Road Bike Floor Pumps: RBR Editor Round Up

By Stan Purdum

Most cyclists need a floor pump. If you have an air compressor with the proper adapter, it can be effective and useful for putting on tubeless road or tubeless mountain bike tires and seating them on the rim. But for day to day usage, a floor pump is essential for filling and topping off the air pressure in your tires. It’s much easier than attempting to use a mini-pump like the kind you might carry on your bike for dealing with flats on the road.

In one sense a pump is a pump is a pump. Any decent floor pump has cylinder, a plunger, a hose, a gauge and a nozzle — also called a “chuck” — and more often than not, a nozzle with two ports for presta and schraeder, or a single “smart” nozzle to fit both types of valves. But some pumps require significantly fewer strokes of the plunger to reach your desired air pressure, and some attach to the tire valves more effectively. The better pumps are made from high-quality materials and have ergonomic designs and easy to see gauges to give you years of reliable service and performance.

Let’s face it, if you’ve ever had a terrible floor pump that broke off your presta valve, leaked air every time you used it, pinched your hand when you tried to open or close the lever when you put it on the tire, let all the air out of your tire when you tried to put it on, or had a tiny gauge that you couldn’t read, you understand first hand how much better things are when your pump works correctly. Life’s too short for a bad floor pump.

Here’s a roundup of some good quality floor pumps with a variety of price ranges and features. Do you like or dislike any of these pumps? Tell us about it in the comments.

Silca Pista Floor Pump

$99

Pista Floor Pump

This pump is an updated reissue of a classic, first released in the 1920s. But the new version is closer in appearance and function to the one bike wrenches around the global race circuit used in the 1960s and kept using thereafter. In fact, Pista is Italian for “track,” as in Velodrome. Mechanics in sandy regions especially liked the Pista because it was the only floor pump they could keep working at the race because sand would get into all their other pumps and prevent them from doing their job.

In any case, the reissued version has kept all the best features of the classic and improved the weak points (for example, the old plastic handle has been replaced with a wooden one.)

The chuck on the Pista is set to inflate Presta valves, but for to use with a Schrader valve, unscrew the nozzle to reveal the Schrader head underneath. The pump also features a bleed valve for inflation precision.

One feature held over from the classic that some users may not like is the “uni-foot.” While the base of the pump extends left and right from the shaft, the gauge occupies the real estate of one of those pedestals, meaning that the user can use only one foot to steady the pump while using it. That’s enough, according to people experienced with the Pista, and the absence of a third pedestal for stability permits easy stowing of the pump when traveling. But the uni-foot also means that the Pista doesn’t stand well by itself when not in use, so you are best to store it horizontally.

For more about the Pista, see the full RBR review of the Pista by RBR Tech Talk and Silca Super Fan Jim Langley.

Topeak JoeBlow Twin Turbo Floor Pump

Manufacturer suggested price: $189.99

Also available at Amazon.

 

This pump is pricey, but RBR reviewer Sheri Rosenbaum considers it worth the money (see her in depth review here). Sheri, who is recovering from elbow surgery — and thus can pump using one hand only — found the JoeBlow Twin Turbo just the thing. After working with a fellow tester, she wrote, “We deflated my road tire (700×25), then inflated it up to 100 PSI using both the JoeBlow and a single barrel floor pump I owned. The JoeBlow took only 14 pumps to fill the tire to 100 PSI while the standard floor pump took 46 pumps.”

The Twin Turbo part of the name refers to a two-chamber technology inside the pump shaft. As explained by Topeak, the two chambers “get the most out of every push and pull in your stroke by transferring air in between two barrels, pulling air from the large volume barrel into the smaller barrel to compress air into high-pressure bursts. This enables quick filling of large volume mountain tires, and packing in the pressure to smaller road tires as well.”

The nozzle works with both Schrader and Presta valves, and adapters are included for Dunlop valves and ball and bladder heads. The pump has a 200 psi capacity, but includes an air release button located on the chuck, so you can dial in the PSI if you overinflate. The chuck is attached to an extra-long hose that makes it easy to reach bikes on vehicle racks or work stands. There’s a hose dock that protects the pump head and hose when not in use.

The gauge is located at the top of the pump where it’s easy to read.

Specialized Air Tool Pro Floor Pump

Manufacturer suggested price: $120

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/air-tool-pro-floor-pump/p/155477?color=229779-155477

Noted for its durability and for being a no-fuss product, the Air Tool Pro Floor Pump is Specialized’s the top-of-the-line pump. Made of polished metal with a cast aluminum base and ergonomic wing handle, it moves 360 ccs of air with each stroke and puts out a maximum pressure of 150 psi. It has a pressure relief valve making it simple to achieve exactly the amount of pressure you want in your tires. The gauge on the base is 3 inches in diameter, for easy readability.

The chuck, called the SwitchHitter II, automatically switches between Schrader and Presta valves, and the generous 42-inch hose makes it easy to reach valves at a distance. The Air Tool Pro arrives with a spare rubber seal for the head, and should you ever need to rebuild the pump, replacement parts are available.

One Air Tool Pro owner purchased his 10 years ago, and says, “I have certainly put it through its paces. It has been used thousands of times over that period between pre-ride top offs, flat fixes, and traveling to races. To this day it still just works.”

If you like this pump but don’t want to spend that much money, Specialized also makes a good lower-cost pump called the Air Tool Comp ($55) that has features similar to those of the Air Tool Pro.

Bontrager Super Charger Floor Pump

Manufacturer suggested price: $119.99
https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/equipment/cycling-accessories/bike-pumps/bontrager-super-charger-floor-pump/p/11846/?colorCode=grey

Bontrager is the name of the cycling accessory and component line from Trek Bikes. The Bontrager Super Charger Floor Pump is Trek’s high-end pump. Made with an all-aluminum barrel, base, handle, and gauge, the pump is both lightweight and durable, and the large base minimizes tipping. Its auto-select head with alloy levers fits Presta and Schrader valves without fuss, and there’s an air-release valve that makes it easy to dial-in pressure.

The 2.5-inch gauge is at the top of the barrel, where it’s easy to read. The hose is 45-inches long and the pump puts out a maximum pressure of 160 psi. The availability of replaceable internal parts means the life of the pump can be extended indefinitely. One reviewer describes this pump as “beautiful and bulletproof.”

The Bontrager line also includes the lower-priced Charger Floor Pump ($39.99). Like its costlier sibling, it has the auto-select head to instantly fits both Presta and Schrader valves, but the gauge is at the foot of the charger.

Giant Control Tower Pro Floor Pump

Manufacturer suggested price: $116
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/control-tower-pro-floor-pump

Like the top-of-the line Specialized and Bontrager pumps above, the Giant Control Tower Pro Floor Pump has a chuck that auto-switches between Presta and Schrader valves and it has a pressure-release button. A unique feature of the Control Tower Pro is its trademarked barrel-in-barrel construction, which means that dings in the outer barrel won’t affect the operation of the pump. The gauge is at the foot of the barrel but is 3 inches in diameter so it’s not difficult to read. The pump inflates up to 160 psi.

One reviewer says he even uses the Control Tower Pro to top off his car tires when the low-pressure light comes on, and another reviewer mentions that the pump works well with his tubeless bicycle tires.

Also like Specialized and Bontrager, Giant offers a cheaper alternative, the Control Tower 1+ Floor Pump Top Gauge.

 

Blackburn Air Tower 1 Floor Bicycle Pump

Manufacturer suggested price: $29.99
https://www.blackburndesign.com/air-tower-1-1.html

If you like what you’ve just read about the SKS Airmenius pump but don’t want to shell out a hundred bucks for a floor pump, you might consider the Blackburn Air Tower 1 Floor Bicycle Pump. While not German made, for 30 bucks, the Blackburn gives you a gauge as big as the one on the SKS and a chuck that like that on the SKS, automatically adapts to Presta, Schrader and even the European Dunlop style valves. Also like the SKS, the Blackburn gauge is mounted to the base. The barrel and base of the Blackburn are steel and the pump will put out a max pressure of 160 psi.

Crank Brothers Gem Bicycle Floor Pump

Manufacturer suggested price: $59.99

Also available on Amazon.

Although I said that different brand pumps have more in common with each other than they have as unique features, the Crank Brothers Gem Bicycle Floor Pump, with its dual air chambers, challenges that statement. The larger of the chambers sends out high volumes of air with each stroke of the plunger, meaning that you can fill big tires like those on mountain bikes and the even bigger ones on the so-called fat-tire bikes in short amounts of time. But because high air volumes would overwhelm and perhaps explode skinny road tires, the pump also has a smaller air chamber for switching things up when you need to run high-pressure instead. And there’s a foot-activated switch for moving from one air chamber to the other. Using the smaller chamber, the Crank Brothers Gem Floor Pump is capable of achieving pressures as high as 160-PSI.

This pump has an aluminum body and steel base and has a two-stage nozzle so it can inflate both Presta and Schrader valves. It also has a hidden needle and plastic valve adapter for pumping up other sporting items. The bar/PSI gauge is located about a third of the way up the pump body, bringing it nearer the eye and making it less likely to get stepped on than those mounted at foot level.

The pump comes with a five-year manufacturer warranty.

 

Topeak Sport II Floor Pump

Manufacturer suggested price: $49.95

Also available on Amazon.

This pump has the standard good stuff — high-quality steel base and barrel, twin-head nozzle to work with both Presta and Schrader valves, extra long hose with a 360-degree pivot, easy-to-read gauge mounted on the barrel, and with ball and bladder needles included in their own holder.

We found this online for less than $40, but since it’s now been superseded by Topeak’s Sport III model, you may find it at an even lower price.

Serfas FP-200 Floor Pump

Manufacturer suggested price: $59.99

Also available on Amazon.

Most of the user reviews for this pump agree on one thing: The chuck on the Serfas FP-200 is a great feature. In fact, some users, who admit to owning other floor pumps as well, declare the Serfas FP-200 their favorite pump precisely because of the chuck. And what’s so special about it? For one thing, it’s not a two-ended nozzle with the Presta connector on one end and the Schrader connector on the other. Rather both connectors are integrated in one port. This allows making the chuck smaller and thus easier to get aligned onto the valve (especially important on kids’ bikes, where there’s often not much room between spokes). What’s more, the chuck locks onto the valve with a one-flip lever preventing air leakage during pumping.

The Serfas FP-200 is not the only pump on the market to have a user-friendly chuck, but the users clearly like this one in this price range. They also like that the gauge is mounted near the top of the pump body, where it’s easy to read.

Lezyne Steel Floor Drive Pump

Manufacturer suggested price: $69

Also available on Amazon.

The sales copy describes the Lezyne Steel Floor Drive Pump as “A precision high-pressure floor pump made with a steel barrel and piston, varnished wood handle, aluminum base, and Composite Matrix connectors.” It features a “Flip-Thread” chuck that works with both Presta and Schrader valves, which requires being pushed onto the Presta valve and screwed onto the Schrader valve. According to reviews, users in general like this pump, but when they do have troubles, it often is with the chuck, which sometimes runs into O-ring problems. Users indicated, however, that Lezyne is responsive and quickly helpful when problems are brought to its attention.

An included Speed Chuck makes the pump compatible with disc wheels. The gauge is mounted at the base of the pump, and is not as large as that on the SKS or Blackburn.

Velowurks Prime Floor Pump

Manufacturer suggested price: $59

Also available on Amazon.

The Velowurks prime floor pump is classy-looking tool of steel and aluminum with all pressure facing components being threaded together for a secure fit. The shaft is polished with an anodized finish and runs through a bushing for smooth operation and longevity. The dual-headed chuck works with both Presta and Schrader valves. And because the pump is rated to 250 psi, you’ll have as much pressure as you’d ever desire. It has a micro adjust valve to allow minimal releases of pressure in case you’ve pumped in more air than you want.

Velowurks says the prime is a shop quality floor pump that is built for the long run.

 

SKS Airmenius Bicycle Floor Pump

Manufacturer suggested price: $119.99

Also available on Amazon.

One user of this German-made pump titled his review, “The Bentley of Bicycle Pumps,” and he then went on to sing its praises. Certainly, the SKS Airmenius Bicycle Floor Pump is in the Bentley category in terms of price, but its features, including a tall metal shaft, a large no-tip aluminum base, comfortable cork grip handles, a huge, easy-to-read gauge at the base of the pump, and a 44-inch hose that will reach a bike in a work stand, promise long-time dependability.

The chuck has only one port, but it self-adjusts to fit not only the usual Presta and Schrader valves, but even the less-common (in the USA) Dunlop valve. Dunlops are more common in Japan and Europe, and some other countries.