VeloChampion 2 in 1 CO2 Inflator Pump

The VeloChampion 2 in 1 CO2 Inflator Pump is easy to use, reliable and effective at inflating a tyre in seconds using CO2 cartridges, and the lever makes it easy to control the flow. The protective sleeve is a little on the tight side, and it only works with 16g cartridges. There's also a slight risk of de-coring your valves because of the threaded valve connector. Its RRP is very high, too.

What you get for your money is good looking and light, with a solid aluminium body that feels built to last.

It's a simple thing, but what I like most about this CO2 inflator is the lever that allows you to control the flow of carbon dioxide – the handle is conveniently marked with an open and close symbol, so as long as it's in the closed position before starting, you know you're good to go.

Then it's just a case of screwing in a CO2 cartridge (which isn't included in the box). A neoprene protective sleeve comes with the kit, but it only works with 16g cartridges, so if you prefer to carry something a little more heavy duty on your rides, this might be a tiny bit of a dealbreaker.

In my experience, 16g cartridges don't go very far when inflating a tyre, so if you're going on longer rides you'll want to take at least a couple of them to ensure you can get home.

> Buyer’s Guide: 7 of the best CO2 inflators

Even though the sleeve is designed for the smaller style of cartridge, it feels incredibly tight to get on. That might be something that gets easier over a period of time.

With the cartridge securely screwed onto the head, all you have to do is screw the valve head onto your valve of choice – it's called a 2 in 1 inflator because it works with both Presta and Schrader without you having to swap anything around.

Once it's screwed on tightly, an o-ring on the inside of the valve head makes for a secure connection without the risk of any leaks when inflating.

Then you just carefully turn the lever to start the flow – et voilà! It just works. A 16g cartridge easily inflated a 700x25 tyre from flat to about 80psi in a few seconds without any leaks.

> How to choose the best tyre pressure

The neoprene sleeve helps to prevent frozen fingers too, though you need to wait a minute or so to remove it from a used cartridge afterwards.

I know what you're thinking: doesn't a screw-on inflator run the risk of removing a valve core when you unscrew it after use? Well, yes, that's a risk, but if it was such a problem I doubt manufacturers would continue using this design, and personally, it's never been an issue for me.

Value

You're really spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a cheaper CO2 inflator – we've reviewed a bunch of them over the years. For example, the Pro Bike Tool CO2 Inflator Steve reviewed a couple of years back is over £15 less.

On the VeloChampion website the 2 in 1 CO2 Inflator Pump is currently discounted by 51%, which brings the price down to a much more reasonable £16.95 – I'd happily pay that myself – but the rrp of £34.95 makes it way more expensive than most CO2 inflators out there. Stu thought the Genuine Innovations Air Chuck Plus CO2 Inflator was overpriced at £29.99, but you do at least get a CO2 canister with that... 

If you're not keen on the threaded connector, the Birzman E-Grip 16g CO2 Inflator costs just £14.99 and has a press-fit valve connector.

Verdict

Easy-to-use CO2 inflator, but it's overpriced