Touring - What kind of pump do you carry?

I'm just getting into touring and I think my Topeak Minimorph without a gauge may not be adequate. I use high pressure tires (Schwalbe Stelvios - 105psi, 115 max). What do you experienced tourists find works best for you? Thanks.

Most of my touring involves some sort of support vehicle, so the regular inflation of my tires can be done by a floor pump. On the bike I carry one of the mini-pumps which is adequate for flat fixing. If I were going on an unsupported tour I would go for something like the full sized Topeak Road Morph. It's heavier, but if you are relying on it for the regular inflation of your tires you'll be using it a lot.

Speedo

Actually the MiniMorph, might be fine. It is essentially the same pump as the Road Morph that most here will recommend, only shorter. I used the Mtn Morph which is an in between length and found that it worked great.

Do you find it hard to get enough pressure with the MiniMorph? If so the RoadMorph's longer length may help.

If you're buying a pump anyway, you may as well do yourself a favour and buy a full-sized frame pump right off the bat - especially if you plan to tour with it. Minipumps are usable if you're not too far from home and you can get back home riding with low pressure in your road tires, but that won't do on a tour unless somebody else has a proper pump (keeping in mind you won't have access to a floor pump when you get to your day's destination). Minipumps work, but they take an awful lot of strokes compared to a full-sized one, and it's almost impossible to get a road tire up to optimal riding pressure (the great Hercules might be able to do it on Mount Olympus). Every time you flat will be a major, swear word-inducing experience rather than a minor inconvenience. I'm not saying minipumps are useless (I use one on my bike for around town riding), but in the context of your question, go with a full-sized frame pump.

I use full sized frame pumps but they do require some muscle power to get it up to desired pressure. I have no problem with that.
If you don't have a strong upper body a standard road morph type pump would be more practicle.

Topeak Road morph with gauge. Great pump, and topeak's customer service has been great. They sent me a new valve fitting when mine busted no questions asked!

Topeak Mountain Morph - no gauge, but with 26" tyres that's less of a problem.

blackburn frame pump and zefal frame pump both excellent

blackburn frame pump and zefal frame pump both excellent

+1

I have both but I find my Zefal to be a slightly better performer.

Having some skinny, useless arms I love my Road Morph. It's the first packable pump that I can get above 100 psi on, even though it gets a little tough near the end. I used to have a full size frame pump but couldn't come close since you just can't get the same leverage on those. The road morph's mini hose is genius.

I used to use the venerable Silca frame-fit pump, one was painted to match a custom frame -- beautiful. But, it was work getting air in tires with those things, and I've had two just blow up in my hands. I've also used Zefal. Works fine. Lately, I've been using two Specialized PVO pumps. I love them. They don't do anything but pump. No hoses, gauges, shraeder adapters, nothing. There are even a few patches hiding behind a cap on the handle. I can get tires to 100 psi with both the compact and full size models. My next pump:
the Quicker Pro Pump (http://www.velo-orange.com/quickerpropump.html). If it does half of what the folks at Velo Orange say it does, it'll be some of the best cash I ever spent. Velo Orange has never steered me wrong, either.

The Road Morph. It's the only pump that works like a floor pump when used properly. I have one on every bike I own except the mtn bike.

road morph

road morph

The Road Morph. It's the only pump that works like a floor pump when used properly.

+1

I've even heard of people taking their floor pumps on tour. I have a Blackburn TrackSport Sport 2 (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=5113) that weighs in at 8+ lbs. I couldn't see myself hauling that around on a bike tour.

+1

I've even heard of people taking their floor pumps on tour. I have a Blackburn TrackSport Sport 2 (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=5113) that weighs in at 8+ lbs. I couldn't see myself hauling that around on a bike tour.
We met a couple guy on the TA that had a floor pump with them.

The Road Morph. It's the only pump that works like a floor pump when used properly. I have one on every bike I own except the mtn bike.
Great pump, but I think your "only" comment overstates things a bit. It's smaller sister the Mtn Morph is a great pump too. I haven't used the MiniMorph, but suspect it is fine as well. They are all pretty much the same pump in different lengths.

...and the Turbo Morph is the Mountain Morph with a gauge.

topeak road morph!~

Mini Morph

Never used one personally but I've had several recommendations from tourists to messenger for the zefal hpx frame pump.

Great pump, but I think your "only" comment overstates things a bit. It's smaller sister the Mtn Morph is a great pump too. I haven't used the MiniMorph, but suspect it is fine as well. They are all pretty much the same pump in different lengths.

I was about to agree, but then I decided to check out the specs on the topeak website. I'd still avoid the mini morph, and go with either the mountain or road varieties. For touring, probably the mountain morph is marginally better than the road morph, since according to topeak, it can pump more volume.

I was about to agree, but then I decided to check out the specs on the topeak website. I'd still avoid the mini morph, and go with either the mountain or road varieties. For touring, probably the mountain morph is marginally better than the road morph, since according to topeak, it can pump more volume.
What fits better on your frame where you want to mount it is a factor. I bought the Mountain Morph because I was on the road and it was what they had, but it turns out to fit better in the location I wanted to mount it.

Strangely mine is labeled Mountain Morph, but it has the inline gauge. On the Topeak web site that looks like it should be called a Turbo Morph.

I doubt that the Mountain Morph's extra volume is all that significant. The barrel is a little bigger in outside diameter, but it is substantially heavier than either of the other two. This make me think maybe the wall thickness accounts for some of that weight, but even if you assume the same wall thickness the difference in bore means something like 6.5% more volume. That probably isn't all that significant. If the wall thickness is greater on the MTN the difference would be less.

I like the slightly shorter length of the Mountain.

I would buy the same pump again, but I doubt there is a huge difference in performance between the Mountain and the Road. The Mountain does seem to have a slight edge in volume. I would have guessed that the road would be a bit easier to reach higher pressures with, but Topeak rates all three sizes the same in this regard.

I suspect that the Mini is also adequate, but it would take more strokes to fill a tire. Xilios, recommended the Mini. Maybe he can comment on this?

I used to have a Mountain Morph and I liked it a lot. When I lost it, I went out to find another and my LBS had a Serfas Air Supply- same idea as the Morphs, so I bought that to try it out. I like it even better. In comparison, the Serfas has about twice the hose length, a better foot brace and handle (IMO), but falls a little behind the Topeaks for the head- there`s a very short "stem" behind the little cylinder that the valve stem goes into, so you have to be careful not to pull against the hose when lifting the little lever. The Serfas also seems to have a higher volume than the Mtn Morph- I don`t know how it would compare against a bigger Morph. Anyway, I`m going to order another because all my favorite stuff has a way of disappearing from the market or being "improved" to something I don`t like as well. They changed the name and I can`t remember what it`s called now, but it`ll be the one on the Serfas website that looks like a long-hosed Morph. I got one without a gage, but they come in with or without styles.

Road Morph...bought one a year or so ago to stuff in the seat bag of my Raleigh Superbe, the frame pump on that one needs a hose that I can't find. Liked the Morph so much I bought couple more to keep on some of my other bikes so I wouldn't forget to take it with me.

Aaron:)

Zorin seatpost pump. Works like a floor pump, doubles as a seatpost. I put one on each of my bikes, replacing a road morph I had. The only downside is that it does not have a pressure gauge, and you have to remove it from the frame to use. I just mark the spot where my seatpost should be with tape.

^^^ Do you have to remove the saddle to use this pump? I would suppose not.

As far as pressure gauges, I use my thumb to gauge tire pressure on the road so they're not an important feature that I would look for in anything other than in a standard floor pump. Besides, I don't trust the accuracy of in-line gauges these little pumps come with.

[QUOTE=roadfix;7688758]^^^ Do you have to remove the saddle to use this pump? I would suppose not.

Nope, just the seatpost. You use the saddle as a handle while you pump. It's fun.

I took a floor pump on tour once when I was a poor college student and it was all I had. It worked, but it was heavy and noisy. The shaft rattled inside the housing.

For my first long tour I bought a mini-pump. I don't remember what kind. Getting my tires up to 100 p.s.i. was almost impossible and I ended up with tendonitis in my wrists.

Then I got a Zefal HPx. That's a great pump. I could get my tires up to 105 p.s.i. without too much trouble, though it still put a strain on my wrists.

Now I have a Road Morph. It's design makes it work a lot like a floor pump - no more wrist strain. I didn't trust the gauge at first, but I did several comparisons with my expensive pressure gauge and found the gauge on the Road Morph to be pretty accurate - enough so that I could leave the stand-along gauge at home.

The Road Morph is the best of them all. The HPx lasted for 15 years and still works fine. It's durable. I've only had the Road Morph for one season, so I can't report on it's sturdiness or longevity. Time will tell.

Don't waste your time, money and tolerance for crap - buy the Road Morph with a gauge. I threw my last pump in the woods after I spent 30 minutes and arm cramps pumping up a tire. When you're self-supported, you really need to get your tires right, usually in the middle of nowhere.

Topeak also sells extra frame mounts. I use the same pump on my tandem and touring bike.

On my "fast bike" I carry one of those crappy little lightweight pumps, since I can get back to my car with low pressure. I'm also usually not toting a 60 pound bike around for a week so I usually have the energy to pump it up to pressure.

Trust everyone on this.

Topeak also gives away extra frame mounts for free.

I corrected that. :thumb:

If your going touring you need to carry at least 2 methods of getting air into your tires. I carry the Blackburn aluminum frame pump which is my main pump because it's durable and very easy to pump to high pressure. I then carry a mini Blackburn AirStik 2stage pump to save weight that connects to the water bottle cage with brackets; this is not a bad mini, I had a SKS Puro pump but it was a piece of crap. I then carry a third source just in case schrader presta converter which stays fastened to the front presta valve for a last resort.

Looks like you need either a road/mtn morph or a sag wagon.

Topeak Road morph with gauge. Great pump, and topeak's customer service has been great. They sent me a new valve fitting when mine busted no questions asked!

I have a Road Morph and a Road Warrior I got with my Trek 7.5. I usually carry the former with me on rides.

Never used one personally but I've had several recommendations from tourists to messenger for the zefal hpx frame pump.

zefal hp is a good pump too. that is the brand i have carried with me for 25 years until getting road morph. topeak tech support has been great for all the tools and bags i use from them. i have received requested parts from them. i also have a small collection of useless zefal pumps laying around, have more history with them.

When I go for a short trip, I carry an emergency frame pump, but when I'm touring, I carry a full size shop pump with built in gauge. It's worth the hassle and lasts a lot longer.

when I'm touring, I carry a full size shop pump with built in gauge.

Seriously - you carry a track pump with you? You get that many flats? How do you carry it?

If your going touring you need to carry at least 2 methods of getting air into your tires.
Seems a little paranoid to me. A decent pump is a pretty reliable device. It is certainly not the most likely point of failure on your bike.


I then carry a third source just in case schrader presta converter which stays fastened to the front presta valve for a last resort.
Not a bad idea to carry one of these; mine stays in my patch kit. They weigh a small fraction of an ounce so why not.

When I go for a short trip, I carry an emergency frame pump, but when I'm touring, I carry a full size shop pump with built in gauge. It's worth the hassle and lasts a lot longer.
Wow, you definitely aren't a weight weenie! I agree that a floor pump is a joy to use, but can't imagine it being worth the extra weight. Even when three of us were sharing a pump, I wouldn't consider it.

You aren't the only one who does this though. We met two guys on the TA in Council Idaho who were carrying a floor pump. I was happy to borrow it especially since I had not yet bought a Mtn Morph and the pump I has was a hassle to get 95 or 100 pounds in the tire. Those who run lower pressures like 65 psi or whatever should find pumps to be a less picky choice.

I've carried the pump on my BOB mostly, but also had it under the crossbag on my rear rack for a while. Most of my travel has been with small, unsupported groups for very long distances. Besides being awkward to use, emergency pumps wear out too soon when used regularly. You need to pump high pressure tires even when they don't go flat.

Besides being awkward to use, emergency pumps wear out too soon when used regularly.
Really? I maintained 3 bikes for 73 days on last year's tour and my Mtn. Morph pump is still like new. I would expect the same from Blackburn or Zefal pumps as well. I figure 3 bikes for 73 days is the equivalent of using it on just my bike for 9 months of continuous touring and it isn't even close to ready to install the rubber parts in the rebuild kit. I have a hard time imagining that pump not lasting at least a couple years and probably a lot more of continuous touring (something most of us will never do), but even if it had to be replaced every year it would be better than carrying a floor pump IMO.

The parts that I would expect to wear are all part of the rebuild kit which Topeak will send you for free. Does something else wear out on your pumps other than the stuff in the rebuild kit? Maybe not that much help while on tour, but Topeak is good about sending parts out at no charge to replace any worn or broken ones.

Is a floor pump nicer to use? Absolutely. Is it worth the extra weight on tour? Not unless you don't worry much about lightening the load. I can see where it might be worthwhile with a large group riding together sharing various things including one pump.

With everyone here loving the Road Morph, I went to my LBS today to purchase one. The owner talked me out of buying one. He said 3 of 5 are returned after supposedly ripping valve stems while disconnecting. Has anyone ever heard of this problem? He instead wanted me to purchase the Blackburn AirStik SL, which is just a mini-pump.

With everyone here loving the Road Morph, I went to my LBS today to purchase one. The owner talked me out of buying one. He said 3 of 5 are returned after supposedly ripping valve stems while disconnecting. Has anyone ever heard of this problem? He instead wanted me to purchase the Blackburn AirStik SL, which is just a mini-pump.
I have pumped tires hundreds of times with mine with no problem. I can't imagine that being a problem with this pump. I would think it far more likely with a stick type pump.

road morph




You can also search this sub-forum (Touring) for other testimonials.

With the road morph remember to get the tiny bag of spare parts that the tech support people have. Handy when some critical part fails or falls off on tour. A dab of oil can help reduce friction without losing air. I use olive oil.

With everyone here loving the Road Morph, I went to my LBS today to purchase one. The owner talked me out of buying one. He said 3 of 5 are returned after supposedly ripping valve stems while disconnecting. Has anyone ever heard of this problem? He instead wanted me to purchase the Blackburn AirStik SL, which is just a mini-pump.

The LBS owner is either a liar or an idiot. If 3/5 of all Road Morphs were returned because of ripping valve stems, this pump would no longer be on the market, nor would so many people recommend it to others.

I have a Road Morph, and I like it so much it's the only pump I ever use, even when I'm at home. I threw it at a racoon once, hitting a rock instead, and, even so, it pumps up my tires easily and leaves valve stems unscathed.

Road or Mtn. Morph, without a doubt. Nicest pump I've ever had. I found a Zephal hpx on the roadside one time and it works very well. It was my pump for years (still have it). The Morph is just superior. Smaller, easier to use, and it has a gauge—no matter if it's not perfectly accurate, everything being relative.

For my road bike, I just carry a CO2 blaster. Small, convenient, quick. I carry a Schrader/Presta converter as well. As someone above mentioned, a fraction of an ounce, dinky and good insurance.

I have no experience with the mini-pumps, but they look like a pain in the butt. That and the LBS sales person sounds like he has a bunch of neophytes for customers or he was trying to clear out his mini-pump inventory.

With everyone here loving the Road Morph, I went to my LBS today to purchase one. The owner talked me out of buying one. He said 3 of 5 are returned after supposedly ripping valve stems while disconnecting. Has anyone ever heard of this problem? He instead wanted me to purchase the Blackburn AirStik SL, which is just a mini-pump.

I've never heard of this problem with a Road Morph. I've experienced it with a minipump I had - it ripped the valve stems off of Neil F.'s tubes on a joint tour we did.

Road Morph

Zorin seatpost pump. Works like a floor pump, doubles as a seatpost. I put one on each of my bikes, replacing a road morph I had. The only downside is that it does not have a pressure gauge, and you have to remove it from the frame to use. I just mark the spot where my seatpost should be with tape.

These were the shiznit back in the day with mountain bikers. I have a NOS one (from around 1990 or before) that I haven't used on anything. Yet. (It's a 26.8). I think that'll fit my Marin road bike....