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review
£6.95
VERDICT:
Decent if slow-curing patches, and metal levers can cause problems
Decent patches and rasp
Steel levers can damage modern rims
Patches need five minutes curing
Weight:
70g
Contact:
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 meanGood scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.
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The Ruzer Inner Tube Repair Kit is for fixing traditional tubed setups. The glueless patches are convenient and seem more reliable than many, but it's pricey for the spec and steel tyre levers are an odd choice – they easily damage alloy rims.
Your £6.95 gets you two metal tyre levers, six glueless patches and an electroplated rasp, all apparently designed and made in the UK. According to the blurb, the metal levers are 300% stronger than plastic or nylon models and, therefore, the most dependable solution.
Then we come to the patches. Now these are 25mm wide and a good bit thicker than most stick-on types – not the most obvious choices for a really narrow road hoop, but I'm pleased to report they are very tolerant of pruning for a custom, secure fit.
The rasp is another nice touch. Yes, the humble strip of sandpaper is equally effective and easily replaced, but the rasp is more reliable – no reaching into the kit only to find you've ground it smooth.
Metal levers
Material choice aside, the levers are very slender and consequently a little tricky to grip, especially in the cold. They do the job but, for me, lack the ergonomics and rim-friendly properties of a decent quality composite.
That said, they're quite effective at shifting very stubborn, cheap OEM tyres (the sort found on children's bikes, tagalongs and utility trailers). I've also liberated Schwalbe Marathons and other notoriously stubborn, premium-grade tyres from old-fashioned Dutch roadster rims with surprising ease.
Glueless patches
I'm a traditional vulcanising solution and feather edge devotee, so was pleasantly surprised by these glueless models. Their large surface area is well suited to the 32-37mm tubes and indeed 26x1.75-2.00 in my collection. Also, their density is conductive to trimming for smaller 23-25mm tubes.
Admittedly, this requires scissors or a multi-tool with a knife (such as Topeak's Alien), so it's not the most convenient.
> 11 of the best cycling multi tools — get the right bits to fix your bike's bits
So long as you gently scuff the tube with the rasp and take a few extra seconds when smoothing the patch down – and observe the five minute adhesion time – they adhere convincingly to branded butyl.
Value
There are better options than this kit, even if they cost a little more up front. The B'Twin 700 Puncture Repair Kit, for instance, includes two plastic levers, three glueless patches, sandpaper, a CO2 canister and a valve head for £7.99.
The Lezyne Lever Patch Kit also has composite levers and glueless patches, plus it comes in a neat little alloy case – the 2021 price is £8.49.
Summary
On the plus side, the patches are of a decent quality and reliable by glueless standards. The reusable rasp is also a welcome addition. However, I'm not sold on the metal levers – unless you are buying specifically for a period classic or old fashioned roadster, they're best avoided.
Verdict
Decent if slow-curing patches, and metal levers can cause problems
road.cc test report
Make and model: Ruzer Inner Tube Repair Kit
Size tested: 12cm x 3.5cm x 2cm
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?
Ruzer says "NO GLUE, NO MESS, GO RIDE'The most premium self adhesive repair patch on the market. All the parts we have selected in this patch kit are designed to durable and long lasting. We include 6 PRO Patches, 2 metal tyre levers, Metal rasp. All designed to help you repair your flat fast and without messy glue."
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
The kit contains two metal tyre levers, six glueless patches and a rasp.
Rate the product for quality of construction:
6/10
The patches seem very reliable and sturdy, especially by glueless standards. Steel tyre levers certainly won't break but may leave their calling cards on aluminium rims.
Rate the product for performance:
5/10
Given the full five minutes the patches adhere well.
Rate the product for durability:
6/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
5/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
5/10
Tyre levers aren't particularly ergonomic and the five minute curing time might isn't ideal on a very cold day.
Rate the product for value:
4/10
Even allowing for the fact it's produced in the UK, it's still pricey relative to the alternatives.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
The patches are effective, and the levers work with some tyre/rim combinations – but aren't a universal fit or particularly rim-friendly.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Rugged, high-quality patches.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Metal levers seem an odd choice for contemporary bikes and wheelsets. It's been a while since I've broken or damaged a high-quality composite lever.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
There are better options than this kit, even if they cost a little more up front. The B'Twin 700 Puncture Repair Kit, for instance, includes two plastic levers, three glueless patches, sandpaper, a CO2 canister and a valve head for £7.99. The Lezyne Lever Patch Kit also has composite levers and glueless patches, plus it comes in a neat little alloy case – the 2021 price is £8.49.
Did you enjoy using the product? Indifferent
Would you consider buying the product? Might buy patches but not the kit
Would you recommend the product to a friend? No
Use this box to explain your overall score
The patches are good quality. To score higher it would need composite rather than metal levers and perhaps a price drop too.
About the tester
Age: 47
I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,
Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)
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10 comments
Looks like a puncture repair kit designed by someone who's never repaired a puncture
Metal levers?!?!! Why in God's name? And never met an 'instant' patch that wasn't wholly useless out on a ride (ie pissing down, freezing and you just want to get going again). Seen countless people whip them out with aplomb only to ask someone for a spare tube 2 mins later.
In a way that's true, but I do carry a lezyne patch kit, I never used it and I hope I never have to use them BUT if you are own your own and both your innertubes fail (I always carry 2) you at least have an option to get home.
Also if you ever do a multi-day roadtrip in a non-western country there is always a chance you wont come across a bikeshop, although vulcanizing patches are a whole lot better than!
I have used quite a few Lezyne patches and find that, yes, they will get you home, so that's good, but they don't give a permanent repair: you'll end up changing the tube in a week or two.
Yes of course I don't want to ride any further than I have to with a patched tire!
For shortish rides I carry 1 tube and some Park glueless patches, only had to use one once and initially it was fine but failed a week later on a long hot ride (remember those?) when the glue seemed to have melted. Given the size/weight of them I continue to carry them for emergancies but would recommend changing them afterwards.
The 1980's called. They want their puncture repair kit back.
Exactly my thoughts....
The 1980's called. They want their puncture repair kit back.
But the 60's and 70's know that what you really want is a square of patch material so you can cut off a selection of patches, some glue in a little tube and a little piece of sandpaper. Worked then, works now.
I prefer the feather edge little jobbies myself, when I do them right, over a few hours they seem to be pretty much permanent. On latex tubes.
But I want to be dry and warm and comfy, doing it rushed means failure, sooner or later. Experience and all that...
I take a spare tube with me always, and take a second when out on an all day ride on one of my tubed bicycles, but have the little box of Park quick patches on me just in case. They work in an emergency, but when I get home I will replace with a vulcanised rubber repair.
A quick patch only takes a small amount more time than putting in a fresh tube, providing the hole can be found, mark the area with a sharpie (one BIG advantage of latex tubes) roughen, clean and apply.
I keep a slow repair kit at home and at work, with extra tubes of rubber solution as opened opened, even when well capped, those things like to dry out, but it would seem only when you really need them.
I'm still using my Pedros Milk Levers from the mid 90s, I think one was free with MBUK, haven't used those metal ones for ages.
I also like Park Emergency Tyre Boots, just enough to get you home with a gingerly ride. The last tear needed one of the newishplastic 20s as well, was a little dirty and misshappen but still was spendable.