Definitely overrated if it doesn’t ever arrive. Still waiting on one to be shipped from Flextail and it’s been almost 3 weeks since I ordered it. Longer for a lot of people now that I’m looking at other comments. Stores only in Hong Kong and South Korea. Might be awhile. They do not respond to chat on their site or emails to their customer support.
Unfortunately ordered last year's model just before their new model came out. I used the original pump for 2 seasons and absolutely loved it. Definitely think it is well worth it. Worst chore for me is blowing up the pad so the Flextail pump is a must! Maybe next year I will order the newer version.
First, Awesome review, it’s the best comparison of the models that I have seen! I have the Tiny pump, and I always take it along for car camping trips. For backpacking / bikepacking trips where I have to carry everything, it depends on circumstances. I don’t hate pump sacks, but they can be awkward to use if it’s windy out and your pad is trying to flop around, or when trying to inflate inside a small tent…. which mostly happens when its too windy to do it outside of the tent. The deflation mode also saves me a minute or two in the mornings when I need to get all of the air out to fit the pad into a small stuff sack.
Know this is an old video, but I've found that you can get a tighter seal if you fold the silicon adapter of the tiny pump back onto itself. It makes the interface diameter wider and also provides a ridge that should help lock on.
Yeah, not needed, but at 2.5 oz with battery and two adapters to fit four mattresses there isn't much downside. My pump sack weighs 2.2 oz and only fits one mattress.
While the comments here seem to praise the zero pump. I have an unresolved issue with flextailgear. I purchased 2 zero pumps and had to wait over a month to get them. Of course flextailgear took my credit card payment right away. Now after I received my zero pumps I opened the first box and charged the battery, but upon trying to put the cap back on I noticed that I had some issues with the cap screwing back on. Well it turns out that after doing a closer inspection the unit I found shavings and fines from the machining process was not allowing me to screw the cap on properly. The cap froze at times from the fines and shavings getting caught in the threads of the pump cap. I contacted flextailgear and provided them with pictures as they requested, now they’re requesting a video. Flextailgear admitted to me in a email that they knew that the battery was a possible problem and then wanted to give me the brush off regarding the fines and shavings from the machining process. I wish I had known about this issues before I purchased
I bought one recently. The threads to open and close the battery housing were very rough and gritty. At one point the aluminium chips and dust generated from opening and closing the pump caused the housing to jam halfway closed, although there was still battery contact with the circuit. Upon further inspection, opening and closing the device resulted in a huge amount of aluminium debris being generated. Aluminium dust is very flammable, and I am worried that generating a flammable material inside an electrical device that is blowing a lot of oxygen past it, while inflating flammable mats and pillows inside flammable tents is a recipe for disaster.
Could you speak to the firmness of the sleeping pads with each pump? Curious about the advertised air pressures of 4kPa for the Tiny Pump x2 vs the 2.5kPa for the Zero Pump
Why would someone buy something that only does half the job no matter how light. And when you add the weight of the Fill sac it’s the same weight as the flex tail 2..??
No GERMs from my breath into my gear...in hot Humid Alabama I've used the original FlexTail for about a year; or 45-60 inflations. No visable mold goal accomplished. ThanQ for a great review
I have both and they both work very well. I have an extra battery for the Zero Pump. I used the Tiny 2X several times and it worked as advertised. I'll test the Zero Pump later this year in the BWCA. I still bring the Big Agnes pump bag with me as a backup just in case of an electronics failure. Zero Pump took 1 minute 50 seconds to inflate my Big Agnes 30x78 Boundary Deluxe pad and 2 of my breaths to firm up the pad to my liking but so does the Tiny pump 2X. Appreciate the review, very well done.
I have both the x2 and zero pump w rechargeable battery. I am more uncertain than ever now. First, I was really pissed off with Flextail and their BS marketing noting (32g)1.2oz when it’s actually over 60g just for unit, battery and 1 nozzle. Your point about a good air seal and self-supporting on the pad are definite features of the Zero whip the light and magnet are positives for the x2. Given the battery is twice the size in the x2 I’m very surprised it didn’t outlast the zero with twice the charge…
I am looking into 3 regions of these pumps , 1 pumping my air bed, 2 weight over saving (a touch / lamp) 3 could I use as a emergency back up for phone charging. only one meets this that is the x2. when carrying around this would be a number factor, size of the zero is great but add on costs (battery, one use or recharge) Sack for filling your bed is OK but for removable of air not great!! the other thing the air pump x2 is in bright colours so easy to find but the Zero is Black😒 hard to find!
I would like to see how fast if you just blow up the pads with your mouth speed...If I were to buy one of these pumps it would be more for the vacuum feature. One of the biggest pains in packing is trying to get all of the air out of the sleeping pads in order to pack it as small as possible. None of these reviews demonstrate the deflate feature?
Aint that some shit? A month overdue because of production issues and they are just giving them away to social media gear reviewers. I dont think I will be supporting any more of Flextail's indegogo fund raisers. I'm starting to think that this is a scam.
I have not been watching their campaign closely, I just agreed to review the pumps. I usually do not accept free gear unless it is a company that I trust and have used their products. I have several friends that love their Tiny Pump x2.
@OutsideChronicles sorry, I was a little cranky last night. I'm waiting on my pump that I paid for months ago and it should have been shipped last month. I seen this and kind of snapped. 😂 (I'm doing much better today......)
How can anyone sleep on a fully inflated mattress? I have mine as deflated as possible, just before my hips and shoulders are touching the ground. I hated sleeping on inflatables until I realized I just needed to reduce the air significantly
@@OutsideChronicles absolutely. I’m just letting others know. It seems unbelievably obvious but it wasn’t to me. Lol. as soon as I really really deflated, I was so much more comfortable.
Honestly, great job. This is easily the best comparison video on this product on the internet. I'm totally content to wait another couple of years before I pick one of these up. The noise is a major issue for me. And I know for a fact that they'll improve waterproofness, inflation speed, inflation power, develop even better nozzles and probably be able to add a light and magnet to future smaller versions. To me, this is at least a couple years away from being where it should be. I can wait. Fantastic video. Do more gear reviews! Your methods and analysis are top notch!
Inflating sleeping pads isn't a problem that needs solving. It's the DEflating the pads that's always a problem. There's always that one pocket of air inside that makes you have to reroll your pad 5 times to get it back in the bag. Ugh.
Very informative, however please allow me to make a correction which is a game changer. The tiny pump X2 has a small length adapter .(looks like an orange ring with inside threads on the female end and a slight reducer on the male end) The male end fits into either the inflate side or exhaust side of the pump.The other end fits VERY snugly (don't be afraid to force it) into the Big Anges. This gives you the same hands free process.
Several people commented on some aggravation with the pump sack. I usually inflate my Therm-a-Rest Uber light while sitting in my tent. While I haven't timed how long it takes to inflate my pad I know it takes me quite a bit longer than your speed method. So I ordered a Flextail Zero Pump and hope to use it on my next trip in the spring. Hopefully it will be shipped soon.
It's a neat gizmo and I in general I love outdoor gear reviews but I'm feeling cranky today so I thought I'd comment by saying I honestly don't understand two trends in camping gear reviews. 1. Timing everything......as if the clock is ticking on every possible activity on the trail. How quick to fill. How fast to boil. How long to prime. How long to charge. Rush rush rush rush rush. For what? What is it that you really make or break when saving a minute filling a sleeping pad (assuming you save it at all). What did you really gain by improving your boil time by 20 seconds? So you can have even more time to do nothing between making camp and the sun setting? I honestly don't understand the orientation toward "speed" in relation to an activity that many do in order to "slow down". Slow down, relax folks. Enjoy the sunset. Listen to the wind. Take your time. All that rushing will be waiting for you at home when you get back....I promise 2. More and more battery operated and electronic equipment in the backcountry. Powered stoves, powered pumps, powered screens, powered coolers, powered lights, portable phone chargers, portable solar panels. Screens screens screens....whir whir whir. Okay, a headlamp or torch I get. But most of it I don't. Maybe it's because I camp to get away from whirling motors and LED screens that just sorta think the words "camping electronics" is something of an oxymoron. The last thing I want to hear inside my tent is a mini jet engine sounding like takeoff. To me it all amounts to trying to bring more and more of the hectic world with us....that world we were trying to leave behind.....even if only for a few precious nights.
They all have something to sell through affiliate marketing. They're salesmen, not just hobbyists. I recently watched a video from a major channel where the premise was suggesting alternative gear simply because one might be 'bored' with the same gear everyone else has. Like, if it's quality and popular, yeah that's going to happen. That doesn't mean you need to throw out your old stuff and buy something new lol
@@sIosha 100% agree!! I think I can safely say that some of my favorite gear, the pieces of kit that I regularly reach for and include, are pieces of gear that have been with me for decades. They aren't the lightest, but they are light enough. They aren't the fastest, but they are fast enough. They aren't the newest but they are well built and reliable and thus function like new. They aren't the coolest next thing....but what makes them cool is not their date of manufacture so much as the places they've been with me. And I suppose, to repeat myself, I just find the act of putting a stopwatch on every piece of camping gear to be interesting insofar as it introduces an awareness of the clock in a way and in the very place I've gone to get away from that kind of awareness. If it takes 30 additional seconds for my water to boil vs. some alternative......I wouldn't know it, and don't care to know it. If it takes 8 extra seconds to inflate one way vs another....I wouldn't know it, and don't care to know it. Because the whole point, for me at least, is to discover I've gone someplace where there's nothing but time on my hands and no pressure, one way or another, telling me how to spend it. I look at all these "speed reviews" and can only think "What's the rush?"
I agree with you that generally there’s no need to rush and we should be slowing down in the backcountry. And simple gear is great. I love that my alcohol stove is quiet and doesn’t have any moving parts. I don’t usually care if it takes a little longer to boil water. On the other hand, when it’s cold, getting dark and the wind is blowing, I might be glad if I brought a gas stove. Likewise, if I am in a cramped tent and it’s raining, dealing with my Exped pad’s inflation stuff sack is a PITA. I bought the tiny pump and have only used it at home, but have a feeling it’s going to be a must have item.
@@granthaller9544 I totally get what you are saying and so thank you for a reasoned and thoughtful response. Please don't mistake me though...I too own a silent and slow Trangia spirit burner....a Jetboil Flash....and an old MSR Whisperlite and enjoy each of them for different reasons. But I don't select between them based on time differences. I choose between them based on how each functions or performs under different conditions and the duration of my trip. The Trangia usually comes along on mild weather trips where I'm packing real food to cook. The Flash comes along when I pretty much only need to boil potable water for coffee and rehydrated meals. The Whisperlite gets packed if I think I'll be melting snow for potable water etc. I suppose my real reaction isn't related to stove efficiency (though I do find time comparisons between things like Solo's alcohol burner and Triangia's alcohol burner to be rather curious) so much as the push for more and more battery dependent electronic devices with all their screens, LED buttons, beeps, bells, and whistles. There seems to be a push to convert anything and everything that's human powered and analog about camping to go battery powered and digital. I go hiking to get as far away as I can from the battery powered digital world, even if only for a few short days. It's a trend that, to me, feels like it has a terminus involving multimedia campsites with USB power ports on the trees, ultralight TV's in the tents, and battery dependent whirring gizmos. It all just feels like an oxymoron to me. So much of our urban existence has already become a sad parody of the Axiom...the starship from Wall-E. I don't like the trend to do the same to the backcountry. But to each their own.
I've been looking at the zero. I like the use of the tiny pump, but it is loud. My problem is the price of the zero is now at $53 and I have recently switched to an Exped Schnozzel pump bag. It functions as both my backpack dry liner and my pump sack, the weight is about 2oz. I haven't timed myself on my Rapide, I have the same size as you, long and wide. Great video though, I do like that the Zero is quieter and has a fitting for the Rapide. I had to make a custom fitting for the Exped. Thanks for sharing such great research and comparison.
For my experiences: 1. It's very hard to inflate the pad in wind using the pump sack. 2. It's hard to avoid breathing into the pump sack just like you did in the test, this will bring hot moisture air into the pad which is likely a bad thing for the pad. 3. The pump sack from TAR is very hard to attach to their pad, even harder in cool condition. 4. To fully inflate your pad, you still need to breath into the pad for 2 or 3 times after using those tiny little pump.
I actually agree with the point here about breathing into the sack and how that can potentially cause issues from a hygiene standpoint. Seems like a small pump that takes about the same amount of time but keeps my mattress useable (and cleaner) longer is worth it.
Kinda have to disagree on #1. I find it to be fairly simple in just a light breeze...though admittedly it doesn't fill the pump sack to maximum....but that just means a few more presses and viola! You're done! Meanwhile, I've become convinced #2 is something of a myth. Several pad manufacturers have done studies that show there are no harmful effects of breath inflating a pad.....especially when utilizing a pump sack as this dramatically reduces the amount of breath/moisture laden air that gets pushed into the pad. But I've breath filled my pads for years with no ill effect. That said, I do think one should treat their pad like any other piece of camping equipment which means ensuring it's dried out completely before storing between trips. You wouldn't roll up a wet tent fly and put it in the garage...so why store your thermarest before ensuring its as dry as can be? I do this by inflating it at home with the "out" port of my shop vac a couple times before storing. Dry air in, wait, deflate, dry air in, wait, deflate.....store. Never once had an issue with my pad(s).
😵💫😵💫😵💫 This is the longest video ever!!! Convenient for him being over 10mins to cash in on his TH-cam video. Not for the user who has to sit through a video that could have been summarised in 3 minutes
I’m on a budget, I have to prioritize where my limited funds can go. In addition, people in wealthy countries are already producing literal mountains of e-waste (that, at the end of its life, will either sit in the landfill for eternity or maybe will be recycled) it is not much effort to inflate the pad using the included inflation sack and it produces zero direct e-waste. Either way it’s an easy “pass” for me on these gadgets.
Bought the Zero. Took two months longer than claimed to receive, but I think I'm going to love it. With two adapters it inflates all four different mattresses I need it to and only weighs 2.5 oz. My Thermarest sack pump weighs 2.2 oz and only fits the mattress that came with it. Really not much downside.
I have the original tiny pump, and it’s amazing. You can pass it around the whole camp and dry your boots with it. The Zero is better for solo. I’m glad I watched this though, because my zero only has a 5 minute battery life. I thought that was it. But now I’m pretty sure my battery is bad.
I just bought the Zero Pump with a 20% coupon. That it takes longer than the pump bag is not relevant since I can set the zero pump up and leave it while dealing with other camp setup.
Just finished the PCT and I thought about these pumps every night inflating my airpad with the thermorest pump sack. I would typically be completely exhausted after a day of hiking and would often think if I could just set up the pump and do something else I'd save time and aggravation. I did just purchase the zero pump 2 days ago. I'll give it a go and decide. Thanks for the review.
Thanks for this, you've persuaded me to give the Zero a purchase, to replace my original Tiny Pump without the light. The nozzle to get a better seal on my S2S pad was the clincher!
Yes, very true. I have not seen any studies on how much vapor affects the pad. I’d love to see someone slice open a pad and compare pump only vs breath only filling.
AHHHH my boy G made it to the big time!! I hope he knows! First off, great video, very thorough testing. I hope people appreciate the work you put in. I certainly do. Second, I love dual use items, I've been using the flextail since the first tiny pump, and once they added the light, it was a no brainer. the pump sacks suck.... or blow...? uhhh... either way they are almost the same weight as the tiny pump X with the light and you can use the tiny pump sitting, standing, lying down, in a tree, doing a hand stand, or on a sinking kayak. Try that with a pump sack... oh, and yeah it has a freaking light! Best of all, for almost no extra weight you dont have to blow up an air mattress by mouth (Ultra lighters, you know) after a long freaking day, which you did not test. By the way, I'm not sponsored by Flextail, or any one actually. I just love talking gear, and this little pump is worth its price and weight! Happy Trails!
Thanks! I wish I had a better picture of G. My only other one was him with a banana boat which I am sure he would not want as his TH-cam debut. I like the dual purpose too. But it is nice to be hands free. There are always trade-offs. Thanks for the comment and feedback, see you outside!
I have the Flextail and it's amazing and highly recommend it. Saves me time and energy to inflate my pillow and pad. The lantern is nice addition too and I leave it hanging inside my tent and put the lowest light setting on for night. This is helpful at night when I'm ready to go to bed after dinner and being drunk.
Wow i had no idea they were so slow.. the camping videos make them seem almost instant lol. i was so close to buying one as i thought you put it on and 30 seconds later (MAXIMUM) it is done.. but no.. Its slower than if i did it with my breath or hands. Saved me some money there pal, thanks.
I should be reviewing my zero pump in a few weeks. The BA inflation sack dies suck and it is heavy. I got the Nemo Tensor EC about 6 weeks ago and that inflation sack works ok, but it is light. Thermarest has made the best inflation sack. The opening is narrow on the Nemo pads and it’s harder to catch air without blowing in it. So bundling all that up, I like the pump. I’ve been using the tiny pump aft a couple years and I’ve mostly been happy with it. I’m excited to try the zero pump with better attachment nozzles.
If you like the Tiny Pump, you will love the Zero Pump. The hands-free nozzles are really nice. I wish all pump sacks were as good as the Thermarest. See you outside!
One advantage for me a 67 year old is that after a hard days hiking I want to set up camp quickly so the pump is so easy & does not require physical exertion I have never been able to use the pump sac as quick as you. Another big one is that in my location it rains a lot so inflating the mat inside the tent is another difficulty that the pump real helps with I also have the rapide SL the pump sac is rubbish another plus for the pump
Might be useful if you really need to save 1-2 minutes setting up camp to do other things while your pad inflates, but let's be real. There's other gear you can spend that $40-50 on.
Thanks. Well made video. I've tried flextail pumps before, but now I'm just back to using the sack to inflate. Reasons: with my REI Helix pad I find the included inflation sack easy to use, efficient and does not add any weight or cost to my system. I also find the noise emitted by the electric pumps annoying. When I am in nature I like to enjoy the sounds of nature without being annoyed by the high-pitched hum of the pumps. Also thank you for correcting the wrong information presented by flextail of the weight of their zero pump. It's not 1.2 ounces it's 2.2 ounces! They are being very deceptive going from a non-removeable rechargable battery to a removable battery and then deducting the weight of the battery and the adaptor from the weight of the pump in their marketing information.
Unfortunately I bought the tiny flextail pump. I didn’t use it right away and had it in storage for a few months. It is defective and I can only use it as an overpriced lantern now 😅 also, the extra pieces don’t fit very well with it. Very disappointed.
Have you ever used a sea to summit pump sack ? That's the best I've ever seen. The thermarest pump sack is one of the worst I've ever used. Leaks really bad and near impossible to get it to clip onto the wing lock valve.
Must have? No. Overrated? I think so. Would all the youtubers claiming it's amazing and must have ever use it if they had to buy it themselves? Probably not but hey, the power of youtube if you have a product to sell!! The pump sac that came with my therma rest pad works really well. This is an awesome product for gadget geeks and those who dislike the pump sacs which is fine. Like ya showed, it's not like there's a time savings. After all that if the price was cut in half I'd probably own one as a gadget geek. lol
Yes! As I noted, it was nice when it was someone else’s. I did not go out and buy one. I was lucky they sent me some, but I would (and still might) stick with the pump sacs, especially with the Thermarest. I wish the BA was more like the Thermarest. It’s heavy and harder to use. Thanks for the comment, see you outside!
The pump sack which came with my Thermarest NeoAir Xtherm (not the newer Nxt) is garbage.The seams are not welded and the material itself lets air pass through...basically it's useless. I bought the Flextail Tiny Pump X2 and use it for inflating the mattress and the Flextail pillow and as a tent light.And it weighs a few grams more than the pump sack.. PS: bought it for winter use as i don't want to add moisture in the sleeping pad by inflating it with my mouth.And i looked for a similar pump sack to replace the Thermarest one...it cost the same as the Flextail pump,so it is a no brainer..
With respect to the opinion of all the most value for these types of gadgets are for those with any type of breathing problems or reduced lung capacity. I have mild asthma and would rather use one of these pumps than risk an asthma attack out on a trip.
I use the MAX PUMP 2 PLUS, 6.5oz 4800mAh. The lamp & pump last for several days and you just can’t have too much battery bank power.. worth the weight!
Would have liked to see how they deflate, as this is one of the features that I think ‘saves’ effort and time, especially when camping in swags and the ground is dirty or muddy so you can’t lay the mattress out and roll around on it or roll it up and force air out without getting it dirty.
Agreed, it is nice to have it hands free or at least hands minimal. If you see on the video, when I inflated the Big Agnes pad with the new nozzle, the pump flopped over. I think it would still inflate OK without holding it. That is the advantage of the slim, light Zero Pump design. Thanks for the comment, see you outside!
wonder why they don't have deflate exhaust?...or reverse....that is such a nice feature....have to stick with my giga as it inflates my packraft and my sleep pad...wish they made one smaller for me
Great job! Yes- modding the Minis nozzle for a secure fit is key. My Exped Schnozzle Pumpsack is also a drysack large enough to hold my ZenBivy Light 25 Quilt, Exped Ultra 7 Down Pad, S2S Aeros Large Down Pillow, WM Flight Down Jacket, Sleep Socks, Even Day Socks, Even Day Undies, Merino Base Top and Bottoms, Down Balaclava AND my Flextail Mini Pump with room left over. The Flextail Mini will inflate all 4 of my families Exped Ultra 7 72X25s and pillows on a 6 day trip reinflating each night. We also like having the lantern feature, but our Petzl Healamps have a traslucent carry sack the serves as a lantern also.
I got the tiny pump x2 last year when I started backpacking. I only camp below freezing so it saves a lot of time/effort Things it does- 1 Inflate pads/pillow 2 Stoke fires 3 Spare light 4 you can charge thing off it as well? (I think, guess I'll have to try this weekend)
Not going to get one. I understand the convenience but You have to factor in the need to recharge things. I personally would rather just inflate with either a pump sack or simply with my mouth Than bother worrying about recharging another bit of electronics. So a pump is totally unnecessary. I'll let Dan Becker carry it along with his chair and other "must have" extra gear.
Flextail pumps are AWESOME. I use them for camping/glamping and also inflation/deflation of floating water toys. They are outstanding!......Wish I had one 20 years ago. Plus - it has a light and can also be a power bank. I have the Max Pro 2. Cannot fault in ANY way. ( And I am not affiliated with them in any way). We are taking them to beach ( a place called The Basin - in Pittwater, North of Sydney ) on Friday for Australia Day here in Sydney. Have 2 large inflatable "pool" toys, which we use to float around in the water. Also, they work GREAT to use when using Japanese/Charcoal BBQ and need to heat up the charcoal.They are superb!!!!! 10/10!
I bought one of the original FlexTails that used the 'old school' usb connections. Seemed to work just fine, but mine the usb connection partially broke where it doesn't connect to charge correctly. I recently bought the flex zero because I could get it with an extra battery and can usb charge both batteries for an upcoming backpacking trip. I didn't use the nozzle for airing up my pad but now see the importance of using a proper nozzle attachment.
The concern about moisture in your sleeping pad is a valid one, but you really don't even need to blow into a pump sack. Just spread the bag open to let air in, and close it at the furthest point from the pad and you will trap a good amount of dry air.
My sleeping pad is the Thermarest NeoAir Topo Luxe at 10cm thick and the wide version, so I'm super happy to have this and not spend ages pumping away after a whole days hike.
Great video test, I have both pumps and love both and they do have there own place with different camping trips I go on, I like the tiny pump for my hammock camping to hang on my ridge line for light above me and I like the zero for my tent camping adventures. Thanks for sharing and just subbed.
I don’t think I’ll be upgrading from my tiny 2x I’ve hardly used it to warrant it’s cost 🙈😆 It did so well on my multi-day hike it was only charged before going and inflated my mat and pillow 5 nights.
Both are luxury items, if the Tiny Pump works for you, I definitely can’t justify the added expense unless the size, weight, and hands-free operation is attractive. See you outside!
I bought a copy of the orange Flextail pump with the LED light off Amazon. Brand is CAMULAND and it costs half the Flextail price. Delivered within 24 hours. It works fine. Happy with the pump and the light. And I diodn't pay the high Flextail price.
I ordered the zero pump on 11/19/2023 and the website said NOTHING about be a “pre-sale” 3 weeks later the website now said “pre-sale” I emailed them , because there’s no phone number, they emailed me back and said will ship 12/20/2023. I waited. On 12/21/2023, I emailed them again and now they say MAYBE 12/31/2023. Starting to think I’ve been scammed.
People are receiving the product. I am sure there are production or delivery issues. I do not have an inside scoop, but Flextail is an established company. They will see it through.
Really like my Tiny Pump X1. As well as inflating my air mattress, it gets used as a lantern and - in a pinch - emergency power bank. And it's those two functions which is why I have ignored the Zero Pump (that, and the fact that the battery is built-in and can be recharged in the Tiny Pump). I like multi-use items, as space is my limiting factor, and the Zero's chosen battery size is pretty unusual in the UK. The side-mounted nozzle is a bit rubbish, though. And as none of the options fitted my new pad properly (the BA Rapide), I designed and 3D-printed my own nozzle, which also includes an o-ring for a better seal and allows for totally hands-free operation. I can see why they ditched the silly side-mounted nozzle when they updated the design.
I'm still awaiting delivery of my pump and so don't have any experience of using one as yet. The big benefit I want is the deflation - it's a pain trying to strike camp (especially in bad weather) when you struggle to get your mat compactly rolled up because of air trapped in it. My winter mat is a bulky self inflating mat and I'm looking forward to trying the deflation on that.
I like my electric Exped pump I have for my Exped, but it won't fit my Klymit pad. I do like these but they all seem to make a lot of noise. I might try this Zero pump since it is a lot quieter. Thanks for the great review and info. Take Care and Stay Safe.
Great vid 👍 I'm not sure, if I would change to those mini pumps. They look very handy but I'd take my pump sack along anyway, just for the case the electronic device wouldn't work and because my pad is packed in the pump sack ^^ So it would be double the weight and volume in my backpack and I never have had any issues with my pumpsack yet 🤔
I kind of feel the same, I did an extended trip to Grand Canyon and if not take these pumps, but rather a pump sac. More reliable and did not require batteries. Thanks for the comment.
Great video! Only feedback I have is that you missed a big plus from my perspective of these devices. The tiny pumps are great for deflating your sleeping pads inside the tent, when the weather is rubbish. It would of been nice to see a time trial for deflating and packing pads with both and the manual way.
It is a pump sack for me. I don't want to hear whining of an electrical airpump in the wild's and I'm not planning of making anyone else to hear it. On mototcycle trips, when stopping for some sleep maybe. I have a exped schnozzel with a nozzle cut from the Big Agnes pump sack fit over the original as my packing sack. That is really fast and I don't even really has to blow in it if I don't want that moisture inside my Rapide SL.
Great comparison! I just got the Zenbivy UL sleeping pad, and it came with a 30 gram pump sack thats also a dry bag. it is so small and good that I sold my zero pump, since it weighs double.
Incredibly professionally well done. Thorough, detailed, informative. Thanks for sharing. I wouldn’t listen to anything Dan Becker says. I believe he is untrustworthy on a majority of his info.
Thank you for those kind words! I like Dan Becker’s videos, but I go take them with a grain of salt. I have found some new gear from his videos. I do not take many freebies for reviews, but like these Flextails, I am not strictly opposed to it. But, I am turned off by channels that turn into commercials for Backcountry or other retailers. Again, thanks for making my day with this comment, see you outside!
Are these pumps overrated? Which one will you buy?
I'd prefer to buy one I can get faster than 2-3 months....customer service is non existent,....
Definitely overrated if it doesn’t ever arrive. Still waiting on one to be shipped from Flextail and it’s been almost 3 weeks since I ordered it. Longer for a lot of people now that I’m looking at other comments. Stores only in Hong Kong and South Korea. Might be awhile. They do not respond to chat on their site or emails to their customer support.
Unfortunately ordered last year's model just before their new model came out. I used the original pump for 2 seasons and absolutely loved it. Definitely think it is well worth it. Worst chore for me is blowing up the pad so the Flextail pump is a must! Maybe next year I will order the newer version.
Would not pump my Exped mat up all the way.
Your click bait youtubers like daniello backers is just useless. Influencer nonsense.
First, Awesome review, it’s the best comparison of the models that I have seen!
I have the Tiny pump, and I always take it along for car camping trips. For backpacking / bikepacking trips where I have to carry everything, it depends on circumstances. I don’t hate pump sacks, but they can be awkward to use if it’s windy out and your pad is trying to flop around, or when trying to inflate inside a small tent…. which mostly happens when its too windy to do it outside of the tent. The deflation mode also saves me a minute or two in the mornings when I need to get all of the air out to fit the pad into a small stuff sack.
Dual use with the light makes the x2 more use to me. Fill up the pad and then clip to top of the tent, job done.
Dual use with a hands-free option would be ideal.
Know this is an old video, but I've found that you can get a tighter seal if you fold the silicon adapter of the tiny pump back onto itself. It makes the interface diameter wider and also provides a ridge that should help lock on.
These certainly aren’t needed for most but as someone with mild asthma I appreciate having the option. Great video doing the comparison!
Great point, I did not think of that use case. See you outside!
Yeah, not needed, but at 2.5 oz with battery and two adapters to fit four mattresses there isn't much downside. My pump sack weighs 2.2 oz and only fits one mattress.
Ditto, Lindy.
While the comments here seem to praise the zero pump. I have an unresolved issue with flextailgear. I purchased 2 zero pumps and had to wait over a month to get them. Of course flextailgear took my credit card payment right away. Now after I received my zero pumps I opened the first box and charged the battery, but upon trying to put the cap back on I noticed that I had some issues with the cap screwing back on. Well it turns out that after doing a closer inspection the unit I found shavings and fines from the machining process was not allowing me to screw the cap on properly. The cap froze at times from the fines and shavings getting caught in the threads of the pump cap. I contacted flextailgear and provided them with pictures as they requested, now they’re requesting a video. Flextailgear admitted to me in a email that they knew that the battery was a possible problem and then wanted to give me the brush off regarding the fines and shavings from the machining process. I wish I had known about this issues before I purchased
My threads are complete trash. I just received one in the mail yesterday. I'll be emailing them tonight.
I bought one recently.
The threads to open and close the battery housing were very rough and gritty. At one point the aluminium chips and dust generated from opening and closing the pump caused the housing to jam halfway closed, although there was still battery contact with the circuit.
Upon further inspection, opening and closing the device resulted in a huge amount of aluminium debris being generated. Aluminium dust is very flammable, and I am worried that generating a flammable material inside an electrical device that is blowing a lot of oxygen past it, while inflating flammable mats and pillows inside flammable tents is a recipe for disaster.
They offered me a 5% refund!
You just put me off ordering one. It looks like it should be perfectly machined. If it's not then it's not for me.
Could you speak to the firmness of the sleeping pads with each pump? Curious about the advertised air pressures of 4kPa for the Tiny Pump x2 vs the 2.5kPa for the Zero Pump
The Zero Pump requires you to “top off” the pad by mouth to get to full design pressure (e.g. Nemo, Exped).
Why would someone buy something that only does half the job no matter how light. And when you add the weight of the Fill sac it’s the same weight as the flex tail 2..??
Best detailed flextail video out there. Fantastic!
Wow, thanks so much! See you outside!
No GERMs from my breath into my gear...in hot Humid Alabama I've used the original FlexTail for about a year; or 45-60 inflations. No visable mold goal accomplished. ThanQ for a great review
I have both and they both work very well. I have an extra battery for the Zero Pump. I used the Tiny 2X several times and it worked as advertised. I'll test the Zero Pump later this year in the BWCA. I still bring the Big Agnes pump bag with me as a backup just in case of an electronics failure. Zero Pump took 1 minute 50 seconds to inflate my Big Agnes 30x78 Boundary Deluxe pad and 2 of my breaths to firm up the pad to my liking but so does the Tiny pump 2X. Appreciate the review, very well done.
I have both the x2 and zero pump w rechargeable battery. I am more uncertain than ever now. First, I was really pissed off with Flextail and their BS marketing noting (32g)1.2oz when it’s actually over 60g just for unit, battery and 1 nozzle. Your point about a good air seal and self-supporting on the pad are definite features of the Zero whip the light and magnet are positives for the x2. Given the battery is twice the size in the x2 I’m very surprised it didn’t outlast the zero with twice the charge…
I don’t think you can go wrong with either. If I was buying new, I’d probably go with the zero.
I think the deflating option is helpful with a pump - helps me get my gear as small as possible.
You bet, a great secondary benefit to both of these pumps.
what about using them to deflate? For me getting the air out of my sleeping pad to pack it away has always been more of a hassle than filling it.
Love the zero Pump…that thing is awesome. Crow✌️
Great to hear, see you outside!
I am looking into 3 regions of these pumps , 1 pumping my air bed, 2 weight over saving (a touch / lamp) 3 could I use as a emergency back up for phone charging. only one meets this that is the x2. when carrying around this would be a number factor, size of the zero is great but add on costs (battery, one use or recharge) Sack for filling your bed is OK but for removable of air not great!! the other thing the air pump x2 is in bright colours so easy to find but the Zero is Black😒 hard to find!
Sir, it is a very good content. With your permission, I have a question for you. Which of these two products would you recommend? Thank you.
That is a tough one. Honestly, I prefer the TinyPump over the Zero. I have to admin, I am still mostly using the pump sacs.
I would like to see how fast if you just blow up the pads with your mouth speed...If I were to buy one of these pumps it would be more for the vacuum feature. One of the biggest pains in packing is trying to get all of the air out of the sleeping pads in order to pack it as small as possible. None of these reviews demonstrate the deflate feature?
It's ridiculously slow but sure it does eventually fill the air mattress kind of. well mine is way way slower than yours
Hi m8 does the orange flextail pump fit on the neo air x lite air mattress please. Or do I need to buy the thermorest pump
Aint that some shit? A month overdue because of production issues and they are just giving them away to social media gear reviewers. I dont think I will be supporting any more of Flextail's indegogo fund raisers. I'm starting to think that this is a scam.
I have not been watching their campaign closely, I just agreed to review the pumps. I usually do not accept free gear unless it is a company that I trust and have used their products. I have several friends that love their Tiny Pump x2.
@OutsideChronicles sorry, I was a little cranky last night. I'm waiting on my pump that I paid for months ago and it should have been shipped last month. I seen this and kind of snapped. 😂
(I'm doing much better today......)
How can anyone sleep on a fully inflated mattress? I have mine as deflated as possible, just before my hips and shoulders are touching the ground.
I hated sleeping on inflatables until I realized I just needed to reduce the air significantly
Personal preference, adjust for your comfort.
@@OutsideChronicles absolutely. I’m just letting others know. It seems unbelievably obvious but it wasn’t to me. Lol. as soon as I really really deflated, I was so much more comfortable.
Firm as possible for me
Honestly, great job. This is easily the best comparison video on this product on the internet. I'm totally content to wait another couple of years before I pick one of these up. The noise is a major issue for me. And I know for a fact that they'll improve waterproofness, inflation speed, inflation power, develop even better nozzles and probably be able to add a light and magnet to future smaller versions. To me, this is at least a couple years away from being where it should be. I can wait.
Fantastic video. Do more gear reviews! Your methods and analysis are top notch!
Wow, thank you for the kind words and great comment. It’s comments like this that keep me motivated. See you outside!
Inflating sleeping pads isn't a problem that needs solving. It's the DEflating the pads that's always a problem. There's always that one pocket of air inside that makes you have to reroll your pad 5 times to get it back in the bag. Ugh.
The great thing about BOTH pumps is you can use them in reverse to deflate your pad completely. Thanks for the comment, see you outside!
Very informative, however please allow me to make a correction which is a game changer. The tiny pump X2 has a small length adapter .(looks like an orange ring with inside threads on the female end and a slight reducer on the male end) The male end fits into either the inflate side or exhaust side of the pump.The other end fits VERY snugly (don't be afraid to force it) into the Big Anges. This gives you the same hands free process.
Cool! I am going to have to try that. Thanks for the comment
Must have because:
- no moisture in the pad
- deflating the pad
Several people commented on some aggravation with the pump sack. I usually inflate my Therm-a-Rest Uber light while sitting in my tent. While I haven't timed how long it takes to inflate my pad I know it takes me quite a bit longer than your speed method. So I ordered a Flextail Zero Pump and hope to use it on my next trip in the spring. Hopefully it will be shipped soon.
It's a neat gizmo and I in general I love outdoor gear reviews but I'm feeling cranky today so I thought I'd comment by saying I honestly don't understand two trends in camping gear reviews.
1. Timing everything......as if the clock is ticking on every possible activity on the trail. How quick to fill. How fast to boil. How long to prime. How long to charge. Rush rush rush rush rush. For what? What is it that you really make or break when saving a minute filling a sleeping pad (assuming you save it at all). What did you really gain by improving your boil time by 20 seconds? So you can have even more time to do nothing between making camp and the sun setting? I honestly don't understand the orientation toward "speed" in relation to an activity that many do in order to "slow down". Slow down, relax folks. Enjoy the sunset. Listen to the wind. Take your time. All that rushing will be waiting for you at home when you get back....I promise
2. More and more battery operated and electronic equipment in the backcountry. Powered stoves, powered pumps, powered screens, powered coolers, powered lights, portable phone chargers, portable solar panels. Screens screens screens....whir whir whir. Okay, a headlamp or torch I get. But most of it I don't. Maybe it's because I camp to get away from whirling motors and LED screens that just sorta think the words "camping electronics" is something of an oxymoron. The last thing I want to hear inside my tent is a mini jet engine sounding like takeoff.
To me it all amounts to trying to bring more and more of the hectic world with us....that world we were trying to leave behind.....even if only for a few precious nights.
They all have something to sell through affiliate marketing. They're salesmen, not just hobbyists. I recently watched a video from a major channel where the premise was suggesting alternative gear simply because one might be 'bored' with the same gear everyone else has. Like, if it's quality and popular, yeah that's going to happen. That doesn't mean you need to throw out your old stuff and buy something new lol
@@sIosha 100% agree!! I think I can safely say that some of my favorite gear, the pieces of kit that I regularly reach for and include, are pieces of gear that have been with me for decades. They aren't the lightest, but they are light enough. They aren't the fastest, but they are fast enough. They aren't the newest but they are well built and reliable and thus function like new. They aren't the coolest next thing....but what makes them cool is not their date of manufacture so much as the places they've been with me.
And I suppose, to repeat myself, I just find the act of putting a stopwatch on every piece of camping gear to be interesting insofar as it introduces an awareness of the clock in a way and in the very place I've gone to get away from that kind of awareness. If it takes 30 additional seconds for my water to boil vs. some alternative......I wouldn't know it, and don't care to know it. If it takes 8 extra seconds to inflate one way vs another....I wouldn't know it, and don't care to know it. Because the whole point, for me at least, is to discover I've gone someplace where there's nothing but time on my hands and no pressure, one way or another, telling me how to spend it. I look at all these "speed reviews" and can only think "What's the rush?"
I agree with you that generally there’s no need to rush and we should be slowing down in the backcountry. And simple gear is great. I love that my alcohol stove is quiet and doesn’t have any moving parts. I don’t usually care if it takes a little longer to boil water. On the other hand, when it’s cold, getting dark and the wind is blowing, I might be glad if I brought a gas stove. Likewise, if I am in a cramped tent and it’s raining, dealing with my Exped pad’s inflation stuff sack is a PITA. I bought the tiny pump and have only used it at home, but have a feeling it’s going to be a must have item.
@@granthaller9544 I totally get what you are saying and so thank you for a reasoned and thoughtful response. Please don't mistake me though...I too own a silent and slow Trangia spirit burner....a Jetboil Flash....and an old MSR Whisperlite and enjoy each of them for different reasons. But I don't select between them based on time differences. I choose between them based on how each functions or performs under different conditions and the duration of my trip. The Trangia usually comes along on mild weather trips where I'm packing real food to cook. The Flash comes along when I pretty much only need to boil potable water for coffee and rehydrated meals. The Whisperlite gets packed if I think I'll be melting snow for potable water etc.
I suppose my real reaction isn't related to stove efficiency (though I do find time comparisons between things like Solo's alcohol burner and Triangia's alcohol burner to be rather curious) so much as the push for more and more battery dependent electronic devices with all their screens, LED buttons, beeps, bells, and whistles. There seems to be a push to convert anything and everything that's human powered and analog about camping to go battery powered and digital. I go hiking to get as far away as I can from the battery powered digital world, even if only for a few short days. It's a trend that, to me, feels like it has a terminus involving multimedia campsites with USB power ports on the trees, ultralight TV's in the tents, and battery dependent whirring gizmos. It all just feels like an oxymoron to me. So much of our urban existence has already become a sad parody of the Axiom...the starship from Wall-E. I don't like the trend to do the same to the backcountry. But to each their own.
Well said. Electronics also are unreliable and need special care often. Who wants to think about gear constantly? We should be enjoying nature.
I've been looking at the zero. I like the use of the tiny pump, but it is loud. My problem is the price of the zero is now at $53 and I have recently switched to an Exped Schnozzel pump bag. It functions as both my backpack dry liner and my pump sack, the weight is about 2oz. I haven't timed myself on my Rapide, I have the same size as you, long and wide. Great video though, I do like that the Zero is quieter and has a fitting for the Rapide. I had to make a custom fitting for the Exped. Thanks for sharing such great research and comparison.
But that is a tiny snickers.
For my experiences:
1. It's very hard to inflate the pad in wind using the pump sack.
2. It's hard to avoid breathing into the pump sack just like you did in the test, this will bring hot moisture air into the pad which is likely a bad thing for the pad.
3. The pump sack from TAR is very hard to attach to their pad, even harder in cool condition.
4. To fully inflate your pad, you still need to breath into the pad for 2 or 3 times after using those tiny little pump.
I actually agree with the point here about breathing into the sack and how that can potentially cause issues from a hygiene standpoint. Seems like a small pump that takes about the same amount of time but keeps my mattress useable (and cleaner) longer is worth it.
Kinda have to disagree on #1. I find it to be fairly simple in just a light breeze...though admittedly it doesn't fill the pump sack to maximum....but that just means a few more presses and viola! You're done!
Meanwhile, I've become convinced #2 is something of a myth. Several pad manufacturers have done studies that show there are no harmful effects of breath inflating a pad.....especially when utilizing a pump sack as this dramatically reduces the amount of breath/moisture laden air that gets pushed into the pad. But I've breath filled my pads for years with no ill effect. That said, I do think one should treat their pad like any other piece of camping equipment which means ensuring it's dried out completely before storing between trips. You wouldn't roll up a wet tent fly and put it in the garage...so why store your thermarest before ensuring its as dry as can be? I do this by inflating it at home with the "out" port of my shop vac a couple times before storing. Dry air in, wait, deflate, dry air in, wait, deflate.....store. Never once had an issue with my pad(s).
😵💫😵💫😵💫 This is the longest video ever!!! Convenient for him being over 10mins to cash in on his TH-cam video. Not for the user who has to sit through a video that could have been summarised in 3 minutes
I’m on a budget, I have to prioritize where my limited funds can go. In addition, people in wealthy countries are already producing literal mountains of e-waste (that, at the end of its life, will either sit in the landfill for eternity or maybe will be recycled) it is not much effort to inflate the pad using the included inflation sack and it produces zero direct e-waste. Either way it’s an easy “pass” for me on these gadgets.
YES! Another reason to use a pump sac. Great point. See you outside!
Bought the Zero. Took two months longer than claimed to receive, but I think I'm going to love it. With two adapters it inflates all four different mattresses I need it to and only weighs 2.5 oz. My Thermarest sack pump weighs 2.2 oz and only fits the mattress that came with it. Really not much downside.
Zero production model comes with rechargeable battery.
Good to know they included that. See you outside!
I have the original tiny pump, and it’s amazing. You can pass it around the whole camp and dry your boots with it. The Zero is better for solo. I’m glad I watched this though, because my zero only has a 5 minute battery life. I thought that was it. But now I’m pretty sure my battery is bad.
I have had issues with the Zero as well. The tiny pump has been solid.
Got a Pad-Pal from Rex creations, its a really smart solution if your already carrying a battery pack.
I just bought the Zero Pump with a 20% coupon. That it takes longer than the pump bag is not relevant since I can set the zero pump up and leave it while dealing with other camp setup.
Or you could use a non-rechargeable 1500 mAh battery that will last over twice as long for one trip
Just finished the PCT and I thought about these pumps every night inflating my airpad with the thermorest pump sack. I would typically be completely exhausted after a day of hiking and would often think if I could just set up the pump and do something else I'd save time and aggravation. I did just purchase the zero pump 2 days ago. I'll give it a go and decide. Thanks for the review.
Cool, you will like the hands free of the Zero Pump. See you outside!
Thanks for your input. I’ve been on the fence with whether I would take a pump or just the air sack on PCT this year but you have swayed me!
@@ShawnJ-t3u I weighed my pump sack, it was 2.2 oz. My new Zero pump with battery and two adapters is 2.5 oz. It's a no brainer IMO.
but they are both made by the same marketting crooks? Not much clues in this video.
Thanks for this, you've persuaded me to give the Zero a purchase, to replace my original Tiny Pump without the light. The nozzle to get a better seal on my S2S pad was the clincher!
Cool, let me know how it compares. See you outside!
What about a review of how each of these will deflate an air pad?
What about longevity of your pads? Using the mechanical will reduce the amount of water/vapor from when you fill up four sack?
Yes, very true. I have not seen any studies on how much vapor affects the pad. I’d love to see someone slice open a pad and compare pump only vs breath only filling.
AHHHH my boy G made it to the big time!! I hope he knows! First off, great video, very thorough testing. I hope people appreciate the work you put in. I certainly do. Second, I love dual use items, I've been using the flextail since the first tiny pump, and once they added the light, it was a no brainer. the pump sacks suck.... or blow...? uhhh... either way they are almost the same weight as the tiny pump X with the light and you can use the tiny pump sitting, standing, lying down, in a tree, doing a hand stand, or on a sinking kayak. Try that with a pump sack... oh, and yeah it has a freaking light! Best of all, for almost no extra weight you dont have to blow up an air mattress by mouth (Ultra lighters, you know) after a long freaking day, which you did not test. By the way, I'm not sponsored by Flextail, or any one actually. I just love talking gear, and this little pump is worth its price and weight! Happy Trails!
Thanks! I wish I had a better picture of G. My only other one was him with a banana boat which I am sure he would not want as his TH-cam debut. I like the dual purpose too. But it is nice to be hands free. There are always trade-offs. Thanks for the comment and feedback, see you outside!
I have the Flextail and it's amazing and highly recommend it. Saves me time and energy to inflate my pillow and pad. The lantern is nice addition too and I leave it hanging inside my tent and put the lowest light setting on for night. This is helpful at night when I'm ready to go to bed after dinner and being drunk.
They're both Flextail ...........
Wow i had no idea they were so slow.. the camping videos make them seem almost instant lol. i was so close to buying one as i thought you put it on and 30 seconds later (MAXIMUM) it is done.. but no.. Its slower than if i did it with my breath or hands. Saved me some money there pal, thanks.
Yeah, I think they are overrated. I use the included pump sac for my pads.
I should be reviewing my zero pump in a few weeks. The BA inflation sack dies suck and it is heavy. I got the Nemo Tensor EC about 6 weeks ago and that inflation sack works ok, but it is light. Thermarest has made the best inflation sack. The opening is narrow on the Nemo pads and it’s harder to catch air without blowing in it. So bundling all that up, I like the pump. I’ve been using the tiny pump aft a couple years and I’ve mostly been happy with it. I’m excited to try the zero pump with better attachment nozzles.
If you like the Tiny Pump, you will love the Zero Pump. The hands-free nozzles are really nice. I wish all pump sacks were as good as the Thermarest. See you outside!
I bought the Max Pump 3.
One advantage for me a 67 year old is that after a hard days hiking I want to set up camp quickly so the pump is so easy & does not require physical exertion I have never been able to use the pump sac as quick as you. Another big one is that in my location it rains a lot so inflating the mat inside the tent is another difficulty that the pump real helps with I also have the rapide SL the pump sac is rubbish another plus for the pump
Great points! Thanks for the comment.
Might be useful if you really need to save 1-2 minutes setting up camp to do other things while your pad inflates, but let's be real. There's other gear you can spend that $40-50 on.
I agree, I am good with a pump sac.
The hell is a pumb bag never heard of that
Thanks. Well made video. I've tried flextail pumps before, but now I'm just back to using the sack to inflate. Reasons: with my REI Helix pad I find the included inflation sack easy to use, efficient and does not add any weight or cost to my system. I also find the noise emitted by the electric pumps annoying. When I am in nature I like to enjoy the sounds of nature without being annoyed by the high-pitched hum of the pumps. Also thank you for correcting the wrong information presented by flextail of the weight of their zero pump. It's not 1.2 ounces it's 2.2 ounces! They are being very deceptive going from a non-removeable rechargable battery to a removable battery and then deducting the weight of the battery and the adaptor from the weight of the pump in their marketing information.
Very good points, agreed! Thanks for the comment. See you outside!
Unfortunately I bought the tiny flextail pump. I didn’t use it right away and had it in storage for a few months. It is defective and I can only use it as an overpriced lantern now 😅 also, the extra pieces don’t fit very well with it. Very disappointed.
Sorry it was not a positive experience, did you reach out to FlexTail?
Have you ever used a sea to summit pump sack ? That's the best I've ever seen. The thermarest pump sack is one of the worst I've ever used. Leaks really bad and near impossible to get it to clip onto the wing lock valve.
I have not used S2S, the Thermarest snaps in hard, I agree. But the actual inflation is way easier than BA. Their sac material is stiff
Must have? No. Overrated? I think so. Would all the youtubers claiming it's amazing and must have ever use it if they had to buy it themselves? Probably not but hey, the power of youtube if you have a product to sell!! The pump sac that came with my therma rest pad works really well. This is an awesome product for gadget geeks and those who dislike the pump sacs which is fine. Like ya showed, it's not like there's a time savings. After all that if the price was cut in half I'd probably own one as a gadget geek. lol
Yes! As I noted, it was nice when it was someone else’s. I did not go out and buy one. I was lucky they sent me some, but I would (and still might) stick with the pump sacs, especially with the Thermarest. I wish the BA was more like the Thermarest. It’s heavy and harder to use. Thanks for the comment, see you outside!
The pump sack which came with my Thermarest NeoAir Xtherm (not the newer Nxt) is garbage.The seams are not welded and the material itself lets air pass through...basically it's useless. I bought the Flextail Tiny Pump X2 and use it for inflating the mattress and the Flextail pillow and as a tent light.And it weighs a few grams more than the pump sack..
PS: bought it for winter use as i don't want to add moisture in the sleeping pad by inflating it with my mouth.And i looked for a similar pump sack to replace the Thermarest one...it cost the same as the Flextail pump,so it is a no brainer..
With respect to the opinion of all the most value for these types of gadgets are for those with any type of breathing problems or reduced lung capacity. I have mild asthma and would rather use one of these pumps than risk an asthma attack out on a trip.
Im a new to you tube i also did a review real time on it i like it
thank you for the good review, but the real reason for the upvote is taking a stab at the obnoxious Dan Becker :D
Ha thanks! I’m sure he’s an ok guy and I watch his stuff, but too many of the “big TH-camrs” are too salesy.
I use the MAX PUMP 2 PLUS, 6.5oz 4800mAh. The lamp & pump last for several days and you just can’t have too much battery bank power.. worth the weight!
One KEY component he never covered is that these are GREAT for stoking a lackluster fire........
it is also good at deflating 👍😎
Both still seem superfluous to me
Would have liked to see how they deflate, as this is one of the features that I think ‘saves’ effort and time, especially when camping in swags and the ground is dirty or muddy so you can’t lay the mattress out and roll around on it or roll it up and force air out without getting it dirty.
Next video!
*Any ferrous metal
I already have an X2...would be nice if Flextail made the Zero nozzles available separately.
Agreed, it is nice to have it hands free or at least hands minimal. If you see on the video, when I inflated the Big Agnes pad with the new nozzle, the pump flopped over. I think it would still inflate OK without holding it. That is the advantage of the slim, light Zero Pump design. Thanks for the comment, see you outside!
Blah, blah, blah, … gadget.
Blah, blah, blah, ….. more gadgets.
I can't agree more, I use the included pump sacs 95% of the time.
The Tiny Pump can also deflate which I find useful as well.
Great feature!!
Zero does too.
wonder why they don't have deflate exhaust?...or reverse....that is such a nice feature....have to stick with my giga as it inflates my packraft and my sleep pad...wish they made one smaller for me
Oh, both the Tiny Pump and Zero Pump can be reversed to deflate.
that's fantastic news!...thank you@@OutsideChronicles
Great job! Yes- modding the Minis nozzle for a secure fit is key. My Exped Schnozzle Pumpsack is also a drysack large enough to hold my ZenBivy Light 25 Quilt, Exped Ultra 7 Down Pad, S2S Aeros Large Down Pillow, WM Flight Down Jacket, Sleep Socks, Even Day Socks, Even Day Undies, Merino Base Top and Bottoms, Down Balaclava AND my Flextail Mini Pump with room left over. The Flextail Mini will inflate all 4 of my families Exped Ultra 7 72X25s and pillows on a 6 day trip reinflating each night. We also like having the lantern feature, but our Petzl Healamps have a traslucent carry sack the serves as a lantern also.
Cool, what did you use to mod the nozzle?
@@OutsideChroniclesIt comes with a small ring .Try using that .Its fits snugly
I got the tiny pump x2 last year when I started backpacking. I only camp below freezing so it saves a lot of time/effort
Things it does-
1 Inflate pads/pillow
2 Stoke fires
3 Spare light
4 you can charge thing off it as well? (I think, guess I'll have to try this weekend)
I bought the original tiny pump back in 2020…… it works amazing….. still going strong, I don’t care, but it doesn’t work as a charging unit….
Do either of them vacuum as well?
Both provide a vacuum for deflation
Not going to get one. I understand the convenience but You have to factor in the need to recharge things. I personally would rather just inflate with either a pump sack or simply with my mouth Than bother worrying about recharging another bit of electronics. So a pump is totally unnecessary. I'll let Dan Becker carry it along with his chair and other "must have" extra gear.
Flextail pumps are AWESOME. I use them for camping/glamping and also inflation/deflation of floating water toys. They are outstanding!......Wish I had one 20 years ago. Plus - it has a light and can also be a power bank. I have the Max Pro 2. Cannot fault in ANY way. ( And I am not affiliated with them in any way). We are taking them to beach ( a place called The Basin - in Pittwater, North of Sydney ) on Friday for Australia Day here in Sydney. Have 2 large inflatable "pool" toys, which we use to float around in the water. Also, they work GREAT to use when using Japanese/Charcoal BBQ and need to heat up the charcoal.They are superb!!!!! 10/10!
I bought one of the original FlexTails that used the 'old school' usb connections. Seemed to work just fine, but mine the usb connection partially broke where it doesn't connect to charge correctly. I recently bought the flex zero because I could get it with an extra battery and can usb charge both batteries for an upcoming backpacking trip. I didn't use the nozzle for airing up my pad but now see the importance of using a proper nozzle attachment.
A good pump sack cost allmost the same as the pumps but robens 3in1 are nice as it has a powerbank, camp light, pump and solar (to charge pump)
The concern about moisture in your sleeping pad is a valid one, but you really don't even need to blow into a pump sack. Just spread the bag open to let air in, and close it at the furthest point from the pad and you will trap a good amount of dry air.
My sleeping pad is the Thermarest NeoAir Topo Luxe at 10cm thick and the wide version, so I'm super happy to have this and not spend ages pumping away after a whole days hike.
Just get a cheap knockoff from uncle Ali. I like the pumps because I can do something else while it pumps.
I’ve got one word for you……DEFLATABLE!!
Awesome Video
Thanks! See you outside!
Since we also own packrafts, these are awesome to have.
A good use! I have seen uprooted using to stoke a fire. I tried to dry out boots. But never thought of a pack raft. See you outside!
As seen on mine, they have trash threads, and others are seeing the same thing. You can even hear how bad the threads are in some youtube videos.
Great video test, I have both pumps and love both and they do have there own place with different camping trips I go on, I like the tiny pump for my hammock camping to hang on my ridge line for light above me and I like the zero for my tent camping adventures. Thanks for sharing and just subbed.
Thanks for the sub! See you outside!
But does the zero suck like the 2X does?
I’m scared to answer, but yes, it also sucks to deflate
@@OutsideChronicles oh nice! It didn't look like it could do that. Nice to know, thanks!
Bonjour so which one is the best ?
Personally, I use the included pump sac. But if I had to choose between the two pumps, I prefer the TinyPump over the Zero.
Ok merci 👍
I don’t think I’ll be upgrading from my tiny 2x I’ve hardly used it to warrant it’s cost 🙈😆 It did so well on my multi-day hike it was only charged before going and inflated my mat and pillow 5 nights.
Both are luxury items, if the Tiny Pump works for you, I definitely can’t justify the added expense unless the size, weight, and hands-free operation is attractive. See you outside!
I bought a copy of the orange Flextail pump with the LED light off Amazon. Brand is CAMULAND and it costs half the Flextail price. Delivered within 24 hours. It works fine. Happy with the pump and the light. And I diodn't pay the high Flextail price.
Good to know
I already have the tiny pump. I like it has a very good light for my tent. It is good to have a backup light as well
I ordered the zero pump on 11/19/2023 and the website said NOTHING about be a “pre-sale” 3 weeks later the website now said “pre-sale” I emailed them
, because there’s no phone number, they emailed me back and said will ship 12/20/2023. I waited. On 12/21/2023, I emailed them again and now they say MAYBE 12/31/2023. Starting to think I’ve been scammed.
People are receiving the product. I am sure there are production or delivery issues. I do not have an inside scoop, but Flextail is an established company. They will see it through.
Snickers is the best Halloween candy to get 👍
Really like my Tiny Pump X1. As well as inflating my air mattress, it gets used as a lantern and - in a pinch - emergency power bank.
And it's those two functions which is why I have ignored the Zero Pump (that, and the fact that the battery is built-in and can be recharged in the Tiny Pump). I like multi-use items, as space is my limiting factor, and the Zero's chosen battery size is pretty unusual in the UK.
The side-mounted nozzle is a bit rubbish, though. And as none of the options fitted my new pad properly (the BA Rapide), I designed and 3D-printed my own nozzle, which also includes an o-ring for a better seal and allows for totally hands-free operation. I can see why they ditched the silly side-mounted nozzle when they updated the design.
Cool and genius!
I'm still awaiting delivery of my pump and so don't have any experience of using one as yet.
The big benefit I want is the deflation - it's a pain trying to strike camp (especially in bad weather) when you struggle to get your mat compactly rolled up because of air trapped in it. My winter mat is a bulky self inflating mat and I'm looking forward to trying the deflation on that.
I wish I demo’ed the deflation, it is handy.
I like my electric Exped pump I have for my Exped, but it won't fit my Klymit pad. I do like these but they all seem to make a lot of noise. I might try this Zero pump since it is a lot quieter. Thanks for the great review and info. Take Care and Stay Safe.
Thanks for the comment, see you outside!
Great vid 👍
I'm not sure, if I would change to those mini pumps. They look very handy but I'd take my pump sack along anyway, just for the case the electronic device wouldn't work and because my pad is packed in the pump sack ^^ So it would be double the weight and volume in my backpack and I never have had any issues with my pumpsack yet 🤔
I kind of feel the same, I did an extended trip to Grand Canyon and if not take these pumps, but rather a pump sac. More reliable and did not require batteries. Thanks for the comment.
Sounds like I will stick with the pump sac , ❤
For a few bucks, the convenience is worth it to me.
Great video! Only feedback I have is that you missed a big plus from my perspective of these devices. The tiny pumps are great for deflating your sleeping pads inside the tent, when the weather is rubbish. It would of been nice to see a time trial for deflating and packing pads with both and the manual way.
Good observation.
It is a pump sack for me. I don't want to hear whining of an electrical airpump in the wild's and I'm not planning of making anyone else to hear it. On mototcycle trips, when stopping for some sleep maybe.
I have a exped schnozzel with a nozzle cut from the Big Agnes pump sack fit over the original as my packing sack. That is really fast and I don't even really has to blow in it if I don't want that moisture inside my Rapide SL.
Thanks for the comment and good hack to get a better pump sac for the Rapide SL.
Great comparison! I just got the Zenbivy UL sleeping pad, and it came with a 30 gram pump sack thats also a dry bag. it is so small and good that I sold my zero pump, since it weighs double.
Thanks!
Incredibly professionally well done. Thorough, detailed, informative.
Thanks for sharing.
I wouldn’t listen to anything Dan Becker says. I believe he is untrustworthy on a majority of his info.
Thank you for those kind words! I like Dan Becker’s videos, but I go take them with a grain of salt. I have found some new gear from his videos. I do not take many freebies for reviews, but like these Flextails, I am not strictly opposed to it. But, I am turned off by channels that turn into commercials for Backcountry or other retailers. Again, thanks for making my day with this comment, see you outside!
I'm sticking with my pump sack for $60! I might consider this at $20 or $25.
Agreed, it is a cool gadget but not a necessity. I just got done with 24-days in the Grand Canyon and used the pump sac every night, no big deal.