Whether you call it a track pump or a floor pump, a decent means of inflating your tyres is one of the first items you should buy for your home workshop. But the range is vast, with prices going from the tens up to the hundreds of pounds, and presuming they all do much the same job, what are the differences?
We’ve pulled together a selection to show what’s available at various price points. Crucial in choosing the right pump for you is to make sure that it is capable of achieving the right pressure – for road bike tyres, this means one with a long, narrow barrel.
Also make sure the head is compatible with the type of valves your inner tubes use – for road bikes, that usually means Presta valves, rather than the Schrader valves used on MTB and car tyres.
For our round-up, we’ve highlighted the claimed max pressure as well as the ease of reading the gauge, the construction plus the hose and head. Whatever you’re looking for, we’re sure you’ll find something here to blow your cash on…
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Silca Super Pista
If your only indulgence is your bike then this is the pump for you, it’s a truly beautiful piece of design and engineering. Constructed to be the ultimate track pump it has a lifetime warranty and is also fully serviceable with a brass valve and aluminium internals to ensure it lasts.
Hard to knock over, the large machined aluminium base houses the dual value gauge, which tops out at 160psi, and being 70mm across should mean there is no need to strain your eyes to see it. It even has elastomer feet under the base to protect your floor.
A beechwood handle completes the designer statement.
Verdict: As much a style statement as a practical tool, this would grace any workshop. 8/10
£195 | saddleback.co.uk
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Pedros Super Prestige
Designed from the outset to offer a balance of performance and value, the barrel and shaft are steel to give a longer life span and a ‘sturdy’ feel to the unit that should mean it can stand up to a hard life without succumbing.
Another pump with an ergonomic handle, this time in plastic, it also features a rubberised section to help stop your hands from slipping off. Likewise, the 24cm wide base has a pair of rubber dimples to hold your foot in place.
Mounted at the top of the barrel, the gauge is marked up to 160psi and is easy to read despite measuring just under 50mm. The head is an older style that has a lever to engage the clamp on either of the two valve options.
Verdict: Well made and fairly good value, this is a functional piece of kit with a good range of features. 7/10
£64.99 | silverfish-uk.com
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Fabric Stratosphere Pro
Offering a blend of new and old materials, wood and sandblasted aluminium, the Stratosphere Pro makes for another classy statement of a floor pump. A high-volume barrel promises faster inflation, up to a claimed maximum pressure of 140psi.
Air is delivered to the tyre through a braided steel hose with aluminium CNC attachments, so it should be pretty hard-wearing.
A dual-action head means there is no swapping of parts if you run different valve styles on different bikes (a very helpful addition) while the large gauge mounted on the plywood base will make for easy reading at a distance, thanks to the extended hose length that aims to allow use even when your bike is on a workstand.
Verdict: Stands out for features such as its steel braided hose and large, easy-to-read gauge. 8/10
£79.99 | fabric.cc
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Lezyne Macro Floor Digital
Another company with a wide range of inflation options, Lezyne’s latest version of its Macro offers a few things most others don’t, and certainly not at this price point, namely a digital gauge and a very high pressure capability of 220psi, making this a true track pump (track tyres are typically run at much higher pressures than road tyres).
With a super-fast switch-on, battery capacity indicator and button to change readouts from psi to Bar, as well as auto-off, Lezyne has made everything suitably simple. A reversible head means both Presta and Schrader valves are catered for.
The base and handle are constructed from composite matrix, a tough plastic, while the barrel and piston are steel.
Verdict: Capable of achieving very high pressure with ease, and the digital gauge is very user friendly. 9/10
£49.99 | upgradebikes.co.uk
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Zefal Profil Max FP60
Incorporating a number of the fancy features found on more expensive floor pumps, this good value offering from Zéfal has concentrated on making FP60 an ergonomic treat, with a wide beechwood handle and large display that measures 70mm in diameter – it even has a magnifying section to aid precise inflation, which is great news when you’re in a rush to get out for an early, bleary-eyed ride.
The head has a clever switch built in that enables it to work with both Schrader and Presta valves. Rated up to 170psi, it easily copes with the requirements of most modern tyres, in part thanks to the aluminium alloy barrel and reinforced plastic base.
What’s more it’s made in France, if that kind of thing is important to you.
Verdict: A good value, fully featured pump. The magnifying section in the gauge is a particularly nice touch. 8/10
£39.99 | chickencycles.co.uk
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Truflo Airstore
If you’re running tubeless tyres, the Airstore is well worth considering. It has a small valve that locks off the nozzle; operating the pump then stores the compressed air in the main chamber until you reach the desired pressure, then you just open the valve to release the charge in a quick hit to pop the tyre out against the bead and seal it in one go.
The adaptable head is super-tight over valves with replaceable cores and needs to be unscrewed to suit Schrader valves.
A top mounted gauge that has clear graduations all the way to 260psi makes for easy reading, while the Airstore’s alloy handle, barrel and foot make it a useful every day item and even if you’re not using tubeless now, it’ll keep you future-proofed.
Verdict: Ideal for those using tubeless tyres but also a good choice for inflating regular tubes. 8/10
£99.99 | madison.co.uk
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Topeak Transformer X
We’ve been fans of the Transformer X since it was launched a couple of years ago – typical of the smart thinking we’ve come to expect from Topeak, it also doubles up as a bike stand.
To achieve this, the base has retractable legs added, while the main barrel gains a pair of adjustable folding hooks that hold the bike’s rear wheel off the ground.
And the long hose ensures you’ll be able to reach the front wheel while the bike is in the stand. Ergonomically angled handles also house the gauge, placing it closer to you to make it easier to see what pressure you’ve reached, up to a maximum of 160psi.
The head is a dual version so accommodates either Presta or Schrader valves automatically and there is a bleed valve too in case you over-inflate your tyres.
Verdict: Ideal for taking to events and doubling up as a portable workstand for pre-ride fettling. 9/10
£89.99 | extrauk.co.uk
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Lifeline Essential
Straight out of the Lifeline stable, internet bike shop Wiggle’s own range of tools, the Essential aims to be just that: essential.
Lifeline products aim to be good-quality, everyday, all rounders that won’t break the bank and at £14.99 you certainly won’t find us arguing the last point. And in use, it proves to be perfectly good at doing the job required of it.
With more than a passing resemblance to one of the other pumps here, Lifeline has given it a dual-action head so there is no swapping required.
The steel barrel is sturdy enough, as are the reinforced plastic feet and handle, while the top-mounted gauge is easy to read and goes all the way up to 160psi. It all goes to show what you can do when you go directly to the factory and buy in bulk.
Verdict: The Lifeline’s incredibly low price makes it hard to justify not having a track pump in your workshop. 8/10
£14.99 | wiggle.co.uk
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Bontrager Travel Charger Floor Pump
There could be any number of reasons why the Bontrager Travel Charger would be the choice for you but most revolve around its diminutive stature, as it measures just 47cm in length.
This makes it ideal if you’re travelling, don’t own a car or just have limited space for storage. With a maximum pressure of 120psi it’s suitable for most applications and the gauge is built into the head, which features a reversible chuck to work with both Presta and Schrader valve types.
In many ways more like an old-fashioned frame pump than a track pump, the Travel Charger has a flip handle so that you can operate it with one hand, while the base has a stabilising foot to tread on and keep everything in place.
Verdict: Compact and convenient, this is an ideal choice to stick in your suitcase for taking on trips with you. 7/10
£39.99 | trekbikes.com
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Blackburn Piston 1
Small but perfectly formed is an appropriate description for the Piston 1 floor pump. Measuring 65cm long, it’s a touch shorter than most of the rest shown here and with a shorter hose to boot, which means you’ll have to do a little more manoeuvring to inflate both front and rear tyres, as it won’t easily reach between the two; but that’s hardly a chore.
The gauge is mounted in the base and is quite small, but not problematically so. This is another pump with a steel barrel and shaft, and another with a dual head that is capable of operating on both Presta and Schrader valve styles, making it a great all-rounder.
Rated up to a maximum of 140psi, it uses a broad, round handle to allow you to get to your desired pressure with ease.
Verdict: Good performance from a relatively small and compact design, with a great price to boot. 7/10
£29.99 | zyrofisher.co.uk