Review: Stan’s DART Tool

(2021) Having recently migrated to tubeless road I have winced many times shortly after rolling through glittery shards of glass, no doubt left after a careless recycling bin toss into the truck. It’s not the tires I worry about, but how I plan to fix it. For the past two years I have rolled with an old standby solution - or two - and hoped for the best. That is until a lightweight companion joined my cycling wallet.

For years prior to switching to tubeless I heard countless converted roadies proudly announce they carry spare tubes not for themselves, but for anyone else who punctures within the group. Fearing putting the whammy on myself I avoided such a proclamation. I imagined getting halfway through the boast before a double dish of hissing would cause a peloton giggle. But honestly, I carried a tube to fool myself that I was prepared for any issue on the road. Given the immense struggle of tubeless install, I knew options were limited if a gash occurred. 

The white plastic tip is designed to anchor itself into the tubeless tire along with the surrounding material (the dark black substance below the tip).

My tubeless cycling wallet mirrored my clincher days: I have various sizes of plastic dog food bag boots cut by yours truly. They work 100 times better than dollar bills, and they are free. I also have tire levers, a spare tube, and a CO2 inflator. My bike stepped into contemporary circles while my wallet stayed behind. Would I really be able to discard the sealant properly to install a tube should something happen? Furthermore, if a tubeless tire won't seal itself, how big of a tear are we talking here? If a hole is too big for sealant it is probably going to continue the struggle with a tube installed. My other solution is to call the team car.

Today the cycling wallet has been updated. There is still the inflator. That is necessary no matter what. But after jettisoning the tube and levers, a miniscule solution has taken both items’ place. Stan’s DART Tool now stands ready for any large puncture. And if I get it wrong in the first try, or the tire is really having a bad day, Stan’s offers two pieces of material. The vessel also features a valve core remover, giving the rider the best chance at getting back on the road.

How it works is simple. After locating the large puncture and the DART tool’s cap is removed, the plastic tip is crammed into the tear along with the material. Having spun the wheel around to coat the hole with sealant on the inside, the casing is ready to be inflated again. It might look odd to have material hanging out of the tire wound but Stan’s states this is normal and the material will wear down as the ride home progresses. If one has a spare bottle of Stan’s sealant, the valve core remover can be pressed into action for extra security. The little tool can save a ride.

Stan’s DART Tool comes with two tips each with a clear cap, a built in valve core remover if more sealant is necessary, and an ergonomic design for ease of use.

With its ergonomic shape, some questions might arise to criticisms and one popped up regularly: the cost. At $25 USD (currently) some have scoffed at the pricetag for such a small plastic tool featuring two DART tips and valve core remover. To which I challenge anyone to add up the cost of two replacement tubes. Sure they don’t match the price of the DART but consider the alternatives: cursing at a tight bead and drippy sealant to install a tube or the dreaded call home. Even if a call home happens in the end I’ll know that, if the DART couldn’t handle the issue, a clincher would not have held up any better. Plus the DART Refill Kit is $20 USD, bringing the whole system closer to tube prices. 

I will still wince at road hazards, especially during the current spring season when it seems every bit of road debris migrates into the road instead of into the gutters. Tubeless tires are expected to recover when small slices and punctures happen. When the larger issues take place, the Stan’s DART Tool is ready for action. At the cost, it’s nice knowing a ride can continue instead of waiting by the roadside in anticipation to rack the bike on the team car. I’ll gladly pay $25 to avoid a ride cut short.