. Otherwise, you will tire out faster than its pressure requirement will diminish from stretching. In all this, Zonah isn't too disappointed - her abs and cheeks got one hell of a workout today! Finally, she inflates the super-tough little size 1 grelka with the foot pump, and sees that it requires slightly over 4.2 psi. She has hit 4.0 psi before, blowing a double-stuffed Q350 balloon, so she knows that the smallest Ukrainians may soon be within her ability to blow. And she also is aware of Kendra Heart's lab record of 4.7 psi, so rest assured, there will be a re-test!