If you've ever worked with bicycle tubeless tires, you know that an air compressor hooked up to an inflator designed for bicycles is must. It's like the "easy button" for seating stubborn tubeless tires, and of course, they can handle all your day-to-day inflation needs as well.
Over the years, the Arundel Shop Inflator has been one of my most popular inflators, offering a good value and durable design. Now, in Fall 2024, Arundel has introduced a new, high-end inflator called the CNC Nugget. Let's take a look at how the new CNC Nugget stacks up and learn about the history of this product.
What is the Arundel CNC Nugget?
The CNC Nugget is an incredibly compact, lightweight, and well made inflator head for bicycles, designed for use with air compressors. It's manufactured by the Arundel Bicycle Company, a brand with more than 2 decades of experience. Many first learned of the Arundel name when their excellent carbon fiber water bottle cages began to appear on bikes in the pro peloton.
I personally first began using the Arundel Presta Shop Inflator to work on my own tubeless wheels and tires, and I've sold more of that model than any other inflator in the years since - a product I recommend without hesitation.
How much does the Arundel CNC Nugget cost?
You can get the CNC Nugget 3 ways: as a bare tool with no gauge, with an analog gauge, or with a digital gauge.
- CNC Nugget ($99)
- CNC Nugget with Analog Gauge ($124.95)
- CNC Nugget with Digital Gauge ($159.95)
How does the CNC Nugget compare to the (older) Arundel Shop Inflator?
The new CNC Nugget has some things in common with the Shop Inflator, as well as some differences.
How they are similar:
- Like the Arundel Shop Inflator, the CNC Nugget isn't convertible from presta to schrader. The Arundel Shop Inflator comes in a dedicated presta and dedicated schrader version. The new CNC Nugget is presta only and there is no schrader version available.
- Both use the same 1/4" I/M connector, the most common in use on home air compressor lines.
How they are different:
- The CNC Nugget is quite a bit smaller and more compact than the Shop Inflator, if you're working on a crowded workbench or shop.
- The CNC Nugget has optional, interchangeable gauges. You can get the CNC Nugget with no gauge at all, if you only need to seat and inflate tubeless tires. For your daily inflation needs which require a precise pressure, you can get the CNC Nugget with an analog or digital pressure gauge. The CNC Nugget without a gauge can be upgraded in the future by adding a gauge later on.
- The "classic" Shop Inflator always includes a gauge, but the gauge is optional on the CNC Nugget.
What about schrader valve users?
The Arundel CNC Nugget is a presta valve only tool and cannot be used or converted to schrader. However, the wonderful Arundel Shop Inflator for schrader is still available for those who need to work on schrader valves.