Genuine Innovations AirChuck CO2 Inflator

The Genuine Innovations AirChuck CO2 Inflator is a simple and efficient way to get air into your tyres quickly; it's a little on the expensive side but is good quality and should last.

• Pros: Simplicity, light
• Cons: No freeze protection

I've been using an earlier (brass bodied) version of this inflator for over a decade now, and with the low cost of replacement cartridges, I can't really think of a reason not to use them in preference to a hand pump when out on a ride.

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The Genuine Innovations name is synonymous with well-engineered products, and the AirChuck is no exception. Sean reviewed the Ultraflate recently, which offers more control but is a bit bulkier to carry in a jersey pocket.

The AirChuck is directly compatible with both Presta and Schrader valves, so there's no swapping out of components if you happen to have bikes with both valve types.

The chuck works very well in that there is no wastage of CO2, so don't expect to hear a hiss as you screw a cartridge in to pierce it, just turn it all the way home.

With the chuck attached to the tyre valve, and using a firm hand, the release of CO2 happens by overcoming the AirChuck's spring-loaded valve. At this stage you have to be ready for a bit of a shock as the metal cartridge body becomes instantly very cold and can sometimes stick to the skin. It could really do with a sleeve of some sort, or you can always wear gloves.

It's not designed to be controllable like some (including the Ultraflate) – you can change how hard the chuck/head is pressed down against the spring pressure to adjust the flow, but it fully inflates a tyre within the space of two or three seconds, so it's quite hard to determine just how hard to push down until you've checked the tyre pressure with a gauge, and where necessary topped up with another quick blast of CO2.

> Buyer's Guide: 14 of the best pumps and CO2 inflators

The AirChuck comes with two threaded canisters, a 16g and 20g (the labels refer to the weight of the gas; the canisters themselves are far heavier than their names imply). The 16g, said to be suitable for 'small to medium tyres', inflated a 25mm 700C tyre to 100psi with some left in reserve, as did the 20g, retaining enough CO2 to top up a tyre that had a very slow puncture. Another 20g canister did the job on a 29er mountain bike tyre.

Overall, the AirChuck is a simple and reliable device. The Ultraflate does address any misgivings you might have about gas leaking from this type of inflator and is more controllable, though I had no problems with the AirChuck, and I really like its simplicity. The Ultraflate might also be cheaper, but it does only come with one canister – though there's no denying the £7.99 B'Twin beats them both on value.

Verdict

This design has stood the test of time; it's simple to use, good quality and should last