Is This The End For Co2? Flextail Mini Bike Pump Review 

Editing Error - I managed to edit out the fact that I pumped up my gravel tire (700x38) and then pumped up my MTB tire twice (29x2.4). The second inflation of my MTB tire was cut out of the video accidentally. But good to know that it can pump up three tires on one charge at realistic tire volumes and pressures.

Pretty cool that it plays music while it pumps up your tire.

I've been using a Flextail pump for sleeping pads on backpacks and they're AMAZING. I'm excited to see them making a bike pump, they know how to make small battery operated pumps.

A few weeks ago I picked up a EausAir Mini Pump (on Kickstarter) for a similar price. I think it was $80. It does have a display and target pressure, after which it shuts off - much preferable to the Flextail. It is a bit bigger/heavier, but still fits in my seatbag. I've only topped tires off a couple of times, not pumped up from scratch. I am taking it on a 1300 mile tour in June/July so I'll report back if it meets expectations. I am still bringing a mini-pump and some Co2 because technology has let me down before, and the middle of nowhere is a lousy place to get let down.

Good work Troy

Thanks Troy.

I use Fumpa, excellent pump, been using it for years. They have four different models now, two have psi display but are larger units. Also if you have a TPU tube, you buy an elbow nozzle attachment to ensure heat is not transferred to the plastic valve step I have the mini fumpa and put it in my saddle bag. Their web site claims 0 to 100 psi in 50 seconds on a 700 by 25mm tyre. If I have a flat, after new inner tube fitted, pump the tyre up to it is pretty hard and ride on. If you have hookless tyres, you need a pressure gauge absolutely. For mountain biking, I just take my normal pump, I can get into isolated areas and can use the pump indefinitely.

I've switched to a rechargeable pump (I have the Rockbros version, which looks identical) and will never go back to the old way (a pocket pump or C02 cartridges). One of the big advantages is you can partially inflate the tube to give it shape before the install. You can't do this with a C02 cartridge, with the risk the tube won't be positioned correctly before the surge of air. I also like having the ability to inflate multiple tires, given the risk of a second flat during a long ride. Lastly, speed is a big advantage over a traditional pocket pump. It takes one or two minutes to inflate, which is much appreciate when it's cold and you want a short stop. I paid $60 for mine and after two on-the-road flats can attest to it being worth every penny.

A good pump and a willing pumper are key to any kit!

I haven't used a C02 cartridge for pumping a tire in twenty years. Back when I lived in Denver we had goat head thorns and it seemed like I had to use about two of them Everytime I went for a ride. I moved back to Wisconsin and have had like two flat tires in twenty years. I just went back to using a pump.

LOL years ago when I was all-in these tech gadgets I tried a few... and returned them all. Problem was 1. It's very very slow, 2. It can't pump up road tyres to high pressure. However it seems the later problem has been resolved, which was the dealbreaker for me back then. Interesting product, glad to finally see some "tech" that has a real-world usage.

Very nice video, appreciate your time and effort. As far as the pump is concerned, I wish you could read the tire pressure directly on it while pumping so you know when to stop. Having to carry around another device to read the pressure seems less than ideal.

the most amazing thing is it plays music when you pumps. LOL

cool stuff Troy, thanks for the video

I'm always looking for kit to make rides as bombproof as possible. Good video, thanks.

Most of my local lumpy gravel rides are mixed surface. I got one of these to top-up whenever I was going to switch to a long stretch of smooth pavement, mid-ride. It's just a quicker way to keep things moving than pumping, and less waste ($$$) than CO2 cartridges - - at least for this use case. I still ride with CO2 and a pump for road rides.

30 years from now I’ll be dead but my Silca pump will still be going strong. The electric pump will be in a landfill within a few years. Thanks for a good review though.

I couldn't agree more. It really needs a gauge with plenty of other products out there that do offer it. Even if the gauges aren't perfectly accurate, it would be nice to have some kind of estimate.

This is good to know, as this gadget is promising. It's still too expensive for me to consider, but it's not crazy for some people. One downside is that it needs charging, and remembering to keep it charged is at least as hard as remembering to keep your tires pumped. My mini pump is annoying to use, and I'm thinking of getting a 1970s style frame pump like the Zefal HPX I had years ago. Mini pumps and frame pumps are always ready if annoying to use.

I carry a slightly bigger USB Rechargeable air pump. It is programmable for tire pressure. I really like it. One that small is kinda small.

Really cool. Thankfully, I hardly ever flat on my road bike. When i do, I use a #16 co2. I know when the cannister is empty, my tire is full. I dont have to keep stopping, and checking the psi with a gauge.

It’s a bummer they didn’t integrate a pressure gauge on it, other than that, agree with you, looks like a great solution.

Awesome video . any links to get the Digital tyre gauge ?

Nice review. I’m going to look into to this! What tire gauge is that?

very handy tool

You can charge these kind of gadgets with USB-C out by having some kind of converter / adapter in-between. I have a tiny USB-C male to USB-A female adapter. Use this and the cable you get with the pump and you are good to go. I have quite a few Chinese things with a USB-C charging socket, but they are all really ordinary USB with a USB-C socket 😬.

There many brands with a built in gauge and some also allow you to set a pressure target

Cool! So now, before going for a ride, I charge my Garmin, my DI2, my smart helmet, my phone, my watch, my pedals, my Varia radar, my front light, my back light …. and my pump.

I was in NZ touring a long grade kept seeing deplete co2 cans left on the road then at the tops in a turn out, about 50 of them just dumped there. I used a good pump i always get home leave nothing behind.

i carry the large size cycle plus unit in my panniers . i'm on an e bike so the extra weight is not an issue for me .

I want one 😊

if you are racing or weather is miserable i get the CO2 cartridge (I am an average rider and I carry one as i am just to lazy to use a hand pump). But for the average rider I can see this as a much better option. just make sure is charged before each ride. Will have a look to pick one up i think.

You need the Co2 fast pressure boost if you have a tubeless tire that deflated..in order to pressurize in again and trap the air after plugging a puncture.. faster than converting it to innertube as last resort

Great video! Where can I get one of those NASA cycling caps?

Thank you for showing this powerful little buddy! May be worth a consideration for weight weenies 😊 Personally I would not rely on it for two reasons: (1) battery operated requires frequent recharging even without using it, plus the battery has a limited lifetime and cannot be exchanged by the user, and (2) all these things are made in China 🇨🇳 and will probably not last very long. Taking all this into account, these do look way too expensive and not very sustainable to me. I keep my hand pump😊 which is probably also made in China 😅 but at least doesn‘t cost as much and has less environmental impact upon purchase and replacement

There is a much better version on Amazon that's half the price and comes with a digital display. You set the pressure then let it go. I've been using it for my fat bike. It's a game changer.

Thanks for review...how much do they cost?

Excellent, thank you. Never knew this was a concept, but I really like it, and I don't like much of anything made in this crap filled bike world. Because I can't depend on anything anymore, crap again, I now carry two tubes and two pumps, plus the tools. This little thing is faster than a micropump and I won't have to take my frame pump (a good old Zephal) any more, doesn't fit on the frame and sticks out of my trunk bag. Finally a great bike product comes out amongst the thousands of crap.

Manual pump: Pro: Unlimited inflations Cons: Slow and high effort CO2: Pros: Low effort, fast Cons: Single use per cartridge, CO2 should be released and replaced with air when you get home Electric: Pro: Low effort Cons: Slow, 2-3 inflations per charge I'm lucky in that I only average about 1 flat per year, so I just carry a couple of tubes, a small mini-pump and a CO2 pump. Usually the CO2 is all I need, but if I mess up or get another flat, I have the manual pump as backup. Overkill, probably. Carryover from my single days - now if I get a flat I usually just call my wife and ask her to come get me! I suppose that if I could remember to keep the electric pump charged, it would be more than sufficient for me. Disadvantage of CO2 as mentioned above is that you really shouldn't leave it in your tires. The CO2 molecules are smaller than N2 and so the tire tends to lose the CO2 pretty quickly. Also, some have said that tire sealant doesn't play well with CO2, so if you are running tubeless, you probably should also deflate and reinflate with air once you get home. I think this rechargeable electric pump is an excellent replacement for CO2! But I'd still pack a mini-pump.

GETTIN' IT TODAY!!!

Just picked up the CYCPLUS digital one (which has the digital readout/limiter). One side effect just discovered...it puts out heat. So if the valve stem is plastic, it will melt it (think tubolito) and cause a major issue out in the wild. Basically ruined another person's ride :-(

I'd be curious to know how long the battery stays charged. I get a flat about once a year, so if I charge it in April, and get a flat in August...is it still going to have enough battery to pump up my tire??

I really want to ditch my CO2, but could this pump survive a cross-country tour? (I have small solar panels to charge things.) I will always carry my hand pump and use it for flats until the pumping gets hard, then top off with something like this. If it fails, no biggie ... just sore arms :) Thanks for the review!

Cool but why didn't they include a lcd screen that you can set the psi with auto shut off ????

I use a mechanical pump, have done so for decades. Minimal design thus low maintenance, and good brands\models have replacement parts. I would never waste money on over-priced CO2 systems or these new battery powered pumps. I'm confident there's plenty of folks who are easily convinced by manufacturer's marketing hype, and will buy these low-powered over-priced "must have" gadgets, just like they did wih CO2 systems.

For all the negative comments - you do know we are keeping kids in jobs mining for the precious metals that make up the batteries that we all use !

Thanks for this information. So I know, that this device will never find it's way in my toolbag.

would be cool if you can set the PSI and it stops when it gets there - i'd buy one if it did that

The concept of a small battery powered pump is great, but current tech requiring the use of a USB-A charger and not having a PSI readout is ridiculous. I’ll use a hand pump until that is standard.

How long does the battery remain charged if the pump is unused? Can I charge it, drop it in my toolbag and expect it to work the next time I need it, even if that is a couple of months after I charged it, or does the charge leak away over time?

How do you ensure you do not over-inflate, say a 80 psi, Hybrid trye ?

How about a 4 inch fat tire eBike tire?

why except for mountain biking? or do you mean except for races? at 7:50 ???

Co2 is fast and cheap and doesn’t need recharging. What could be better?

Does any one have any experiece with tubeless sealant gumming up the pump?

7:40 Oh look, a squirrel!

Try Cycplus pump with air pressure screen

Hmmm interesting, but no gauge is a no go for me. Anyone knows if a pump like this exists with a pressure gauge and also which can fill a flat 2,5x29 mtb tire ? 😁

Who tops off tires during a ride? OCD perhaps?

I love bike lights and other gadgets that use usb C ! Ride safe everyone.

Will it reseat a bead on a tubeless wheel

How does this compare to rock brothers mini electric pump?

Glad you comment on the three tires pumped up. But seems to me that most of us ride on high pressure tires, your 40 miles out, it rains a bit, you get a flat, then with the roads still wet, 2nt flat no where to charge the pump. Tire needs 100 psi you walk. Nice video but that thing won't work for me. Not on my touring bikes, road, gravel, not even my Quatrevelo 20" inch 60 psi tires. So if i understood that you pumped up three tires each at 50 psi = 150 psi for three tires. Or 1 tire up to 100 psi 2nt tire up to 50 psi. Basically your saying if your riding a 105 psi tire you ready have one pump up, two flats you walk. Thank you you save some money.

My CO2 inflator uses cartridges for air guns from Walmart. Like $6 for a box of 20.

As long as it doesn't start smoking.

Can be used for pellets air guns?

The main reason to use CO2 is ability to set up tubeless tire, if it completely off the rim. I'm not sure that this pump able to do that. In all other cases you just use simple hand pump. It's light, It's cheap, it never need to recharge

cant seat the beed for your tire that just popped of the rim like Co2

Any chance it could set a bead?

it doesn't have a gauge on it?

Not sure I want to think about another thing being charged

Hmm, but a co2 cartridge won't go flat on you if you leave it in the saddle bag for a year :)

Get a better one with auto pressure shut off and actually reads pressure. Can't believe you have to check via another device.

I like this. Way better than a hand pump and reusable

I like my CO2 pump. I rarely have to use it. When I have, it always worked. In 20k miles on my bike, I've used it about seven times. I'm careful with bike maintenance and have liners in all of my tires both road and mountain bike. I don't want anything more to have to charge.

Yes

My knees hurt just from watching this video... my good man, next time do the inflation test at a workbench while seated....

Water proof?

How much is that in grams?

Price please?

seems really loud?

Ah… so it pumps … great. What it won’t do is seat a tuneless tyre which a gas cylinder often will. That’s the difference. Also the gas takes a few seconds

wish they come with pressure gauge

3 minutes to do what I can do with my hand pump in the same time? All that heat and battery to end up in the landfill? That's not progress. It's a new toy that will be forgotten about not long after the battery dies.

Airlines can make you give up CO2 cartridges. Stupidly attached to life jacket they are OK!

They sell these pumps here in the UK, they were originally for pumping camping air beds and they cost £25GBP. They modified it to fit presta and shrader valves for cycling and now charge £70. Tells you everything you need to know about the bike industry. I'll stick to Co2.

Assuming this wouldn’t stand a chance at reseating a tubeless tyre

What, it’s getting hot? Guess you shouldn’t have thrown away the silicon sleeve!

It's neat but, for bikepacking, electric power is a luxury. I'll stay with my mini hand pump.

Carry a pump. Battery will maybe do two tyres.

cycplus cube plus

Cheer up! Why so bloody negative 😅 🙈 This device will assist a lot of people! Especially if they don't ride a tricycle 😂

Both options are tiny, carry them BOTH!

Do you make cartoons voices too?

I bought for 50 bucks, just a little more than my lezyn

You're bikepacking. Can a solar array charge the pump before the hungry bear eats you?

I’m just looking for enough pressure to get home in the middle of nowhere

Just don’t turn it on during rutting season

But if you forget to recharge it its going to be a 40 mile walk 😂

XIAOMI Portable Electric Air Compressor 2 , better and cheaper 😎