The Muc-Off AirMach Pro sits at the top of the brand’s inflator range, offering competitive battery life and inflation speed, but its design and construction introduce some frustrating compromises.
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Muc-Off AirMach Pro Electric Mini Inflator – Technical details
The AirMach Pro is built around a compact aluminium base unit, paired with a silicone sleeve that fits over the body. This can help to improve grip, but also helps reduce heat transfer to your hand during extended use. It’s capable of inflating tyres up to 120 PSI (8.27 bar), connecting directly to Presta valves via the fixed pink head. For Schrader valves, a short extension tube is provided in the box.
The bare unit weighs 123g, or 210g including the case and additional accessories, placing it among the smaller electric pumps currently available. It measures 64.5 x 63 x 28mm and feels impressively compact for its output. The internal battery has a claimed capacity of 450mAh, with Muc-Off stating it can inflate up to four tyres per charge, although no specific tyre sizes or pressures are mentioned to qualify that claim.
Muc-Off AirMach Pro Electric Mini Inflator – Performance
To assess the AirMach Pro’s real-world performance, I ran a series of timed inflation tests to evaluate both speed and battery life. Using an inner tube to reduce air loss, I tested the pump on a 29 x 2.4in mountain bike tyre and a 700 x 45mm gravel tyre, recording the time taken to reach 25 PSI and 30 PSI respectively. Each inflation was timed, and I also noted the final pressure reached on the last inflation before the battery was depleted.
29 x 2.4in MTB tyre to 25 PSI:
- Inflation 1: 1 minute 20 seconds
- Inflation 2: 1 minute 28 seconds
- Inflation 3: 1 minute 35 seconds
- Inflation 4: Reached 14 PSI before shutting off
700 x 45mm gravel tyre to 30 PSI:
- Inflation 1: 50 seconds
- Inflation 2: 57 seconds
- Inflation 3: 58 seconds
- Inflation 4: 1 minute 0 seconds
- Inflation 5: 1 minute 5 seconds
- Inflation 6: Reached 22 PSI before shutting off
The AirMach Pro also produced 74 dB of noise when measured at a distance of one metre, which is roughly in line with other electric inflators, which are generally loud in operation.
Inflation times and output were competitive with other similarly sized electric pumps, but the overall use was let down by the power button. Positioned exactly where your hand naturally grips the unit, it was easy to press accidentally, both when handling the pump and during inflation. The button on our test unit also tended to stick in the “on” position, making it difficult to shut off easily and sometimes leading to unwanted battery drain.
Another minor frustration is the silicone casing, which, when combined with Muc-Off’s oversized charging cable, makes it difficult to access the port, meaning it’s usually best to remove the case when charging.
The LCD display is bright and easy to read, with plus and minus buttons used to set the pressure cut-off. However, the screen is located on the same side as the valve connection, making it hard to view during inflation, especially when you need to keep hold of the pump to prevent it from slipping off the valve.
It’s also possible to use the included Schrader valve tube with a Presta valve adapter (not supplied), offering a bit more flexibility, but the short length of the tube limits how much you can move the unit during use.
Muc-Off AirMach Pro Electric Mini Inflator – Verdict
Portable electric inflators are becoming increasingly popular, with more brands entering the market. Within Muc-Off’s own range, there’s a more affordable model priced at £75, which drops the LCD display, reduces the maximum pressure to 100 PSI, and is rated to inflate up to two tyres per charge.
Other notable options include the Prestacycle Prestaflator GO and the Topeak E-Booster, both priced around £100. The Prestaflator GO features a significantly larger battery, using two 750mAh cells, while the Topeak E-Booster offers a more compact 600mAh unit but benefits from a built-in switch and integrated valve tube compatible with both Presta and Schrader valves. Reviews for both of these units will be published soon.
In terms of outright performance, the AirMach Pro delivers competitive inflation times and battery life, matching up well against similarly priced pumps. However, where it falls short is in overall user experience, with design quirks and build quality issues making it less refined than some rivals. While the performance numbers stack up, it lacks the polish and practicality that set the best options apart.
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Product purpose:
Level up with the next gen of electric inflation tech. Gear up, charge up and inflate fast with this pocket-sized game-changer.
Featuring an LED display which shows real-time air pressure and battery level and inflates rapidly up to 120psi!
Small in size, big on innovation, this mini inflator is designed for riders who prefer riding to pumping. With its sleek full aluminium body and innovative inflator head, this tiny titan packs a punch, delivering up to 120psi of lightning-fast inflation with electric effortlessness.
Don’t let its size fool you – powered by cutting-edge brushless motor technology, it’s the ultimate sidekick for when you want to re-inflate fast, with zero effort. It’s fully USB-C rechargeable so is re-juiced in a flash (30 minutes, to be exact), and you can switch between Presta and Schrader valves, so it works on most bikes.
Air up and get back to the action…fast.
Build extra:
• Size: 64.5 x 63 x 28mm
• Weight: 122g without case (142g with case)
• Battery: Lithium-ion 450mAh 7.4V
• Rated Power: 40W
• Working current: 2.5 ~ 7.5 A
• Charging Mode: USB-C (Cable included)
• USB output: 5V 1.5A
• Charging time: 30 minutes fast charge
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