Natenstein

I'm looking for a solid floor pump in the <$50 range. I would like it to have the gauge at the top. My current list includes:

- Topeak JB Sprint
- Blackburn Air Tower 3
- Park Tool PFP-4
- SKS Air Worx

Does any one of these stand out (or not) over the others?

Thanks

gizzsdad

Blackburn has always treated me well. Lifetime warranty - no questions asked.

Dancing Skeleton

Nashbar L'Orange was a Bicycling Magazine recommended buy a couple of years ago. I'm very happy with mine, and a friend loves his as well.
20% off of $39.99 through tomorrow.
The nice thing about it is that it's tall, so you don't have to lean over at the bottom of the stroke. It has a gauge as well.

Pepper Grinder

SKS Airworx has treated me well since 2009. Long hose, easy to read gauge, and SKS has wonderful customer service.

Lawrence08648

I bought a red Performance Ascent for $12 6 years ago and use it almost daily.

Of the choices you mentioned, I'm unfamiliar with the SKS but I would buy Blackburn without hesitation. Their customer service is terrific and they offer a lifetime guarantee on their pumps.

blamp28

I'm a strong advocate for Blackburn. They replaced a 10 year old compact frame pump for me when I called to buy seals. In my view, the pump was not defective but simply the victim of dried seals since I had no flats to repair for a long time on that bike. They insisted on sending a brand new pump. They are serious about happy customers and back their products VERY well. I just bought an Air Tower 3 this spring and really like the one size fits all nozzle too.

Paul01

Blackburn Air Tower 3 has the gauge on the top and works great.

deacon mark

I hate to post this but it is a fact, Wally World has them with a Gage less than $20. I probably would do that now for a floor pump.

LarryMelman

I bought a Blackburn Air Tower 1 about 3 years ago. It came with a head with separate ports for Presta and Schrader, and something inside the head directed the air to the right port.

Recently, the head started popping off, the rubber seal was probably worn out. I called them and they gladly sent a new head (it's about $5 in stores). However, their latest head design is a "smart head" with only one port. When you put it on a Presta, the center pin is supposed to push down inside the head, and not lock into position like it would for a Schrader. I hate this design. The pin presses on the Presta valve just hard enough to open it and let out most of the air, before I can get the head locked on. I need to take the head apart and remove the pin, which will make it a Presta-only pump, but that's fine. Otherwise, no mechanical problems with the Blackburn.

I would avoid "smart heads" with one port. By design, they will all have this problem.

cbchess

+1 for the park pump. I've had mine for 10+ years and park has even upgraded the head one time for free.

robert schlatte

I have had numerous pumps, including two Blackburns and an expensive Lezyne. I have liked them all and Blackburn has honored their warranty which is great. The one pump, however, that stands above the rest in terms of its inexpensive price and efficient working in my estimation is the Topeak Joe Blow Sport which retails for about $40.

Elvo

Serfas FP200 is also pretty solid. Had problems with the Ascent one from Performance

3alarmer 

https://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._1074741_-1___

Look, I know these are probably made by underpaid factory
slaves in China or elsewhere in Asia, but they work well up to
the stated 150# (160# is a stretch, but doable), they appear
to be serviceable (you can lube and replace the rubber), and
Performance is pretty good about replacement if you keep your
receipt.

Blackburn is a great company. Park used to be. Don't know
jack about the others you list.

hammandegger

I have a park tool PFP-3 floor pump [$27] and the nashbar lil' orange pump [$40]. They are both good pumps but the air hose is longer on the the lil orange one. Both of the pumps are good pumps and I have never had a problem with anything from park tools.

GaryinLA

I bought a Blackburn a few weeks ago. I like it. I have trouble using it on Schrader valves (see what someone else posted above.) I dont know if the pump head is defective or not. A friend of mine has a Blackburn and got a new replacement head from Blackburn for free. I just use an $1.99 adaptor on the schrader valve to make it into the other kind of valve. Despite the difficulty with the use the pump on SChrader valves, i like the pump.

bicycleflyer

Of the models you listed, I like the Park and Blackburn... I would like to recommend another option. Specialized has a good line of pumps. My eyes are not as good as they once were, so I understand your reason for the top mounted gauge. Even though my specialized's gauge is bottom mounted, it is HUGE and easy to read. The smart-head chuck has never missed a beat.

My park is the PFP-6 with a mid mounted gauge. It works good too.