Muc Off Airmach Carbon Pump
159g £50.00

The Muc Off Airmach Carbon Pump is a lightweight but generally capable mid-sized model. It features a reversible Presta/Schrader head and though light, its crucially solid and backed by a two-year warrantee against manufacturing defects. To my surprise, I’ve found it best with bigger section touring, gravel and indeed, mountain bike rubber.

Pros: Lightweight, strong, small but sensibly sized and relatively efficient, hose length, great looking - if that’s important to you, two year warranty.

Cons: Price, a little big for jersey pockets, threaded Presta hoses only, best suited to higher volume tyres.

bicycle cycle pump test review carbon muc off

Specification

Measuring a not too compact 29.5x4.8cm, it’s essentially a track pump sans gauge put through a matter shrinking device, reckoned to deliver a respectable 55.78cc per stroke. The barrel is made from carbon fibre, the brand’s trademark pink bits are made from anodised CNC machined 6063 aluminium alloy. The machined aluminium alloy base features a protective gripper pad and there’s a stainless-steel foot stand. I probably won’t be the only one pleased by the integral pull out hose (meaning valve stems-albeit the threaded type stand a sporting chance when you’re ramming home those higher pressures) which clips tidily to the handle. Ditto the reversible Presta/Schrader head.

For me, it’s a little on the lofty side for stowing in most jersey pockets-especially off road and too big for compact bar bags, such as Cycology See Me Pink or Topeak Tubular Bar Bag 1.5 litre but unobtrusive enough in a technical jacket’s rear poacher and rack top bags, including Topeak’s MTX Trunk Dry Bag .

Mount 3.5/5

I’ve tended to park ours in an SQR bag, but I was also grateful for the composite mount, which will sit nicely on the frame. Just remember those longer Allen screws if you’re running it in tandem with a bottle cage. It’s certainly up to the job and holds the pump securely and sans vibration. On, and indeed, off road.

Test Tyres

I’ve tested ours across the fleet to replicate most contexts from road, gravel/cyclo cross, touring, mountain biking, not forgetting small trailer rubber. For the record, 700x25, 700x30, 700x40, 16x1.75 and 26x2.21. 120psi down to 55. Pressures were checked with a standalone digital gauge, in this instance, the Topeak Smart Guage D2X.

Performance 3.5/5

Overall performance has been reassuringly good, but not without some limitations...The pump has always felt very solid, and this has translated to use. The flexible hose gives valves, especially willowy Presta types, at least the threaded types a sporting chance of a long, useful life. Swapping valve heads around is very intuitive too. A definite plus, since our first real world rescue was tackling a flat 5 miles from home on a blustery September morning. Hedge clipping in case anyone wondered...There’s no push-on option though, meaning you could be stuck if you’re running threadless Presta stems.

Getting a Maxxis Ravager TR from flaccid to 55psi in 225 strokes and approximately four minutes. To my surprise, getting pressure going was easy - comparable with the Topeak Gravel 2 Stage Mini Pump, which can be started on high volume and then switched to high pressure beyond a certain point. Very realistic for road, or trailside recovery. I was up to 50 in 210 strokes. The handle, though bijous and generally comfortable, even with sustained use- say tackling two flat tyres. Despite being composite the barrel does become quite warm given a few minutes, although not hot, as aluminium can.

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Talking of which, I’d raised tubed 26x2.1 from zero to 50psi in 350 strokes and 5 minutes and my trailer’s 16x1.95 from zero to 55psi in 345 strokes and approximately 4 minutes.

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On the one hand, this might not be lightning quick, or ultra efficient but a lot easier than it sounds and the pressures described are very respectable, rather than just limp home (although the latter is always better than those long, humiliating walks). I’ve raised a 700x30c to its 70psi maximum in 185 strokes and just over three minutes. Past 150 strokes, (56psi) there was palpable resistance, but not bicep blowing.

One thing I did note (and it seems I’m not alone in this respect) was a tendency for the valve connectors to rob some of that hard-earned pressure from the valve heads, during removal. Not a major problem, but a little frustrating and morale sapping, especially during an endurance event, when you may still have some distance to cover.

This brings me to high pressure road tyres-700x25 to be precise. I managed 90 psi after 185 strokes but by this point, believed I was going to pass out and/or my biceps explode. Used in a very traditional fashion, lockout began to creep in at 85 strokes and 100 seconds-60 psi. Swapping to track pump stylee, I was able to ram home the final thirty.

Durability/Care 3.5/5

Aside from some superficial marking, the pump is in great cosmetic and structural shape- not that I’d expect any different at this stage, especially at this end of the market. The foot’s rubberised sleeve tended to slide off- easily corrected with a drop of superglue. As I said earlier, the two-year warrantee is also reassuring. Muc Off says they don’t supply a rebuild kit. However, I’m told they keep some spares in stock, should something unexpectedly fail.

I’d be inclined to clean the piston and give the pump a quick shot of furniture polish to keep grit from collecting and doing nasty things, the odd squirt of silicone spray on the barrel to keep that slick and happy but that’s about it.

Value 3/5

£50 is hardly cheap and there’s a lot of very competent pumps going for less. However, it’s not outlandish compared with some CNC machined aluminium alloy favourites. Specifically, Lezyne Micro Floor Pump REVIEW LEZYNE MICRO FLOOR PUMP (sevendaycyclist.com) which now start at £52. Another micro track pump, these are made from beautifully machined aluminium alloy and include a handy pressure gauge. Mind you, at 189g, they are rather hefty and has the potential to rattle against frame tubes “woodpecker” fashion, causing blemishes on painted and lacquered surfaces alike.

Crank Brothers Klick Mini Floor Pump is considerably dearer at £69.99. Its claimed capable of 100psi and promises “high volume airflow”. It’s a little longer at 32.5cm, which bodes well for efficiency, a twisting collar to keep muck and debris out and a five-year warrantee. However, the frame fit mount doesn’t come as standard.

As I was saying, you can also pay a lot less. Topeak Race Rocket HPX is a more road specific model reckoned capable of 160psi. A penny shy of £40, it measures 25cm long, is made from a mix of CNC machined aluminium and boasts a “smart head” valve for convenience. However, the lack of flexible hose means longer valve heads are potentially vulnerable to damage when ramming home the higher pressures.

Staying with Topeak, their Pocket Rocket (£22.99) is a little smaller, made from machined aluminium and reckoned capable of delivering 160psi. Rebuild kits are also available, which is a nice touch.

The volume per stroke is 31cc, considerably lower than the Muc-Off and its very much a road biased model but then, it’s also less than half the Muc-Off's ticket price. Specialized Air Tool Flex Pump (£35.99) is a double ended model for easy Presta/Schrader swaps. It also employs an inverted chamber, which they say will tackle the big volumes typical of mountain bike rubber, while still offering a road centric 100psi. However, the volume per stroke is also a more modest 30.cc

Summary

There’s no getting away from the fact you are paying in part for the carbon fibre and associated weight saving benefits. If these aren’t top of your list, there are some very capable and cheaper options out there.

That said; the Muc Off Airmach is relatively efficient thanks to the 50.cc volume per stroke and seems best with mid and big volume tyres. Credit where due, though I couldn’t get the cited 130psi, 90 is still very useable. This may swing the balance if you wanted a mini pump that would cater for the fleet and most contexts.

Verdict: 3.5/5 Lightweight and seemingly robust pump but price and some limitations may be a deal breaker.

Michael Stenning

Muc-Off UK | Bicycle & Motorcycle Cleaning | Lube | Tubeless

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2024

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Muc Off Airmach Carbon Pump 159g £50.00