The electric mini pump revolution may have started with smaller, lesser-known brands, but the big ones have surely caught on by now. Recently, we’ve seen new hand-held air compressors launched from Topeak, Silca, and now… Trek.
That’s for good reason. Electric mini pumps are a convenient, fast solution to getting air back into your tires. You no longer have to struggle on the side of the road or trail with an inefficient hand pump, and unlike CO2 cartridges for inflators, they’re rechargeable and reusable. Also unlike CO2 cartridges, they’re airplane safe, making them a better option for traveling.
Some, like the new Air Rush from Trek, also have preset tire pressure settings, which will make dialing in the perfect pressure mid-ride easier than ever. The Air Rush makes this a simple process with a full color display and easy-to-use buttons to raise or lower the desired psi.
To use the Air Rush, simply hold down the center button until it lights up. The Trek logo will display as it boots up, then it will show you a screen with the battery life, desired psi in the upper left corner, and the current psi in the lower right. There’s also a light indicator that tells you if the integrated light is turned on.
The Air Rush is powered by a 33.7Wh Lithium-polymer (LiPo) battery that Trek states will function in temps ranging from 14° to 113° f (-10 – 45°c). The pump is USB-C rechargeable and includes a charging cable. When used to the point that it stops inflating due to a low battery, it takes about 50 minutes for a complete charge.
Capable of inflating tires from 2-120psi, the Air Rush should work for almost any bike with a Presta or Schrader valve – though that 14º f lower range might be a bit limiting for fat bikes depending on the weather. The pump body has two threaded attachments for chucks. The main one for actual use while inflating, and one on the end for storing the extra chuck.
Clik Valve Compatible Too!
I was motivated by Bryan’s comment to check what other threaded adapters would work with the Air Rush. Since it uses the standard Schrader valve threading for the chucks, it should work with just about any threaded adapter with the same threading – including the Clik Valve adapters. Note that there are both plastic and metal Clik Valve adapters available, and due to the heat, I would not try the plastic version. But the metal version works (as long as you don’t over tighten it) – you don’t even have to hold onto the pump.
Also included is an extension hose if you don’t want to hold the pump body directly on the valve. I’ve been using it without it, but it’s a nice addition.
Air Rush Size & Weight
Measuring 3.15 x 1.77 x 1.26 in (80 x 45 x 32 mm), the Air Rush easily fits into a jersey pocket or larger saddle bags, small frame or handlebar bags, etc. Trek claims the Air Rush weighs in at 108g, but that must be without any chuck – which is required to actually use it. The lightest usable weight for the Air Rush is 138g with a single chuck. You’ll also likely want to carry it in the included storage bag to keep dirt, sweat, etc., out of the inner workings of the pump, which will add another 13g.
Initial Review
I’ve had the Air Rush in for a few weeks now, and while there haven’t been any flats to try it on in that time, I’ve inflated or topped off quite a few tires. Overall, the Air Rush is very easy to use. The controls are intuitive, and the color screen makes getting to the proper pressure a cinch. To me, this is one of the best parts of an electric mini pump. Yes, there are hand pumps out there with built in pressure gauges, or you can carry one separately, but electric air pumps with a built-in pressure shut-off make the process so much easier with perfect results every time.
Like all of these mini pumps, though, the Air Rush does get hot. Particularly for tires at the upper end of the pressure ranges. Based on the positioning of the vents on both sides of the Air Rush body, you do have to be conscious of where you’re holding it. There is a tendency to hold it in a way that completely covers the vents, which will make it get hotter. You’ll quickly learn where not to put your hands, though, as it noticeably gets warmer. It never gets hot enough to burn you, but it can be uncomfortable.
Also, like all of these mini pumps that I’ve seen, the Air Rush is loud. Using a decibel rating app on my phone, the pump peaked at 95 decibels. At 95dB, that puts it at a level that could cause hearing damage with sustained exposure. Fortunately, the pump is pretty quick to fill up your tire, so while annoying, it should be OK to use without hearing protection.
How fast will the Air Rush fill a tire?
I tested the Air Rush on three of the most common tire sizes and timed each with a stopwatch. All were inflated from 0psi to what is considered a common pressure for the category. Also note that all of these were done on a single charge, and I still had battery left over to top off a gravel tire. At that point, the Air Rush stopped pumping, but still had enough juice to show the display indicating the final pressure it achieved, and the light still worked.
| Tire Size | Target Pressure | Time 0psi-Target | Tubless or Tubed | Battery Use |
| 29 x 2.4″ | 22 psi | 0:59 | Tubeless | Less than one bar |
| 700c x 45mm | 40 psi | 1:36 | Tubeless | Less than one bar |
| 700c x 28mm | 90 psi | 2:00 | Tubed | One bar |
As you can see from the chart above, the Air Rush seems to prioritize volume over pressure, with it taking much longer to get to 90 psi on the 28mm tire. That makes sense with modern bike tires all skewing towards higher volume and lower pressure, even for road (I had to bust out a tubed road tire from cold storage to even find something that could handle 90 psi).
The Air Rush will go higher, with a maximum pressure of 120 psi, but this will take more time to get there. That’s why Trek gives road tires the fewest estimated inflation from flat, with three per charge. My experience seems to correlate with the chart provided by Trek above, though it may be slightly optimistic for gravel bikes.
Pricing & Availability
Priced at $99.99, the Trek Air Rush is competitively priced for the mini electric pump market, especially with all the included accessories. The pump includes a Presta chuck, Schrader chuck, extension hose, sports ball inflation needle, charging cable, a wrist lanyard, and a carrying case. When you consider the color screen and added features like the light, it seems that the Air Rush has the edge on nearly everyone in terms of price and features.
The Air Rush is available now from your local Trek Dealer or direct to consumer from Trek Bikes.
