[Curveball]

As long as you don't need to seat the bead, and I've never had to do this on the trail, a small pump is fine. I have a few Park Tool PMP-3.2 micropumps that I carry in my hydration pack or frame bag, They are light and pump more air than those other micropumps that really are "micro." Just put a plug in the hole and pump the tire back up.

I won't waste a CO2 cartridge unless I have to seat the bead. Otherwise I don't really see the need for a CO2 inflator and actually sometimes don't carry one.

I wonder if that pump would fit into my frame storage compartment?

 

[HeavyFlow]

OneUP 70cc attached to water bottle bosses, C02 hidden inside. OneUp tool in the steerer with plugs. Bam, no pack required.

I love my OneUp setup for this. However, I hate the pump. It has good volume but it seems to seal poorly on some valves and is then hard to pump.

 

[dysfunction]

I have a lezyne (it's got flip out feet so it's like using a small floor pump, I dig that) on my road bike and I use a OneUp on my mountain bikes. Jayem's totally correct in that the screw on ones are prone to unscrew the valve core. I've not had it happen a lot, but yea.. it's happened. Why do I like the OneUp? It's a very smooth operating pump that I find convenient to use, in addition to being able to store stuff in it. I guess you pick which one is most convenient to you.

 

[Cleared2land]

I love my OneUp setup for this. However, I hate the pump. It has good volume but it seems to seal poorly on some valves and is then hard to pump.

That is not right. New pump?
Mine is very easy to seal and pump.

 

[BansheeRune]

Only time I have had my Lezyne micro floor drive HO remove a valve core is when it wanted to crossthread onto the core. The same can happen with a simple valve cap.
Tighten the cores sufficiently and avoid crossthreading, all is good. XL for the Mayor's big huuuuge tires. Makes those backcountry tire adjustments a breeze and drama free.

Annnnnd, no, I like my Purely Custom caps and other goodies, so I am not deleting em from my bikes.

 

[Jayem]

Only time I have had my Lezyne micro floor drive HO remove a valve core is when it wanted to crossthread onto the core. The same can happen with a simple valve cap.
Tighten the cores sufficiently and avoid crossthreading, all is good. XL for the Mayor's big huuuuge tires. Makes those backcountry tire adjustments a breeze and drama free.

Annnnnd, no, I like my Purely Custom caps and other goodies, so I am not deleting em from my bikes.

Naw, if you keep using it, over time, it will loosen even the tightest valve. If you tighten your valves like after 2 times you use the pump, then no, but who does that?

 

[BansheeRune]

Naw, if you keep using it, over time, it will loosen even the tightest valve. If you tighten your valves like after 2 times you use the pump, then no, but who does that?

Had a valve core back out once since 2016. I use the HV's frequently on my backcountry adventures and haven't had the drama.

 

[DeoreDX]

Oneup EDC pump with CO2 stored on the inside gives me best of both worlds in a package that bolts to the frame under the water bottle mounts.

 

[slcpunk]

@HeavyFlow @dysfunction @Cleared2land I was in a world of hurt 2 nights ago when my daughter tore her tire blasting through some sharp rocks. My pump (a Specialized Big Bore) was 100% useless and I didn’t have any CO2 cartridges with me. Thankfully a knight in shining armour appeared out of nowhere with a Lezyne pump. We were able to limp out of there before dark.

I was going to post a new thread asking what the best portable pump was (I know there are a ton of threads on this but the search function here is next to useless for me). Sounds like you guys like OneUp and Lezyne.

If you have any suggestions on plugs, I would appreciate that as well.

Thanks.

PS - I want something that is going to reliably work. I don’t care about size or weight (within reason). I carry a CamelBak so it can go in there if strapping it on my downtube is not an option.

I will stick by this pump. It isn't small, but if you carry a camel back, shouldn't be an issue. I can promise anyone that rides with you will want to use it instead of whatever POS they have I've had mine for years, still works great. Serfas - MP-03G Grifter w/ Gauge Like the Lezyne, you can use it like a floor pump - and it has a hose and it doesn't screw on to mess with your valve core. ( the guage is dumb, but doesn't affect performance )

 

[cookieMonster]

Air pump is lighter and never runs out of air. Co2 cartridges are heavy, expensive, and so far, can’t be refilled. Additionally, they add just one more piece of trash that will end up in a landfill.

I use a mini pump and it has never failed me.

 

[Cleared2land]

^^^^
IF...it makes it to the landfill.

 

[J.B. Weld]

Air pump is lighter and never runs out of air. Co2 cartridges are heavy, expensive, and so far, can’t be refilled. Additionally, they add just one more piece of trash that will end up in a landfill.

I use a mini pump and it has never failed me.

I bet my co2 cartridge lasts nearly as long as your little plastic pump. If you're getting a lot of flats I could see why one might prefer a pump.

It's about the same weight btw, I think my cartridges and inflator are about 150 grams. Really I should only carry 1 since they've both just been freeloading on board for about 3 years now

 

[cookieMonster]

I bet my co2 cartridge lasts nearly as long as your little plastic pump. If you're getting a lot of flats I could see why one might prefer a pump.

It's about the same weight btw, I think my cartridges and inflator are about 150 grams. Really I should only carry 1 since they've both just been freeloading on board for about 3 years now

I don't get any flats, lol. So largely it sits in my pack unused.

 

[Curveball]

I don't get any flats, lol. So largely it sits in my pack unused.

I do get flats and use my mini pump quite often. Recently I was losing air out the spoke holes in the rim and put in a tube. The valve core backed out on my wife's bike resulting in a flat that I fixed by screwing the core back in and reinflating with the mini pump.

Also, sometimes I'll decide that I want lower pressures for the trail that I'm riding and will let out a bit too much air. Then bring them back up to the right pressure with the mini pump.

 

[terrasmak]

I’ve seen people run out of c02 , but my pump has never run out of air

 

[kidOnABigBike]

Once you go tubeless your flat tire frequency will drop dramatically. Keep sealant refreshed, carry a dynaplug kit and c02 inflator and you will be good to go.

using co2 with sealant is not a great idea

 

[Sssnake]

C02 always and forever for me. Its so much faster and easier. Plus, it can pop a tire bead back onto the rim. Time is important out on the trail. C02 gets it done fast.

 

[JpMcG]

For years I carried a mini pump with duct tape wrapped around it, but I switched to CO2 after a while. The fat bike required the larger cartridges, so I have both.

 

[J.B. Weld]

using co2 with sealant is not a great idea

Correct. Thankfully I only have to use it once in a blue moon.

 

[Sssnake]

using co2 with sealant is not a great idea

Its about getting back rolling again now. Trying seating a tire trail side (if you had to pop a sidewall to get inside for a heavy duty patching) with one of those little mini pumps. Youd be pushing your bike out.