Disclosure: This article is sponsored by Aerogogo. We received the GIGA PUMP Air for free to test.But the manufacturer had no input on our testing results or final verdict.
Hiking is fun. However, blowing up a sleeping pad is not.
After a long day on the trail, the last thing I want to do is huff and puff into a valve until I get dizzy. It is the worst part of setting up camp. You just want to rest, not do a lung workout.
That is where the Aerogogo GIGA PUMP Air comes in.
It claims to fix the problem. The Pump is tiny and weighs almost nothing. However, there is a catch: it has no battery. To make it work, you have to plug it into a power bank..
Is the weight savings worth the hassle of being tethered to a wire?
Editor’s Note: This pump is unique enough that it made it onto our shortlist for the Best Camping Air Pumps list. See how it stacks up against the battery-powered competition there.
Aerogogo sent us two units to test – one silver and one orange. We took them out, plugged them in, and put them to work.
Here is what we found.
Specs & Design: GIGA PUMP Air – Tiny But Tough
When you pick this pump up, the first thing you notice is the size. It is tiny. To give you an idea, it is slightly bigger than a walnut but smaller than a chicken egg.
It is also featherlight. We put it on the scale, and it matches the claimed 1 oz (28 grams) perfectly.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | Spec |
| Weight | 28g (1 oz) |
| Size | 43mm x 43mm x 38mm |
| Inflation Pressure | 3.5 kPa |
| Deflation Pressure | 2.7 kPa |
| Air Flow | 300 L/min |
| Power Consumption | ~40 mAh/min |
| Power Supply | 5V / 2A |
| Connectivity | Built-in Type-C cable + Type-C Port |
| Included | 7 Nozzles |
Build Quality & The “Knife Test”
We tested two units: one Silver and one Orange. Usually, lightweight gear feels cheap or fragile. This does not.
Throughout all our testing, neither pump picked up a single scratch. But I wanted to be sure. I couldn’t tell if the orange model was just colored plastic or actually painted, so I took a knife and deliberately scratched the casing to check the coating.
The result? It is high-quality paint. The finish is thick and durable. I give the build quality a solid 5 out of 5.
The Cable Debate
The pump comes with its own USB-C cable. This is a bit of a debate in the ultralight community. Some people say it is “dead weight” because you are likely already carrying a charging cable for your phone.
Personally, I like that they included it. While my phone is always in my pocket, my charging cable is usually buried deep in my pack. Having a dedicated short cable makes setup faster.
Plus, we verified a killer feature: the GIGA PUMP Air works perfectly when powered directly from a smartphone. That little cable makes plugging it into your phone super easy.
The Nozzle Kit: One Pump for Everything
Most mini pumps come with just a few basic attachments. The GIGA PUMP Air includes a versatile set of 7 attachments to cover almost any situation:
- Rubber Air Nozzle: Because it is flexible, it creates a tight seal on camping mat valves (like Therm-a-Rest or Naturehike), so you don’t have to hold the pump perfectly still.
- Vacuum Air Nozzle: designed to attach to the intake vent for sucking air out of vacuum storage bags.
- Small, Medium, & Large Air Nozzles: These standard hard plastic nozzles fit everything from beach balls to guest air mattresses.
- Sharp Air Nozzle: A narrow tip useful for those tiny pinch valves found on swim rings or pillows.
- Pressure Booster Adapter: This is a unique “teamwork” connector. It allows you to connect two GIGA PUMP Air units together. Have you (or a hiking buddy) a second pump? you can link them to double the pressure output—perfect for heavier inflatables that need to be rock hard.
Having this variety solves the “does it fit?” anxiety. No matter what gear you have, one of these will likely seal it.
Noise Level
It isn’t silent, but it isn’t deafening either. We measured the sound level at 56 dB from 12 inches (30 cm) away, and 47 dB from 3.3 feet (1 meter) away.
Performance Testing: Does it Work?
Specs on paper are nice. But we wanted to see what this tiny pump could actually do.
We grabbed everything we could find – from a sleeping pad to a giant swimming pool – and put the GIGA PUMP Air to work.
1. The Camping Mattress (76” x 23”)
This is the main reason you buy this pump. We tested it on a standard hiking mat.
- Time: 1:30 – 1:44 minutes.
- Verdict: It is fast. Doing this by mouth usually takes 3 to 5 minutes and leaves you lightheaded. The pump did it without breaking a sweat.
2. Inflatable Ring (32” Diameter)
Next, we tried a medium-sized swim ring.
- Time: 1:20 – 1:45 minutes.
3. Large Guest Mattress (Intex 39” x 75” x 10”)
This is a thick air bed you use for guests. It holds a lot of air.
- Time: 3:45 – 4:10 minutes.
- Verdict: We were surprised. Even with a large volume of air, the tiny motor kept going strong.
4. The “Boss Fight”: The Kids’ Pool
The pool is massive (8’7” x 62” x 18”).
Of course, it is not really pool season right now. But since we already tested the ring, we decided to test the pool too. Inflating these by hand is usually a nightmare.
- Bottom Ring: 6.5 minutes.
- Fully Inflated: 13.5 minutes.
It took a while, but the pump did not overheat. It filled the whole thing.
The Best Part: Deflation
Inflating the pool was impressive, but deflating it was the coolest part.
Usually, you have to roll around on the plastic to squeeze the air out. We switched the nozzle to the intake vent, and the pump sucked the air out of the pool in just 2 minutes. It made packing up incredibly easy.
Real-World Performance Test Results
| Item Tested | Dimensions | Inflation Time |
| Swim Ring | 32” (81 cm) | 1:20 – 1:45 min |
| Camping Mat | 76” x 23” (192 x 58 cm) | 1:30 – 1:44 min |
| Guest Air Bed | 39” x 75” x 10” | 3:45 – 4:10 min |
| Pool (Bottom Ring) | 8’7” x 62” x 18” | 6.5 min |
| Pool (Full) | 8’7” x 62” x 18” | 13.5 min |
| Pool Deflation | Full Volume | 2.0 min |
The Endurance Test
Small motors often overheat and burn out. We wanted to see if this one would survive a stress test.
We plugged it into a power bank and let it run continuously. It worked for 40 minutes straight until the power bank ran out of battery. The pump didn’t stop once. This proves it can handle big jobs (like the pool) without any issues.
Bonus Feature: The Fire Starter
This pump does not just move air; it moves it fast (300 L/min). That makes it an amazing tool for campfires.
We tried it on a barbecue. It heated up the charcoal in seconds. The powerful airflow is also perfect for stoking a dying campfire, effectively acting as an electric bellows.
A quick warning: It is made of plastic. Do not get the nozzle too close to the fire, or it will melt!
The Wired Reality: Is the Cable Annoying?
This is the biggest question about the GIGA PUMP Air. It has no battery. You must plug it in.
Is that a problem?
If you are hiking, you probably already carry a power bank for your phone. Since you have the power bank anyway, the pump uses it to save weight. It is smart engineering.
But the real game-changer is using your phone.
Because it uses very little power (about 40 mAh per minute), you can plug the pump directly into your smartphone. It works perfectly. We tested this, and it makes the pump feel much more convenient. You don’t need to dig for your battery pack; just use the device in your pocket.
Pros & Cons
Here is a quick summary of what we liked and what we didn’t.
Pros
- Insanely Light: It weighs only 1 oz (28g). You won’t feel it in your pack.
- Very Fast: 300 L/min is strong. It inflates a mat in under 2 minutes.
- Durable: We scratched it with a knife. The paint held up perfectly.
- Deflation Power: It sucks the air out of pools and mats quickly.
- Phone Compatible: Works great powered by a smartphone.
- Fire Starter: Great for BBQ charcoal.
Cons
- The Wire: You are tethered to a power source. You cannot just walk around with it.
- The Sound: It is not deafening (56 dB at 12 inches), but the high-pitched whine can still be annoying in a quiet forest.
- No Light: Unlike the battery versions (GIGA Pump 2.0 or 4.0), this one does not have a camping lantern built-in.
Verdict: Should You Buy It?
The Aerogogo GIGA PUMP Air is a piece of gear for a specific type of person.
Buy it if:
- You are an ultralight hiker who counts every gram.
- You already carry a power bank.
- You hate blowing up mats by mouth.
For us, the weight savings are worth it. It is tiny, tough, and saves your lungs after a long hike.
For more details and current pricing, visit the official product page at Aerogogo GIGA Pump Air.
Still not sure? Compare this against the competition in our detailed review of the Best Air Pump for Camping.
