Silca Viaggio Travel Pump Review

by Sheri Rosenbaum

Hot

• Sturdy and well made
• Compact yet provides volumes of air
• Schrader chuck + HIRO locking Presta chuck
• Side-lever chuck means it fits where other chucks/adapters won’t
• Free iGauge app with road, mountain, shock gauges and battery level

Not

• At almost 3 pounds, on the heavier side for a travel
• Struggled to remove handle for storage
• iGauge app doesn’t work on a flip phone
• Pricey

https://Silca.cc

Price: $275 MSRP

Weight: 2.95 lbs/1.34 kg

Length: 57cm

Max PSI: 220

How obtained: Sample from company

Availability: Online

RBR advertiser: No

Tested: Weeklong cycling trip

Viaggio = Travel

We recently flew to Tucson for a week of cycling. Not wanting to haul a full-size floor pump in our luggage, nor wanting to use a small hand-held pump, we opted on Silca’s Viaggio Travel pump (Viaggio is Italian for travel). Weighing in at 2.95 lbs, it isn’t the lightest option but it sure was a great one. Having a sturdy, floor pump to quickly top off 4 tires every morning was invaluable.

Precise, One Handed HIRO Chuck

Honestly, I never think much about my tire pump’s chuck unless it doesn’t work.  From the first use of the Viaggio pump I was amazed at how precise and easy the chuck was to use. It fits almost any length stem and securely locks in place for an airtight seal. It also is one of the easiest chucks to remove from a Presta valve because of a built-in spring that releases the grip when the lever is opened. For aero disc wheel users, the side-lever of the HIRO chuck means it fits where other chucks/adapters won’t.

The fact that the HIRO fits any length valve was a life saver. On one of my road bikes I have aero wheels with valve extenders. My 3 floor pumps at home wont lock onto the stem. Only the HIRO chuck locks on and stay on.

For detailed information on Silca’s HIRO chuck, check out Jim Langley’s issue of RBR here.

Travel and Packability

At 57 cm and retractable feet, I easily fit the Viaggio pump in a standard suitcase. I found it difficult to attach/detach the handle, so I chose to just leave it on. I also figured if TSA looked inside my suitcase they’d immediately recognize it as a bike pump and not an explosive device. The feet fold up too, which reduces the overall size.

iGauge App for Accurate Inflation

To keep the weight down and maintain a smaller footprint, the Viaggio pump uses the iGauge app to display pressure. It’s a Bluetooth® enabled gauge, accurate within 1%, and pairs with the pump. I downloaded it on my iPhone X and Mitch used it on his Galaxy. It was simple to pair the app and it worked great on both model phones. The large display lets you lay the phone on the ground and easily see the numbers while pumping.

The app supports units in PSI, BAR and KG/CM² which is great for road, MTB and shocks. There’s also a battery power detection so you know when it’s time to change the battery. The pump uses a CR2032 battery which Silca provides. Unfortunately, if you still have a flip phone, you’ll need to use a handheld pressure gauge or guestimate to determine PSI.

Just one note, when you are done using the app, be sure to close it because it doesn’t time out and close the phone like other apps. 

Travel and Tool Bag

Silca includes a very nice waxed-canvas tool bag that stores the pump and any tools you may need when traveling. It includes carrying straps for added convenience. I chose not to take the bag with to avoid any extra weight, plus we were staying in the same location all week and wouldn’t need to move around with the pump.

Bottom Line

If you need a travel floor pump that is easy to use, durable and moves a good amount of air, the Silca Viaggio is worth a look. The high-quality workmanship will give you years of reliable service, but the high price tag may put it out of reach for some cyclists. My first experience using a Silca product was a truly positive one. We used the Viaggio pump on a recent cycling trip and was very happy not using a small hand pump every morning.