If you’ve ever ridden an e-bike, then you may be familiar with range anxiety. I ride e-bikes all the time, and only once have I run out of battery on a ride, but I still can’t help but be a little bit anxious about my battery charge every time. Since I’ve started using electric mini-pumps as my emergency inflation, I’ve found the same applies to the batteries in my inflators. I know my electric pocket pump can inflate my mountain bike tire four times; I’ve tested it, but I still get a little nervous about how long it will last every time I actually need to use it. 

It’s a strange phenomenon, and something I assume other people can relate to. Which is why I was intrigued when I heard about the Cycplus A3 Mini. It’s roughly double the size and weight of the tiny Cycplus AS2 Ultra (my current favorite), but it has five times the battery capacity and pumping capability, and is half the price. With a claimed ability to inflate an MTB tire from 0 to 30 psi a whopping fifteen times, it’s a solution to inflator anxiety, but it comes with a bit of a weight and size penalty.

Cycplus A3 Mini Details

Cycplus makes a wide range of electric mini inflators, from the super small and lightweight AS2 Ultra, to larger workshop and vehicle models. The A3 Mini is one of the brand’s latest models, with a larger but still portable form factor and a huge battery capacity. 

The Cycplus A3 Mini vs. the tiny Cycplus AS2 Ultra.

The Cycplus A3 Mini packs a 2000mAh battery into a rectangular unit with dimensions of 106 x 42 x 52mm. Compared to smaller inflators like the Cycplus AS2 Ultra or the Topeak E-Booter Digital Mini, it’s about double the size and double the weight. That said, it has 4-5 times the battery capacity of those smaller units, and it still fits pretty easily into hydration packs, frame bags, and jersey pockets.

That equates to 4-5x the pumping capability as well. Here are Cycplus’s pumping performance claims:

• 29” x 2.2”: 0 to 30 psi, 15 times
• 700 x 25c: 0 to 80 psi, 19 times
• 700 x 25c: 0 to 120 psi, 9 times

The A3 Mini has a small digital screen which shows preset pressure, current pressure while pumping, and battery life. It has a three-button layout, with power/start/stop, +, and – to adjust your pressure setting in 1 psi increments between 3 and 120 psi. The units can also be switched to bar if that’s your preference. It charges via USB-C, with a claimed charge time of 2 hours.

Like other mini-inflators, the A3 comes with an extension hose to thread onto Schrader valves, plus a thread-on Presta head. While you can use it without the extension hose, it is generally recommended due to the heat generated by the unit when in use.

Actual Weight

The first thing I did when I received the A3 Mini was toss it on my digital scale. On its own, the pump weighed 201 grams, which bumped up to 214 grams with the extension hose and Presta head. I was pleasantly surprised by its weight, given that it has 4 to 5 times the battery capacity of the smaller pumps that I use.

Here’s a battery capacity and weight comparison of the A3 Mini, AS2 Ultra, and Topeak E-Booster Mini.

• Topeak E-Booster Digital Mini: 500mAh battery, 151g (pump, hose, bag)
• Cycplus AS2 Ultra: 400mAh battery, 128g (pump, silicone cover, hose)
• Cycplus A3 Mini: 2000mAh battery, 214g (pump, hose)

Thread it on the valve, press start, and walk away. The A3 Mini does the rest.

Pumping Performance

Pretty much every mini-inflator I’ve used can inflate a mountain bike tire from 0 to 25 psi 4 to 5 times. Cycplus’s claim of 15 mountain bike tire inflations blows that out of the water, and aligns directly with the increase in battery capacity. If you’re okay with the weight and size penalty, this thing is capable of some serious pumping.

This is just a first look, and I’ve only done a bit of testing with the A3 Mini so far. I deflated a 29” x 2.4” to zero and inflated it to 25 psi, six times in a row (plus a little pump cooling time in between). It took right around 60 seconds for each inflation. At the end of the sixth inflation, the battery gauge went from three bars to two. Based on my brief experience, I expect it could probably handle at least another 10 inflations before needing to be recharged.

Double the size, four times the inflation.

Of course, the A3 Mini makes a bit of noise while it is pumping. In my experience, it’s about on par with the others I’ve tried, which is to say that it’s pretty annoying. I typically just thread the hose onto my valve, turn on the pump, and walk away until it’s finished. 

My Takeaway

The A3 Mini fits easily in my Evoc hydration vest.

If you’re interested in an electric mini-pump but you’re concerned about battery life, the Cycplus A3 Mini is worth checking out. It’s bigger and a bit heavier than the lightest models, but the weight penalty really isn’t that bad for 4 to 5 times the pumping performance. It still fits in the palm of your hand and should be easy enough for most people to bring along with them on rides. At $60, it’s also relatively affordable compared to many of the smaller and lighter units, which can run upwards of $100.

Obviously, a hand pump is the only surefire way to not concern yourself with the battery life of an electric mini-pump. Otherwise, if you want to use an electric inflator without the battery anxiety, check out the Cycplus A3 Mini.

cycplus.com