Ten months of development after the release of the hugely impressive Pocket Impero hand pump, the deep thinkers at Silca created the Tattico, a 'Tactical' mini-pump designed to be large enough to work properly and effectively, while being small enough in footprint that it can nearly disappear alongside a bottle cage on your high end bike. The Tattico is also the first Silca portable pump since the 1950's to use a hose. The designers cleverly positioned the hose inside the inner barrel where it is able to slide in and out of the end of the pump without being removed or having to thread in place; which really doesn't seem possible, but here it is. The hose attaches with a compression gasket activated by a small aluminum lever. In classic Silca fashion, the compression gasket is reversible for Presta or Schrader valves.

The Tattico has 4 unique design features that set it apart from every other compact mini-pump on the market. The first is the Inverted Design. Tattico is designed backwards from most pumps. The hose and valving is hidden inside the Inner tube rather than the outer cylinder, which keeps it contained, streamlined and effective.This also makes the Tattico more efficient by up to 10% more air per stroke compared to pumps of similar length. The second features is the Adaptable Cup Seal. Other pumps seal with o-rings, which are great when the pump is cold, but as heat builds and the cylinder grows, o-ring seals lose effectiveness. The Tattico Adaptable Cup Seal grows with the tube resulting in ultimate efficiency at all temperatures again ensuring absolute minimal air loss and saving you strokes. Heat is the enemy of all small pumps. Silca uses a Hidden Heat Sink to control temperatures. There is a heat sink hidden at the end of the barrel which absorbs a high percentage of heat generated when pumping. This keeps the rest of the pump cool, even at high pressures, which prevents gasket damage and a too-hot-to-handle pump barrel. This is assisted by the final feature, the Twin Tube Insulated Handle. The Tattico handle uses two thin alloy tubes separated by an insulating air gap to keep hands cool. This results in better grip and control without risk to hands even when inflating multiple tires to high pressures.

The construction and details are all what we have learned to expect and drool over from Silca. The high efficiency piston design is capable of 100 psi. Tattico is built with a machined 6061 Alloy barrel and knurled gripping surfaces. The 9½" closed length sits cleanly next to a large water bottle when clipped and strapped into the polymer cage boss mount. A well made, tethered rubber cap covers the hose access to keep road grime and water out of the pump. The long, extractable filler hose has a reversible locking Presta (also Dunlop)/Schrader chuck.

Silca also has a rubber gasket that when closed ideally sits under the sliding end of the pump's shaft overlap. This is really just for protection and to prevent rattling, and it generally needs to be shifted into place manually. The use of the pump can move it from it's ideal position. All you have to do is slide it back into place after use. This was the best way for the designers to to create a proper seal that is long-lasting and effective. Sometimes the best solutions aren't automatic. Really this is a sign of just how much attention to detail Silca applies to the Tattico. As a result of this process, and the overall effectiveness of this fantastic mini-pump, we highly recommend the Tattico.