Cannondale Airport Carry-On pump review

Travelling with a track pump is never an easy thing, especially when flying. With weight and space limits it is often the one thing to get left out when packing, which is annoying when you consider that many airlines recommend you let your tyres down before loading your bike on a plane.

With the Cannondale Airport Carry-On pump, though, that should be a thing of the past as the handy, slimline profile makes this very portable.

Weighing in at just over 830g it shouldn't tip you over the bike bag weight limit and slots nicely at the bottom of most bags. In particular the Scicon AeroComfort is a perfect partner with Velcro straps at the bottom of the case to hold it in place.

Video: Pumps buyer's guide

It has also lived in the boot of my car for a time and works perfectly for track or road events, giving plenty of pressure. OK, it isn't as easy to get up to the perfect tyre pressure for racing (120/130psi), like a standard pump, but it does a stellar job and will get there eventually.

The base where the gauge sits swivels around to create a baseplate with a one-sided foot peg. The gauge is small and hard to read but gives readings up to 160psi. The base itself isn't that stable – unsurprisingly, being thin and light – though it does a remarkable job and I've not managed to fall over or snap the pump thus far.

The handle twists around and locks in place with a hidden bolt, which allows for a relatively comfortable handle to pump with. Again it's not perfect but it's better then nothing when away travelling.

The EZ Head allows for both Presta and Schraeder valves and is a good solution. It clips in with a bit of force and hasn't blown off the valve even when approaching the 160psi mark. A simple pull down unlocks it without any undue air leakage.

At £44 it is a little expensive if you leave it in your boot and save it for emergencies or only take it away on one or two trips a year, but if you were only to buy one pump to live in the boot, garage and be your travel pump, it'll do the job nicely.