In the past few years, it seems that many brands in the industry have been doing their best to kill off the ubiquitous Presta valve. Or — as my colleague so astutely observed — they are just trying to get us to buy THEIR valves. We’ve written about no fewer than 8 different alt-valves or valve adapters, all promising increased airflow, less clogging, user-friendliness, etc. Now, we can add Topeak to that list with its new TurboFlow Valve Adapters.
Similar to some other Presta valve replacements that we’ve seen, such as the Clik Valve, the BBB CoreCap, and the Capless Speed Valve, Topeak’s TurboFlow is sold as an adapter that attaches to your existing valve stems. On Topeak’s global website, there are complete valve kits with TurboFlow heads, coming in 45, 60, and 80mm lengths. At present, Topeak’s U.S. site lists only the TurboFlow Adapter kit, sold with or without the brand’s RapidHead combo.
TurboFlow Valve Details
Topeak’s new valves appear to have a fairly simple design. The body of the TurboFlow adapter threads onto the outside of your existing Presta valve stem (assuming it has external threads). The valve itself is a fairly wide, hollow tube with a stopper at the bottom, inside the housing. The valve has a lock nut at its tip that holds the stopper closed when tightened and allows the valve to open (slide up and down) when loosened.
If there is any air pressure in the tire, the force will push the stopper closed, preventing air from escaping, even when the lock nut is loosened (I wouldn’t leave it loosened when riding, though). When depressed, either with your finger or the force of air pumped into the valve, the larger diameter valve opening and simple, open design reportedly allow for three times the airflow of Presta valves. This is intended to make pressure adjustments or installing tubeless tires quicker and easier, and it should also reduce the likelihood and frequency of sealant clogging.
Weight
The TurboFlow Adapters look kinda chunky, and I expected them to weigh more than the number on the scale. For the pair, including the caps, they weighed just 3.65 grams or roughly 1.83 grams per wheel. For comparison, the Presta cores and caps they replaced weighed 3.35 grams for the pair. That’s just a 0.3 gram total weight penalty, which is less than I expected and essentially negligible.
Installation
Like other Presta valve replacements, installing the Topeak TurboFlow valves takes only a few minutes. All you’ve got to do is deflate your tires, remove the Presta valve cores with the included valve core removal tool, which is made from aluminum, I might add. Then thread the new TurboFlow adapters on your valve stems by hand, no tool needed for this step. I’ll reiterate that these adapters require a valve stem with external threads to be compatible.
In Use
In use, the TurboFlow isn’t all that much different than a Presta valve, meaning you need to remove the cap and tighten and loosen the valve’s lock nut when inflating tires. The valve itself, however, seems quite a bit less fragile than Presta valve tips and significantly less likely to bend or break if treated carelessly.
When pumping or releasing air, there is a MASSIVE difference in the amount of airflow. I can’t say with any certainty if its 300% or 3x greater, but air flows very freely through the valve. In terms of airflow, it seems on par with the Reserve Fillmore, and I’d say slightly greater than the Clik valve, based on feel alone.
I tried multiple pump heads, including Topeak’s new RapidHead, the Topeak TwinHead, and the heads on my Feedback Sports Pneuma and Blackburn Chamber floor pumps, and it was compatible with all of them. The threads on the tip of the TurboFlow match those of Presta valves, so thread-on Presta heads, like the one on my electric mini-pump, are also compatible.
I’ve only just installed the TurboFlow valves on my bike, so I can’t say whether they’ll be clog-free or not. Given the design and airflow rate, however, they seem like they should be significantly less problematic in that regard. Time will tell.
My First Impressions
Topeak’s new TurboFlow valves are an interesting new addition to the fast-growing alt-valve market. Compared to Presta, they don’t exactly score points for user-friendliness with threaded caps and lock nuts required to open and close the valves. But as the TurboFlow name suggests, they absolutely deliver on their claims of increased airflow, which might be a compelling enough reason to make the switch. So far, the design appears much less prone to damage and getting clogged with sealant. They’re super easy to install, and they worked just fine with every pump in my garage.
TurboFlow Valves: Pricing and Availability
Interested in becoming part of the Turbo Team? In the U.S. market, Topeak sells its TurboFlow Adapter kit for $34.95, which includes two valves, two caps, and an aluminum valve core removal tool. They also sell the TurboFlow Valve Combo with RapidHead for $52.95, which includes the full adapter kit plus Topeak’s super user-friendly new pump head. The RapidHead replaces the head on your floor pump with a click-on and click-off design that is super quick and easy to use.