The Dynaplug tire plug repair kits are lightweight insurance for tubeless tires. If you run a tubeless setup — and you should — one of these repair kits should live on your bike or pack, period. They’re small, lightweight, and easy to carry, and they can keep that hundred freakin’ dollar tire useable, even after shit goes sideways. Available in a number of various kits and configurations, my go-to carry is the Dynaplug Carbon Racer kit. Weighing in at measly 14 grams, the heft is minimal and barely takes up any space.
Features & Specifications
- Tool Body Construction: Nylon 6 with 30% Glass Fill
- Dimensions: 3.75″ x .437″
- Weight: 14 grams
- Insertion Tube: Hardened 303 Stainless Steel
- Plug Material: Viscoelastic Impregnated Rubber
- Plug Tip: Nonabrasive Brass/ 6061 Aluminum
- Warranty: limited lifetime
The Carbon Racer kit ($48) includes the following bits in the “box”.
- 1 Dynaplug Carbon Racer
- 3x Standard Soft Nose Plugs
- 2x Megaplugs
- Pipe cleaner
- Cage Mount Silicone Holder
EDC on the trail
Tubeless tires and sealant do an amazing job of minimizing flat tires on the trail, but as riders experiment with lower pressure, tire damage from sharp rocks is real. Even with tire lines, a single impact can put an end to the fun. Fortunately, tubeless tire repair plug are often able to save the day, by repairing the damage to a tire casing.
I’m currently carrying and testing the Dynaplug Carbon Racer kit on my primary trail bike, a 2021 Specialized Stumpjumper EVO. Carbon Specialized models feature integrated storage in the frame, and I have it loaded with a minimal loadout the essentially lives on/in the bike. My EDC consists of:
- Dynaplug Carbon Racer Tubeless Repair kit
- Park Tool Tire lever 1x
- Shimano 12-Speed Chain Link
- Lezyne Alloy Drive MTB Pump
- Specialized Swat Multi-tool
- Small bar or gel
My EDC is pretty minimal, and generally scales based on the location and duration of the ride. You’ll note there’s no chaintool here, which I usually carry in the form of a Shimano Pro Mini Tool 22 in my waist pack. This stuff lives on the bike though, and is always there. I’ll often add more stuff depending on the situation, with much of it living in my waist pack. For a bigger ride where I want to be a bit more prepared, I’ll add the following:
- Spare derailleur hanger
- Spare set of brake pads
- Zip ties
- Eye drops
- Folding pocket knife
- Tubeless sealant
- Shimano Pro Mini Tool 22 (includes a chain tool, spoke wrenches, and second tire lever)
- Additional gels or bars
- More tire plugs
If I’m guiding or on an epic, I’ll add more stuff, like a multi-tool with pliers, and so on.
Having used the Dynaplug Tube Repair kits a few times now, these things are a must-have. Regardless of the kit you select, they all work the same way:
- Tire gets torn a new one. Hopefully, you added sealant recently, and it’s spraying out and making a mess.
- You stab into the gaping hole with the tool until the pointed part reaches the other side of the tire.
- Pull the tool with the tube back, leaving the rubber bit in the hole to fill the gap.
- Spin the tire and hope the remaining sealant gathers around the plug and stops the leak.
- If it’s a big hole, add another tire plug. Ideally a bigger one.
- Then, assuming you still have sealant remaining in your tire, pump that sucker back up, spin it and seal the hole.
- Cut off the end of the plug (it’s a good idea to have a tool with a blade of some kind in your EDC riding kit for this part)
- Finish your ride and never think about it again.
Needless to say, it’s a great product, and of all the tubeless repair kits I’ve got lying in my garage, the Dynaplug products are easily the best of the bunch.
At $50, it might seem like an investment, but for the weight weenie, it’s worth it. If you don’t want to spend as much, can get by with the less expensive Carbon Ultralite edition, which costs about $25, but is a bit larger and weighs twice as much. It’s cool in that it features its own built-in storage compartment. In fact, if you get a lot of flats, or are a coach or guide, this may be the better option with the sealed interior storage compartment. I like the minimal weight of the carbon racer edition, which I leave on the bike with a Turbolito Tube as my backup for my backup.
One bit I didn’t test is the mini bottle cage mount. It’s a nice idea, but for my personal application, it’s redundant. I’d also be concerned about it popping off, but I could see it working for gravel or road bike applications, and it’s cool it’s included.
The Dynaplug Carbon Racer Repair kit ($48) was provided over for this review, as was the Dynaplug Air Repair Kit ($75). (I do actually own a Carbon Ultralight that I purchased with my own funds that lives in my van though) I added the Dynaplug Air kit to the EDC for my Kona Honzo hardtail —which I haven’t been riding as much lately — so expect a second post in the future.. assuming I flat. Either way, it’s a cool product so it definitely deserves a look, and I may have to swap it out with the Carbon Racer.
Also worth noting: if you need a gift idea for any serious mountain biker – any of these Dynaplug repair kits make a great gift – having a spare around is always handy!
Learn more at Dynaplug.com or support the site by getting one using our link at Amazon.com.