I was watching a video about the Topeak electric mini pump. Looks convenient if it works properly. Question is are they worth it and do they actually work correctly?

haven't seen the topeak yet... the cheapo ones all over the intermarket take forever to fill an MTB tire to pressure, overheat frequently, and can't get close to pressures used on skinny tires... they're heavy, too.

Topeak... $140
Item Specifications Valve Compatibility Presta and Schrader Color Black Includes Mount Bracket No Includes Gauge Yes Weight 162grams Defined Color Black pump PSI 120
the ad says it comes with a carrying case, err... bag... "... which makes it easy to carry"... but no BRACKET to frame mount it... the "bag" is a draw string pouch....

there are a few VERY SIMILAR units online, same shape, size, top pressure and weight... they're priced in the $80-90 window....

i can't tell you the brand of my frame mounted mini pump on my sirrus and DB bike... i rarely even notice it, let alone use it. came in on donated bikes. I carry two CO2 carts and an inflater on my road ripper bikes

For my road bike, I am quite happy to use a CO2 since a single one will get me out of trouble. Long rides I'll take 2 but I've never used 2 on a ride.

For MTB, I've started carrying a hand pump. Yep, it's slow but the progression of a MTB flats takes more.
1. Get leak that sealant isn't sealing
2. Plug and pump up
3. If it doesn't seal, add multiple plugs to same spot and pump up again
4. If that doesn't work, pull off the tire and boot it and put in a tube.

98 times out of 100, you're done after step 2. In fact, most times you don't even know you've punctured until cleaning it up many days later. If it does progress to a situation where you do finally put in a tube, a single CO2 or even 2 is unlikely to get the job done.

To me, this isn't all that different than a battery operated pump. How many tires can it fill, how many times can it top you off before the battery is dead? Given the extremely infrequent use of pump while out riding, who knows how many times if forget to charge the battery. For a different reason than CO2, there's still a solid chance you'll run out of air when you really need it.

I'm sure the pricey Silca and Topeak models are better than the junk ones. I'd probably be too nervous and still carry a hand pump though.

I'm currently still carrying CO2 only on most gravel rides, but for rides further off the beaten path when I'm wearing a hydration pack, you better believe there's a hand pump in there.

Used one once. It’s noisy and heavy. I prefer a Lezyne mini pump.

Asking a question such as this on these forums which skew very heavily towards traditionalists is like asking what octane fuel works best for your Porsche GT3 on a Steam Engine forum.

One of my ride friends has a Cycplus Ultra and its works like a charm, so much so I ordered one myself. It just cleared customs so should be here any day will report back once I have had it for a bit.

I concur they are noisy however weight not so much.

98 Grams
https://ride.lezyne.com/products/pocket-drive-pro

87 Grams
https://www.cycplus.com/products/as2ultra

Cycling Weekly looked at a bunch of models:

I have one of the Silca Ultimate electric pumps, and it works very good, and is reasonably fast. They do vibrate a lot. So, if your valve stem nut is not cranked on pretty good, it can vibrate that loose. I like it for my bikes I don't care to load down, because of how small they are.

Interesting. Maybe mine is a bad example weight-wise.

CO2 catridges last forever and never needs to be plugged in to be recharged.
Now there are people using tubeless sealants which are not compatible with CO2, and others running latex tubes or tubular tires which leaks CO2 rapidly. These people have a good reason to use electric pumps. Is that you? If not then what problem are you trying to solve with yet another electric thingie that you have to remember to plug in every couple(?) of months(?).

I would stick with a Topeak Morph pump those will last basically forever and don't need any recharge, aren't disposable and generally just work. Plus it uses normal air so I don't have to re-pump when I get home from C02 loss. I think when these electric pumps are longer lasting and with more power maybe but right now they are somewhat in their infancy and I want to see them longer term.

I recently switched from CO2 to a mini electric pump in my on-bike tool kits. Based on a few reviews, I decided on the Cycplus AS2 Pro. Other than the noise, it works pretty darn well, and takes up about the same amount of space in my pocket-sized tool kit. Since I regularly ride road, gravel, and MTB, I have 3 different on-bike kits. After each ride, I pull out the pump, and plug it in to a charging location next to where store my tool kits. When it's time to ride, I unplug it, stick it in the tool kit for the bike I'm riding, and put the kit in my center jersey pocket. When I'm doing a bigger gravel or MTB ride, I use a hydro pack. At the bottom of the main pocket, I have a mini hand pump as an emergency back-up. I have used the electric pump out in the wild, and it did its job perfectly. I haven't yet needed to resort to the mini hand pump.

I suggested it to him based in part on the hand surgery he just had. (He may already have been thinking about this.) He was asking about mini-pumps at the time.

Worth it over using a cartridge if bead seating is not an issue for you.
remember to check the charge periodically.

I cannot quite figure this out. We cyclists all need more exercise for our upper bodies. The good old frame pump gives us ~90 strokes of moderate effort. The mini pump has us using our upper bodies at high RPM for a long period. Both giving us something we would otherwise have to spend money and invest time to get. (Gym equipment, club memberships ...) Instead we spend money on devices to keep those benefits from happening. (Devices that may not be faster, more effective or more reliable or even time saving.)

I wonder when I'll be needed to offer my Zephal to someone whose electric pump has died. (It's (actually they: I've had ones on every bike I've owned the past 51 years) have filled in for SIlcas ,mini pumps and CO2 so far.)

I don't want to be caught doing unforseen repairs in an unfavorable environment. To limit such, reducing the repair time is essential.

pump faster.

Topeak e-pump.. 168 grams.... twice the weight of the ones you mentioned... 6 ounces... 3/8 of a pound....

I would be concerned about my tire choices if I was using a manual pump often enough, and for long enough, to consider it a productive form of exercise.

Everyone I ride with carries a CO2. I have a Zefal frame pump on all my rides. Whenever someone I'm riding with gets a flat, they ask if they can use my Zefal.

Silca frame pump 289 grams or 5/8 of a pound, much heavier than the Topeak.

This is the wrong place to be discussing new technologies as the usual vocal members completely dominate the forums debunking any developments since the late 70’s even though the acceptance in the regular sporting cycling community is ubiquitous. These newer, micro inflators will be no different.

reduce criminals.

I guess it’s more common to flat in some areas ?

I went for years without a flat on 20mm Michelin Super Comp HDs

I carried CO2 cartridges and an adjustable inflator - for longer rides sometimes also packed a mini pump

I now carry a small 6” 75 gram Lezyne pump that works well - pumped up a 700x40 gravel tire fairly quickly … the last thing I considered at that time was how much time I could have saved - 90 - 120 seconds ? - if I carried a larger pump … sheesh

i'm thinking a majority of the folks thinking about or buying an e-pump are spec shoppers, and think there's some paper advantage to packing around a battery operated pump.
this is not unlike the massive amount of people gearing their bikes to move slower than a slow walk pace.

My choice to move from CO2 was based on curiosity, and a few instances of dead CO2s that required calling for an Uber to get home. Fitting in the same space as CO2s was also a requirement.

I have low gears on my bikes that I sometimes ride on hills that are really steep, and I would rather ride those hills at a slow walking pace than have to push my bike. During my MTB ride this past Saturday, I encountered one hill that was too steep for my 32x52 low gear and my tired legs, so I still had to get off and push. I'm not a fan of that malarky.