Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

review

Tubolito Tubo CX/Gravel inner tube

7
£27.99

VERDICT:

7
10
For inner tube fans these are an improvement on butyl, light with a good feel, but they are expensive
Light
Compact
Blowouts less likely than butyl tubes
Can be difficult to fit
Patch repairs take 30 minutes to dry
Weight: 
61g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

Almost £30 for an inner tube may seem extremely expensive, but the Tubolito Tubo CX/Gravel tubes are made from thermoplastic elastomer (TPU) and offer incredibly low weight with a claimed increase in strength and puncture resistance. Ride quality compared to a butyl tube is improved, although for off-road use on a gravel bike I'm not convinced they beat a good tubeless setup.

Designed for cyclo-cross or gravel riding, the tubes are compatible with a wide range of tyre widths, from 30mm to 47mm in both 650B and 700C wheel sizes. I tested them on a gravel bike with 700C wheels and 40mm tyres, a common wheel and tyre size.

> Find your nearest dealer here

They would also fit and suit road bikes with wider (30mm+) tyres (there are Road versions, too, for 18-28mm tyres). The Tubo CX/Gravel is suitable for use with both rim and disc brakes.

Weight is likely to be a major factor for choosing a Tubolito inner tube, in either this 'standard' version weighing in at 61g or the even lighter S-Tubo at 33g, which is only suitable for disc brake bikes (full review to come).

Typically, a butyl tube designed for 35-45mm tyres will weigh in the region of 120-170g, so with these Tubolitos you'd be making a saving of 50-110g. That's a far more cost-effective way of reducing weight than many other options. Butyl tubes aren't usually able to fit as wide a range of tyre sizes either.

2021 Tubolito TUBO CX-GRAVEL - 2.jpg

Latex tubes offer some reduction in weight compared with butyl – Challenge Tires produces an inner tube designed for tyres up to 38mm that weighs a claimed 81g – but latex tubes suffer from poor air retention and will typically need to be inflated every day.

This CX/Gravel version is available in two valve lengths, 42mm and 60mm. The valve cores are glued in; should you need longer valves, Tubolito says valve extenders that screw on top are compatible.

Fitting

Fitting and inflating is a little different to a butyl tube, as I found out to my peril when testing the Schwalbe Aerothan tubes. The thin material feels a little stickier, and the tube can be caught in the tyre and fail. This is something latex tubes can be prone to as well, so I'd advise taking extra care and time when fitting and, if possible, don't use tyre levers.

What does help with the Tubolito tubes is the bright orange colour, which helps you see very easily if the tube is caught under the bead when installing.

Up and running...

Once they were installed I chose to run the inner tubes at the same pressure as I would my tubeless tyres: 30-35psi for my weight of 65kg. This is for all riding on a gravel bike, on and off-road.

> How to choose the right tyre pressure

While testing I chose some tough, rocky routes and didn't hold back on the descents. On several occasions I could feel and hear that I had hit the rim, but despite this I didn't suffer any snakebite punctures. In total, I have tested them for just over 300km, but I did have one puncture.

That single puncture was on the inner circumference of the tube, and despite checking I was not able to find any imperfection on the rim that might have caused it, so the cause remains a mystery.

The puncture also started incredibly slowly, losing pressure overnight, but did gradually reach a point where I had to stop mid-ride to add air.

I patched the hole using the Tubolito patch kit (full review coming) and it has remained perfectly airtight. The only point to note is that the patch repair takes 30 minutes to dry fully, and I found it best done at home, not on the trail.

Ride quality is good compared to butyl tubes and on a par with latex tubes or a tubeless setup, feeling supple and not dulling the ride as thicker butyl tubes can.

Air retention is far superior to latex inner tubes, with no need to add air daily.

A major benefit of TPU inner tubes is that they are less likely than butyl tubes to have a catastrophic failure that results in sudden air loss; even in the event of a major puncture, which happened to me during testing of both the S-Tubo CX/Gravel version and the Schwalbe Aerothan inner tube, the air loss was slow enough that I was able to stop safely.

Conclusion

If you are absolutely set on inner tubes and do not want to move to tubeless, the Tubolito tubes give superior performance to butyl tubes, with low weight, low volume, and reasonable puncture resistance, although that comes at a high price.

For larger volume, 30mm+ road bike tyres where the risk of punctures is likely to be lower than riding off-road, the Tubolito tubes are an attractive option compared with butyl tubes, but for gravel bikes and riding off-road, the benefits compared with a good tubeless setup are less pronounced. Tubeless with sealant will be a little heavier but potentially more puncture resistant, while providing excellent ride quality.

> 9 things they don’t tell you about tubeless tyres

Compared with butyl tubes, the Tubolito tubes are considerably more expensive but do offer a good ride feel, lower weight and reasonable puncture resistance. At £27.99 each, the cost will put many off, and for me a good tubeless setup will offer at least the same advantages and potentially even more. For die-hard inner tube fans, though, these are worth considering.

Verdict

For inner tube fans these are an improvement on butyl, light with a good feel, but they are expensive

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Tubolito Tubo CX/Gravel

Size tested: 700x30-47mm, 60mm valve

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Tubolito says: 'All widths, all terrains: Tubo-CX/Gravel All is made for tires from 30mm to 47mm width and thus covering all tires commonly used in Cyclocross and Gravel Bikes. Besides 700c tires it is also ready for 650B wheels. Ready for disc brakes as well as rim brakes and offering double the toughness compared with standard rubber tubes it is the perfect all-rounder. Available with 42mm (60 grams) and 60mm (61 grams) Presta valves.'

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Tubolito lists:

Designed for CX/Gravel tires with 30mm – 47mm width

Can be used in 700c and 650B tires

Compatible with rim- and disc brakes

Double strength of standard tubes

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
9/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It's a lightweight tube that has stood up to some riding conditions I am convinced would have punctured normal butyl tubes. I did have one puncture, although very small and slow. Overall performance was better than I expected.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Very light and low volume. The strength and durability seem good.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Difficult to install, and in the event of a puncture the patches take 30 minutes to dry fully.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It's similar to the Schwalbe Aerothan in terms of strength and improvements, but costs £3 more. You do get a wider range of sizes with the Tubolito versions, and the bright orange colour can also make installation easier.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes, compared to a butyl tube, but I will go back to tubeless.

Would you consider buying the product? As a spare tube for an event perhaps.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, if they were set on using inner tubes.

Use this box to explain your overall score

Tubolito tubes certainly offer an improvement over butyl tubes. Care is needed to install them, and they are expensive, but the ride is good.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 35  Height: 168  Weight: 62

I usually ride:   My best bike is: Cannondale SystemSix

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, cyclo cross, sportives, mtb, Lots of gravel style riding

Matt is an endurance nut who loves big rides and big events. He's a former full-time racer and 24hr event specialist, but now is also happy riding off-road on gravel bikes or XC mountain bikes and exploring the mountains and hills of Mid Wales.

Add new comment

12 comments

Avatar
Secret_squirrel | 2 years ago
0 likes

The hairsine ratios make interesting reading and suggest they are a good value weight weeny option than say some carbon exotica.  Using a bog standard Schwable 3.49 tube as a reference.  Disclaimer - havent checked against any of the other light weight tube options.

Road

Schwalbe 105g

Tubolito  38g

Weight Saving 67g

Tubolito cost - £24.63

Hairsine : 0.35

Gravel

Schwalbe 150g

Tubolito CX  60g

Weight Saving 90g

Cost £28

Hairsine 0.31

Avatar
pockstone replied to Secret_squirrel | 2 years ago
1 like

The Hairsine ratio needs to be adjusted to take into account visibility. I suspect the weight weenies satisfaction derives only partly from grams saved, and partly from the envy of others. I suggest a 'hairsine hubris hierarchy', with a pair of AX lightness wheels near the top, and carbon saddle rails somewhere near the bottom (literally). After all, what's the point of splashing all that cash  if your buddys can't see it. Thank goodness the valve stems are bright orange, or these tubes wouldn't register at all, even at the cafe stop ogling opportunity.

Avatar
Chris Hayes | 2 years ago
1 like

I'm on tubeless at the moment, but remain unconvinced.  They're both expensive and very messy when (not if) they go wrong (because we're all somewhere on the time/luck curve).  

So, I carry a tubeless repair kit and two butyl tubes .... because I really don't like walking, which kind of makes these attractive.  My wheels are sub 1400g anyway, so it makes no sense in loading them up with shitty tyres and 150g, £3.50 tubes.  If they work and it costs GPB 80 to reduce the bike weight by 300g or so (two on nthe bike and two spares) then that's a bargain, no? 

Avatar
matthewn5 | 2 years ago
1 like

I've been using these on three bikes for the last 6 months. I found them dead easy to install, just inflate them a bit (by mouth is enough) and get them to sit in the well, which they tend to want to, then roll the tyre on with thumbs. I always use talcum powder in tyres anyway, and it helps here too.

The ride is nice, not as subtle as tubs, but better than rubber inner tubes (I've not tried tubeless). And I saved 100 g off each wheelset, which is a nice saving to make. If you shop around you can find them for about £21.50 each (Amazon). They hold air very well indeed, better than any rubber tubes.

Avatar
Matt Page replied to matthewn5 | 2 years ago
2 likes

 No issues to install if you can do it with your thumbs. A different story on a tight rim/tyre combo an needing to use tyre levers.

Avatar
JL77 replied to Matt Page | 2 years ago
0 likes

Got 2 of them pinched when fitting on a tight rim.

The Schwalbe Aerothan are much easier to fit without getting damaged, barely heavier and suit me fine.

Avatar
Secret_squirrel | 2 years ago
1 like

There's another way to look at these Tubolito's - especially in this size, which is that they are a get you home option for tubeless riders with much less size and weight than a normal tube, and 650/700 gravel tubes are frickin huge and lumpy compared to svelte 700 25c ones - literally double the size.

£28 is dear for an inner tube, but for an emergency tube to get you home that gives you more room in your emergency kit - I think they make a lot of sense. Think of them as the multi-tool version of a tyre and they become a bit more palatable.
 

I'm curious enough to get one soon that's for sure.

Avatar
ktache replied to Secret_squirrel | 2 years ago
0 likes

I agree that I would only have one as my flash spare, whole lot lighter than my big and heavy 3 by 27.5, but once talked, tissue papered, sandwich bagged and zipplocked, then placed in my spare tube accessory pouch on my bagstrap, I have fair confidence that it will probably work if ever called upon, same with my previous latex tubes.

Will the turbolito or any of it's competitors?

 

Avatar
Secret_squirrel replied to ktache | 2 years ago
3 likes

blimey.  Do you massage it with essential oils too? smiley

Avatar
ktache replied to Secret_squirrel | 2 years ago
1 like

Cheers, when I need that emergency tube, I REALLY NEED that emergency tube.  I have seen others who have not gone the extra bit regreting it.

Avatar
Matt Page replied to Secret_squirrel | 2 years ago
1 like
Secret_squirrel wrote:

There's another way to look at these Tubolito's - especially in this size, which is that they are a get you home option for tubeless riders with much less size and weight than a normal tube, and 650/700 gravel tubes are frickin huge and lumpy compared to svelte 700 25c ones - literally double the size.

£28 is dear for an inner tube, but for an emergency tube to get you home that gives you more room in your emergency kit - I think they make a lot of sense. Think of them as the multi-tool version of a tyre and they become a bit more palatable.
 

I'm curious enough to get one soon that's for sure.

The main issue with using one as a spare for tubeless would be ensuring that the tyre installation is relatively easy, as many are the opposite. The tubes are not as easy to install and the last thing you would want after having a tubeless puncture would then be to put a tube in and rip the wall when installing and not be able to fix that.

Avatar
bobbinogs replied to Matt Page | 2 years ago
0 likes

^Wot he said.  I have found that the problem with superlight tubes is how hard it is to avoid a very mild scuff when fitting (even when fitting by hand), which inevitably turns into a puncture.  This is even when fitting at home in decent light and feeling chilled.  Tube replacements at the side of the road mid-ride are usually when cold/wet and fatigued in some way, so far from ideal for taking great care.

I eventually gave up with superlights due to the constant issues with punctures (nothing more underwhelming than finding at least one tyre deflated at the start of a ride) and I now just ride with normal tubes which cost a fraction of the more exotic options.  The change has been breathtakingly good.  I guess I became adjusted to the crappiness of superlights, just to save 50g per wheel.

Latest Comments