Worst Review In A While - Electronic Inflators

Apart from improving Bikeradar “clicks” what does it say? 

^ realised I'd fallen for it at the same time.

NOTHING of value other than they are getting better.

Comments point out they are still much heavier than a mini pump and the risk, after non-use for many months when using tubeless means the likelihood of a flattened battery due to not charging regularly, is high/very high.

Personally speaking, I think they're an absolute gimmick. I would always prefer to have a manual pump as I know it's always going to work. Unless the seals have failed, I can pump up one tire or I can pump up a hundred tires so long as I have the energy. 

I have the one-up component EDC pump which also contains my multi-tool, tire levers, quick links and my wiggly worm tool. 

Electric pumps sound good but there's just too much to go wrong and they're relatively bulky for what you get

"E"flators, shurely?

Yeah, I'll stick with my accoustic inflator, ta

I like the idea for fatbiking in the winter, where I want to remove or add a bit of pressure multiple times on a ride due to to temperature and snow variations, but I would always still carry a pump anyway for safety.

Will likely wait until battery life and reliability get good enough to be worth the cost and weight though.

I think they're fine. I have one for balls (of the rugby sort) which is small and accurate. I just wish it was a similar price for a bike one. This cost only £20 is palm sized, has 4 ball type presets as well as a +/- to set a desired pressure on the LCD display... I mean it will go to 20PSI so its ok for the low pressure lovers out there, but why is it 3x more or more to get a 'bike' one?

Also to be fair to BikeRadar I think the title makes it clear its an opinion piece not a review.

Used mine on Sunday - blew my mates 2.6 tyre up from flat to 25psi twice and flat to 30psi once (don't ask) in a matter of seconds. No idea how much battery is left, but everyone was very impressed and wanted one.

Downside - I bought the wrong one really and it's a bulky lump. Fine if using a bag, but it's not pocketable

The electric pump would naturally be flat by the time I needed it. I get so few flats it's not worth bothering about, and I run tubes on all my bikes (shock horror).

I have one and prefer it. I rarely use the track pump or mini pump. 

For short rides i have a co2. For longer rides, I stick the electric one in the backpack. It stays charged as I've usually used it to check the tyres before i leave (it has a digital pressure guage).

In my experience, a mini pump sits unused until you fish it out of your bag, or get it off the frame, and it's either seized up, covered in muck, or various parts have dismantled in the bag (mountain morph). 

This thread is a useful reminder for me to check my various pumps again. Thanks OP. 

This thread is a useful reminder for me to check my various pumps again. Thanks OP.

Mine are all still A-OK.

The only ones that are *really* worth getting are one of the proper minikompressors you see in the pits at races.

Just the headline was enough for to not read it...the problem with e-pumps and CO2 inflators is also environmental, because they use more resources to produce (lithium battery and charging vs. one-off, smaller resource hit with a normal pump). Are CO2 canisters still single use?

The main issue is that it's a ridiculous solution to a problem already solved. You have another battery to charge and therefore rely on, turning what was once a manual machine into one reliant on electricity, be that the pump or shifting (however small the amount of time between charges, it still is). That's not a road I want to go down. Partly my being a luddite, but also for real practical reasons. There is such a general and ridiculous drive to make so much stuff unnecessarily electric or connected to the internet, or phones. So much of it is just pointless consumerism and to entice a purchase. Oh, and the last time a manual pump failed? Not in the past 15 years for me, and it's not hard to keep it clean or check it once in a while.

(maybe this post will appear within the next 24 hours?)

I'm sure this has all been said before but I have mine along for the ride as well as a mini pump, but instead of co2 for those situations where you want to inflate quickly with minimal faff, i.e. it's lashing down or I'm at the side of a road. I've got the small rockbros one without a gauge. Its smaller and a similar weight to the equivalent co2 carts I'd otherwise have with me.

I still think they're a massive extravagance for 95% of folk, at what point in capitalism do we say we should be reserving finite and fairly critical elements like copper, lithium etc. for more important things than lazy cyclists who don't like using hand pumps occasionally 🤣 (see also: e-bikes, electric gears etc. etc.).

And yes, there's always exceptions for whom they're a game changer, and yes, I'm probably equally guilty carrying around a GoPro, a Garmin and a smartphone on every ride, but I'm thinking more carefully about future purchases.

Imagine if you only had electronic inflators, and then someone invented a manual pump that fit in your hip pack or attached to your frame - and didn't even need charging!

I still think they're a massive extravagance for 95% of folk, at what point in capitalism do we say we should be reserving finite and fairly critical elements like copper, lithium etc. for more important things than lazy cyclists who don't like using hand pumps occasionally 🤣 (see also: e-bikes, electric gears etc. etc.).

Everything is a finite resource, and 99% of MTB'ng is cycling around in a circle, so I'm pretty sure that won't make the cut of essential use of resources.

Posted by: HoratioHufnagel

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Everything is a finite resource, and 99% of MTB'ng is cycling around in a circle, so I'm pretty sure that won't make the cut of essential use of resources.

Totally, and it's the major failing in my 'old man shouting at clouds' logic up above, but still, where is the line drawn? I'm pretty sure if we already have a good solution to inflating tyres, or shifting gears, or pedalling up hills, does it really merit an improved solution that also happens to compete for resource with more critical things like EV batteries and heat pumps?

It's an impossible argument and I shouldn't have started it, but the increased gadget-ification of cycling just seems glaringly silly at times.

Everyone is in such a rush - I spent many a happy moment sat on a hillside repairing a puncture while having a natter with mates and taking in the view!

Absolutely love mine.

Been just as reliable as any other pump I’ve owned so far. Track pump never gets used now.

Its smaller and lighter than most mechanical pumps too

Posted by: the-muffin-man

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Everyone is in such a rush - I spent many a happy moment sat on a hillside repairing a puncture while having a natter with mates and taking in the view!

Kind of loses it's appeal when its 3 degrees and pissing it down

I’m going to keep using my Lwzyne pumps, they’re almost completely made out of metal and recyclable when the time comes (apart from the hose and seals) and the battery has never run out or needed charging. I’m trying to minimise my disposable parts in biking nowadays (it’s why I stopped using Shimano brakes, they’re almost completely don't supply spares and rebuild kits). I do have an ebike (on order) and accept some batteries are needed (but it won’t stop me riding my normal bike).  But most of these pumps are just rebadged generic stuff coming out of a factory in China and when they brake they’ll just be landfill with all of the disposable vapes. 

I’ve never used one, but the idea does appeal if they’re small enough. However, I don’t think I would ever leave a manual mini pump behind.
I’ve also never used a CO2 bottle. So really, I’d consider it in place of one of those. Or maybe an electric pump for short rides only. But for bigger rides, I’m going to stick with my manual pump.

I love the idea, but like anything with (probably) cheap lipos in I don't trust it to still work and charge properly in 2 years.

 

I’m going to keep using my Lwzyne pumps, they’re almost completely made out of metal and recyclable

ALL the light weight Lezyne screw on pumps I have are b*****s for removing the valve core. Soooo frustrating, the only people amused have been my mates rolling around in the grass killing themselves laughing.

I now carry a Bontrager Mini Charger, sadly no longer available but brilliant, powerful and quick ... though not the lightest 🤷‍♂️

The consistency of a good quality pressure gauge on a battery/electronic inflator is something I am interested in.

Oh, and the last time a manual pump failed? Not in the past 15 years for me, and it's not hard to keep it clean or check it once in a while.

Both of my Topeak floor pumps have failed, nothing to do with keeping them clean or checked. just because it's mechanical or manual doesn't mean it won't ever break.

I never give the inflation part* of the repair a second thought,however,getting the tight bar steward tyres on and off my road bike is a whole different level of pain and apprehension. If there was an electronic version of the tyre slider,I would throw money at it.

* I have never had a pump fail and end up using my old, unused Co2 in the shed

Kind of loses it's appeal when its 3 degrees and pissing it down

That was the last memorable puncture i had. Coming back over the tops on the road bikes with my ex after an early spring ride. Only about 30 minutes from home, and in the 15 minutes we were stopped it started raining, then started to freeze and turned to sleet. Which started to freeze on to anything metal.

Thankfully we were overdressed for the starting conditions, so we only got really really cold, instead of frostbite.

Both of my Topeak floor pumps have failed

Buy cheap(ly made) buy twice?

My Original 1980s silca lasted decades, the SKS Rennkompressors i bought to replace it are also both over a decade old and get used heavily.

See for my road/gravel bike I'm debating the idea of buying a cheapy E-pump to compliment a frustrating but usable mini mini-pump or going the other way and buying a nice full sized frame pump (I can't justify a Silca though).

But it's got me thinking, is there a bit of a gap in e-pump market for a higher capacity (battery) one, using the "Form Factor" of a Frame pump (~500-560mm long) absolutely stuffed full of 18650 cells (OK four or five) so you've got like 10-12000 mAh rather than the 2600 mAh of a 'cycplus' or similar that apparently does 4 or 5 ish tyres (depending on size and pressure), so you'd have a much better chance of it delivering enough air on demand.

It would of course be very expensive and a manual pump would still probably be more reliable (and much lighter)...

I bought one of these, it's pretty good

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Electric-Portable-Pressure-Motorcycle-Accessories/dp/B0CL5YG3TW/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?crid=2E1XU7343BJFI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SPLN6I5Ts3B6M4eoYR255P7Qxw62O0D-M6H-xxh2wfAFoyx0CNZ3XeHNCAMJ5wBPOSieVzCnUqzA_JjC8W0CzKC8lFqaoFc3BypQx_HtqDr9xCf8BsWuGwQjnM_pwG7lP7CqQtFBfl1SGqhearR__jXKY1Fz0wb6p3ZiHi5Ot_EaVVOy8ZJ4jycDNnRdkZVzxE-iaUyr_BF-pfWdZh0URQ.R3EG98rMUVr_YMQmcQ1WIiunzNhqmfA_KkUcueZpa-A&dib_tag=se&keywords=Electric+mtb+pump&qid=1742590360&sprefix=electric+mtb+pump%2Caps%2C95&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1

When I tested it, It'll do five 2.5 inch mtb tyres from empty to 22 psi. Apparent it'll go up to 100 psi, but I haven't tried it that high. 

Has the added benefit of having a little led light and comes with a frame bag.

One powered by a 2A/12V take off from an ebike lighting circuit would be good. It wouldn't need a battery, therefore wouldn't be flat.

Both of my Topeak floor pumps have failed, nothing to do with keeping them clean or checked

So did you drop 5 them then? .....because short of an oring on the head that needs a light lubricant and decade esque replacement......what actually broke if it wasn't a maintenance issue ? 

@julians

Can't see nowt there 

Can't see nowt there

Hmm, not sure if that's a forum problem or an amazon problem, try this

https://amzn.eu/d/jbGkEUH

In the interests of balance....and self promotion

This surprised me

More of a conclusion in this one though (unbiased review, no affiliate link or paid review as I suspect the bike radar video is)

https://youtu.be/0FY9Sz-8T4w?si=DBIw9FuRcQTTMfyJ

I've got a cyplus one that the better half bought me for Christmas. Did the job nicely when I had a bit of a flat at the weekend. Yeah, I'm lazy for not using my topeak mountain morph that was in my backpack as well but, hey, it made pumping up a tyre much less unpleasant.

@rOcKeTdOg

Think you fairly captured the key points wrt battery inflators vs manual pump.

Cheers 👍

Don't replace a pump for me but get used on rides where I would otherwise use CO2. Worth noting as well that when using it with tubeless tyres it's often more of just a top-up than a full inflation so I expect I'd get waaaay more than the three-and-a-bit inflations that I got trying it on road tubes. Being able to set the correct pressure after fixing a puncture is underrated too - no need for toot-toot-toot-squeeze-squeeze repeats.

Being able to set the correct pressure after fixing a puncture is underrated too

If the gauge is accurate, which I doubt

If the gauge is accurate, which I doubt

@rOcKeTdOg

If the gauge is accurate, which I doubt

Maybe that needs addressing in a review 😉

Maybe that needs addressing in a review

I did 👍

The gauge on the inflator I linked to reads the same as the topeak d2x digital gauge Ihave. 

This is the thing though, non of these are calibrated or validated. So the old squeeze with the fingers, ride and see how it feels, add/subtract air method works too

I've seen them used in roadie rides, and they're great at what they do.  But I'm not convinced everyone should go out and buy one.  Unless you're in a mad rush on solo rides there's not so much need. And on a group ride it's the sort of gadget that someone will pull out of their pocket to save the group some time/energy, it doesn't need 20 of them.  I'd happily make the same argument for frame pumps and other tools. Surely better if someone brings one decent pump on the ride than 10 crap mini-pumps, or a few decent tools spread around the group leaving more pocket space for extra layers and some food.  95% of the time the ride would have a better average speed if people fueled better, not if they brought a 10th multitool that'll not get used. 

 

Kind of loses it's appeal when its 3 degrees and pissing it down

+1

But maybe more useful for roadies still using tubes. Tubeless on MTB's solved the same problem two decades ago.

That said ...... I still carry a frame pump on winter road rides, it's just the right tool for the job. And in summer a decent mini-pump is decent enough for the task, especially as tyres have got bigger and pressures lower so you need less oomph towards the end even if it still needs 500 strokes.

This is the thing though, non of these are calibrated or validated. So the old squeeze with the fingers, ride and see how it feels, add/subtract air method works too

True-ish, but what's wrong then with being able to set your tyre pressure consistently at the start of every ride or after every puncture rather than having to faff?

My (cheap) trackpump is woefully inaccurate, it over reads by between 15 and 30%.  I could ride around faffing with a mini pump to get the bike to feel right, or just stick the SKS airchecker* on it and set it exactly how I like.

*not a recommendation, the oxford one is better

I still think they're a massive extravagance for 95% of folk, at what point in capitalism do we say we should be reserving finite and fairly critical elements like copper, lithium etc. for more important things than lazy cyclists who don't like using hand pumps occasionally 🤣 (see also: e-bikes, electric gears etc. etc.).

Yes ..... but my flextail camping bed pump weighs less than one of those schnozzle drybag pumps, and is probably more recyclable because you can't recycle laminated cloths.