Super lightweight inner-tubes for emergencies?

This has been a bit of a revelation for me. I’ve run tubeless on most of my bikes for years and have always carried at least one tube with me wherever I go. Obviously, it’s rarely used, so I’ve always tended to just carry the cheapest tubes I can find. You know, the unbranded, bargain bucket ones from Halfords etc.

Recently, however, I’ve been carrying lightweight tubes (mostly Continental Light, or Supersonic) and they are, quite literally, half the weight and less than half of the bulk. I try to travel light, normally using back pockets, so it makes a surprising difference to what I have to cart about, especially when I’m with the family who, obviously, all have different size wheels.

I now think of them as “emergency tubes”, more for getting you home and while I’d probably never use one out of choice, I’d much prefer to carry less bulk for the 99% of rides where it doesn’t get used, than to cart around needless heavy rubber. The only exception is my son who rides with them as standard (his wheels don’t seem to like tubeless), but as he’s 25kg, he gets away with it 🙂

Anyone else do something similar?

I remember a few years ago someone brought out a plastic tube which weighed naff all. in fact here it is. take two!

https://bikerumor.com/2015/10/05/eb15-schwalbe-airs-out-worlds-lightest-inner-tubes/

And lo there in the sky a revelation of the bleedin obvious, and the people did rejoice and throw up their hands in wonder. 🙂

How about Tubolito? Your wallet will be lighter as well!

In an emergency you can actually use a condom to keep a tyre inflated.

How about Tubolito? Your wallet will be lighter as well!

I suppose I’d consider it were I still using tubes, but for a spare? I think I’d struggle to justify that…

In an emergency you can actually use a condom to keep a tyre inflated.

Meh, I’m married. I’m more like to have an inner-tube in the back of my wallet than a condom these days 🙂

stuff the tyre full of grass.

Disclaimer – Iv never done this in fact I may have just made it up

The grass thing is dreadful!

But got me home, while giving me a sore back.

I tend to use light tubes.  It’s worth taking precautions so that they’re protected when you’re carrying them ((nothing worse than going to install a tube only to discover that something has rubbed a hole in it!).

Similarly, I’ve read that quality control can be a bit iffy on some brands, with holes/splits from the factory.

It’s also worth fitting one at home to make sure they’re not too delicate if you’re like me and ham-fisted with the tyre levers.

And lo there in the sky a revelation of the bleedin obvious, and the people did rejoice and throw up their hands in wonder.

Amen brother

If I’ve done someone bad enough to spaz a tubeless tyre I’m not convinced a paper thin replacement is gonna cut the mustard. Boggo chunky tubes for me.

Not want to just use a tubeless repair kit? If that doesn’t work your tube is going to come straight through the whole anyway (unless you’ve also remembered your tyre boot)

Yep, I’ve been thinking of switching to a much lighter weight emergency tube for anything short of an all-day epic ride too as I don’t think I’ve put a tube in on the trail in 3 years now – plugs normally work and I’d rather limp home on a leaky plug anyway than deal with the mess on the trail especially in bad weather.

So: any recommendations for light-ish, compact-ish, cheap-ish models of tube?

So: any recommendations for light-ish, compact-ish, cheap-ish models of tube?

I use Continental Light for MTB, road and CX. These are the large size ones I used for my CX bike. Not used them so far, but as they are small and light in my pocket, I would argue that they are doing the job nicely 🙂

Not want to just use a tubeless repair kit?

That’s a good question. Personally, I’ve had a couple of times where the tyre just wouldn’t re-seal no matter what I did, and only a tube got me home. It’s not often, but it’s enough that a tube is mandatory (and two on a longer ride!)

Remember that your thin tube can push through much smaller holes (and as you’ve already mentioned is more delicate). So a tyre boot (old toothpaste tubes cut open are good for this) will definitely be good to have