The Official Floor Pump Thread
#1
The Official Floor Pump Thread
I looking into getting a floor pump, and came across very little using the search feature.
I am tempted to get the cheapest nashbar pump, currently around $13. It seems like the higher priced pumps don't necessarily last very long anyway. It almost seems hit-or-miss with pumps.
So post:
1. What pump you use.
2. What you think of it.
3. Experience with any other pumps.
I am tempted to get the cheapest nashbar pump, currently around $13. It seems like the higher priced pumps don't necessarily last very long anyway. It almost seems hit-or-miss with pumps.
So post:
1. What pump you use.
2. What you think of it.
3. Experience with any other pumps.
#2
A little North of Hell
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,892
Likes: 4
#3
I've heard good things about Silca floor-pumps, and Topeak floor-pumps. The Silca pumps are known for their longevity and flawless performance.
I personally have a SKS Renkompressor with a Hirame chuck. German pump and Japanese chuck. I call them my Axis. But what I have is hideously expensive.
I personally have a SKS Renkompressor with a Hirame chuck. German pump and Japanese chuck. I call them my Axis. But what I have is hideously expensive.
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 33,657
Likes: 1,119
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
I have a Silca floor pump I bought at least 15 years ago and it maintains at least three bikes every week and the only part I've replaced is the rubber seal in the Presta-only head.
The Silcas aren't the most convenient pumps to use but they are durable beyond anything else I've ever heard of and completely rebuildable if anything does wear out.
The Silcas aren't the most convenient pumps to use but they are durable beyond anything else I've ever heard of and completely rebuildable if anything does wear out.
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 547
Likes: 0
Bikes: c'dale six13, bobjackson
i'll second the rennkompressor and as much as i would like to add the hirame chuck i just can't justify that price (when i checked it was almost $50 just for the chuck). the old style presta only head works great although not the easiest to use. i bought the 75th anniversary model which in and of itself is a work of art. the only other pump i would consider is a specialized air tool pro. it is like a modern version of a rennkompressor or a slica.
#6
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 590
Likes: 1
From: Beverly Hills, MI
Bikes: '72 Fuji Finest, '80 Austro-Daimler Inter 10, '06 Fuji Team Issue, '06 Salsa Las Cruces, Nashbar Frame single speed
I have a Nashbar Orange and I've bought a couple of Nashbar Blues for some friends and they are all going strong. I think I paid under $20 for the Blues and under $30 for the Orange. Kinda hard to beat at that price.
#7
Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Bellerose,NY
Bikes: Specialized Crossroads/ Colnago racer(can no linger ride it due to physical limitations
Topeak "Joe Blow..Sprint" is very good,durable,good gauge, and a manual TwinHead..which I prefer over unified"smarthead valves..I also hear the Nashbar"s are good and are a good value.
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Lincoln, NE
This is what I have. https://bontrager.com/model/05264/en
I went to an LBS to buy a new floor pump and I asked if I could go back into the shop and see what pumps they used. This was it, so I bought one.
So far I have had absolutely no trouble with it. Only had it about a year, but it works flawlessly.
I went to an LBS to buy a new floor pump and I asked if I could go back into the shop and see what pumps they used. This was it, so I bought one.
So far I have had absolutely no trouble with it. Only had it about a year, but it works flawlessly.
#9
ChooseVeg.com
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: Portland, OR
I have had a Nashbar Big Red, a Bontrager Charger, and a Wrench Force Air Slim. The Nashbar pump was the cheapest and is by far my favorite, although I replaced the nozzle with a Topeak one after a few years of use. The Wrench Force pump stopped working after a few months. The Bontrager one is ok, but the nozzle can be finicky. I don't think the Big Red is available from Nashbar anymore, but I wouldn't hesitate to get one if you are looking for a cheap pump.
Last edited by idegen; 04-11-09 at 11:06 AM.
#10
Senior Member


Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 30,225
Likes: 649
From: St Peters, Missouri
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
For the last 15 years or so the only floor pumps that I've used have been steel barreled Specialized pumps. I had 3 of them, I gave one to one of my sons and I'm giving one that's set up for Schrader only to my daughter.
I do a little fill in work at a bike shop and I've tried a few cheap pumps from Wrench Force and Tektro. Cheap pumps suck!
I do a little fill in work at a bike shop and I've tried a few cheap pumps from Wrench Force and Tektro. Cheap pumps suck!
#11
Old fart



Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 26,345
Likes: 5,249
From: Appleton WI
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
I have 2 floor pumps: a Silca track pump for presta valves and a Meidai pump for Schroeder valves. I've had both for over 30 years and they're both holding up fine. I have had to replace the gaskets on the Silca several times, and the hose once over the years. The Meidai is still all original, but it gets much less use than the Silca.
#12
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 705
Likes: 2
From: Ms/Ca, USA,Earth.
Bikes: 2009 Trek FX 7.3 ( pimp moment )
I have a Joe Blow Pro model with the Smarthead,on sale for $71 shipped,built in gaige on top,my previous POS pump was a $18 Bell floor pump,had to return it twice and still only worked less than half of the time,the Joe Blow is a very solid unit.
#13
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 2
I have a Blackburn, it's at least 8 years old. It replaced the previous Blackburn, which had a gauge failure at about 7 years. The model was no longer being made, so I sent the pump in and they sent me a new upgraded model free of charge.
Pretty decent service...
I needed a new set of gaskets for the head, and they sent me a whole kit for free as well.
Pretty decent service...
I needed a new set of gaskets for the head, and they sent me a whole kit for free as well.
#15
Hills!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 7
From: Rolling hills of Piedmont NC
Bikes: 2008 Trek Madone 5.5, 2005 Marin Novato, Trek 7100
Ditto on the pump l'orange. The universal single-hole head works well on Presta and Shrader valves in my experience.
#16
cab horn

Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 28,353
Likes: 30
From: Toronto
Bikes: 1987 Bianchi Campione
#18
#2 - 1 year old
Thanks...
To everyone else, thank you, it has been very helpful. I am in between a nashbar (inexpensive), the blackburn (lifetime warranty), Joe Blow (seems to be very popular) and a Silca (repairable).
#19
747 Freight Pilot
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 458
Likes: 0
From: Ohio, USA
Bikes: Rivendell, Bike-Friday Pocket-Rocket and one home made fixed gear
I have the park PFP-3 and I like it. It's my third floor pump and the best of the lot. My lil Brother has a specialized that has the smart valve chuck. It works very well. I also own a silca. Nice pump, but I hated the valve chuck and replaced it with another model. The silca is the one I keep in the back of my van, so it takes a lot of abuse.
My recommendations of what to look for in a pump..
1. A LARGE or high mounted gauge that can be easily read.
2. Are rebuild kits available?
3. A solid base/ foot pad/or peg
4. A large comfy T-Handle
5. A long hose
6. A duel or "smart" valve chuck (why mess with adapters these days)
Good luck
My recommendations of what to look for in a pump..
1. A LARGE or high mounted gauge that can be easily read.
2. Are rebuild kits available?
3. A solid base/ foot pad/or peg
4. A large comfy T-Handle
5. A long hose
6. A duel or "smart" valve chuck (why mess with adapters these days)
Good luck
#20
A little North of Hell
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,892
Likes: 4
you're welcome...
came across 247 threads using best pump in search. picked two out of the 247
info is still good and relevant, no expiration date.
info is still good and relevant, no expiration date.
#21
I have the park PFP-3 and I like it. It's my third floor pump and the best of the lot. My lil Brother has a specialized that has the smart valve chuck. It works very well. I also own a silca. Nice pump, but I hated the valve chuck and replaced it with another model. The silca is the one I keep in the back of my van, so it takes a lot of abuse.
My recommendations of what to look for in a pump..
1. A LARGE or high mounted gauge that can be easily read.
2. Are rebuild kits available?
3. A solid base/ foot pad/or peg
4. A large comfy T-Handle
5. A long hose
6. A duel or "smart" valve chuck (why mess with adapters these days)
Good luck
My recommendations of what to look for in a pump..
1. A LARGE or high mounted gauge that can be easily read.
2. Are rebuild kits available?
3. A solid base/ foot pad/or peg
4. A large comfy T-Handle
5. A long hose
6. A duel or "smart" valve chuck (why mess with adapters these days)
Good luck
The least expensive that has all the things you just mentioned, is the Joe Blow Sprint, and I going for that one.
You are right, there are a lot of results, I was not able to find any centralized resource for floor pumps. The information was good, but there are new models, and more opinions out there, I was just hoping to get some information on the largest range of floor pumps.
#22
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 33,657
Likes: 1,119
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
I also have a Meidai that I've owned since the mid-1980's and it's been great too. Certainly in the same catagory as the Silca. The only problem with them is that, unlike Silcas, repair parts are nearly non-existant.
#23
#24
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 33,657
Likes: 1,119
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
#25
Map maker
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 728
Likes: 0
From: Richmond,VA
Bikes: Ventana El Ciclon, Walt Works 29er, Specialized Enduro (fixed up for my son).
I have the park PFP-3 and I like it. It's my third floor pump and the best of the lot. My lil Brother has a specialized that has the smart valve chuck. It works very well. I also own a silca. Nice pump, but I hated the valve chuck and replaced it with another model. The silca is the one I keep in the back of my van, so it takes a lot of abuse.
My recommendations of what to look for in a pump..
1. A LARGE or high mounted gauge that can be easily read.
2. Are rebuild kits available?
3. A solid base/ foot pad/or peg
4. A large comfy T-Handle
5. A long hose
6. A duel or "smart" valve chuck (why mess with adapters these days)
Good luck
My recommendations of what to look for in a pump..
1. A LARGE or high mounted gauge that can be easily read.
2. Are rebuild kits available?
3. A solid base/ foot pad/or peg
4. A large comfy T-Handle
5. A long hose
6. A duel or "smart" valve chuck (why mess with adapters these days)
Good luck



