Cyclists dread getting a puncture. And yes, things have moved on massively in that department with tubeless tyres, but I have never really taken to them. I like the safety of having an innertube or two in my saddlebag, that I can swap out in case of any problems on the road.
But having swapped the innertube, there is the problem of inflating your tyre. Yes, CO2 inflators can quickly inflate them, but some people, including myself have found them difficult to use and don’t really like the fact that it’s a “one-time” use. This is the reason why I have always carried a small hand pump that fits nicely into my saddlebag.
Muc-Off have launched a range of new pumps, which I have reviewed. These are the:
- AirMach Mini pump
- AirMach Carbon pump
- AirMach Electric Mini inflator
AirMach Mini pump
The AirMach mini pump is small, approximately 15.5cm in length, and is small enough to fit into your back pocket or inside your saddlebag, without any issues. It also comes with a holster that fits underneath a bottle cage holder, and has a rubber strap to secure the pump, should you choose to mount it to your bike.
Design – It is lightweight, weighing in at 78 grams, excluding the mounting bracket, and is a solid, aluminium construction. Painted in black, topped off with Muc-Off’s purple to complete the sleek look.
Compatibility – It is compatible with Big Bore, Presta and Shrader valves and comes with a hose that extends from the pump, giving you flexibility when using it. The valve, at the end of the hose can be unscrewed and it is reversible. The head screws onto the valve, securing it in place, ready for use.
Ease of use – It has a capacity of 32.21 CC, and can inflate your tyre to a maximum pressure of 110 PSI. However, due to its size, it takes an awful lot of effort to reach that pressure. In real terms, with a completely flat tyre, it took around 100 pumps to get the tyre semi-inflated. After 200 pumps, the wheel was sufficiently pumped to ride on. But, after 200 pumps, my arms were tired, which is where I stopped. Probably an extra 50 more pumps would have reached the limit.
Overall – It’s lightweight, simple to use and well manufactured. Priced at £30.00 it is not too expensive, so if you need a new mini pump, then this is certainly a viable option.
AirMach Carbon pump
The AirMach Carbon pump can be viewed as the big brother to the Mini pump, measuring at 29.5cm in length. It is big enough to come with an integrated foot stand that folds down, to help when pumping. Complete with a long hose to connect to your tyre’s valve, it has more in common with a track pump, than a traditional hand pump. Although it comes with a mounting bracket for the bike, due to its length, it’s ideally suited to be put in a backpack and weighs in at only 132 grams.
Design – Like the Mini pump, it has a sleek design which includes a carbon fibre barrel with a purple aluminium T-handle and base, which has a rubber pad to prevent the pump from slipping when stood up and in use. At the base is a foldable steel foot stand which is coated in a rubber sleave that is removable. There is a long hose that secures into place by clipping onto the T-handle, when not in use.
Compatibility – The hose that connects to the valves is identical to that of the Mini pump, but simply longer. It is also compatible with Big Bore, Presta and Shrader valves and the valve at the end of the hose can also be unscrewed and is reversible to connect to whatever is required.
Ease of use – Due to its size, the Carbon pump is easier to use than the Mini pump. With a capacity of 55.78 CC it pretty much takes half the number of pumps (100) to pump the tyre to a suitable pressure to ride on. Muc-Off notes that the maximum pressure it can pump to is 130 PSI, but I never run my tyres at that pressure.
Overall – This pump is ideal if you are cycling with a backpack, such as commuting or cycle touring. It’s certainly not designed to fit in your back pocket. That’s what the Mini pump is for. It is well-built and simple to use and is priced at £50.00, which is £20 more than the Mini pump, so it’s important to consider what you would be using it for when deciding between the two.
AirMach Electric Mini inflator
The new AirMach Electric Mini inflator, in my opinion, makes the CO2 gas cannister redundant as it allows you to pump two road bike tyres to 100 PSI on one charge. This powerful cuboid electric pump measures a tiny 6.4cm long by 5.6cm wide and 2.8cm in depth.
Design – The pump is compact and comes with a silicone case that provides ample gip when handling. Cut into the casing is a slot to connect to the USB-C charging wire that comes included, and a small slot for the on-off button. The purple air nozzle comes in Muc-Off’s trademark purple.
Compatibility – The small air nozzle fits Presta and Shrader valves. The air nozzle cap unscrews, and you simply change the inner seal part to the appropriate valve type. However, if you are using the inflator with TPU inner tubes with resin valves or inner tubes with plastic stems, then you need to use the extension air hose or the valves may melt due to overheating. This need to be purchased seperately.
Ease of use – Using the Electric Mini inflator could not be simpler once you understand the process, which is:
- Press the “Power Button” to turn on the inflator. A light will be displayed indicating the level of charge, Green for 100-80%, Yellow for 50-80% and Red for less than 50%.
- On a Presta valve, loosen the valve. Push the inflator nozzle onto the valve.
- Press the “Power Button” twice in quick succession, this will activate the pump.
- Press the “Power Button” again to turn off the inflator.
- Remove the inflator.
On a road bike tyre, 700 x 25C, the pump will fully inflate it to 100 PSI from a completely flat position, within 2 minutes and 40 seconds. However, there is only enough power to do this once. There is enough charge to inflate the tyre to 80 PSI on two occasions, taking 90 seconds. This doubles to four if the type is only inflated to 60 PSI, taking 1 minute.
It takes 25 minutes to charge when flat.
Overall – Apart from the price at £75.00, and an extra £5 for the airhose adapter, I can see no obvious disadvantages to this product. It’s reusable, easy to use and small. It easily fits into a pocket or saddlebag and will inflate your tyre without you having to break a sweat. What more do you need?
Conclusion
Muc-Off’s new range of pumps offers cyclists a variety of options for tyre inflation, from the compact and lightweight AirMach Mini pump to the more robust AirMach Carbon pump and the innovative AirMach Electric Mini inflator, each designed to cater to different needs and preferences while ensuring ease of use and portability. Ultimately, these products provide reliable solutions for managing punctures and maintaining tyre pressure on the go.
