Wild CampingFlextailCamping Pump

Flextail Max Pump 3 review: the pocket pump and lantern that takes the faff out of camp

Inflates and deflates in seconds, doubles as a proper tent light and weighs just 160g. The catch is that it’s a touch bulkier than the ultralight pumps.

There’s nothing worse than investing in a premium sleep system and then having to blow it up by hand at the end of a long day. We’ve been using the Flextail Max Pump 3 to put a stop to that, and it’s a tool we think any camper with an insulated mat should seriously consider.

✓  Top PickFlextail Max Pump 3 Weight160gChargingUSB-CRRP£44.99 The good✓  Inflates and deflates mats in seconds
✓  Bright, multi-mode lantern with red light
✓  Tougher casing and stronger hanging clip
✓  Strong battery life
✓  Packs smaller than a tennis ball
✓  Multiple nozzles for most mats
The not-so-good✗  A little chunkier than ultralight pumps
✗  Heavier than the lightest rivals
Check out the Flextail Max Pump 3 →

At a glance

Overview

The Max Pump 3 is built to make camp life easier. It’s a lightweight, pocket-sized pump that inflates and deflates sleeping mats, and it doubles as a compact lantern. Blowing up a mat by mouth is a faff at the end of a long day, and every breath also introduces moisture into the mat, which can lead to mould growing inside insulated mattresses. That’s a genuine hygiene issue, and a pump like this sidesteps it entirely.

Flextail has built a strong reputation in the lightweight pump category, and the Max Pump 3 is becoming a community favourite among backpackers. It comes with a tougher build than previous models and a bright multi-mode lantern, so one small tool covers several camp chores.

A note on price

At £44.99 we think the Max Pump 3 is excellent value. It’s cheaper than some ultralight competitors while offering more features, better durability and strong battery life. You’re effectively getting a reliable mini pump and a versatile lantern in one package, and it saves time, protects your mat from moisture damage and gives you light when you need it. It punches above its weight class, at a price that won’t sting.

How we tested

We started with a weekend camp in Dartmoor National Park, inflating an Exped SynMat several times and using the lantern for cooking at dusk. The weather was mixed and the conditions damp, and the pump shrugged off the splashes and cool air.

Next came a three-night wild camping trip along the South West Coast Path, where we used it daily to inflate and deflate our mattress and as our main tent light. The lantern battery lasted the whole trip without a recharge.

Finally, we took it on a van camping trip in Cornwall. It inflated two mattresses and, after a leisure battery failure, served as the light inside the van, which shows how handy it is as a backup source of light.

Features and performance

Inflation and deflation

This is the job it’s built for, and it does it in seconds. That matters more than it sounds, because it saves energy at the end of a long hike when the last thing you want is to be puffing into a valve. Deflation is just as quick, which speeds up pack down in the morning. The box quotes an airflow of 500 L/min, which fits with how quickly it works in practice.

Ease of use is exceptional. One button powers it on, and the included nozzles cover most standard camping mats, as well as other inflatables. The USB-C port sits between the P and L markings on the side, and the deflation mode is just as simple. We put it through its paces repeatedly on an Exped SynMat.

“It takes the faff out of blowing up mats, and gives you a reliable lantern in the same gadget.”

The lantern

The lantern is a genuine second reason to buy it rather than a gimmick. It’s bright enough for cooking, with dim and red light modes for the tent, and the brightness settings are intuitive. Using it as our main tent light for three nights on the coast path, without needing a recharge, told us all we needed to know.

Build, battery and size: the catch

Flextail has toughened this model up, with a sturdier casing and a stronger hanging clip than earlier versions. It also charges over USB-C, and the battery life is a huge upgrade over older mini pumps: it comfortably inflates and deflates several mats and still powers the lantern through long nights. It’s splash proof too, with IPX water resistance, which suited the damp conditions we used it in.

The trade-off is size and weight. At 160g it’s featherweight by most standards, and it packs down smaller than a tennis ball, but it is slightly chunkier than Flextail’s older ultralight pump. We’d call it lightweight but solid rather than ultralight, which makes sense given the durability upgrades, and the lantern and tougher casing justify the extra grams. If you’re counting every gram, it isn’t the lightest pump you can buy.

How it compares

The Max Pump 3 isn’t the lightest pump around, but we think it’s the most practical. The Klymit Electric Pump weighs the same 160g and costs a little less at £39.99, but it only offers simple inflation and deflation, has a weaker battery and has no lantern. The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Mini Pump is a featherweight 65g at £40.00, but inflation is much slower and it can’t deflate. At the other end, the Exped Widget Pump has powerful inflation, a 365 lumen lantern and a power bank function, but it’s bigger and heavier at 193g and costs £69.00. Of the lot, the Max Pump 3 is the one we’d pick, for its mix of speed, light, battery life and durability at a fair price.

Ready for your next adventure?Sleep wild in Britain’s most beautiful national parksJoin guided wild camping adventures across the Scottish Highlands, Dartmoor, Eryri and more.Browse wild camping trips →

Our verdictA clever, tough little pump that earns its place in the tent bag.The Flextail Max Pump 3 is an outstanding all-rounder. It takes the faff out of blowing up mats, speeds up pack down and adds a reliable lantern, all in one gadget that packs smaller than a tennis ball. It isn’t the absolute lightest mini pump, but it’s arguably the most practical thanks to its robust casing, multiple settings and excellent battery life.The only real catch is the slight increase in size and weight compared with the ultralight options, and for most campers we think the trade-off is well worth it. For anyone looking to cut weight without cutting convenience, this feels like a genuine step up from earlier versions.Check out the Flextail Max Pump 3 →

FAQs

How easy is the Flextail Max Pump 3 to inflate and deflate a mat with?Very easy. One button powers it on, the included nozzles fit most standard camping mats, and the deflation mode is just as simple. It inflates a mat in seconds.

How good is the Flextail Max Pump 3 lantern?It’s bright enough for cooking, with dim and red light modes for use inside the tent. On a three-night trip using it as our main tent light, the battery lasted without a recharge.

How long does the Flextail Max Pump 3 battery last?Long enough to inflate and deflate several mats and power the lantern through long nights. It charges over USB-C, and it’s a big upgrade on older mini pumps.

How heavy and packable is the Flextail Max Pump 3?It weighs 160g and packs down smaller than a tennis ball. It’s slightly chunkier than Flextail’s older ultralight pump, but compact for something that’s both a pump and a lantern.

Is the Flextail Max Pump 3 worth the money?We think so. At £44.99 it’s cheaper than some ultralight rivals while offering a lantern, better durability and strong battery life, so you’re effectively buying a pump and a light in one.