Is the Mini Inflator Replacing the CO2?
 

I'm sure there was a time when guys scoffed at CO2s and swore they'd never give up their frame pumps. That was back when people said "scoffed." Remember hearing "My pump won't run out of air." But when everyone in the group has one or two CO2s, that's not an issue. So the argument, "My CO2s battery won't die." is as weak. Someone else will have a fully charged inflator... and that old guy will still have a couple CO2s.

Are CO2s on their way out? Is this a solo vs. group rider thing?

Perhaps they are just the a last try to give us something to sate our fears of flatting. However I'm still wondering why I even carry something to inflate my tires at all. I very seldom even use it. With up to 2½ years between it being needed in the last 7 or 8 years.

I'll stay CO2 for the foreseeable future. For something I'd only use infrequently, it'd be my luck that I flat and the mini inflator won't have enough charge remaining. For those that flat often, I imagine it a benefit. As they'll have reason to charge it often or check it's battery level.

I believe that mini-inflators will replace the wastefulness of CO2 cartridges because time and progress marches on. I carry CO2 on three bikes but haven’t used it in 3 years since I buy puncture resistant tires and am fortunate to live in an area without much road debris. I probably have 6 CO2 cartridges sitting in the garage which are left over from the pre tubeless days on my mtb, where I would get pinch flats. After tubeless, no more flats.

Mini inflator has Indeed replaced CO2 for me, as the trendy solution I don't use because it doesn't suit my needs.

I’d like to go to a mini inflater instead of CO₂. Granted I haven’t tried one yet, but most of the feedback I’ve seen is that their pressure is limited, and battery charge longevity is questionable. Eventually I’ll probably switch.

Dan

If I do switch from CO2, it will probably be a while. Still have several cartridges and the only time I've used them is for someone else's flat. (Probably just jinxed myself.) If I was just buying one or the other, would likely be a mini inflator.

freeranger that's where I am. Most of my bikes are tubeless, I can't remember (jinx in 3... 2... ) the last time I flatted, AND I still have like 30 CO2s. Don't kids use the same cartridges for air soft guns? Maybe I'll give them way. Or is that also outdated - replaced by video games?

Never used co2. Mini lezyne pump is fine

I did get a slow leak 2 days ago on the commute though and would have quite liked to have my noisy mini inflator with me. Might have saved me a bit of effort. Refilled that sealant tonight. Lazy boys get punished.

if i was riding tubes (which i wouldn’t) i’d definitely carry my mini inflator rather than CO2.

i used my CO2 setup once. it was exciting.

i have a mini inflator in my work bag, and have used it once when my front seemed a little soft before heading home.

2 full inflations from 0 to 75psi at best on mine. On 30mm tyres.

Mini inflator all the way, even for touring. Mine is good for three inflations and that’s based on a total flat. As I run tubeless most inflations are topups on the rare occasions of a puncture which is slow to seal. I also carry a small battery bank when touring which can charge my inflator 1.5 times.

I have seen many instances of a pump damaging a stem.

it has for the past 2 years or so. Now with major brands like Muc Off and Silca making their own, you don't have to rely on buying Chinese ones anymore granted Silca's is made by Cycplus. I have been running the original Cycplus for two years and last summer after I punctured and went to use it I noticed it wouldn't turn on or hold a charge probably from getting wet. I just upgraded to the 2025 AS2 Pro and it basically fixes all my qualms with the first one

got to use a pump with a hose, not direct attach

I still carry CO2 even though I own a small mini-pump. I'm not 100% sold on roadside use.

You do need to be mindful of the batteries in the mini inflators. I pulled mine out of a saddlebag (at home) after not using it for about a year and it was dead flat. Luckily I didn't need it on the roadside.

Not for myself. I do carry a canister and inflator tool, but also a frame pump, with the pump being used most of the time. I have the co2 in case I may be pressed for time, or in a situation that I want to get out of asap. If the mini inflators are consistently reliable, and relatively durable, I can see them becoming mainstream.

Probably eventually but it's a process.

I went the opposite direction - ditched the CO2 and mini pump and got a decent frame pump (Silca Impero)

On a gravel ride with a small group, couple weeks ago, one rider caught a Big Goathead on a section of broken old roadbed. He had tube-presta, which he replaced...
Had a v-small mini hand pump... Another rider had a rechargeable min-pump, which was used as alternate to hand pump - quick back into action.
Took about 1+ min to pump up to solid use - believe it was a 38mm and he rode it at 50 psi....
worked great !
I have CO2 for my gravel... not liking to rely on them and also the addition to landfill...
I had ordered a rechargeable mini pump from Alixpress... received last week - not yet put into service... for gravel...

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...078502475e.jpg

Mini Rechargeable Bike pump - Presta & Schrader

Tested and Worked Great to get my 42c gravel tire to 40ish psi & on same charge bring my road tire 25c to 75 lbs (I ride road at 74 front and 78 rear)

Plan to use the recharge pump for the gravel bike - hand pumping the larger gravel 42c size tire is definitely a longer process than the road tire...

as an aside - the instructions came with an 'alert/caution' to use a hose for 'vinyl' valves... I have TPU w/vinyl valves on the road bike...
I did the full pump up from flat state in 3 sets, allowing the pump to cool for about 30-45 sec between sets - never became really hot, just very lightly warm...
so no heat/melting issues with that method...

Ride On
Yuri

EDIT: replaced simple pic with one to show a size comparison... also, thickness is about 1.25" or 3 cm

EDIT 2: just some rambling connections (due to too much caffeine or awake time...)
hand pump = vinyl - abacus, pencil
CO2 = CD - Apple II - Macintosh, laptop
mini-rechargeable pump = streaming - smart phone
... wondering ... when astronauts are up for more than a few hours, if they have a 'fall-back' hand pump system when the have to 'take' (actually 'Leave') a crap in the ISS ???
so, using my laptop, I found this:
https://www.sciencing.com/1700095/ho...space-station/
LOL! :lol: :thumb:

I've been thinking about getting an electric inflator, though I haven't decided on one. CO2 was great when I ran a tubed setup with hooked rims, but now I have a tubeless setup with hookless rims. I've read that CO2 can freeze the sealant, and the hookless rims means I can't just let it rip without minding the pressure. This makes me lean towards an electric mini pump where I can set the PSI and avoid all the pitfalls that CO2 presents with my current setup.

Has anyone ever used a CO2 cartridge to seat a tubeless tire, when first mounting the tire?

surely one of the most recyclable things around?

A friend offered her mini compressor when I had a flat a couple months ago. It was totally dead, she had packed it against the switch, or so was the theory.
I'm fine with Co2 and I usually carry a mini pump as well.

I’ve wondered about mini inflators, but I haven’t had inclination to research them. I still have a mini frame pump that I keep tucked under one of the water bottle mounts on my Trek. When I ride my other bikes, I usually don’t go far enough from home that it becomes an issue. However, if I plan to ride one of them farther than the coffee shop, I’ll throw the mini frame pump in a pocket or bar bag. I guess an inflator wouldn't be that bad to carry that way if I knew of one that would perform well when I needed it.

I have had problems in the past after commenting on not breaking a chain and not flatting on a ride. Even though I understand that it had nothing to do with it, I'm just not going to risk saying if or when my last mechanical failure happened or what it was.

Mini inflators are best, hands-down. I had the misfortune to get a nail through a tire and out the sidewall last summer. It required messing about booting the tire and a couple of tries to get the fix right. My little electric inflator handled it with ease and made a stressful moment more bearable.

It has replaced it for me. I've been using a Cycplus AS2 for a few months now and filled a couple tires now with it.