[Closed] I need a track pump and I need to do tubeless - combined or separates

For economy and efficiency, go the combined route. For flexibility go separates.

When I used my BiL's combined pump/accumulator (can't remember the manufacturer) it was really frustrating to add a couple of psi to a slightly flat tyre as once you connected the pump to the tyre and connect the valve, your tyre deflates as the pressure in the tyre and chamber equalise. 😐

I have the Bontrager one. It's great for tubeless inflation, but slightly laggy when used as a normal track pump, but not in a deal-breaker sort of way, if that makes sense.

The way it works means that even when you're not ultilising the reservoir, you're still pumping air into it and when you connect to a tyre, air flows out of the tyre into the pump. If that's the sort of thing that'll enrage you then maybe not, but I've never found it overly annoying, YMMV. It's been decently reliable so far as well, bought when they first appeared and used a lot. And good enough that a mate who used it a couple of times promptly went out and bought his own.

Not used a separate tank version, so can't really comment on those, but the Flash Charger is decent if you can get it for a reasonable price. If there was a shut-off valve so you could use the pump normally without the reservoir being part of the circuit, I think it would be a no-brainer. Don't know if anyone makes a pump along those lines.

Plus and minus both ways ....not a great deal of price difference between a good floor pump and a separate bottle... so it probably <span style="text-decoration: underline;">mostly</span> comes down to "packability" in terms of storage and sticking it in a car/van... ?

Convenience wise the separate seems better but then how often do you use a pump vs needing to seat tubeless? (and most of my tyres go on without nowadays so its more of a safety net .. like I don't want to unseat one then find I'm stuck in a car park and no wheel if for some reason it doesn't work)

Having one thing to stick in my boot... the all-in-one seems better... packing wise I guess its a bit more awkward with a full boot.

I presently use a lemonade bottle wrapped with gorilla tape ... this hasn't failed yet though seating the kids wire bead 2.5 DH tyre was touch and go...

The other plus of an all-in-one pump-based inflator is that you can, if the tyre's being reluctant, pump away after the reservoir's been discharged. Sometimes that's just enough to seat a stubborn bead. With a separate reservoir, you'd need to disconnect the tank then connect a pump, so it's a bit more all or nothing.

I've gone from a Rennkompressor/Coke bottle combo to a Joe Blow Booster - it's so much easier. Has a shut-off valve to switch between tank and regular pump modes. The head's good as well. 99 quid from Clee Cycles.

I bought one of these

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/lifeline-airblast-tubeless-tyre-track-pump/rp-prod155451

and have just installed 2 new tyres and it was the easiest tubeless install I have had yet (up first time).  Previously it was a track pump and coke bottle.

I have the same one as cubist but they come under different brand names - mine is Airwave. Not sure how big the tank is but its fine for 700c and 27.5 volume tyres. Seems pretty well made, happy to recommend it.

I had the same decision a while ago and went for the tubeless chamber version of the Topeak joe Blow, very pleased with it. Definitely less faff it being an all in one unit

At a demo day this past weekend I noticed that pretty much all of the company mechanics had Airshot canisters taped on to a regular track pump. Maybe give step benefit of having everything in 1 bundle but the better standard track pump performance when not connected to the Airshot?

Just get a compressor from Lidl next time they're in, how often do you actually change tyres in the car park, and of those times how many has a track pump failed, and of those how many couldn't be solved with more tape?

I only really need mine for the fat bike, and the rest of the time it's just handy having the inflator on a coiled hose at the back door for topping up rather than fishing the track pump out.

Just get a compressor from Lidl next time they’re in, how often do you actually change tyres in the car park, and of those times how many has a track pump failed, and of those how many couldn’t be solved with more tape?

Luckily only did it once... but that's really because of the "what if" ....

Quite often a change in weather and I'd like to change tyres but don't want to risk it.  Not enough to carry the lemonade bottle but ... I'd probably do it more if it wasn't for uncertainty...

Last weekend I took 2 sets of wheels for the kid as he had a race and weather was uncertain... (and as it turned out the free to use compressor was broken) ... I stuck with mine as there is only so much room in the car and then got beaten by my own 8yr old!  (Don't worry I have a string of other excuses... 😀  )

Thanks for the replies. I'm probably leaning to the all in one option. Just need to decide if I the Bontrager et al is twice as good as the Wiggle version as it is a lot more money

Rennkompressor, Topeka smarthead and Airshot. If they could add a sleeve to the neoprene Airshot cover to slide onto the pump, it would be perfect!

Evans have a 20% off at the moment... the Topeak is just under £90.....

It does look more "industrial" like the shaft diameter and hose length than the Lifethingy Wiggle/CRC one... and I'm pretty tempted.

edit:  Sorry forgot to mention the 20% off is on eBay...

I don't see the point in the all in one options. Would much rather have two items and it looks more cost effective to purchase this way.

e.g.  https://www.merlincycles.com/beto-cja-001s-tubeless-air-tank-inflator-98943.html

and

https://www.merlincycles.com/topeak-joe-blow-max-2-floor-pump-44824.html

cheaper than an all in one.

If they could add a sleeve to the neoprene Airshot cover to slide onto the pump, it would be perfect!

Is that not what the Schwalbe product is?

If you go for combined then after pumping up a tyre then close the chamber so that the pressure stays in the pump, and next time you connect to a tyre it will equalise faster when you open the chamber - i.e loads of air won't rush form the tyre to the pump chamber.

I have the Bonty - it has a nice head on it, wildly better than the standard Joe Blow Mountain one, but I would get a separate pump and an airshot next time.

I got a garden sprayer from B&Q for £8 and bodged around with it a bit.  It pops the bead on a tubeless tyre very well.

lifeline tubeless track pump is £49. not sure how your separates work out cheaper @nixxie

I don't see any point in having a separate tubeless air chambre

I don’t see the point in the all in one options. Would much rather have two items and it looks more cost effective to purchase this way.

As per my post earlier, the one thing an integrated pump version will do is allow you to carry on adding air even once the pressurised air in the reservoir is exhausted. It's not a huge deal, but on the odd occasion when the bead is fractions away from seating, a few rapid pumps will be just enough to finish the job.

It's not something that's happened to me more than three or four times, but it's occasionally handy and something you can't do as easily with a separate reservoir I think. Though I guess

I'm sure either option will work just fine in most cases anyway.

I got a Topeak Joe Blow Mountain as it is designed specifically to get a lot of air into a low pressure tyre; if this doesn't work (which is very rare) I have air canisters to help seat tubeless tyres.

As per my post earlier, the one thing an integrated pump version will do is allow you to carry on adding air even once the pressurised air in the reservoir is exhausted. It’s not a huge deal, but on the odd occasion when the bead is fractions away from seating, a few rapid pumps will be just enough to finish the job.

Not an issue I have had with my separate pump and airshot , but I suppose it's possible to leave the pump attached to the airshot to allow a few quick pumps if needed.

I don’t see the point in the all in one options. Would much rather have two items and it looks more cost effective to purchase this way.

Cost aside (especially if you already have a track pump) for my preference it's about convenience when out and about.

Nearly all my tyres and my kids seat with a track pump (mostly) but if I want to switch tyres over a weekend then If I've driven 100 miles I'm not for just hoping it works as usual either....

Having a single item to remember/pack is mostly more convenient... I have a lemonade bottle right now but I never remember to pack it.

As per my post earlier, the one thing an integrated pump version will do is allow you to carry on adding air even once the pressurised air in the reservoir is exhausted. It’s not a huge deal, but on the odd occasion when the bead is fractions away from seating, a few rapid pumps will be just enough to finish the job.

Some of the separates allow that as well (the one I linked does).

I also like being able to lend the inflator out without leaving myself without a track pump.

My Airshot is all dented from being kicked in anger when the stupid thing falls over. It's now zip-tied to my track pump. And for that reason I'd go for an all-in-one. Lifeline for £50 looks definitely worth a shot.

Plus the Airshot has the crappiest valve I've used in my life.

I use the Topeak JoeBlow Booster. It's the all-in-one type.

Works just fine for all the tyres i've tried. It also seems pretty good as a 'normal' track pump, and i dont notice having to charge the chamber before the tyre inflates. It's good i'd say.