SIX OF THE BEST

For plugging holes that sealant just can’t ix Dynaplug Pill $59.99 + shipping

Tubeless repair kits – for when you get a puncture that the sealant sloshing around inside your tyre just can’t fix

SO GOOD... Housed in a plastic tube and supplied with a Velcro strap, the Plugger can be slipped into your pack or attached to your bike. The insertion tool is a slim metal tube with a chamfered end, which is easier to load and use than the forked versions in other kits. Inside the handle are 10 5.5cm-long tyre plugs – enough for multi-day trips. NO GOOD... The large insertion tool can widen small punctures, stopping the small plugs from being as effective as others on test. It'd be good to have some thicker plugs for larger holes. www.zyrofisher.co.uk SO GOOD... MaXalami’s kit comprises a forked insertion tool and eight tyre plugs in two sizes (3x 3.5mm, 8x 1.5mm), which can be used to repair a range of different size punctures. It’s stored in a plastic tube, which can be easily stowed in a jersey pocket or pack. The applicator is larger than many on test, which allows you to apply a reasonable amount of force when trying to insert a plug into smaller punctures. NO GOOD... More comprehensive kits are available at lower prices. The tube isn’t as robust as the Blackburn or Dynaplug cases. www.velodistribution.co.uk SO GOOD... Sahmurai supply a forked insertion tool and a reamer, both mounted on expanding bar end-plugs, allowing you to carry the kit discreetly. Six tyre plugs are provided. They’re fairly wide and among the longest on test, so you can cut them in half to double the number of repairs. The reamer opens up smaller holes nicely, allowing the plugs to be inserted. Once in place, they bond well. NO GOOD... There’s no tool to trim the free ends of the plugs. It’s expensive compared to its competitors. The bar end-plugs aren’t compatible with all grips. www.mtbriders.co.uk SO GOOD... As the most expensive kit on test, we expected the Pill to be a bit special – and weren’t disappointed. Housed in a compact, sealed aluminium capsule are two tubular insertion tools, five brass-tipped tyre plugs, a temporary air plug (used to reduce initial pressure loss) and a small knife. There’s also space for three more plugs. This is the easiest to use kit on test. NO GOOD... It’s expensive compared to functionally equivalent competitors. Fixing larger punctures isn’t as straightforward as with tools that fold the plug in half during insertion. www.dynaplug.com SO GOOD... The simplest and lightest repair kit on test only contains a small forked needle insertion tool and five small tyre plugs. Despite this minimalism, we were able to successfully repair punctured tyres with it, at a fraction of the price of its competitors. NO GOOD... A range of plug sizes would be useful and less fiddly than inserting multiple plugs into a single large puncture. It can be hard to get purchase and apply much force to the small insertion tool when repairing small holes. www.zyrofisher.co.uk SO GOOD... Weldtite’s comprehensive kit works as well as the Dynaplug Pill but at a much lower price. It includes a reamer, forked insertion tool, five large plugs, a blade for trimming them and a tube of rubber solution. Puncture repair is straightforward, with plug insertion aided by the lubricating solution. It seems to achieve a more robust seal quicker than the other kits, due to the bonds formed between the glue and rubber. NO GOOD... It’s bulky compared to the Dynaplug, although no larger than a traditional puncture repair kit. www.zyrofisher.co.uk