Genuine Innovations AirChuck Lightweight Bicycle CO2 Inflator

I like this inflator’s lightweight design, simplicity, and ease of use, and I’ve been especially happy with it while watching my friends struggle with their heavy, awkward and overcomplicated inflators.

I got about 20 uses out of it, and then it literally blew apart with a loud pop and pieces flying everywhere while I was trying to fix a flat at the side of the road. Luckily I was only a few miles from home and was able to quickly call for ride, but I’d be very hesitant to replace my now broken inflator with the same model if it can fail so suddenly, completely, and with no warning whatsoever.

I’m sometimes riding as far as 50 miles away from home, and occasionally in places with spotty or nonexistent cell service. I always carry several spare tubes and CO2 cartridges, but those will be useless if my inflator can just explode randomly into pieces at any moment. If I use this model again and am riding solo and very far from home I’ll start carrying a backup-inflator.

Ottimo prodotto, veramente solido e funzionale

I’m new to the whole CO2 cartridge scene. I prefer frame pumps (specifically the HPX pumps by Zefal) but I had this sit-up-and-beg styled bicycle that was beginning to look like the bicycle from Pee-Wee’s Playhouse. Too many accessories. So I pared some stuff down. I threw this combo into the seat bag. I also ordered some spare CO2 cartridges and tried one out to see how it works. The action on the spring provides a predictable, metered filling of the tube, even for a first timer like myself. The cartridge does get C O L D and the tire valve itself froze open just a hair (you could just make out some air leaking out paste the stem seal on the presta valve). close off the presta valve nice and tight and no problems. Except for the fact that the cartridges are one-use and a bit pricey, the system itself works great. Paired with touring tires and puncture resistant tire liner, it really is a good alternative if you’re not expecting a lot of flats.

After having this inflator in my bag for a while (a year or 2) I finally came to the point where I got a flat and needed to use it. When I went to use it, blew apart as other reviewers have stated.

However, the company has a lifetime guarantee that they stand behind. After emailing them, not only did they quickly send me a new inflator but also threw in some additional extra CO2. After the experience I had the first time I decided to burn through another CO2 to test the new inflator and it worked great. I have a feeling there was a design flaw which has since been resolved.

The inflator is easy to use and works easily on both Presta and Schrader valves. Because of the quality of the replacement unit as well as the great customer service from Genuine Innovations, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this inflator to anyone.

This CO2 air chuck is in first place for the simplest, most compact and lightest of its kind. After screwing on your cartridge you simply press the air chuck down onto the opened tire valve to regulate the speed and volume of the gas filling your bicycle tube or tubeless tire.
This one handed operation allows you to hold your wheel easily, something that two handed units make more difficult to do when lining up the chuck to the tire valve.
By not screwing onto the valve the problem with removable valve retention is eliminated, no more worries about disengaging only to have your removable valve come along, thus emptying the newly filled tire.
The only two criticisms involve the fact that this item doesn’t come with a protective sleeve (insulation for the extreme and rapid freeze that occurs with the CO2 container as it empties its gas into your tire) and the occasional explosive expulsion of the o-ring that works to seal the unit and which, upon expelling, renders the air chuck useless (unless you can miraculously reinstall it). The first issue is easily overcome by using a piece of insulating material to cover the cartridge when emptying it and the second criticism is dealt with by emptying the cartridge slowly, though carrying a common sensical back-up, small air pump is the best idea in this regard.

I ride 150-200 miles a week, and have punctured tires more often than I would have liked. This thing has gotten me home every time. It’s perfect, esp. for serious road riders who want as little weight/wind resistance (and dorkiness) as possible, and who know that you don’t need a 1500cc rack bag to hold a bunch of tools you’ll never need. If your bike is properly maintained, you’ll only need the essentials: inflator; cartridge; spare tube. This set-up is small (everything just fits into a minimalist under-saddle bag). It’s ultra lightweight, with simple/sturdy construction, and is easy to use. But be sure to stagger the output in short ‘bursts’, esp. with the larger, 20g cartridge re: road (19-28mm) tubes, as it might be too much volume. It could blow the tire off the rim or even blow the tube itself. Also, the cartridge body gets cold–really cold when it’s in use. GI makes a larger, more expensive model that comes with a sort of holster/hand grip, for this reason. Highly recommended.