- 22 hours ago
Portable electric bike pumps have exploded in popularity, so Sam Gupta has tested, rated and reviewed some of the most popular options on the market. The best portable electric bike pumps include those from Cycplus, Muc-Off, Fumpa, Rockbros, Airbank, Topeak and Bosch. After testing all of these units extensively, Sam has broken all the pumps down into different categories and then rated them from worst to best. They all share a lot of similarities but there are some key differences between them that mean some clearly outperform others.
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00:00I have extensively tested all the most popular portable electronic mini pumps alongside some
00:09less well-known models to find out exactly which one you should buy and of course I've linked them
00:15all down below if you want to find them for yourself. I'm going to break this video down
00:20into three categories, nano, mini and off-bike. That's because as I received all of these
00:27different pumps for testing, I started to notice a clear divide between them and the specifications
00:32that they offer. However, some things were universal across all of them. They're all USB-C rechargeable,
00:40they can all cater to Presta and Schrader valves, some more successfully than others, and they all
00:46come with a sealable travel bag to help keep the pump free of dirt and water, something which is
00:52critical to ensure your pump works for years to come. At the end of me speaking about each category,
00:58I will give you my verdict on how they stack up and which, ultimately, in my opinion, is the best to buy
01:04in each category. All pumps in the nano category, bar one, feature a 300mAh sized battery, claim a quick
01:12charge time of 30 minutes or less and claim to reach a maximum of 100 psi, with the outlier claiming it
01:19can reach 120 psi and taking one hour to charge. They all weigh between a claimed 93 to 110 grams,
01:27and when we tested the pumps on our own scales, the claims rang true, bar a gram here or there,
01:32which of course, we won't quibble about. It's also worth mentioning that all of the pumps that sit
01:37within the nano category don't come with a display, nor are they programmable. So, in no particular order,
01:44we're going to start with the Makoff AirMac. As arguably the most recognisable brand in the nano
01:54category, I had high hopes for this little unit going into testing, and I'm happy to report that
02:00it did well. The silicone case that it comes in provides a premium tactile feel, and the pattern
02:05in the silicone itself helps provide that extra little bit of grip. The valve nozzle is also very
02:12dexterous thanks to the knurling on the metal, which makes switching between prester and trader
02:17valve setups much easier. However, I did notice that the valve seal itself does feel like a fairly
02:24soft rubber, so I imagine this will start to wear down fairly quickly when pushed against a metal
02:30valve, and sadly, it does not come with a replacement seal, but Makoff says they are available
02:37if replacements are needed. The USB-C charging port doubles as the air intake, as it does with every
02:44other pump. And the button placement is good, with the easy-to-see LED making operation simple.
02:50Just press once to wake the device up, then double press to start pumping. It took around 60 seconds
02:56to fill my 30C tyres with 50 PSI, and it did successfully seat a tubeless tyre.
03:02Next up, we have the Sight Plus AS2. This pump comes with a few more added extras compared to
03:12the AirMac. For example, a flexi hose, a spare valve seal, and an adapter pin for use on Schrader
03:18valves. It too comes in a silicone case, and while it maybe doesn't look quite as cool as the Makoff's,
03:23it's certainly still completely functional. The AS2 also features a much smaller nozzle,
03:30so while it may be slightly more fiddly to open up for either replacing the seal or switching to
03:35Schrader, it does make the overall form factor far less intrusive. In use, it's exactly the same as
03:43the AirMac. However, the button placed on the underside of the unit is covered by the case,
03:48so locating the button when you're not looking at it isn't as easy and will be made harder when
03:54using gloves. I'd love for Sight Plus to redo their silicone case to either feature a hole like the
04:00Makoff, or instead include a raised lump for easier use. That being said, since operation is so
04:07simple, in the grand scheme of things, this is a really minor point. It too reached 50 PSI in around
04:1360 seconds and was able to see a tubeless tyre. It also vibrated noticeably less than the AirMac.
04:24Moving swiftly on, we have the Thumper Nano, which certainly stands out in its appearance compared to
04:30some of the other units. However, it also stands out due to its spec sheet. This pump is the outlier
04:36in the Nano category, as it's the pump which claims it can reach 120 PSI, but is also the one
04:43which has the longest claimed charge time of one hour. It's also by far the most expensive pump
04:49in the Nano category. In use, the shape of the unit fits really well in the hand thanks to the curved
04:55edge, and the raised, light-up button makes for really easy use. It doesn't follow the same button
05:01procedure as the previous two units, but instead, you simply hold down the button until it starts
05:06pumping, upon which you can then lift your finger off the button and then press again when you want
05:11to turn it off. The lack of silicone protection is noticeable, as the anodised aluminium casing is
05:17less grippy, and it also conducts heat and vibrations quite quickly back to the user. It's
05:23clearly a powerful pump, as it reached 50 PSI in under a minute, and it too was able to see a tubeless tyre.
05:31We're now going to cover two units which arguably have less well-known brand names, but I believe
05:36are worthy of inclusion. If you scan Amazon, you'll find loads of pumps like this, so I selected two
05:43that I thought stood out from the crowd based on specification and user review ratings.
05:52Firstly, we have this unit from a brand called Flextail. It follows a similar formula in that it
05:58includes a flexi hose, a sealable bag for protection, but it does also include a few funky extras. Rather
06:05than having a multi-purpose Presta or Schrader adapter, it just comes with an entirely different
06:10one that you can alternate between. It also features a strap allowing you to mount it, albeit
06:16pretty loosely to your bike, and then turn on an SOS flash in case you need a backup rear light.
06:22The Flextail is also the outlier in battery size, as this is the only unit in the Nano category which has
06:29a larger 350mAh battery, meaning it should last that little bit longer compared to the others.
06:36It's an interesting assortment of features, but I wonder if it's simply trying to do too much.
06:41The silicone case helps with ergonomics and the big button is very easy to locate with your finger
06:46and overall is very simple to operate. In use, the button needs to be held down to wake it up. When this
06:52is done, the button lights up and it also makes a little sound in case you're not looking at the
06:57button. From there, it just takes one push to activate the pump and one more to stop it. It
07:02did make a few noises that sounded like it might be struggling, but it still performed well and
07:07inflated my tyre to 50 psi in just over a minute. Lastly, for the Nano category, we come to the Air Bank,
07:19which I think could be a bit of a dark horse. It's the best value pump and it keeps pace on maximum
07:25inflation claims and battery size, and it also does claim to fully recharge in under 30 minutes.
07:31It's also the lightest at 93 grams. Due to the lower price, you do miss out on some extras such
07:38as the silicone sleeve, but it does come with a replacement valve seal and Schrader adapter pin.
07:44I like that the large operation button is on the same side as the valve nozzle as this makes it really
07:50easy to use whether you're wearing gloves or not. The downside to the button is that the LED is just
07:56a small pinhole, so when your thumb is on top of it, you don't know what it's showing. But operation
08:01is simple as once again, it follows the same procedure as some of the others in that it's one
08:07push to wake it up, a double press to activate, and then one push to stop. The shape of the device has
08:12much softer edges compared to others, so it fits beautifully in your hand and I believe has the best
08:18ergonomics of the bunch. But the real surprise here came from its inflation time. It hit the desired
08:2450 psi in just over 50 seconds and it too did manage to seat a tubeless tire. So how do all of these
08:32pumps stack up and compare to each other? Starting from worst to best, I'm putting the Flex tail in
08:38fifth place. While the extra features it offers are good, such as the key ring and SOS Lite, these feel
08:44more like gimmicks and are distracting from its overall job of just being a good pump. I'm concerned
08:50about how it sounded like it was struggling on some inflations, and while the extra battery life is
08:55nice, the extra weight of the unit and bulkier form factor means that I think there are just better
09:00options out on the market that cost similar amounts of money. Next, I'm putting the Fumpa Nano into fourth
09:06place. While it's clearly a powerful and well-made unit, the high price, lack of silicone sleeve,
09:13and slow charge time mean, again, there are simply better options available. I've awarded third place
09:19to the Muckoff AirMac. It is no doubt a brilliant unit thanks to its tactile sleeve, easy to use valve
09:25nozzle and operation button, but the lack of an included replaceable valve seal and slightly harsh
09:30ergonomics means it lands in third. Second place goes to the AirBank. I think its price point of around
09:3740 pounds is brilliant, and for that, you get a really high-performing pump. Its light has brilliant
09:43ergonomics, is powerful, and can charge up nice and quickly, but the lack of a silicone sleeve does stop
09:50it from claiming gold. So, as you've probably guessed, first place has been awarded to the
09:55Cycplus AS2. This one wins for a number of reasons. I love its brilliantly small form factor, all thanks
10:03to its ability to keep the nozzle head within the main unit housing. The easy operation, silicone sleeve,
10:10reasonable price point, and included extras in the box make this not only a quality product,
10:15but also good value, and something I think will be very popular among cyclists.
10:21Next up, we move on to the Minis. Now, there is a distinct difference here between the Nanos and
10:27the Minis, and that can be boiled down to three things. First, these pumps all have generally bigger
10:33form factors, with heavier weights ranging from 120 to 190 grams. Secondly, they start to introduce
10:41LCD displays and extra buttons that predominantly allow you to set your desired pressure, so that when
10:48inflating, once the pump reaches that number, it will stop. Thirdly, they all have bigger batteries,
10:54but there's a bigger range from 400 to 600 milliamp hours.
11:00First in the Mini category is the Topic E-Booster Digital. This is actually a pretty new product on
11:07the market, and with it comes some pretty interesting features and claim specifications. It's the largest of
11:14the Mini category, and it really does push the limit of what you might want to carry with you
11:18on the bike. However, the large form factor does play host to the largest battery in the category at
11:24600 milliamp hours. So, if you want to be prepared for multiple inflations, then this will be the one to
11:30go for. The E-Booster has a unique feature, being this sliding switch that allows you to pivot between
11:38either Presta or Schrader valves. It has a decent sized screen with illuminated buttons that are big
11:43and very easy to operate. In use, setting the pressure is very easy, and the unit doesn't
11:49automatically turn off that quickly, so it gives you time to set the pressure, get the pump into
11:54position, and then start it. However, I would have loved if the screen and buttons were on the nozzle
12:01side of the unit. The silicone case is great for grip, insulating fingers, and aiding in vibration
12:07dampening. In the inflation test, it took bang on 60 seconds to hit 50 psi on my 30c tire, and
12:13afterwards, the battery was still showing as full. In fact, I managed to get a full 5 inflations out of
12:20this unit. I did find that on occasion, I was accidentally hitting one of the buttons, meaning
12:25it would cut out mid-inflation, and it was a bit too easy to accidentally cover the USB-C charge port,
12:31which doubles as the air intake. So, my only tip would be to be careful of hand placement when you're
12:38using it. Next up, we have the Sight Plus AS2 Pro. The bigger brother to the standard AS2. Now,
12:49I say bigger brother, it's nearly identical in every dimension other than its height. It's about 5
12:56millimeters taller. It comes with all the same bits as the AS2, so a flexi hose, an extra valve seal,
13:02ball inflator, and schrader adapter pin. The way it differs, though, is that the Pro version
13:08comes with a screen and is programmable. In use, it's as simple to use as the AS2. However,
13:16the buttons on the AS2 Pro didn't increase in size. In fact, they're smaller, so they are more
13:23fiddly to operate, and even more so when you're wearing gloves. I would have loved it if the
13:27buttons and screen were on the nozzle side of the unit. It managed to inflate my 30C tyre to 50 PSI
13:34in just 37 seconds, so nice and speedy, and it managed to deliver four inflations from its 420
13:42milliamp hour battery, just one less than the Topeak, which has a 600 milliamp hour battery.
13:48We have another unit from Thumpa now, and it's the Thumpa Mini. Much like the Cyte+, the Thumpa Mini
13:56is a big brother to the Nano, and the size difference is much more noticeable between these
14:02two, with every dimension getting bigger. The Thumpa Mini has just a 400 milliamp hour
14:08battery, which is the smallest of this category, and it also doesn't have a screen or is programmable.
14:15It lacks a silicone sleeve like the Nano, and despite having the smallest battery,
14:19it's the heaviest in this category. It is a powerful unit though, as it managed to hit 50 PSI
14:25in around 30 seconds.
14:30Lastly, in the Mini category, we have the Rock Bros AS1. It, like many others,
14:35comes with all the usual extras we have come to expect from these pumps. However,
14:40it's the second lightest in the Mini category, and has a 450 milliamp hour battery.
14:47The Rock Bros unit has a trump card up its sleeve though, at least it does in my opinion. We finally
14:53have a pump that houses its buttons and screen on the nozzle side of the unit, enabling you to set
14:59your pressure, ensure the device isn't auto-turning off, start the inflation, and then watch the pressure
15:06go up. This placement also means it's much harder to accidentally press a button and stop operation
15:12midway through inflation. The AS1 inflated my tyre in 36 seconds, so it's pretty quick. However,
15:18I noticed that it got much hotter than the others after repeated inflations.
15:24Clearly, the slightly bigger pumps that sit in the Mini category come with some really handy extra
15:30functionality. So, let's see how they stack up, at least in my opinion.
15:34In fourth place is the Thumpa Mini. Like the Nano, it's a well-built, powerful unit. However,
15:41the lack of screen, programmable features, long charge time, excess weight, high price, small battery,
15:48and lack of silicone sleeve mean that, compared to others in the category, it really falls behind.
15:54Third place is awarded to the Rock Bros Mini. It has a respectable price,
15:58and comes with the features to boot. Screen, fast charge, decent sized battery, and in my opinion,
16:05the best screen and button layout. The high temperature after multiple inflation does concern
16:11me, but it's certainly worthy of consideration. Second place goes to the Topic eBooster Digital.
16:18Despite its bigger form factor and heavier weight, it can justify it by having the biggest battery.
16:24If you're often found switching between Presta and Trader valves,
16:27then this will be the best one for you. I can see this one being a real lifesaver for a parent
16:32who likes to go out riding with their kids. Which means, first place goes to the Cycplus AS2 Pro.
16:39Now, I promise, this video is not sponsored by Cycplus. It's just made a really great product.
16:45The incremental size increase from the AS2 means it will still fit really well into a jersey pocket or
16:51saddle bag. And the larger 420mAh battery just gives you that extra inflation or two. Combine all of that
17:00with the digital display and programmable inflation limit and you're on to a real winner.
17:05Last up, we have the off-bike category. Essentially, these are the pumps which are better placed to
17:11stay at home, in the workshop, garage or car. These pumps have bigger batteries still,
17:16and ultimately are that bit more powerful and faster inflating.
17:24First up, we have the Thumpa Classic. It packs a 550mAh battery into its pretty large casing.
17:32It features three easy-to-use buttons and a display which shows you all of the information that you need.
17:38It allows you to cycle between bar, PSI and KPA. Since this is a pump that won't be joining you on
17:44rides, I'm not that bothered by how big and heavy it is. But what is great about this pump is how fast
17:51it is to inflate. I filled my 30c tire to 50 PSI in just 18 seconds. A really great performance and
18:00it did it with ease. I also love the button and screen placement as it allows you to see what's going on
18:06as you inflate. Next up, we have the Sight Plus AS2 Pro Max. It follows exactly the same pattern as the
18:18two smaller models and it performs just as well. It isn't quite as fast to inflate as the Thumpa as
18:23it took 30 seconds to reach 50 PSI, but still a good performance and I do like the tactile finish of
18:29that silicone case. Lastly, we have the Bosch electric bike pump. It's the only pump which breaks
18:38away from the incredibly similar design language of the other models. This unit is very ergonomically
18:45friendly and has a good selection of buttons to control all of its operations. The spare adapters
18:51are housed in the pump's handle making for safe stowage. However, in use, there are a few issues. I think this
18:58pump is better suited to Schrader valves than Presta ones because once you're done inflating through a
19:03Presta valve and want to unscrew the pump, it's incredibly hard to remove. The Presta adapter
19:09stops the head from spinning, making it seriously tough to take off. I ended up having to use a couple
19:14of pairs of pliers to get it free. So to round up the off-bike category, third place has to go to the
19:22Bosch. I like its shape and ergonomics, but ultimately it's just not that well suited to those
19:27using Presta valves. In second place is the Cycplus AS2 Pro Max. It retains all the features that make
19:35its smaller sibling so great, but those same features, in my opinion, aren't as necessary for
19:41something you aren't going to carry with you. There's an argument to say the Topic E-Booster Digital
19:46could also compete in the off-bike category and it would be hard to pull it apart from the Cycplus
19:52AS2 Pro Max. Both have 600mAh batteries and both are similar in price. However, if choosing between
20:00these two models, I would go for the Topic thanks to its lower weight, illuminated buttons and valve
20:05switch. Meaning in first place in the off-bike category is the Thumpa Classic thanks to how it
20:12performed in testing. Its button placement, screen and sheer power mean this is great for using off
20:19the bike. So there we have it, that's my full rundown of the best portable electronic bike pumps
20:25currently available. As mentioned at the start, I've linked them all down below, so let me know which one
20:30you go for.
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