HOT!
- Beefy single “AerTight” pump head grips like a vise
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Single head fits both Presta and Schrader valve stems
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Easy-to-read gauge with arrow that can lined up with desired pressure
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Rubber inserts on handle and base for sure hand and foot grip
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Host of nice touches and flawless performance
- 2-year guarantee
NOT!
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Would prefer a material other than plastic for the base and handle but understand the choice
High-Pressure Pump with Single Pump Head to Fit all Valves
A pump is just a pump, right? Until I started testing the Aergun, I had used the same pump for years. Sure, it got the job done, but I always found aspects of that old pump somewhat annoying.
For one thing, early on, I had to replace the pump head because the rubbergasket got so chewed up by the threaded valve stems on the tubes I used at the time that it wouldn’t seal. Not wanting to repeat that fate, I switched to tubes with smooth (threadless) stems. Then, the new pump head would sometimes “blow off” the stem because the gasket still wouldn’t hold tight to the smooth stem while inflating.
And I occasionally had to glance at the pump head to remind myself which of the two sides of the dual-holed head was the Presta side.
Finally, if I overinflated, the only recourse was to remove the pump head and use my finger to push down the valve core to bleed off a bit of air, then put the pump head back on the stem and pump a little more to get exactly the pressure I intended. All of these things were minor issues, to be sure. But there were a few of them, and taken together, they were bothersome.
Single Head, Vise-Like Grip, With Built-in Bleed Valve
So when I started using the Aergun, I immediately realized that it had none of those annoying traits. And the more I pondered it, the more I thought: Why shouldn’t a pump just work? You grab it, stick the single pump head that fits any valve stem (Presta or Schrader) on the stem, close the lever to lock it firmly in place, inflate the tire to whatever pressure you wish and, if you happen to overinflate it, just press the built-in bleed valve on the pump head to dial back to the desired pressure.
In short, that’s exactly what the Aergun does: It just works.
The beefy (4 inches – 10cm – long) single “AerTight” pump head fits well in your hand and grips even my non-threaded stems like a vise. I’ve found it quite easy to use in part because the sizable pump head allows for a longer gasket-locking lever, which makes the locking and unlocking a snap.
The high-pressure pump – with an easy-to-read gauge that goes up to 160 psi (11 bar) – feeds air through the durable steel cylinder, which fits into a sturdy base. Both the base and the top of the pump handles have rubber inserts to ensure a secure hand and foot grip while pumping, not a big deal but a nice touch.
Another simple yet useful touch is that the top of the guage itself twists around the dial so that you can line up a red arrow at the desired pressure number. I line up the arrow at 90 psi, then inflate my front tire to exactly that, and my rear tire just beyond that, to about 95. And if I happen to pass the mark, the handy bleed valve button can be pressed a touch to release a bit of air.
Finally, for anyone with the need to inflate a basketball, football or exercise ball, the Aergun’s hose has a little plastic holder that secures both a metal needle and plastic bladder needle. (Again, it’s a small touch, but this holder is better than the velcro strap holder on my old pump.)
The only aspect of the pump I would give a less-than-stellar mark is the use of plastic for the base and handle. But this is not a super-premium pump, and I understand the selection of materials to help keep the cost ($49.97 MSRP) quite reasonable while still delivering a host of nice touches along with flawless performance. And the Aergun comes with a 2-year guarantee, so the maker stands behind its product.
The Last Word
A good bike floor pump should just work – and the Aergun does. It’s a solid, reasonably priced pump with a lock-tight pump head and an array of small features that, combined with its performance and guarantee, make this a pump worthy of consideration.
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