The tested products in the overview:

SKS Airstep Digi foot pump
Birzman Tiny Tanker floor pump
Vittoria Mazza tires
Schwalbe Aerothan inner tubes
Rema Tip Top tube patches

SKS Airstep Digi foot pump

First impression
Foot pumps are more commonly used for air mattresses, but are rather rare in the bicycle sector. These are particularly useful for people with back problems because you don't have to bend over. The Airstep Digi has a robust design, which indicates a long service life. The hose can be practically stowed away in the housing and attached to it with the pump head. The aluminum handle can be locked in place with a slider on the base. The generously dimensioned digital display is accurate to two decimal places and can be read easily while standing. Rubber feet on the underside ensure that the pump does not slip on slippery surfaces. It weighs around 1400 grams.

In use
The display is activated by pressing a button, another press switches between bar and PSI. After pumping, it goes out automatically in a few seconds. The pedal bar is rather short and it takes some practice to get used to an efficient pedaling motion. If you pedal too fast, you are likely to slip. As the saying goes, there is strength in tranquillity. In the comparison test with a classic floor pump, you need 20 more air strokes to reach 2 bar starting from a flat tire; a total of 50 strokes are required. Even high air pressure requires only minimal effort. No wonder, because the ergonomics experts at SQlab were actively involved in the development of the pump. The pump head fits Presta and Schrader valves without any problems, whether tubular or tubeless system.

Conclusion
With the SKS Airstep Digi, you can pump a little longer than usual, but with maximum back and strength protection. Thanks to its compact dimensions, it is easy to carry in a car or camper van and is not as bulky as a floor pump. The only catch is that pumping up a new tubeless tire is only possible in a few cases. In most cases, the pressure per kick is not enough to push the tire into the rim flanks quickly enough.

Price: CHF 99.00

Manufacturer/distributor
www.sks-germany.com / www.fuchs-movesa.ch

Birzman Tiny Tanker floor pump

First impression
Just under half a meter tall and polished to a mirror finish, that's how the Tiny Tanker presents itself. It is a low floor pump - designed for transportation and not for the workshop. The hose can be conveniently attached to the handle and is thus secured when carried in the vehicle or luggage. The completely CNC-milled product is solidly constructed and an eye-catcher. Not for nothing did it win a Red Dot Design Award in 2013.

In use
The "Push & Twist" pump head fits Presta and Schrader valves. It is pushed on and secured with a quarter turn. After pumping, simply pull it up and away. This works very well with tubes, but unfortunately not with individual tubeless valves. You lose quite a bit of air until the thread grips and seals. MTB tires are easy to pump, road bike tires require a few drops of sweat. The pressure gauge goes up to 15 bar and is therefore not very precise, but it is easy to read. Setting up a tubeless bike with it is a challenge and it only works if the tire and rim fit together perfectly and if the tire can be easily pressed into the rim flanks.

Conclusion
Due to the low height, pumping is not as ergonomic as with a large floor pump and it also requires a few more strokes due to the smaller pressure tank. However, the Tiny Tanker is an ideal companion for bike trips, it requires little storage space and fits easily into a duffle bag.

Price: CHF 89.90

Manufacturer/distributor
www.birzman.com / www.intercycle.com

Vittoria Mazza tires

First impression
The Mazza literally screams "I'm N'duro". It is wide and has chunky lugs with plenty of space in between. The 29-inch version with a width of 2.4 inches weighs just under a kilo. As with all MTB tires from Vittoria, its graphene compound is used with four different rubber hardnesses. The sidewalls come in gray, as you would expect from the Italian manufacturer.

Conclusion
The Vittoria Mazza is a true enduro tire that can take a beating and keeps you safely on track. It is equally at home on bike park trails as it is on rough alpine terrain. It has good rolling characteristics for its rather coarse tread. It raises the bar for tires quite a bit.

Manufacturer/distributor
www.vittoria.com / www.fuchs-movesa.ch

Schwalbe Aerothan inner tubes

First impression
Transparent tubes? Why not, according to the motto "no use, no harm". The new TPU material was developed together with BASF and feels more like plastic than the usual rubber. The tubes are less elastic and have a neutral, rather than the usual butyl smell. They are patched with special adhesive pads for TPU.

In use
As the Aerothan tubes are not as elastic, they are much easier to fit. Simply pre-inflate them slightly and put them in the tires. The good rolling resistance advertised by the manufacturer is not really noticeable in use, it rides as usual. The advertised puncture resistance is consciously perceived. To test this, we went on the Bieltrail, where we let out more air on every descent until the tire started to flex in the bends. The pressure was then just under 0.8 bar on a 2.4. This resulted in numerous punctures, the rim was unfortunately dented a little, but there was no flat tire.

Conclusion
Schwalbe's Aerothan tubes cost a pretty penny, but are only half as heavy as the butyl versions and need to be inflated less often. Anyone who finds a tubeless system too cumbersome will find this product a very puncture-proof alternative.

Manufacturer/distributor
www.schwalbe.com

Rema Tip Top tube patches - bargain tip

First impression
Who doesn't know the good old tube patches? There's really not much more to say about them. And yes, they still have their place, as many bikers still ride with classic butyl tubes

In use
Even if you think these "old" patches are out of fashion, this is far from the case. Although there are all kinds of self-adhesive alternatives nowadays, the Rema Tip Top is highly efficient. You do need a little more time to roughen the rubber and apply the vulcanizing fluid. But once the patch is stuck to the hose, you can rest easy - for years. Nothing mends more reliably.

Conclusion
When you repair an inner tube with a Rema Tip Top patch, you feel a touch of nostalgia. You are automatically transported back to your childhood, when you went on bike tours with your parents and were taught how to repair an inner tube. The beauty of this product is that it has lasted for generations, is still as reliable as it was 40 years ago and the patches last longer than the inner tube itself. And for almost no money.

Price: CHF 5.90

Manufacturer/distributor
www.rema-tiptop.ch / www.fuchs-movesa.ch