tubolito tubes

[kmac]

anyone have any personal experience with these? they got a nice write-up from the folks at rkp: http://redkiteprayer.com/2019/08/no-downsides-tubolito-tubes/

they do seem super expensive, but if the tube costs 3x that of a regular tube and lasts 3x the time, i might be able to think of that as a wash. https://road.cc/content/review/253312-tubolito-tubo-road-700c mentioned the orange valve stems as a con, but i have an orange bike, so i'm seeing that as a pro :banana:

my current supply of huge, heavy, decidedly-not-orange butyl tubes is dwindling, so i'm considering trying a few of these out. but if anyone has good cause to save the cash (or rather, spend it on the status-quo), i'd love to hear about it!

[John H.]

I use them in my spare bag- I have had to pull one out to fix a flat in a tubeless tire- It did work as advertised.
I would not use them as daily drivers in a set of clincher wheels. They just seem way too thin- like inflatable kites that I had as a kid.
That said- They helped me to par down the size of my spare bag that I carry-

[joosttx]

I use them in my spare bag- I have had to pull one out to fix a flat in a tubeless tire- It did work as advertised.
I would not use them as daily drivers in a set of clincher wheels. They just seem way too thin- like inflatable kites that I had as a kid.
That said- They helped me to par down the size of my spare bag that I carry-

This is the story of me too. I think they are worth it for 29er tubes because they are so compact.

I have only needed to use them once and they did just fine.

[pbarry]

Great innovation! Me thinks the manufacturer is marking these up 5-10x over cost. I don’t care how small they are or how little they weigh, if they cost the same as the Gravel Kings I’m riding, the price is too much.

[Roadguy]

I have yet to hear one bad review about these things but the size alone means I'm going to be sticking a couple in my saddle bag.

[merlinmurph]

Ha, I just read the same article at RKP and was wondering myself. I'll probably get some and try them out.

[Moyboy]

I've been running the Tubolitos s-tubo disc-only 23g inner tubes with my 28mm gp5000 for over 1200km no issues. They've been to the Dolomites too and performed well. I carry two spares which in total weigh less than a standard tube or lightweight on for that matter.

[weaponsgrade]

I've been intrigued by these things for a long time. I've read some negative reviews about the valves and patches not always working. One of the RKP readers also commented on the valves. Still, it's good to hear they're working out for most and I might just give them a try.

[huckjai]

Purchased a pair a couple of weeks ago. Used them on a few rides, and so far so good. My friend has used a pair this season, with no issues yet.

[Mikej]

I use them to pack on long rides as spares due to the freaking amazing size. I run tubeless so it’s a last effort item.

[Cicli]

I don’t understand how a thinner tube adds puncture resistance. I have taken note of the thickness of tire and it is thicker than a tube. Seems anything that goes through a tire will go through a thin tube. Maybe not a big thick slime type tube but a thin one, yes. You all do put a tire on one side of a tube and a rim on the other right?
Another question, can these be patched? My butyl tubes last a long time on account of being patched. What am I missing?

[Mikej]

I don’t understand how a thinner tube adds puncture resistance. I have taken note of the thickness of tire and it is thicker than a tube. Seems anything that goes through a tire will go through a thin tube. Maybe not a big thick slime type tube but a thin one, yes. You all do put a tire on one side of a tube and a rim on the other right?
Another question, can these be patched? My butyl tubes last a long time on account of being patched. What am I missing?

It’s an odd material- not rubbery.

[wallymann]

comment over on gear-junkie:

"I now have considerable experience with patching these tubes, both with the original clear flix kit and the newer oval red flix kit, and I'm here to report that patching these tubes does NOT work, at least not with the patches Tubolito offers. I've patched four seperate holes and all of the patches failed. I really hoped these tubes would work, but I will now only use them as emergency backups (saddlebag, jersey pocket, etc)."

[Moyboy]

Yes, great lightweight tube option for the saddlebag especially for larger volume tires with the weight savings.

I use them to pack on long rides as spares due to the freaking amazing size. I run tubeless so it’s a last effort item.

[merlinmurph]

comment over on gear-junkie:

"I now have considerable experience with patching these tubes, both with the original clear flix kit and the newer oval red flix kit, and I'm here to report that patching these tubes does NOT work, at least not with the patches Tubolito offers. I've patched four seperate holes and all of the patches failed. I really hoped these tubes would work, but I will now only use them as emergency backups (saddlebag, jersey pocket, etc)."


Hmmm, If I can't patch a $35+ tube, forget it.

[jpritchet74]

I have a pair of these tubes - one has a pair of holes and both patched fine, but I went back to latex.

I will get one for a MTB spare tube since it's so compact though, but wouldn't use for daily use.

[Mark McM]

I don’t understand how a thinner tube adds puncture resistance. I have taken note of the thickness of tire and it is thicker than a tube. Seems anything that goes through a tire will go through a thin tube. Maybe not a big thick slime type tube but a thin one, yes. You all do put a tire on one side of a tube and a rim on the other right?

Puncture resistance is about more than just tire/tube thickness. For instance, latex tube are more puncture resistant than butyl tubes, because they are more elastic - if an object were to punch through a tire casing and read the tube, a latex tube may simply be stretched around the object, when a less stretchy butyl tube is more likely to be punctured. Latex tubes are also more pinch-flat resistant than butyl tubes for the same reason.

[weaponsgrade]

I have a pair of these tubes - one has a pair of holes and both patched fine, but I went back to latex.

I will get one for a MTB spare tube since it's so compact though, but wouldn't use for daily use.

What did you use for a patch?

[jpritchet74]

What did you use for a patch?

The red oval patches. I had to go and check though since it took them off my bike last year - only to find that the tube in question with the 2 patches has a note attached where I wrote "mystery leak" - which is probably why I stopped using them. I will get it pumped up and into a bowl of water to try and sort it out and get back to everyone.

[Moyboy]

Don't use warm / hot water... they deform.... happened to my friend....

The red oval patches. I had to go and check though since it took them off my bike last year - only to find that the tube in question with the 2 patches has a note attached where I wrote "mystery leak" - which is probably why I stopped using them. I will get it pumped up and into a bowl of water to try and sort it out and get back to everyone.

[Marc40a]

I use them to pack on long rides as spares due to the freaking amazing size. I run tubeless so it’s a last effort item.

Same here. For bikepacking and endurance rides.

The bigger the tires, the more incentive to pack them. A conventional 3" tire tube is ridiculously big and heavy.

[hobbanero]

I have seen a review about a year ago that complained of a lump where the tube is joined. Basically, the material expands easily, but where the tube is joined there is an overlap that makes that area twice as thick, and less willing to expand, creating a low spot in the tire. I have not been able to confirm this with any users, so curious as to whether this was a one-off or perhaps just early product issues.

[Oxford_Guy]

I have seen a review about a year ago that complained of a lump where the tube is joined. Basically, the material expands easily, but where the tube is joined there is an overlap that makes that area twice as thick, and less willing to expand, creating a low spot in the tire. I have not been able to confirm this with any users, so curious as to whether this was a one-off or perhaps just early product issues.

Not sure that should be an issue, aren't all latex tubes like that, with an overlap?

[Mark McM]

Not sure that should be an issue, aren't all latex tubes like that, with an overlap?

Some latex inner tubes have been made with seams, but the latest Vittoria and Michelin inner tubes don't have seams.

[mdeth1313]

I can't find the forum (or the topic) I read about these but it seemed many people were incredibly unhappy with the tubolito tubes. They said over time they failed without being punctured. If I can find it I'll post a link.

[huckjai]

I can't find the forum (or the topic) I read about these but it seemed many people were incredibly unhappy with the tubolito tubes. They said over time they failed without being punctured. If I can find it I'll post a link.

There's quite a few YouTube videos on this. They seemed to be failing where the valve stem connects to the tube.

[jpritchet74]

Some rolling resistance data on the tubolito tubes...

https://www.aero-coach.co.uk/inner-tube-rolling-resistance

[jpritchet74]

The red oval patches. I had to go and check though since it took them off my bike last year - only to find that the tube in question with the 2 patches has a note attached where I wrote "mystery leak" - which is probably why I stopped using them. I will get it pumped up and into a bowl of water to try and sort it out and get back to everyone.

Got the tube in question into a bowl of water - one of the patches was leaking....

[charliedid]

Some rolling resistance data on the tubolito tubes...

https://www.aero-coach.co.uk/inner-tube-rolling-resistance

1.1 second per mile over 10 miles of savings! :banana:

[Bentley]

It’s kinda a hijack of the thread but EBay has these for what appears to be a good price

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F20 2746054902

[buddybikes]

... little cheaper than what you found

https://www.ebay.com/p/Tubolito-Tubo-Road-700-X-18-28mm-Tube-42mm-Presta-Valve/9033573641?iid=113837408937&chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=113837408937&targetid=596843729678&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9002180&poi=&campaignid=1689799129&mkgroupid=66574332395&rlsatarget=pla-596843729678&abcId=1140466&merchantid=114154784&gclid=CjwKCAjw7uPqBRBlEiwAYDsr1zPf2GwXe4kWfiPhClkS wO7E_uCKXoXo-TT_7Mzo50kDXwoFV1CcSxoC-ggQAvD_BwE

[stephenmarklay]

... little cheaper than what you found

https://www.ebay.com/p/Tubolito-Tubo-Road-700-X-18-28mm-Tube-42mm-Presta-Valve/9033573641?iid=113837408937&chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=113837408937&targetid=596843729678&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9002180&poi=&campaignid=1689799129&mkgroupid=66574332395&rlsatarget=pla-596843729678&abcId=1140466&merchantid=114154784&gclid=CjwKCAjw7uPqBRBlEiwAYDsr1zPf2GwXe4kWfiPhClkS wO7E_uCKXoXo-TT_7Mzo50kDXwoFV1CcSxoC-ggQAvD_BwE


At that price I may pick one up for a spare.

[Mark McM]

Some rolling resistance data on the tubolito tubes...

https://www.aero-coach.co.uk/inner-tube-rolling-resistance

It's too bad that the Aero Coach web site didn't also include the Continental Supersonic tubes. These tubes weigh just 50 grams (10 grams more than the Tubolitos), and are made of easily patched butyl. If we were to extrapolate from the rolling resistance of the Continental Race 28 (104g) and the Race 28 Lite (78g), it seems likely that the Supersonic tubes have less rolling resistance than the Tubolito tubes. And the Supersonic tubes are only about half the price of the Tubolitos. I'm not seeing any significant advantage to the Tubolitos.

[etu]

As others have said, I think the real value is being able to carry a light tube for a tubeless setup. I ride a 29+ bike and the weight of a 29x2.3 tube was over 200gms compared to the reported 100gms for tubolitos. I suspect the 2.9x3 tube is closer to 300gms. So that's around 200gm savings in weight for around $30-40! Quite a value for weight weenies! Although I have admit, I don't worry so much about weight when I am riding on dirt on a 28lb bike.

[Mikej]

It's too bad that the Aero Coach web site didn't also include the Continental Supersonic tubes. These tubes weigh just 50 grams (10 grams more than the Tubolitos), and are made of easily patched butyl. If we were to extrapolate from the rolling resistance of the Continental Race 28 (104g) and the Race 28 Lite (78g), it seems likely that the Supersonic tubes have less rolling resistance than the Tubolito tubes. And the Supersonic tubes are only about half the price of the Tubolitos. I'm not seeing any significant advantage to the Tubolitos.

You have to actually hold a 29er tubo to understand- it’s not the weight it’s the size for packing that make them attractive. My 29er tubes weigh 0g btw.

[joosttx]

You have to actually hold a 29er tubo to understand- it’s not the weight it’s the size for packing that make them attractive. My 29er tubes weigh 0g btw.

I think that picture sums up why they are worth it.