Valves aren’t exactly the most exciting component, while riders will pour over suspension specs, drivetrain details, or carbon wheel weights when building a bike when it comes to valves usually whatever valve is at hand that is used.
Not all valves are created equally though and as tubeless tire setups have matured, the best tubeless tire valve tech has significantly advanced. Funn’s FastAir valve is one of these new-generation valves and comes with its own unique design features, specifically the ability to let air out quickly and easily by simply loosening the valve cap and pressing it.
Design
The valve design is actually very simple, it has an outer CNC-machined alloy threaded tube and a stainless steel inner tube which is held in place with a C-clip. The inner tube has a seal on one end that stops the air from escaping and a nicely machined valve cap with holes in it so air can escape when the cap is pressed.
The valve itself will only work with rim depths under 22mm and inner diameters over 17mm, which should mean all modern MTB rims will be compatible, although they will be too short mid to deep gravel rims. The end of the valve has a slotted section so that the valves are compatible with tire inserts.
The design works with CO2 and both push-on and screw-on pumps and other than removing the valve cap, doesn't require any fiddly screwing to open or close like a traditional Presta valve. There is no risk of unintentional valve core removal with screw-on pumps but make sure you don’t lose the valve cap though as it's specific to the FastAir design.
The entire valve can be disassembled too so if they become gummed up with tubeless sealant or dirt, you can give them a proper clean.
Performance
Fitting the valves to a rim is no different from a standard Presta valve and I found they gave a nice tight seal. Funn claims the valves offer three times the airflow and while I can’t verify that myself, they made light work of popping tires into place when setting up tubeless.
Releasing air is easy, unscrew the cap a little and you can purge a little air from your tires. Although they are high volume when putting air in it's simple enough to let just a little bit of air out at a time if you wish to make a quick adjustment at the top of a trail. This is a neat trick although if your tire pressure check involves a gauge rather than a good old-fashioned tire squeeze, you will still need to fully remove the valve cap.
Verdict
The Funn FastAir valves perform well, they feel very well made and deliver efficient airflow for easy tubeless setup and simplified and controlled deflation. The easy air release works well although if you are particular about your pressures you will still need to remove the cap which kind of renders the FastAir cap design a bit redundant.
Tech Specs: Funn FastAir valves
- Price: $35 / £TBC
- Weight: 7g (with valve and lock ring)
- Colors: Black
- Length: 47.5mm
