Originally Posted by
rydabent
I have had mini pumps fail me in multiple ways, two of them just flat broke when I tried to use them. I carry one for emergencies, but I carry CO2 cartridges and use them first.
I've had a couple of mini-pumps fail too and the cause was water that got into the pump and rusted the ball checks to the point they wouldn't seal. The problem with mini-pums is they are used so rarely and subject to really abusive conditions routinely so they aren't tested often and are in bad shape when you really need them. Moral: see if your mini-pump works with some regularity. Get the bad news when it doesn't count.