I bought a (modern) Silca frame pump. Best $175 I ever spent on a frame pump.

Running tubeless on all my bikes so mostly used for topping pressure up.

Long distance multi day rides use a full size frame pump.
Commuting and regular riding, small Pressure Drive pump.
Group ride and sporting ride CO2 with 2 cartridges
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For most rides, I carry just CO2 with 2 cartridges for my road bike, and 3 for MTB or gravel bike. For longer MTB or gravel rides I have a mini hand pump in my hydration pack as an emergency backup.

I carry both. I prefer the convenience of CO2 but also the potential unlimited air from the pump. As for the waste of the CO2 cartridges mentioned, I do this so rarely it's a non-issue. It's been over a year since I needed to use CO2 or the pump. Knock on wood.

And in fact, I've never used the pump for myself. Just others I run across who have forgotten their pumps or had some issue with them.

I could certainly make an argument to not bother with the pump. But I treat it like a talisman. If I'm prepared, it won't happen, if I'm not prepared, I'm doomed.

As an example, I keep a foot of Gorilla tape wrapped around my pump. Just in case I need to tape something down. Sure enough, for some reason on one ride I forgot that pump. Didn't need the pump, but broke a spoke that was flapping about. I thought, "hey I'm prepared, I have that tape around the pump ... that I left at home. Dang it." Made use of a bit of tape in the small first aid kit I carry to deal with that. Yeah, I'm a belt and suspenders type.

Nope, Not the valve core, the valve stem. One the entire valve stem came out of the inner tube. The other the rubber around the valve stem just began to come loose. I've pulled the stem out entirely myself with a floor pump that the air chuck was old and going bad and didn't release fully when unlocked. That was over a long period of time with many uses while it was bad before I pulled the stem out. But on these other two I was watching they had the small hand pumps that connected directly to the valve. As they pumped frantically for a long time to get air in the tire, they were rocking the pump wildly and I wasn't surprised at all when the tires deflated.

Presta valves are the only ones I've seen this with. Schrader's being larger have a beefier boot going into the tube.

periodic table jokes

Yes.

Old fashioned here. This is what I use: Zephal HPX #4. Inflates tires many times as fast as any mini pump

I have sheared the stem off using a hand pump once. My rookie mistake was leaning the wheel against a wall and only holding the pump, which in turn sawed back and forth until it ripped the whole stem off.

I now use one of those thread on hose pumps from Lezyne. Haven't had a problem, and I no longer need to cradle the whole wheel and pump in my hand to avoid above mentioned mistake.

I would recommend carrying the Topeak Road Morph but in most cases I also carry CO2 in case I need a quick inflate because maybe it is raining or something else is happening. The pump is really the best way to do it, it uses standard air and that way you don't have to reinflate when you get back home. However in that emergency I have the CO2 just in case.

I carry both. CO2 inflator and a couple of cartridges in my seat pack, along with the spare tube, patch kit, and latex gloves, plus a mini pump attached to my frame. CO2 gets me most of the way there, and then top it off as needed with the mini pump.

Important to use a small frame or mini pump properly, especially for Presta.
One has to support the pump/pump head and wheel when pumping...
1. When putting the pump onto the valve - put thumb on tire, directly above where the valve is located - that will allow the head to be pushed on without damage to the valve/tube.
2. Support the pump (as shown in pic) with the thumb curled over the top of Tire/wheel. Support the pump head side with the index/fore finger, support the pump head below/around the barrel of the pump. No real need to use the ring finger or pinky - but you can if you want to.
3. Don't 'lean' the wheel against anything, allow it to move as your pump hand might move - pumphead / valve at top most position.

How to Properly handle/cradle a mini pump

4. When done, to release the pump off valve - DON'T try to wiggle the pump head off. Unlock any locking lever, pump and valve still at topmost position, wheel on solid ground. Hold the pump barrel (mid or pump handle area) with one hand. The a quick downward rap of the free hand, onto the barrel directly near the pump head. It will disengage without any valve damage.
Done.
This was especially important when working with delicate silk or racing cotton tubulars which often had very light Latex tubes sewn in... But works for any direct attach pump.
You could get a pump with hose and screw-on head - but those often lose pressure as you unscrew the head... your choice.
Ride On
Yuri

My Topeak Road Morph has a hose and so does my Lezyne Pressure Drive. Easy to use, don't have to worry about damaging a presta valve.

I carry both. I have bilateral shoulder injuries that can impede pumping to adequate pressure. But relying on CO2 alone is not sufficient.

Good advice and agree 100% - I've seen others damage presta valve stems by wrenching on the mini-pump too much. This is easy to do when you're hurrying and people are waiting, etc. Mini-pumps are somewhat difficult to use and require a lot of pumping, so the natural tendency is to brace the wheel against something and rapidly pump - both of which can damage the stem.

The pumps that have a little hose to attach to the valve seem easier to use and might avoid this.

Yeah…I’m one of those who’ve broken too many valve stems using a mini pump. So, I’ve obtained mini/frame pumps with hoses that screw onto the valve stem. It makes a good connection and you don’t have to worry about wrenching it around and breaking.

Dan

Agree, but another good option is to inflate tire while wheel is off the bike, put valve at 12:00 and let weight of wheel keep valve engaged (ie hold wheel up in the air). This minimizes strain on the valve stem.

Or use pump with a hose as also suggested.

I carry two CO2 cartridges along with a spare tube. I know that if I use the CO2 that I will need to deflate and reinflate the tube when I get home but that is not a big deal.

I used to have a long pump mounted below the top tube of my road bikes but with mountain bike frames that is not practical. I prefer to use the same repair kit under my seat for all my bikes and so have gone the CO2 route.

I counted 200 strokes on my old Mini Morph pump, to get a 25mm tire up to maybe 50-60 psi, enough to finish the ride.

I carry 3 co2 inflators 3 pumps including a floor pump, electric compressor and 5 gallon tank, tube of slime, 10 patch kits, plug kit, 15 tire levers with metal cores, and 2 extra tires and 5 layers of tire liners. It only adds 150 lbs to my total ride.

Or just have a good tire and an updated Uber app and save yourself all the hassle.

Mine does a very great very good job. Maybe you got a defective one.

If tubeless co2 is must in case your tire gets unseated. When I was running inner tubes I would carry just pump.

My Mtb, gravel and road bike all tubeless now so I carry both. I only use the pump unless a tire gets unseated then I will use the co2.

Same for me and a boot incase a tire needs support for ride after fix.
Some will even carry a spare foldup tire for those extreme blow outs.

Do you also carry an extra wheel or both a front and back

I meant to say, amazing...LOL!!