The Flextail Tiny Bike Pump is super compact and rechargeable, designed to inflate bike tires up to 100psi. Out of the box, the tiny pump works with Presta and Schrader valves. All you need to do is flip the inner rubber seal of the air nozzle. I was able to inflate my gravel and mountain bike tires with ease.
Flextail electric bike pump specs
The tiny size and weight of the Flextail pump is impressive. It fits in just about any bag and can be strapped to your bike’s frame with the included Velcro fasteners. My Park Tool scale says the pump weighs 133g with its white rubber protective sleeve. The pump has an aluminum alloy body, making it light and robust. I kept the rubber protective sleeve on the pump at all times to minimize damage.
An included USB-C cable charges the internal 350mAh battery in about 20 minutes.
To inflate, you simply press and hold the rubber button for two seconds. It will chime and glow red letting you know it’s ready for use. Then, insert the valve stem firmly and give the button a quick press to initiate inflation. When you think your tire has enough air, press the button again to stop inflating. The little pump will shut off after eighty seconds of continuous use, but with a full battery charge, it can run for about 250 seconds. That’s plenty of inflations while out riding. If you have a road bike, the tiny pump can inflate up to 100psi but only once.
In my testing, I was able to pump two 29er MTB tires from zero to about 26 PSI with battery life to spare. Inflation is quick, and it’s best to keep pressure on the pump while it’s inflating to ensure a good air seal, since there is no valve locking head.
At first, I was in disbelief that such a tiny pump could fill up my bike tires in seconds while out on the trail. No more fiddling with manual bike pumps. This tiny pump made the trailside experience better. I had a few instances where I had forgotten to pump my tires at home and needed a quick top-off. I took out the tiny pump from my hip pack, inflated the tires, and was ready to roll in about two minutes! In another instance, my front tire was losing air while riding. I stopped for a bit and was rolling again in no time.
The tiny pump makes enough noise for nearby cyclists to turn a curious eye. But the noise is not deafening, and there’s very little to no vibration from the pump.
I don’t see anyone seating a tubeless tire with this tiny pump at home. This is not a replacement for a big compressor or even those booster floor pumps. But if you have the skills and patience to get that bead sitting just right, you may get lucky. I always carry a CO2 inflator to hit the tire with a quick boost of air and push that tire bead out if and when necessary. Tire seating is definitely an important learned skill one must know, especially when attempting a trailside tire patch. I don’t use inner tubes on my tires so I can’t say much on that regard except that this tiny pump should inflate tubes with no issue.
The Flextail electric pump is yet another example of consumer technology being applied to cycling. Some people want less to do with tech while while riding, because well, batteries. We forget to charge them, they could fail on us, etc.
But accessories like the Flextail Tiny Bike Pump, I believe, are meant to supplement and enhance the cycling experience. When time is of the essence, a little electric pump can save you time and effort, letting you enjoy more of the riding you set out to do. But if you happen to be bikepacking with no wall socket in sight, then you will probably want to carry a manual hand pump as a backup. I had no technical issues during the times that I used it. It worked every time!
I can see these tiny pumps filling up Christmas stockings during the holiday season or being great birthday gifts. They are currently on sale, which may convince some folks to buy one or two.
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Aug 26, 2024