Thinking about trying out CO2 as an alternative to my Topeak Road Morph pump. I’m hoping CO2 will be easier, faster, and lighter. But has anyone found a CO2 system that actually works well with no problems. The Innovations Ultraflate Pro Pump pictured below looks like the way to go but then I read some reviews where people had trouble with it working with presta valves. Should I just stick with my slow and trusty Topeak or should I venture into CO2? Thanks in advance.
(Ultraflate IH Pro is the State of the art in CO2 Powered Inflation. Now accepts new economy 16 gram non threaded cartridge as well all other sizes. The IH stands for intelligent head and will inflate either Presta or shrader valves. Push onto valve stem to auto detect for Presta or Schrader.)
I’ve never had any problems inflating a tyre with a CO2 system, and wager that the folks who post a lot of negative stuff about them would have just as much trouble using a floor pump. Right now I’m using an SKS “Air Champ Pro” which is a straightforward push on, pull the trigger system. It couldn’t be any easier. I’ve heard excellent reviews of the Ultraflate series as well. Some people have reported issues with the hole clearance on disc wheels, but others have found and posted workarounds for just about every case. Personally, I’ve never been able to get more than 70-75 psi out of a mini-pump anyway, so the switch was a no-brainer. (It’s kind of sad that most frames don’t come with a pump peg anymore…)
12g cartridges are enough to inflate a normal 700cc tyre (not a super wide touring tyre) to 115psi, and if you get the threadless type, you can get cheap cylinders from wal-mart (and I’m told, your local gun store).
I’ve also never had problems using CO2, but I’ve seen tons of people be completely unable to use the things. (Then again, this is usually after I change their tire for them since they can’t do that either.) I really like the Innovations Microflate. It’s the smallest/cheapest unit I’ve been able to fine and I think it works very, very well. You simply hold it on the valve and unscrew the cartridge a bit to let the air flow. (When a cartridge is screwed all the way in, no air can flow out.) The pump head is nice and small too so it works very well on discs. The only drawback to this “pump” is that over time I’ve noticed the O-ring that provides the seal with the CO2 degrades a bit with usage. I get about 1.5 years of use out of one of these heads then replace it. At less than $10, I think that’s a deal.
OK, I guess there’s one more drawback, it requires threaded CO2 which is a bit pricey. It’s easy to find bulk (cheap) unthreaded CO2 cartridges, but I haven’t been so lucky with the threaded ones. But the main reason I like this unit is the size. If I had one like in the picture posted above, I’d need a bigger saddle bag.
I have the pump you pictured, the Ultraflate IH Pro. I like the pump and the fact that it can take 16g threadless, I do ride MTB and you need 16g to fill the tire on one cartridge. Now the problem, I have to use a presta/Schrader adapter (included) on my tubes with this unit. Without the adapter the unit pops off the valve and I can feel that it is loose (I can operate a floor pump and other co2 systems contrary to what another poster thinks). I think it has to do with the valves/tube brand you use and the packaging mentions you may need the adapter.
I haven’t had to use the system on my MTB yet, only on the road bike. I got the system (16g threadless) so that I can use it on the mtb but haven’t been riding the trails lately.
In the road bike I needed to use the presta/ schrader adapter on my road presta valves. The ultraflate comes with he adapter and inside the packaging it mentions that some presta valves work better with the adapter, I think it has to do with the tube brand. My valves don’t have threads on the outside so I think that inflater head can’t ‘grab’ on, hope this helps.
Second Pooks comments - I use the Innovations system due to it’s compactness. Works fine until that seal goes. I flatted twice a couple of weeks ago - it worked flawlessly. Flatted this weekend. 1st C02 was a dud (this has happened to me twice with cartridges from two different brands. Second C02 released the Co2 back through the threads. Given that, I’ll probably buy another one (this will be my 3rd) due to it’s size & simplicity.
I use a Michelin ultralite tube that also has no thread on the valve so I’d probably have the same problem.
I use the same tubes. I don’t mind the adapter, keep it the seat bag in my patch kit. I have only needed it during training, might add ~15-20 seconds to a tire change during a race.
I also use the Innovations system, and haven’t had any problems with it. I haven’t had a seal go bad on me yet, and I’ve had it for about 3 years. I did freeze my finger to the stem once, though. Best way I’ve found to avoid this is to use the little nut that comes with new tubes to hold the stem in place. Then you can press the adapter on with one hand and not have to hold the stem. Then toss the nut back in the bag when the tire’s inflated.
I use the 2nd Wind by Innovations. It works both as a regular pump & CO2. I haven’t had any problems with it on the few times I’ve had to use it over 2 yrs. I like knowing I have the security of a regular pump in the event my my CO2 cartridges have some unforeseen problem. It has a regulator so you don’t waste all the CO2 in one shot like some CO2 setups. I think this contributes to some of the problems folks have with them.
It allows the use of both threaded & non-threaded cartridges with means I can go & just buy paint gun cartridges at Walmart etc for about 1/5 the cost of the threaded. I usually carry 3 cartridges on training rides 2 untreaded & 1 threaded with the cheap non-regulated threaded adapter. Since I have 650 wheels the 12 gram are the correct size. I keep broken down in 2 pieces so it fits in a really small seat bag.
I usually partialy pump the tube up make sure its seated etc & then use the CO2 so I’m no the high side of the tire pressure rather than the low side. The pumping does work. At the Worlds in Cancun on a pre-race ride where airlines had conficating the cartridges pre-flight & none were available locally yet I lent my pump to a Team USA member stranded way out on the course. While it took a while he got his tube pumped up & back.
