TL;DR...
If you run tubeless and have had to use a tire plug tool to fix a flat that was too big for the sealant to fix, which tool worked best (or worse) for you?

The longer story...
While my bike is stuck on the indoor trainer for the next few months, I'm re-evaluating what tools I have in my bike's downtube storage. I had a few stick-on tube patches as my back-up plan for if I got a tire puncture that the sealant couldn't fix, but I have since learned that a stick-on tub patch is not going to help me fix a hole in the tire. The stick-on patches work fine for a dry tube but there's no way they'll stick to the inside of a slimy tire... and even if it did, the sealant would quickly work it's way under the patch and pull it off. One would need a real tire patch with the appropriate adhesive in order to work, but even that would be a pain to use road-side as the tire would need to be cleaned and dried. Hence, I figure a tire plug kit is probably a better Plan B.

Quite a few of the tubeless plug kits either seem way too bulky or are way too expensive IMHO. For example, Dynaplug brand plug kits seem to be popular, but are they worth $50+ for something that may never get used? I'm looking for something relatively small and inexpensive, but of course it has to actually work. I typically have a Plan C of calling someone to come get me, so I don't expect the tire plug kit will work for every case, like if I get a slash in the tire that can't be plugged.

Here are two tire plug kits I'm considering as they're relatively inexpensive. If you have either and love/hate it, let me know...

• KOM Cycling Tubeless Tire Repair Kit - $20 Amazon
• Genuine Innovations Tubeless Tackle Kit - $20 Amazon

The one thing I don't like about the above kits is that neither has a way to cut-off the excess "bacon" after the tire is plugged. Is that an issue? Should I carry another tool to cut the plug?

Dynaplug + Tiny Razor (see below top right)

I've only had to trim the plug on rim brake frames where it hit the caliper, but it's still handy to have. Some of my bikes have those tiny Swiss Army Knives but it's been a while since I did an inventory.

Assuming road bike due to the section of the forum the op is in.

Dynaplug not sure I would trust bacon at road bike tire pressures.

.

I think Dynaplug is worth it, but they start at only $30:
https://www.amazon.com/Dynaplug-Bicy...s%2C735&sr=8-7

This one is much more useful, I think.

In my experience, it often takes TWO Dynaplugs to plug a hole that can be handled with one bacon strip. This is because a bacon strip, by it's design, is doubled over when inserted, and so fills more space than a single Dynaplug. This is why I prefer the Racer Pro model, as it has four plugs (three normal, one XL ) ready-to-go.

As for also carrying a razor blade to trim down a plug: well, sure, maybe. But plugs are sticky by nature, and so will compress down against tire tread after a few revolutions. If the plug is on the side of the tire, it's easy enough to simply press it against the tire and it'll usually stick/

At double the price, it ought to be. But the cheaper model is better than the $20 stuff the OP is looking at due to that $57 price tag.

If you're going to pack a blade, I would either go minimal with scraper razor blade still in cardboard, or get a used Swiss Army Classic. Those tiny folders have tweezers and real scissors - the scissors can also pull wire stuck in the tire.

Agreed.

Yeah, just suck it up and buy the Dynaplug tool. Don’t bother about trimming the tails on the roadside. Do that later back home or just leave it. They squash flat anyway. You can also get Dynaplugs with shorter tails for road tire use.

Bacon strips are more of a faff compared to Dynaplugs. Still much more useful than patches, but not as quick or foolproof as Dynaplugs.

I don't run tubeless but all my friends do, and they agree the dynaplug is the way to go.

Dynaplug all day long - worth every penny - but I have the red pillbox version not those long things.

It comes with a blade inside* and a pointy prong thing to keep the air in while you sort your act out.

* though you don’t really need to trim them

That confuses me. If you have located the puncture, why stick the pointy prong thing into it? Just stick in the plug.

Dynaplug Racer Pro is my favorite. Or just any version of a Dynaplug over bacon strips.

I like the Racer Pro because it is thin and fits easily in my ride wallet.

This has probably been mentioned, but Dynaplugs are preloaded and ready to push in. No need to ream the hole or thread a bacon strip. Just pull off the cap and poke the plug into place. Couldn't be any faster.

Just reviewed my ride notes. I haven't had to plug a tire since Oct 2022 (over 2 years and over 10,000 miles). Though I'm sure I just jinxed myself.

Dynaplug.

You could insert the plug until it's near flush with the tread.

PoorInRichfield
I have bacon strip tool built into my Lezyne multi-tool, but I've never used it. But I also picked up Dynaplug Carbon Racer after learning that it was easier to use. Planned use was for my MTBike. I ended up converting my gravel bike to tubeless road tires for a metric century. And I needed it….metal shards on the road hit a few riders and it only took a few mins to plug with the Dynaplug. Had to borrow a knife to trim excess since was on GP5000 road tires. For knobby MTB tires trimming not really needed. I have been looking at the various options to have one for MTB one for road toolbag just incase I forget to pack.

The List below does include all versions but gives an idea that the sizes vary as well as capacity which is why the prices vary. I used the Dynaplug site for info.

Dynaplug Racer $48, 24g / 0.8oz, Nylon, thin handle two caps, 3.75 x 0.44in.
includes 3 blunt plugs, 2 mega (holds 2)

Dynaplug Racer PRO $58, 26g / 0.9oz, ALU, thin handle two caps, 4.25 x 0.44in.
includes: 3 blunt plugs/1 mega (holds 4)

Dynaplug Pill $64, 42g / 1.5oz, ALU, wide/short handle, 2.25” x 0.875”
includes/holds:
5 - blunt plugs (Soft Nose Tip)
5 - Insertion tubes
1 - Micro knife
1 - Air stopper
1 - Pipe cleaner

Still deciding if this larger version is overkill since it is for ATVs…
Dynaplug Carbon Ultralite $24, 34g / 1.2oz, Nylon, widelong handle, 5.42 x 0.88in.
includes 3 plugs (holds more than 4)

In my opinion inserting the plugs is easier with a larger handle grip, so I am not going any smaller than the Racer Pro – there are a couple.

Sometimes you forgot to reload the little tube with a new plug and it takes a little time to swap them. Sometimes it just helps you get a feel for what you’re dealing with / direction of the hole etc which makes it a bit easier to then insert the plug. Sometimes it helps to open a borderline hole just a tad to get the plug in. It’s surprisingly useful.

In terms of ease of putting the plug in, heel of the hand works great with the pill one while gripping the wheel. Best when there’s still some air in the tyre.

If you use Dynaplug once and it works, it is well worth the cost.

I agree. I'm just saying that you only have to spend $30 to get a real Dynaplug kit, not $67.

My message was not directed toward you but to those who had negative comments about Dynaplug. You and I are in sync. I think I paid about $27 for my kit a couple of years ago.

Dynaplug is definitely the way to go. Unscrew the plug, jab, then keep biking. Add a little air if needed. If you get another puncture, do the same again with your other pre-loaded plug.

With bacon strips, you need to unscrew, load the strip, carefully push in so you don't go too far and damage your tape, then pull out enough so you keep the plug in. Then repump because of all the air you lost.

The original version of Stan's Darts was awful because you couldn't jab the dart into the tire. The current version is supposed to be better, but I gave up on it after failures with the first version.

fify.

An aside - Am I insane because I retrieve the little brass dynaplugs tips after a tyre that’s been plugged is done and put them in my box of “little bits of metal for the recycling centre” which I throw in alongside everyone’s radiators, saucepans and pushchairs etc.

I also put staples in there. And valves off old tubes. Basically I try not to put any metal at all in the landfill. That bin probably gets incinerated and the metals recovered anyway but I can’t bring myself to do it.