Tubeless Plugs Compared: Bacon Strips vs Brass-Tip Plugs vs Stan's DART
How bacon strips, brass-tip plugs and Stan's DART work, what they cost per plug and which one to carry.
Written by INFLATA. We make the Plugs Pro, a brass-tip plug tool, so we are not neutral. This guide explains how each type of tubeless plug works, with retail prices and the trade-offs of each, so you can choose for yourself.
A tubeless tyre with sealant closes most small punctures on its own. When the hole is too big for sealant, you need a plug. There are three main types: bacon strips, brass-tip plugs (like Dynaplug and the INFLATA Plugs Pro) and Stan's DART. They all fill the hole, but they work in different ways, and that changes how fast, how clean and how reliable the repair is.
Quick answer
- Bacon strips: the cheapest option and they handle odd-shaped holes, but the repair takes more steps: reaming, threading and trimming.
- Brass-tip plugs: the fastest roadside fix. Push in, pull out, ride. The metal tip anchors the plug inside the tyre, no glue and no reaming.
- Stan's DART: a small, light tool whose plug bonds with latex sealant. It only works when you run a latex-based sealant.
The three types side by side
| Bacon strips | Brass-tip plugs | Stan's DART | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it seals | Sticky rubber-coated strip folded into the hole | Rubber plug anchored by a metal tip inside the tyre | Plug with a barbed tip that bonds with latex sealant |
| Steps | Remove object, ream, thread strip, push in, trim | Remove object, push in, pull out | Remove object, push in, pull out |
| Sealant needed | Recommended | Recommended for tiny gaps | Latex-based sealant required |
| Example | Many brands | INFLATA Plugs Pro: €37.95, 3 plugs Dynaplug Racer Pro: €54.99, 4 plugs |
DART Tool: €25.99, 2 plugs |
| Refill price per plug | Lowest | INFLATA €4.98, Dynaplug €5.33 | €3.56 |
Prices checked on 12 October 2026 on inflata.eu and bike24.com. Refill prices per plug: INFLATA 3 for €14.95, Dynaplug 3 Soft Nose plugs for €15.99, DART 5 for €17.79. Prices change, so check before you buy.
Bacon strips
The classic plug, borrowed from car tyres. A strip of fibre coated in sticky rubber is threaded through the eye of an insertion fork, pushed into the hole and left behind when you pull the fork out. You trim the ends afterwards.
- Pros: very cheap, widely available, and you can fold two strips together for a bigger hole.
- Cons: more steps at the roadside, sticky to handle with cold or dirty fingers, and riders often report strips working loose at high road pressures if they are not seated well.
Brass-tip plugs
A rubber plug with a small metal tip sits pre-loaded in a tube. You push the tube into the hole and pull it straight out. The tip anchors behind the tyre casing, the rubber fills the hole and sealant closes any tiny gaps around it. Dynaplug made this design popular; the INFLATA Plugs Pro uses the same principle with a wide ergonomic handle and a metal stop that prevents pushing the plug in too far.
- Pros: the fastest and cleanest repair, no reaming, no glue, no trimming, and the tip keeps the plug in place at road pressures.
- Cons: plugs cost more than bacon strips, and you need the matching refills for your tool.
Comparing the two best-known brass-tip tools? Read our INFLATA Plugs Pro vs Dynaplug Racer Pro comparison.
Stan's DART
The DART is a small tool with a plug on a barbed tip. According to Stan's NoTubes, the plug material reacts with latex sealant to form an airtight bond with the tyre.
- Pros: small and light, quick to use, and the refills are the cheapest per plug of the three.
- Cons: it needs a latex-based sealant to work properly, so check what is in your tyres, and the tool carries two plugs.
Weighing up the DART against a brass-tip tool? Read our INFLATA Plugs Pro vs Stan's DART comparison.
Which plug should you carry?
- Road and gravel at higher pressures: a brass-tip plug. The anchored tip is made for it and the repair takes seconds.
- MTB and e-MTB: a brass-tip plug with a good grip, or bacon strips as a cheap backup for big, ragged holes.
- Weight-weenie racing on latex sealant: the DART is the lightest option.
- Budget backup: a bacon strip kit in the car or saddlebag.
Whatever you choose, carry a way to reinflate. After plugging, most tyres need air. A compact electric pump like the INFLATA Pro S gets you back to riding pressure without CO2 cartridges.
Frequently asked questions
Are tubeless plugs a permanent repair?
A well-seated plug often lasts for the rest of the tyre's life. Check it after the ride. Large cuts and sidewall damage are not suited to plugs; fit a tube to get home and replace the tyre.
Do I need sealant for a plug to work?
For the DART, yes, a latex-based sealant is required. Bacon strips and brass-tip plugs fill the hole on their own, but sealant helps close the tiny gaps around any plug.
Can I use plugs on road tyres?
Yes. All three types are used on road tubeless tyres. At high road pressures, a plug with an anchored tip is the most secure.
How do I repair a tubeless tyre step by step?
Follow our guide to repairing a tubeless tyre on the road.
Dynaplug, Racer Pro, Stan's NoTubes and DART are trademarks of their respective owners. INFLATA is not affiliated with them.
Questions about this article? Email info@inflata.eu.
