Guide · Pumps
Electric pump, mini pump or CO2 for your ride kit
Mini pumps never run out, electric pumps need charging and get warm, and CO2 is fast but single-use, cold and not for flying. How to choose for your rides.
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Picks that fit
- Topeak Pocket Rocket mini pump (160 psi, Presta and Schrader), silverCheck price on Amazon
- CYCPLUS AS2 Pro electric mini pump (120 psi, Presta and Schrader)Check price on Amazon
- ROCKBROS mini hand pump and CO2 inflator 2‑in‑1 (110 psi, Presta and Schrader)Check price on Amazon
Short answer
A mini pump never runs out but takes effort. An electric pump saves effort but needs charging and gets warm. CO2 is fast but single-use, gets ice cold, is an emergency fill for tubeless, and is barred from flights unless empty. Many riders carry a mini pump, alone or with CO2 as a backup.
Picks that fitAll picks and how to choose
Mini pumps
A mini pump rides on the bike or in a pocket and works as long as you do. Check two things on the maker's page: the maximum and the valve.
- In Topeak's range, stated maximums run from 60 psi on some Mountain models to 160 psi on Roadie TT and Pocket Rocket models, and some models list Presta only.[1]
- SILCA states its Pocket Impero pumps can only be used with Presta valves.[2]
- Topeak lists the HybridRocket HP Mini as a Presta pump rated to 160 psi that includes one threaded 16 g CO2 cartridge.[3]
Mounting varies by model. Lezyne says its Road Drive and Pressure Drive hand pumps come with brackets that mount to bottle-cage bolts, aluminum for the Road Drive and composite for the Pressure Drive.[4] That covers those two pumps only.
Effort is the trade-off. In a 2015 test, BikeRadar recorded about 70-80 psi after 200 strokes with the largest Lezyne Road Drive mini pump.[5] That is one historical sample, not a figure for today's pumps.
Electric pumps
An electric pump does the work for you, within its battery.
- CYCPLUS lists the AS2 Pro at 120 psi maximum and 120 g, with USB-C charging.[6] It claims up to two 110 psi or four 80 psi fills on 700x25c tires per charge.[6]
- Fumpa lists the miniFumpa at 120 psi maximum and 190 g with USB-C charging, and claims 3-4 tires per recharge.[7]
Fills per charge are maker claims. Plan charging as if you will get fewer, and charge before long rides. Electric pumps also get hot at high pressure; see electric pump heat and TPU tube valves. For independent timings, see what published electric pump tests found.
CO2
A CO2 inflator fills a tire in one burst, then the cartridge is spent.
- Cold. Genuine Innovations explains that cartridges become ice cold during release and recommends a cupped head or sheath to protect fingers from cold burns.[8]
- Tubeless. Stan's NoTubes calls CO2 an emergency option for tubeless tires and says prolonged CO2 exposure can make sealant separate or shorten its life, so it should be replaced with air.[9]
- TPU tubes. Tubolito says its tubes can be inflated with CO2, but CO2 escapes faster than air, so they need reinflating sooner.[10]
More detail in CO2 inflators: threads, cold heads, tubeless and TPU.
Traveling by air
- TSA lists CO2 cartridges as not allowed in either carry-on or checked bags unless the cylinder is clearly empty.[11] The final decision rests with the TSA officer.
- TSA says power banks and other spare lithium batteries must travel in carry-on bags only.[12] Airlines can be stricter.
For a pump with a built-in battery, check your airline's rules before you pack it. See flying with a bike pump, light or CO2.
Side by side
| Job | Mini pump | Electric pump | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runs out? | No | Needs charging; fills per charge are maker claims | One fill per cartridge |
| Effort | Strokes, sometimes many | Button | None |
| Tubeless top-up | Yes | Yes | Emergency only, replace with air (Stan's) |
| TPU tubes | Yes | Follow the maker's hose instructions | Works, leaks faster (Tubolito) |
| Flying (TSA) | Check the airline | Spare lithium batteries carry-on only | Not allowed unless empty |
| Main catch | Effort | Heat and battery | Cold, single use |
Picks for each approach
Mini pumps. Approved mini pumps for the jersey pocket or frame. We have not confirmed their ratings, heads or mounts from the makers' pages, so check the valve line and mount on the maker's page.
Picks that fit6 products
Mini pumps: choose the Pocket Drive (light gray finish), the Crankbrothers Klic HP in Black Midnight (120 psi, for tires 45c and narrower; either of its two listings, not the Gauge model), the RaceRocket HP (black), the Topeak Pocket Rocket (silver) or the longer Topeak Road Morph G (TRP-3G) with a hose, foot pad and gauge.
More on choosing
Confirm on the maker's page that the pump names your valve. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com, Lezyne, Crankbrothers or Topeak.
Mini pump, second option
Mini pump with a hose, from Crankbrothers
Crankbrothers Klic HP hand pump (120 psi), Black Midnight Edition
Mini pump with a hose, from Crankbrothers, second listing
Crankbrothers Klic HP hand pump (120 psi), Black Midnight Edition (second Amazon listing)
Mini pump for the frame
Topeak RaceRocket HP mini pump (160 psi, Presta and Schrader)
Mini pump for the frame, from Topeak
Topeak Pocket Rocket mini pump (160 psi, Presta and Schrader), silver
Frame pump with a hose and gauge, from Topeak
Electric. The CYCPLUS AS2 Pro is the approved electric pump.
Picks that fit1 product
Choose the AS2 Pro (black). CYCPLUS says it switches between Presta and Schrader without extra parts.
More on choosing
Fills per charge are the maker's claims. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or CYCPLUS.
Electric pump for a pocket or bag
CYCPLUS AS2 Pro electric mini pump (120 psi, Presta and Schrader)
Pump plus CO2. A hand pump with a CO2 head covers both approaches. We have not confirmed its specs from the maker.
Picks that fit1 product
Choose the hand pump and CO2 head listing; cartridges are not included, so check the cartridge type the listing names before you buy cartridges.
More on choosing
On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or ROCKBROS.
Hand pump with a CO2 head
ROCKBROS mini hand pump and CO2 inflator 2‑in‑1 (110 psi, Presta and Schrader)
Next
Questions
Is an electric bike pump worth it?
It saves effort but needs charging, and makers' fills per charge are claims. CYCPLUS claims up to two 110 psi or four 80 psi fills on 700x25c tires per charge for the AS2 Pro, so plan charging before long rides.[6]
Is CO2 better than a mini pump?
It is faster but single-use. Genuine Innovations says cartridges get ice cold during release, Stan's calls CO2 an emergency option for tubeless and says to replace it with air, and Tubolito says CO2 escapes faster from its TPU tubes. Many riders carry a mini pump as backup.[8][9][10]
Can I take an electric pump or CO2 on a plane?
TSA lists CO2 cartridges as not allowed in carry-on or checked bags unless clearly empty. It says spare lithium batteries, including power banks, must go in carry-on only. For a pump with a built-in battery, check with your airline.[11][12]
How much effort does a mini pump take?
It varies by pump and tire. In a 2015 test, BikeRadar recorded about 70-80 psi after 200 strokes with the largest Lezyne Road Drive, one historical sample.[5]