HYPER-INFLATION: up close with Muc-Off's pocket pro inflator

Quick read: Piecing together a repair kit? The efficacy and easy of use of the Airmach Pro make this an in-ride essential.

I don’t know when I started obsessing over electric inflators, but at some point last month, my feed flooded with ads for the palm-size powerhouses. And owing to a little chance, and a little newfound motivation, I finally got the chance to scratch this strange but certain itch thanks to Muc-Off’s willingness to send out a test sample.

Why they’re having a moment became immediately clear.

“Electric pumps have definitely blown up in popularity,” explains Steve Fearn, Communications Director at Muc-Off, when asked why they’re suddenly a thing. “This one in particular shows real-time air pressure and battery level, going to 120psi in seconds. So it definitely has value for most people who spend time on the bike,” he added. Love them or label them kitsch, I’ve been riding around with the Airmach Pro in my pocket for the last 6 weeks; here are some thoughts.

Firstly, use cases. While electric inflators are marketed for flats, my thoughts upon receipt of one immediately turned to travel. The pain of having to forfeit - owing to space or flight restrictions - CO2 cartridges and floor pumps when you ride abroad is a pain which the Airmach immediately solves. Once packed, both are useless, as you can re-inflate both front and rear with precision and still have enough to cover a flat on a single charge on day one. (Time-to-full-charge is about 30 minutes.). Plug it in after your ride and one beer later, you’re ready to ride the rest of the week. Job done.

Secondly, flats. One remarks how easy it is to use the Airmach right out of the box. Hold to power on; toggle the plus and minus buttons together to go from Bars to PSI; set the desired number; open and secure over valve and hit the main power button again to fire it up.

Aircraft grade aluminum and lightweight at 142g, this thing holds four full inflation cycles up to a monstrous 120 psi.

Like all electric pumps (well, the two I’ve seen in use anyway), yes, it is a little loud while inflating. But that air has to come from somewhere, so this is a relatively minor annoyance at best, and no louder than a CO2 cartridge (and less wasteful), whilst being exponentially faster than any hand pump anywhere. And if you botch a cartridge (happens, right?) or don’t have the air flow working correctly, just stop, readjust, and try again. You’re rolling in minutes. Even if the worst happens - a double flat - and you have two tubes handy, the Airmach Pro easily saves you from having to call for backup.

Riding two 700 x 28c tires, you can get 3, 60-second inflations to 80 PSI (inflation amount is based on the tire volume you ride), which is more than enough for most and a nice bit of insurance to carry for a tiny weight penalty.

Final thoughts: Any minor gripe I’ve seen online about pocket inflators seems irrelevant when weighed against the Airmach’s reliability. CO2 is great but wasteful. And sometimes, finicky. Hand pumps, while tried and tested, are tiresome and rarely up to the task of a full inflation without a real struggle. A more practical, capable, and useful tool to have when you puncture, in my opinion, is pretty hard to find.