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The Official Floor Pump Thread

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Old 04-11-09 | 12:23 AM
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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.
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Old 04-11-09 | 12:33 AM
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https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...highlight=pump

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...highlight=pump
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Old 04-11-09 | 01:09 AM
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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.
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Old 04-11-09 | 05:55 AM
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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.
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Old 04-11-09 | 06:18 AM
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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.
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Old 04-11-09 | 07:07 AM
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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.
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Old 04-11-09 | 07:21 AM
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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.
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Old 04-11-09 | 08:03 AM
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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.
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Old 04-11-09 | 08:19 AM
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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.
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Old 04-11-09 | 08:31 AM
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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!
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Old 04-11-09 | 09:10 AM
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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.
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Old 04-11-09 | 09:21 AM
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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.
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Old 04-11-09 | 09:32 AM
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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.
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Old 04-11-09 | 10:24 AM
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Renkompressor with Hirame chuck - pricey but worth it. Moves a large volume of air. Up to over 260psi.

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Old 04-11-09 | 10:56 AM
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Originally Posted by dperreno
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.
Ditto on the pump l'orange. The universal single-hole head works well on Presta and Shrader valves in my experience.
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Old 04-11-09 | 12:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Panthers007
Renkompressor with Hirame chuck - pricey but worth it. Moves a large volume of air. Up to over 260psi.
And what tyres could you possibly want up to 260psi? Or even over 200 for that matter?
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Old 04-11-09 | 12:48 PM
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Bikes: 2004 Litespeed Siena, 1996 Litespeed Obed, 1992 Miele (unknown model), 1982 Meile Uno LS.

700X10s run at 200.
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Old 04-11-09 | 02:37 PM
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#1 - 2 years old
#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).
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Old 04-11-09 | 02:43 PM
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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
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Old 04-11-09 | 05:56 PM
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you're welcome...

Originally Posted by GreenPurgatory
came across very little using the search feature.
came across 247 threads using best pump in search. picked two out of the 247

Originally Posted by GreenPurgatory
#1 - 2 years old
#2 - 1 year old
Thanks...
To everyone else, thank you, it has been very helpful.
info is still good and relevant, no expiration date.
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Old 04-11-09 | 06:10 PM
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Originally Posted by bicycleflyer
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
That is the perfect list. I would be inclined to add good warranty, or customer service.

The least expensive that has all the things you just mentioned, is the Joe Blow Sprint, and I going for that one.

Originally Posted by Soil_Sampler
came across 247 threads using best pump in search. picked two out of the 247

info is still good and relevant, no expiration date.
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.
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Old 04-11-09 | 06:41 PM
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Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!

Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
I have 2 floor pumps: a Silca track pump for presta valves and a Meidai pump for Schroeder valves.
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.
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Old 04-11-09 | 06:45 PM
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Originally Posted by HillRider
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.
Where do you find repair parts or kits?
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Old 04-11-09 | 07:08 PM
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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!

Originally Posted by GreenPurgatory
Where do you find repair parts or kits?
For the Meidai or the Silca?

For the Meidai, repair parts are pretty much unobtainable.

For the Silca, any LBS can order them and both Bike Tools Etc. and Loose Screws have them.
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Old 04-11-09 | 07:25 PM
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From: Richmond,VA

Bikes: Ventana El Ciclon, Walt Works 29er, Specialized Enduro (fixed up for my son).

Originally Posted by bicycleflyer
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
+1 for the Park Pump - I have one and its been working great for years!
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