Been using the Flextail ZERO PUMP for vacuum compressing clothes when I travel. As a backpacker, space is everything. This tiny pump saves me so much luggage space it’s crazy.
Bought it at Outdoor Life Singapore for SGD $70. Suction isn’t super strong but good enough to compress 15+ vacuum bags per charge. Reduces bag volume to 1/3 original size.
Quick Review Summary
| Category | Rating/Details |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 4/5 |
| Price (Outdoor Life SG) | SGD $70 |
| Weight | 96g (super lightweight) |
| Battery Capacity | 650mAh |
| Runtime | 25 minutes continuous |
| Suction Power | 2.5 kPa (180 L/min airflow) |
| Bags Per Charge | 15+ medium vacuum bags (still has juice left) |
| Compression Time | ~20 seconds per bag |
| Space Savings | Reduces to 1/3 original volume |
| Best Feature | Tiny size, USB-C charging, replaceable battery |
| Main Issue | Suction not super strong compared to manual pumps |
| Tested With | Medium 60x80cm vacuum bags |
Why I Bought This Pump
I’m a backpacker. Travel light, carry-on only, no checked bags. Every liter of space matters.
The problem? Clothes take up massive space. 3 t-shirts, 3 shorts, 5 underwear – that’s already half my 40L backpack gone. No space left for camera gear, electronics, toiletries.
Vacuum compression bags solve this. But manual hand pumps are exhausting. Pumping 5 bags manually takes like 5 minutes of arm workout. Plus you gotta carry the bulky hand pump.
Saw the Flextail ZERO PUMP at Outdoor Life. World’s smallest electric vacuum pump. 96g. USB-C rechargeable. Can compress multiple bags per charge.
SGD $70 is steep for a pump. But if it saves me from checked baggage fees ($50-80 per flight), pays for itself in one trip.
What Is Flextail ZERO PUMP?
The ZERO PUMP is a ultra-compact electric pump designed for camping sleeping pads. But it works perfect for vacuum compression bags too (just run it in reverse suction mode).
It’s basically a tiny cylinder – 75mm long, 26mm diameter. About the size of lipstick tube or mini flashlight.
Key Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 75 x 26mm (2.95″ x 1.02″) |
| Weight | 96g (3.38 oz) |
| Battery Type | CR123A replaceable battery (650mAh) |
| Battery Capacity | 2.4Wh |
| Runtime | 25 minutes continuous |
| Max Pressure | 2.5 kPa |
| Airflow | 180 L/min |
| Charging | USB-C |
| Modes | Inflate / Deflate (vacuum) |
| Nozzle Adapters | 6 different sizes included |
| Material | Aluminum alloy body |
Source: Flextail official specs, Outdoor Life Singapore, T3 review
What’s In The Box
- Flextail ZERO PUMP
- CR123A rechargeable battery (pre-installed)
- 6x nozzle adapters (different sizes)
- USB-C charging cable
- Storage pouch
- User manual
How I Use It – Packing for Travel
My typical backpacking loadout for 1-week trip:
- 3x t-shirts
- 3x shorts
- 5x underwear
- 1x light jacket
- Socks
Without compression: Takes up about 15-18 liters of backpack space. That’s almost half my 40L bag.
With Flextail ZERO PUMP + vacuum bags: Reduces to about 5-6 liters. Saves me 10+ liters of precious backpack space.
My Packing Process
- Roll clothes tightly and stuff into medium vacuum bag (60x80cm)
- Seal the bag ziplock, leaving valve port open
- Attach Flextail pump to valve (use appropriate nozzle adapter)
- Switch to deflate/vacuum mode
- Turn on pump – takes about 20 seconds to fully compress
- Remove pump, seal valve cap
Total time to compress 5 bags: About 2 minutes. Way faster than manual pumping which takes 10+ minutes and kills your arms.
Real World Performance
Compression Power – Good Enough But Not Amazing
Here’s the honest take: the suction isn’t super strong.
With 2.5 kPa pressure and 180 L/min airflow, it gets the job done. But manual hand pumps can create tighter vacuum because you can keep pumping until you can’t pump anymore.
The Flextail reaches its max suction (2.5 kPa) and stops. That’s good enough to compress clothes to about 1/3 original volume. But if you want ultra-tight brick-hard compression, manual pump might be better.
Real world example:
- Unpacked clothes: 15L volume
- After Flextail compression: ~5L volume
- After manual pump compression: ~4L volume (slightly better)
So the Flextail gets you 70% of the compression that manual pumps achieve. The trade-off? You save 10 minutes of arm workout and don’t have to carry bulky manual pump.
For me, that trade-off is worth it.
Battery Life – 15+ Bags Per Charge
Flextail claims 25 minutes runtime. In real use, I can compress 15 medium vacuum bags and still have battery left.
Each bag takes about 20 seconds to compress. So 5 bags = 100 seconds = less than 2 minutes of actual pump time.
The 25 min runtime means theoretically you could compress way more bags. But in practice, 5-8 bags per charge is realistic for travel packing.
That’s more than enough for one packing session. I never pack more than 5 bags at once anyway.
Speed – 20 Seconds Per Bag
The 180 L/min airflow is decent. Medium 60x80cm vacuum bag with 3 t-shirts and shorts compresses fully in about 20 seconds.
Compare that to:
- Manual hand pump: 2-3 minutes per bag (tiring)
- Home vacuum cleaner: 5-10 seconds (faster but you can’t travel with it)
- Larger travel electric pumps: 15-20 seconds (similar speed but bulkier)
So the Flextail is competitive on speed considering its tiny size.
Size & Portability – This Is The Selling Point
At 96g and 75mm long, the ZERO PUMP is ridiculously small.
Size comparison:
- Flextail ZERO PUMP: 96g, fits in palm
- Manual hand pump: ~200g, bulky cylinder
- Standard electric vacuum pump: 300-500g, won’t fit in carry-on easily
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: 227g (heavier than Flextail)
The Flextail fits in my backpack side pocket. Doesn’t take up luggage space. I barely notice it’s there.
Manual pumps are bulky and annoying to pack. The Flextail is so small I can even put it in jacket pocket.
Build Quality & Design
Aluminum alloy body feels solid. Not cheap plastic. Matte black finish looks professional.
The pump has simple one-button control. Press once to turn on inflate mode. Press again to switch to deflate/vacuum mode. Press and hold to turn off.
LED indicator shows battery status – green (good), yellow (medium), red (low battery).
The nozzle adapters snap on securely. 6 different sizes cover pretty much all valve types – vacuum bags, sleeping pads, pool floats, etc.
USB-C Charging
Charges via USB-C. Takes about 1-1.5 hours to full charge from empty.
This is convenient cause I already carry USB-C cables for phone and other devices. Don’t need separate charger.
Replaceable Battery
The CR123A battery is replaceable. If battery dies after years of use, just swap in new battery instead of throwing away entire pump.
You can also buy spare batteries for extended trips. Though honestly one charge is enough for most travel packing needs.
Vacuum Bag Compatibility
Works with any vacuum compression bag that has standard valve. I use medium 60x80cm bags – they’re perfect size for one outfit set (top, bottom, underwear).
Recommended Bag Sizes
| Bag Size | Best For | Compression Time |
|---|---|---|
| Small (50x60cm) | 2-3 items, underwear, socks | ~15 seconds |
| Medium (60x80cm) | 1 outfit set (3 items), my go-to | ~20 seconds |
| Large (80x100cm) | Jackets, bulky sweaters, towels | ~30 seconds |
| XL (100x130cm) | Comforters, pillows (not for backpacking) | ~45 seconds |
For backpacking, I stick with small and medium bags. Large bags are too big for carry-on backpacks.
The Suction Power Issue
This is why I gave 4/5 instead of 5/5: suction power isn’t super strong.
At 2.5 kPa, it’s enough for travel clothes compression. But if you’re packing really bulky items like winter jackets or down comforters, it struggles.
I tested it on thick fleece jacket – the pump took about 40 seconds and jacket still had some air pockets. Manual pump could squeeze it tighter.
When Flextail works well:
- T-shirts, shorts, regular clothes
- Light jackets, windbreakers
- Underwear, socks
- Quick-dry travel fabrics
When it’s not ideal:
- Thick winter coats
- Down jackets (takes longer)
- Puffy comforters
- Wool sweaters (too bulky)
For most backpacker travel clothes, it’s fine. But don’t expect industrial-strength vacuum compression.
Source: Personal testing, comparison with manual pump
Cost Analysis – Worth It For Frequent Travelers
Flextail ZERO PUMP: SGD $70 (Outdoor Life Singapore) Vacuum bags (5-pack medium): SGD $15-25 (Shopee/Lazada) Total setup: ~SGD $90
How It Pays For Itself
| Scenario | Without Compression | With Compression | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget airline (need check bag) | $50-80 per flight | $0 (fits carry-on) | $50-80 per trip |
| Overweight baggage fee | $30-100 surcharge | $0 (lighter bag) | $30-100 per trip |
| Bigger suitcase needed | $150-300 (larger luggage) | $0 (smaller bag works) | $150-300 one-time |
If you travel 2-3 times per year on budget airlines, the Flextail pays for itself in 1-2 trips just from avoided baggage fees.
For me as frequent traveler, this was no-brainer purchase.
Alternatives to Consider
| Option | Price | Weight | Pros/Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flextail ZERO PUMP | $70 | 96g | Super compact, USB-C charging / Weaker suction |
| Manual hand pump | $10-20 | ~200g | Cheap, stronger suction / Tiring, bulky, slow |
| Generic electric pump | $25-40 | 300-500g | Cheaper, decent power / Bulkier, non-replaceable battery |
| Flextail Tiny Pump 2X | $80-100 | ~150g | More powerful, has lantern / Bigger, more expensive |
| Vacuum cleaner at home | Free (if you own) | N/A | Strongest suction / Can’t travel with it |
My take: If you want cheapest option and don’t mind manual pumping, get hand pump. If you want best compression-to-size ratio for travel, Flextail ZERO PUMP is worth the premium.
Source: Shopee/Lazada pricing, Garage Grown Gear comparison review
Who Should Buy This Pump?
Get it if:
- You’re a backpacker who needs max luggage space
- You travel carry-on only (no checked bags)
- You pack 5+ vacuum bags regularly
- You hate manual pumping (tiring and time-consuming)
- You want portable electric pump that fits in backpack
- You travel frequently (2+ times per year)
- You’re okay spending $70 for convenience
Skip it if:
- You rarely travel (manual pump is cheaper)
- You only pack 1-2 bags (manual is fine)
- You need super strong compression (manual pump better)
- You’re on tight budget (get $10 hand pump instead)
- You pack bulky winter gear (need stronger pump)
- You don’t care about pump size (get cheaper electric pump)
Where to Buy in Singapore
Outdoor Life Singapore: SGD $70 (where I bought mine)
- Location: Multiple outlets (Plaza Singapura, Tampines 1, JEM)
- Website: outdoorlife.com.sg
- Can see and test product before buying
Online Options:
- Shopee Singapore: SGD $65-80 (depends on seller)
- Lazada Singapore: SGD $70-85
- Planet Traveller: Check in-store availability
- Flextail official website: Ships from overseas (may have customs/shipping fees)
Pro tip: Buy from local retailer like Outdoor Life for warranty support. If pump has issues, can exchange/repair in Singapore instead of shipping back overseas.
Source: Outdoor Life pricing Dec 2025, Shopee/Lazada listings
Tips for Best Results
Get maximum compression:
- Roll clothes tightly before putting in bag (removes air already)
- Don’t overfill bag – leave 20% empty space for easier sealing
- Press down on bag while pump is running (helps remove trapped air)
- Use quality vacuum bags with good seal (cheap bags leak air slowly)
- After pumping, press bag flat to remove last bits of air, then seal valve
Battery maintenance:
- Charge fully before trips
- Don’t let battery sit empty for months (charge every 2-3 months if not using)
- Carry USB-C cable for emergency charging at airport/hotel
Packing strategy:
- Separate by outfit sets (makes unpacking easier)
- Keep one change of clothes uncompressed for easy access
- Put compressed bags at bottom of backpack (creates flat base)
- Stack heavier items on top of vacuum bags (they’re soft, won’t crush)
Final Verdict – 4/5
After using the Flextail ZERO PUMP for multiple trips, it’s become essential part of my travel gear.
What I love:
- Ridiculously small and light (96g, fits anywhere)
- Battery lasts 5+ compression bags per charge
- 20 seconds per bag – fast and effortless
- USB-C charging (no special cables)
- Saves me 10+ liters of backpack space
- No more manual pumping (my arms thank me)
- Replaceable battery means long product lifespan
- 6 nozzle adapters work with all vacuum bag types
What could be better:
- Suction power only 2.5 kPa (manual pumps can squeeze tighter)
- Struggles with bulky winter gear
- Price is steep at SGD $70 (but worth it for frequent travelers)
- Battery not swappable mid-trip without spare (though 5+ bags per charge is plenty)
Rating: 4/5
The missing 1 point is purely the weaker suction compared to manual pumps. If they boost it to 4-5 kPa, this would be perfect 5/5.
But for its size and convenience, the Flextail ZERO PUMP is unbeatable. No other electric pump comes close to this portability.
Worth SGD $70? For frequent backpackers and carry-on travelers – absolutely yes. The space savings alone make it worth the investment. Plus avoiding one checked baggage fee already pays for the pump.
For occasional travelers who pack light – maybe not necessary. A $10 manual pump would work fine.
But if you’re like me and travel every month with carry-on only, this pump is a game-changer. Reduces my packing volume by 1/3, gives me room for more camera gear and tech, and saves me from arm workout every time I pack.
Just manage your expectations on suction power. It’s good enough for clothes, but not industrial-strength compression. That’s the trade-off for having the world’s smallest electric vacuum pump.
Source: Personal multi-trip testing experience, backpacking use case
