Rapid fire review: Dynaplug Racer Pro
A sleek design that packs in a whole lot of funciton
With the ubiquity of tubeless tires in mountain biking, and their growing presence in gravel and even road, tubeless tire plugs are getting more and more advanced. Dynaplug offers several plug options that are far beyond the standard bacon strip and numerous ways to carry and insert these plugs.
Of Dynaplug’s many carrying systems, the Racer Pro strikes a balance between light weight, sleek design and real-world function beyond essentialist requirements of racers. That may be surprising, given the name, but the Racer Pro sits between Dynaplug’s original Pill design and its ultralight Racer and Micro Racer designs. Both in terms of weight and plug capacity.
The Racer Pro’s long, tube shape holds an impressive four different plugs. Two end caps are held in place by O-Rings, for quick access to the first two plugs. A “Twin Tube” design holds two more pre-loaded plugs if you go through the first two and are still losing air. The Racer Pro can also hold either Dynaplug’s standard, brass-tip plug or aluminium-tipped Mega Plug.
The Racer Pro is machined from U.S.-made billet aluminium and, for the insertion tube, 304 stainless steel. Dynaplug’s plugs are viscoelastic impregnated rubber cord, designed to work with or without sealant. A fully loaded Racer Pro weighs in at a scant 26 grams.
Why we like the Dynaplug Racer Pro
I’ve used the Dynaplug Pill for a long time but, lately, it’s the Racer Pro that’s coming along on rides with me. I find the Racer Pro easier to use, with the longer body easier to hold and get leverage on. It’s also more convenient to store. The Pill design is compact, but can disappear in bags. The Racer Pros longer (it’s still only 4.25″ long) thinner design makes it easier to fit into pockets and to find when you need it. Or, if you want to get really racey, to attach to your bike somewhere for super-fast access.
But you really don’t need to be a racer to use the Racer Pro. Sure, it’s very light at only 26 grams. But, with four plugs, it really has all you would need to solve all but the worst double flats. If you regularly need more than four plugs to finish a ride, Dynaplug’s re-loadable design is easy to use. Or maybe you need way tougher tires.
Dynaplug Racer Pro is, at USD 58.00, not particularly cheap. Neither are the replacement plugs. But it is manufactured in Chico, California, which is nice, and it is designed to last for years. Most importantly, it works when you need, or at least really really want it to work, to save rides and races.