A Sub-Ounce Electric Inflator
Nitecore’s new AP01 micro-inflator weighs 0.77 ounces, or 22 grams, and is designed to fill a personal sleeping pad in as little as 75 seconds, according to New Atlas. The device measures about 1.6 inches long by 1.2 inches across and comes with five nozzles for different valve types.
The AP01 is notable because it gets lighter by removing a component many users expect in portable electronics: the onboard battery. Instead, it relies on an external power source. That design choice makes the product more than a camping accessory. It reflects a broader modular-power trend in small gear, where users already carrying power banks or other USB power sources can avoid duplicating batteries across every device.
Why Weight Matters In This Market
For ultralight backpackers, grams are design constraints. Every item must justify its place because small savings compound across a full kit. Electric inflators have become useful for sleeping pads because they reduce effort, avoid introducing breath moisture into pads, and speed up camp setup. But if the pump itself is too heavy, some users will choose manual inflation instead.
New Atlas frames the AP01 against a competitive field of tiny inflators, including Nitecore’s earlier AP05C and Flextail’s lightweight pumps. The AP05C weighed about one ounce and included its own battery. The AP01 drops close to 25% below that weight by shifting power storage outside the device.
