Topeak has released a model called the Air Booster G2, claiming it's the world's first CO2 inflator with an air gauge,
but
doesn't Barbieri's Vision Air fit that description too...?
The one in the photo above is something I own and bought a while back,
but apparently it became the NEW Vision Air without me noticing.
It has an air gauge.
The earlier version had a simple round gauge with a white dial,
while the NEW version has a more robust-looking gauge area with four screws holding it together.
The earlier version has been around for at least twenty years.
The Vision Air, besides functioning as a CO2 inflator,
also has a humble mini pump function.
With a single-stage telescoping design fully extended to the state shown in the photo above,
its pump performance is at best a backup for when the cartridge runs out,
or used to slightly inflate a tubeless tire before it seats on the bead
so it doesn't pinch. That's about it.
The manufacturer honestly states that pumping a 700×20C tire for one minute puts in 3.5 bar. Refreshingly honest.
A lot of mini pumps claim 9 bar or something,
but that's not impossible so much as practically unrealistic.
Another thing to watch out for: pumps where the outer cylinder slides when you extend the telescoping section
can pinch your fingers when you push all the way in.
With pump types that don't have a lever to tighten the seal at the head,
your non-pumping hand is usually holding the pump fixed to push it into the valve,
and that's exactly when it becomes a victim of the outer cylinder.
↑This is the Blackburn Air Stick SL, a lightweight mini pump
with just enough performance to barely get you home without carrying CO2 cartridges.
This one also has a single-stage telescoping design where the outer cylinder slides,
↑right here is where you often pinch your fingers. Even knowing about it, you still do it.
Ugh.
Anyway, back to the Vision Air. When you remove the telescoping section,
the pump head part becomes a CO2 inflator.
Topeak's claim of "world's first" might mean
"as a single-function CO2 inflator" but
in that case, they'd have to know the Vision Air exists,
and if they knew, they wouldn't say "world's first,"
so they probably just didn't know about it.
CO2 inflator mode
↑This is the cartridge pressure release dial.
The Vision Air lets you screw in a CO2 cartridge
just enough that it doesn't puncture,
and assemble it in pump configuration.
With just one cartridge, it doesn't take up any more space than pump mode.
I swap between portable pumps depending on distance and tire type,
but with the Vision Air, I carry at least two cartridges—one in the pump and one in my saddlebag.
but
doesn't Barbieri's Vision Air fit that description too...?
The one in the photo above is something I own and bought a while back,
but apparently it became the NEW Vision Air without me noticing.
It has an air gauge.
The earlier version had a simple round gauge with a white dial,
while the NEW version has a more robust-looking gauge area with four screws holding it together.
The earlier version has been around for at least twenty years.
The Vision Air, besides functioning as a CO2 inflator,
also has a humble mini pump function.
With a single-stage telescoping design fully extended to the state shown in the photo above,
its pump performance is at best a backup for when the cartridge runs out,
or used to slightly inflate a tubeless tire before it seats on the bead
so it doesn't pinch. That's about it.
The manufacturer honestly states that pumping a 700×20C tire for one minute puts in 3.5 bar. Refreshingly honest.
A lot of mini pumps claim 9 bar or something,
but that's not impossible so much as practically unrealistic.
Another thing to watch out for: pumps where the outer cylinder slides when you extend the telescoping section
can pinch your fingers when you push all the way in.
With pump types that don't have a lever to tighten the seal at the head,
your non-pumping hand is usually holding the pump fixed to push it into the valve,
and that's exactly when it becomes a victim of the outer cylinder.
↑This is the Blackburn Air Stick SL, a lightweight mini pump
with just enough performance to barely get you home without carrying CO2 cartridges.
This one also has a single-stage telescoping design where the outer cylinder slides,
↑right here is where you often pinch your fingers. Even knowing about it, you still do it.
Ugh.
Anyway, back to the Vision Air. When you remove the telescoping section,
the pump head part becomes a CO2 inflator.
Topeak's claim of "world's first" might mean
"as a single-function CO2 inflator" but
in that case, they'd have to know the Vision Air exists,
and if they knew, they wouldn't say "world's first,"
so they probably just didn't know about it.
CO2 inflator mode
↑This is the cartridge pressure release dial.
The Vision Air lets you screw in a CO2 cartridge
just enough that it doesn't puncture,
and assemble it in pump configuration.
With just one cartridge, it doesn't take up any more space than pump mode.
I swap between portable pumps depending on distance and tire type,
but with the Vision Air, I carry at least two cartridges—one in the pump and one in my saddlebag.