Flextail Zero Pump review: pump up your camping game

The Flextail Zero Pump and its larger sibling, the Tiny Pump 2x, are the kind of gadgets that might not be well-known to everyone, but they definitely should be, which are exactly the kind of products we love to cover on the website, ones that offer great value and versatility.

What is the Flextail Zero Pump, you might ask? Well, it’s a small electronic pump that can help you inflate (and deflate) camping pads without spewing all the germs and bacteria from your mouth directly into the blowhole.

And although exhaling germs into a bag is gross on its own, those festering bacteria can also significantly reduce the durability and effectiveness of your camping mat. Not to mention, it’s a real pain in the neck to inflate anything after a long hiking trip without fainting.

How good is the Flextail Zero Pump, and should you get one? Read my review below to find out.

Flextail Zero Pump review

Price and availability

The Zero Pump is available to buy now directly from Flextail for a recommended retail price of $52.99 (approx. £41.75/ AU$80). It’s only available in one colour, black. The slightly larger Tiny Pump 2x costs $39.99 and comes in three colours: Orange, Black and White.

Specifications

• Weight: 1.2 oz
• Size: 1.02 x 2.95 inches
• Running time: 25 minutes
• Maximum pressure: 2.5 kPa
• Airflow: 180 l/min
• Battery capacity: 650 mAh

Zero Pump

The Zero Pump is tiny and super lightweight. It almost feels like a child’s toy, but it really isn’t. The shell of the pump is made from a thin metal, which fills me with confidence about the pump's durability. I wouldn’t throw anything with the battery around, but I feel the metal casing will be able to withstand accidental falls without damage better than plastic.

Operating the Zero Pump is easy, too. As there is only one button on it. You have to press it twice to activate the pump, which is a safety measure to avoid accidental starts if it’s stored in the bag.

Operating is super simple. Once the Zero Pump is turned on, attaching one side to the nozzle will inflate the sleeping pad; attaching the other side will deflate it. You get six attachments in the box that should match the blowhole of most popular mats, including Thermarest, Sea-to-Summit, Nemo and more.

The battery inside the Zero Pump is rechargeable and replaceable. Charging is interesting – you have to connect the USB-C cable to the battery itself, not the pump, which means you’ll have to unscrew the top of the pump to access the battery.

It’s not like you’ll have to recharge the battery often, though, as this compact pump has enough power stored on it to inflate over 20 sleeping pads in a row! And does it pretty quickly, too: it inflated the Vango Aotrom Thermo Platinum in under 30 seconds when I tried it.

After all this, you might wonder what’s the catch, right? Well, I could only discover two. One is the lack of a carry bag, which isn’t a massive issue, as you can attach the different rubber nozzles to your sleeping pad. However, carrying all of them would enable you to help other campers.

The other is the maximum air pressure. The Zero Pump is a small device with no pressurised air container, which means it can only inflate pads to a certain degree. 2.5 kPa is way below the pressure an average person can produce with their lungs, so the pads will only be so hard when using Zero Pump.

It was enough for me, but if you like your sleeping pads to be rock solid, the Zero Pump might not be the best option for you.

Tiny Pump 2x

I was also sent the Tiny Pump  2x to test alongside the Zero Pump. This larger pump has enough power to inflate 40 sleeping pads and has a maximum pressure of 4 kPa. Still not quite lung capacity, but it means you can inflate sleeping pads quicker.

The Tiny Pump 2x also comes with attachments, but they are made from hard plastic, just like the pump's body. Unlike the Zero Pump, the Tiny Pump 2x does have a carry bag; maybe it’s because you can’t tie the attachments around the pads. Who knows?

That’s not the only difference between the two. The Tiny Pump 2x has a magnetic base, so you can attach it to metallic surfaces. It also has a light function, and if you buy the silicone lampshade, you can turn your Tiny Pump 2x into a full-fledged camping lantern. And it looks pretty cute, too, like an illuminated mushroom.

The downside of the Tiny Pump 2x is its size. Although it’s far from being heavy or bulky, it’s certainly more sizeable than the Zero Pump, making it less ideal for ultralight backpacking adventures.

Verdict

The Flextail Zero Pump is one of the more interesting camping gear I tested in recent times. It’s not perfect, but it offers enough functionality to justify the price. And that price isn’t too high, either, making it a meaningful yet not too expensive gift to the fellow camper in your life.

The Tiny Pump 2x is even more affordable, and has a light function, as well as longer battery life. It’s bigger than the Zero Pump but still small enough to be carried around in your hiking backpack. Plus, it’s cheaper, which means the Tiny Pump 2x might make an even better gift. If for no one else, yourself.