Last night my old, beat-up floor pump finally died. Before I get a replacement, I was wondering if there were any suggestions for a model that works well on small wheels with lots of spokes.

They're basically all the same, and there is nothing so special or unique about small wheels that requires a different pump.

Spokes can be awkwardly close together. There was a thread about this recently.

Yup. The size of the head matters. (I can't believe I just typed that.)

I remember the thread, but can't seem to locate it now.

At this point, it's a toss up between the Topeak Joe Blow and Silca Pista.

Any thoughts?

I've never had a problem, using a basic floor pump and using several folding bikes.

Nor did the OP say he had problems with his old pump or that there was anything special about it.

I don't recall the old thread, but it is the case that certain pumps have narrower heads and that the space will be tight on something like a 3X 36-spoke 406 wheel. For instance, my Topeak Jow Blow pump will work on the referenced 36-spoke wheel with a little "English", but the Serfas floor pump fits easier.

A Right angle pump head helps.. Got a pump without one?

You could use a short piece of high pressure hose ,
a valve stem from an old tube, a pump head, and some hose clamps
to make a pump like Lezine uses, for example
with a straight connection to the tube, work, without altering the pump itself.

there are some really nice right angle Presta Pump Heads, for disc wheel time trial bikes
just have a small hole around the stem , that is taped over during the race/time trial.

If you are using Presta, this after market valve fits easily between dense spokes

https://www.treefortbikes.com/product...sta-Valve.html

Hirame head may work even better in a tight area and for Schrader there is the Topeak Pressure Rite right-angle adapter.

I agree with many here, the issue is usually not with the pump but with the head attached to it... especially for the front wheel. I find there is barely enough room to fit the head of my floor pump (Blackburn AirTower) in between the spokes of the front wheel.

Just ordered a Joe Blow with the twinhead.

Thanks for all the input!

My old pump (Blackburn, can't remember the model) had me cursing every time I used it, especially on the 3 year old's scoot-bike. Hopefully this will make life easier.