SEVEN DAY CYCLIST
CYCLING, BUT NOT USUALLY RACING

A wander round the web confirmed it doesn't, which for me, is a design fault.  Staying with this a 

moment, I have since discovered the motor and battery are designed to run at 12V, not the 5V standard with USB. The charging current necessitates a power conversion circuit. 
 

This in turn generates heat, which needs expelling, to prevent the unit over-heating. A fan, or huge heat sink could get round this but it'd also mean the unit would be bigger, probably bulkier too. Makes sense but still doesn't excuse the charge indicator. On a more positive note, when the battery finally cashes in it's chips, Fumpa will replace-gratis. 
 

Fully juiced, press the button and connect the appropriate valve head, scroll through to your desired measure of pressure and watch the gauge. Its that simple. It's also very loud, once it gets going! Comes with the portable compressor territory- the mini type that plug into your car's fag-lighter are pretty vocal, too. Not for a break-of-dawn blast. Unless being shunned by your neighbours is a welcome bonus!

 

Test Tyres

Ok, so aside from the benchmark 700x23,  I've gone for 700x32, 700x35, 700x38, 26x2.0, and 14x1.75. This covers touring, cross, commuting and e bike/utility. I've also cross referenced pressures with a standalone digital gauge. My Blackburn Piston 4 Track Pump is my default and still impresses me with it's efficiency.

Performance 3.5/5

To some extent, this depends on your yardstick. Arguably, 120psi is sufficient for most needs, save for some tubulars. That said; there are those who've argued at this price, they'd expect 160 psi.  

My Blackburn Piston 4 will raise a flaccid 700x23 to 160psi in 37 strokes and around thirty seconds. 700x35 to 90psi in 38 strokes, a 700x38 to 70 psi in 48 strokes and a 26x2.0 to 70 psi in 55 strokes and 58 seconds.

  
By contrast, the Fumpa required zero effort and 22 seconds to reach 125psi (127psi, cross referenced my long serving SKS digital gauge). Next came the 700x35 Schwalbe Marathon GT . The Fumpa raised it from flaccid to 85psi in 27 seconds. Bigger section tyres didn't present a major challenge either.  

The 38mm Soma Shikoro   0 to 85 psi in 27 seconds and Vee Tire Co Zilent 2  from 0-70 in 21 seconds. I had just finished bringing a 14x1.75 trailer tyre from 0-45psi (28 seconds) when the thermal cut out kicked in. 
The valve head was in singe territory too, by this point.  I had been trying to emulate the scenario faced by a team mechanic at a cyclo cross meet, tackling the tyres one after the other. 
 

Things had cooled sufficiently after five minutes (air temperature 6 degrees). By the time I'd topped up another 700x34 (30-80psi), the lithium polymer cell was exhausted, and I reverted to the track pump.  

Be sure the Fumpa switched off before putting it away too, since leaving it on standby will mean it'll be pancake flat come the morning. Something to consider, when loading the car, or making pre-race preparations. 
 

Fully juiced, I was able to achieve 100psi in a 700x25c six times before it was spent again. In line with Fumpa's claims. It'll tackle big section MTB rubber too, although its slower. 1m 8 seconds (0-70psi) for a 26x2.0 Schwalbe Marathon Mondial.   
 

Ok, I can hear many of you shaking your heads and muttering about a decent track pump being ready to go, whenever, wherever.  In some respects, I concur. However, the Fumpa will literally fit in the palm of your hand, it’s also really easy to use in confined spaces. It’s also come in handy, when seating some stubborn tyres, , before going over to the track pump. That said; It's not up to the job of tubeless systems. 
 

The Blackburn Piston 4 has a very long hose, meaning I can often inflate bikes hanging from hooks. Nonetheless, topping up (rather than flaccid to full) is a lot more convenient with the Fumpa, not to mention packing it into a suitcase, or kit bag, for a weekend away.  
 

Value 3/5
 

There's no getting way from the fact that the lion's share of £140 is a sizeable investment. Nor is the Fumpa going to render track pumps redundant. A quick wander round the web and you'll find all kinds of compressors giving change from £50.

 
However, they're not bike specific, nowhere near the Fumpa's build quality and weigh nearer a kilo-three times the Fumpa. For my needs, a decent track pump coupled with its mini sibling (designed for presta valves) which tip the scales at a wedge pack/bike packing realistic 185g is a more suitable pairing for my needs. However, race mechanics, or people with variable impairments e.g. arthritis, may find the Fumpa a godsend.

 

Conclusion 
 

The Fumpa pump is a sizeable investment. For me at least, one requiring a few minor tweaks to justify the asking price. In its present guise, it won't be rendering my track pump redundant.  However, it’s well worth a look if (a) you need a small, quick and very portable compressor for inflating/topping up a fleet of bikes, or (b) you have a physical impairment, which makes a track pump uncomfortable/impractical.