Preferred (floor) Pump?
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 221
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From: Palo Alto, CA
Bikes: BMC TeamMachine, CAAD9, CAD R1000
Preferred (floor) Pump?
My current floor pump simply fails. My neighbor's pump (its a un-branded metal one, pretty old I assume) can pump a a tire in 4-5 pumps, but it takes me like 20 
Do you guys have any suggestions for a nice pump that is hopefully not too expensive. I will consider frame pumps as well, but I assume those perform worse than a floor pump of similar price.
Thanks.

Do you guys have any suggestions for a nice pump that is hopefully not too expensive. I will consider frame pumps as well, but I assume those perform worse than a floor pump of similar price.
Thanks.
#2
#3
The Specialized Air Tool Pro has given solid journeyman-like service, and there's not much more I can ask for. Well, perhaps the lever-lock tip might be improved by Lezyne's threaded design, and I am happy with my Leyzne Pressure Drive frame pump. Still, not enough to replace a serviceable ATP.
P.S. My ATP will not inflate a tire in 4 to 5 pumps.
P.S. My ATP will not inflate a tire in 4 to 5 pumps.
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 642
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From: Ottawa,ON
Bikes: Univega Via Montega, Nashbar Aluminum frame/105 roadbike
This one's a little better though. If you're getting a pump that's going to last for a long time, may as well go with the alloy barrel so it won't rust:
https://www.lezyne.com/alloy-floor-drive-374
#7
Live to ride ride to live
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,896
Likes: 1
From: Austin, Texas
Bikes: Calfee Tetra Pro
I love my Lezyne pumps.
This one's a little better though. If you're getting a pump that's going to last for a long time, may as well go with the alloy barrel so it won't rust:
https://www.lezyne.com/alloy-floor-drive-374
This one's a little better though. If you're getting a pump that's going to last for a long time, may as well go with the alloy barrel so it won't rust:
https://www.lezyne.com/alloy-floor-drive-374
Agreed. I have a Topeak Joe Blow Pro and a Lezne CNC Floor pump and there is no comparison between the two pumps. The Topeak is a throw away pump and the Lezyne will last me for the rest of my life. If you buy right, you will never need to buy another pump again. My first choice would be Lezyne and then a Super Silca Pista pump would be my second choice.
#9
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8
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I picked up a gently used Bontrager Super Charger on ebay for $35 + $7 shipping. This thing is a beast and will handle any situation. Excellent floor pump. It replaced the 20 yr old Schwinn floor pump which is best suite for low pressure mtb tires these days. I would recommend the Bontrager....it's awesome.
#11
almost any of the higher end pumps from specialized, trek, blackburn, serfas, etc. will work very well, for now.
if you want a pump that will be the last one you will ever buy, get a lezyne or a silca, i prefer the lezyne. both companies make an excellent product and stand behind them with good customer service, and, importantly, replacement parts for anything.
if you want a pump that will be the last one you will ever buy, get a lezyne or a silca, i prefer the lezyne. both companies make an excellent product and stand behind them with good customer service, and, importantly, replacement parts for anything.
#13
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 642
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From: Ottawa,ON
Bikes: Univega Via Montega, Nashbar Aluminum frame/105 roadbike
At the shop I work at we've used a good number of the Joe Blow pumps. I have no hesitation recommending them for occasional use, but they do eventually give out. I'd say the same for any of the Blackburn or Bontrager pumps, which we've also burned through.
It's telling that with almost any brand when you look to their higher priced products they add more plastic bits and gimmicry, but with Lezyne they just use higher end materials and increased engineering to make things lighter *without* adding complexity or sacrificing durability.
'Smartheads' are the perfect example. Yes, they're obviously more convenient than opening up a head and reversing parts around, but there's far more to go wrong. More little parts, it's harder on the rubber seals (they can't just be a simple o-ring like in the Lezyne pumps) etc etc. My favourite head on any of the Joe Blow pumps is on the Sport, the cheapest one. It's got two separate sets of seals for Presta and Schraeder, which means they should last longer than the rubber in the Topeak smart heads that seems to get chewed up pretty quickly.
Obviously shop use is far worse than most pumps will experience, with a myriad of shop staff and uncaring customers abusing them, but I still think of it as an accelerated pump test chamber.
It's telling that with almost any brand when you look to their higher priced products they add more plastic bits and gimmicry, but with Lezyne they just use higher end materials and increased engineering to make things lighter *without* adding complexity or sacrificing durability.
'Smartheads' are the perfect example. Yes, they're obviously more convenient than opening up a head and reversing parts around, but there's far more to go wrong. More little parts, it's harder on the rubber seals (they can't just be a simple o-ring like in the Lezyne pumps) etc etc. My favourite head on any of the Joe Blow pumps is on the Sport, the cheapest one. It's got two separate sets of seals for Presta and Schraeder, which means they should last longer than the rubber in the Topeak smart heads that seems to get chewed up pretty quickly.
Obviously shop use is far worse than most pumps will experience, with a myriad of shop staff and uncaring customers abusing them, but I still think of it as an accelerated pump test chamber.
#14
Medicinal Cyclist
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,807
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From: Mohawk Valley/Adks, NYS
Bikes: 2003 Klein Q Carbon Race; 2009 Giant OCR-1
I had a Park pump which was basically crap. I replaced it with a Joe Blow Pro, which I really like. It's kinda ugly, but it's way, way better than the Park. But looking at the Lezyne links, I'm thinking about upgrading again and giving the JB Pro to a friend or relative in need.
#16
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,012
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From: Orlando, FL
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix SL3, Lynskey Cooper CX
#17
World's slowest cyclist.
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,353
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From: Londonderry, NH
Bikes: Cannondale CAAD5 and Cannondale Rush
If you want a pump that will go from flat to full in 4-5 pumps then you're going to need to use a lot of muscle to pump the handle. There's a tradeoff between volume per pump and effort required.
#18
+1
thatz if you don;t mind it lasting for 40+ yrs...
and being extremely accurate for that time...
a few years back I figured I'd get another floor pump, since my Silca Pista actually made me pump more than just a few strokes to get to 110...
first tried a PerfBike Pump, not quite topOdaLine, but up there.
it was almost 20Lbs off on the gauge - indicated 80lbs and 'actual', using an accurate pressure gauge, was 100
crap
then tried a Blackburn AirTower - it was only off 10 lbs...
gave the Blackburn to my son, with instructs to keep the pressure 10lbs less than he wanted... so far no problems...
used to bring the Perf Bike pump to races, loaned out, when asked, to other riders who would be ridin in my class....
thatz if you don;t mind it lasting for 40+ yrs...
and being extremely accurate for that time...
a few years back I figured I'd get another floor pump, since my Silca Pista actually made me pump more than just a few strokes to get to 110...
first tried a PerfBike Pump, not quite topOdaLine, but up there.
it was almost 20Lbs off on the gauge - indicated 80lbs and 'actual', using an accurate pressure gauge, was 100
crap
then tried a Blackburn AirTower - it was only off 10 lbs...
gave the Blackburn to my son, with instructs to keep the pressure 10lbs less than he wanted... so far no problems...
used to bring the Perf Bike pump to races, loaned out, when asked, to other riders who would be ridin in my class....
#20
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
"Nashbar Red Floor Pump"
Great cost-to-quality ratio (currently $30), metal base, sturdy handle. The PSI gauge is big and mounted near the top of the pump, closer to your eyes, rather than the bottom of the pump, which unfortunately seems to be the default.
Great cost-to-quality ratio (currently $30), metal base, sturdy handle. The PSI gauge is big and mounted near the top of the pump, closer to your eyes, rather than the bottom of the pump, which unfortunately seems to be the default.
#21
Live to ride ride to live
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,896
Likes: 1
From: Austin, Texas
Bikes: Calfee Tetra Pro
I had a Park pump which was basically crap. I replaced it with a Joe Blow Pro, which I really like. It's kinda ugly, but it's way, way better than the Park. But looking at the Lezyne links, I'm thinking about upgrading again and giving the JB Pro to a friend or relative in need.
I really like the Lezyne stuff. Their stuff is built to last. There is no plastic on my Lezyne pump just the rubber hose.
#22
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 221
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From: NYC (Forest Hills)
Bikes: Gaulzetti Cazzo, Gaulzetti Corsa, Gaulzetti Ti, Gaulzetti SS prototype, Motobecane Fantom CXX, Ridley XFire
Just want to throw in another +1 for a the Specialized pump.
Still going strong after 3 yrs, the PSI gauge still works.
Takes 1 pump to go from 100~ to 110~ (yes I pump my tires often).
Still going strong after 3 yrs, the PSI gauge still works.
Takes 1 pump to go from 100~ to 110~ (yes I pump my tires often).
#25
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,848
Likes: 4
Havent read a single thing the other postings but in my opinion the issue has more to do with the nozzle, if the nozzle sucks big time it will leack air, if leacks air u do not built pressure, so no power in the pump. If you use presta in all your bikes start changing the nozzle for a descent one like a silca.








