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The optimum tyre pressure is a balancing act. If the tyre pressure is too high, ride comfort and traction are reduced off-road. If the pressure is too low, there is a risk of punctures and the tyre rolls like a limply inflated balloon when cornering. However, one thing is certain: anyone who still rumbles through the terrain with tyre pressures of 2.5 bar and more when mountain biking has not understood a few basic principles of tyre pressure.
Low tyre pressure provides more comfort, more traction and therefore safety. And best of all: as soon as you go off-road, the rolling resistance of MTB tyres also decreases. What is already true for fine-grained gravel paths becomes all the more true the rougher the surface becomes. According to a scientific study, 1.5 instead of 4 bar air pressure on a meadow surface results in a saving of almost 20 watts. Every bump eats up part of the drive power to lift the rider and wheel. It therefore makes perfect sense to set the tyre pressure optimally - ideally with a floor pump that measures precisely and is easy to operate.
10 bike pumps in the test: Floor pumps from 30 euros
The ideal floor pump
The most important criteria can be clearly outlined: It should be stable and not wobble when pumping, have an ergonomic handle and an easy-to-read, precise pressure gauge, as well as a pump head that is firmly attached to the valve and holds the air securely. If the pump piston also slides through the cylinder with as little play and friction as possible, inflation requires little force. The rule of thumb here is: The smaller the piston diameter for the same stroke, the less force is required for pumping.
Floor pump: It all depends on the size!
Long pumps with a large volume naturally inflate bulky MTB tyres more quickly than compact models. Nevertheless, the length and pump stroke should roughly match your height and arm levers. Short people should choose shorter pumps, tall people correspondingly longer. In our experience, the pump handle should ideally reach about a hand's width above the knee and just below the sternum when extended. A floor pump can be easily operated in this area. If the handle extends any higher, pumping becomes strenuous at higher pressures or you don't pull it out all the way, but then give away pumping volume with every stroke.
The height of the floor pump should match your height - only then can you pump ergonomically, quickly and safely.
Whether the pump stands securely depends primarily on whether you step on the feet and use your own weight as a stabiliser. However, the shape and size of the feet also play a role. Narrow or angular feet quickly tip under the soles of your (cycling) shoes. At the top of the pump handle, it then feels like you're at sea. The models from NG Sports and Pedros were particularly noticeable in the test. An insufficiently rigid connection between the pump cylinder and the base also has a negative effect on stability, as is the case with the otherwise very solid model from SKS.
Big differences in pump heads
When it comes to pump heads, almost all manufacturers use push-on heads with locking levers. They often require the use of both hands or a lot of force to open and close. Only Lezyne uses a screw-on valve head, which is particularly useful for short valves, but is more cumbersome to use. Even though Sclaverand valves are almost exclusively used on high-quality MTBs today, all pump heads are also designed for use with Schrader (auto) valves.
Whether the pressure gauge displays the air pressure directly when the valve head is fitted depends on whether the valve head actuates the valve tappet automatically. Without activation, the pressure gauge only displays the pressure during pumping. An activating valve head is advantageous, but also requires a reliable rubber seal. As this usually wears out quickly, it is worth having a replacement in stock, otherwise the pump will be standing around uselessly.
The pressure gauge of the floor pump: analogue or digital?
A good pressure gauge should fulfil two requirements: be easy to read and display the tyre pressure precisely. Floor pumps with the pressure gauge mounted halfway up or at the top of the shaft have an advantage over models with the pressure display at the base of the pump. Mounted there, the display should at least be large enough and scaled so that tenths of a bar can still be recognised. LCDs are the easiest to read, but are rarely found on inexpensive pumps. A display or measurement tolerance of up to a tenth of a bar is acceptable, but there should be no more deviation.
In our test of ten floor pumps up to 60 euros, all air compressors did a decent job. The models from NG Sports and Pedros are suitable for smaller cyclists, although both models require a lot of arm strength from five bar upwards. The models from Rose, SKS or Topeak push the air into the tyres much more smoothly and offer the best overall performance in all test criteria.
Info, details, rating: The 10 floor pumps in the test
Crankbrothers Sapphire floor pump
- Price 60 Euro
- Weight / hose length 1,440 grams / 1,180 mm
- Height / max. extension / stroke 665 / 1,200 / 535 mm
- Strokes/bar / Decrease pressure gauge¹ 13 / 0.2 bar
- Extras, spare parts Valve needle in the handle; end cap and needle set or pump head with hose are available from specialist dealers
Valuation
Conclusion: Stand, pressure gauge and cylinder are almost identical to Pro, but the dial is slightly more difficult to read; fits ergonomically well for tall people, pumps effectively
NG Sports Cassea floor pump
- Price 30 Euro
- Weight / hose length 1,165 gram / 870 mm
- Height / max. extension / stroke 610 / 1,025 / 415 mm
- Strokes/bar / Decrease pressure gauge¹ 14 / 0.1 bar
- Extras, spare parts The pump head is available from specialised dealers as a spare part
Valuation
Conclusion: Very favourable, similar to Pedros, but has a different pump head; the base is narrow and tippy; precise pressure gauge; relatively stiff, for small people with strength
Lezyne Macro Floor Drive ABS
- Price 55 Euro
- Weight / hose length 1,225 gram / 1,260 mm
- Height / max. extension / stroke 650 / 1,100 / 450 mm
- Strokes/bar / Decrease pressure gauge¹ 19 / < 0.1 bar
- Extras, spare parts Drain valve, all spare parts can be ordered from online and specialist dealers
Valuation
Conclusion: The digital display is very easy to read and shows precise information; high-quality screw-on pump head with drain valve, pumps smoothly, but not backlash-free
Pedros Domestique floor pump
- Price 54 Euro >> available here
- Weight / hose length 1,210 gram / 890 mm
- Height / max. extension / stroke 610 / 1,025 / 415 mm
- Strokes/bar / Decrease pressure gauge¹ 14 / < 0.1 bar
- Extras, spare parts Double head with changeover switch, a selection of spare parts can be ordered via the website and specialist dealers
Valuation
Conclusion: Looks like NG Sports with a different pump head; the foot is wobbly; pumps quickly, but sluggish and requires force; good for small people due to low height
Pro floor pump Competition
- Price 45 Euro
- Weight / hose length 1,550 gram / 1,270 mm
- Height / max. extension / stroke 750 / 1,350 / 600 mm
- Strokes/bar / Decrease pressure gauge¹ 11 / 0.3 bar
- Extras, spare parts The pump head is available online from Paul Lange and from specialist dealers
Valuation
Conclusion: base, pressure gauge and cylinder almost identical to Crankbrothers, but the dial is easier to read; fits ergonomically well for tall people, pumps effectively
Rose Druckmacher BL floor pump
- Price 50 Euro >> available here
- Weight / hose length 1,305 grams / 1,265 mm
- Height / max. extension / stroke 675 / 1,200 / 525 mm
- Strokes/bar / Decrease pressure gauge¹ 15 / 0.2 bar
- Extras, spare parts Drain valve, spare parts are not available individually
Valuation
Conclusion: Test winner - high-quality workmanship, pumps smoothly, great wooden handle, stable with solid pump head; minor weaknesses in readability and spare parts supply
SKS Airmotion 12.0 floor pump
- Price 55 Euro >> available here
- Weight / hose length 2,160 grams / 1,280 mm
- Height / max. extension / stroke 720 / 1,245 / 525 mm
- Strokes/bar / Decrease pressure gauge¹ 17 / 0.2 bar
- Extras, spare parts Double valve, almost all spare parts are available from specialist dealers or online shops
Valuation
Conclusion: For tall people, pumps easily throughout, the pressure gauge is easy to read and measures precisely; the somewhat wobbly cylinder in the metal stand is annoying; long hose.
Specialised Air Tool Sport
- Price 40 Euro >> available here
- Weight / hose length 1,455 grams / 1,180 mm
- Height / max. extension / stroke 630 / 1,110 / 480 mm
- Strokes/bar / Decrease pressure gauge¹ 17 / 0.1 bar
- Extras, spare parts The pump head and tube can be ordered online on the Specialised website
Valuation
Conclusion: Convinces with high-quality workmanship, the pump head is very solid, pumps smoothly; ergonomically ideal for medium-sized people, pressure gauge difficult to read
Topeak Joeblow Sport III
- Price 50 Euro >> available here
- Weight / hose length 1,600 gram / 780 mm
- Height / max. extension / stroke 685 / 1,150 /465 mm
- Strokes/bar / Decrease pressure gauge¹ 18 / 0.1 bar
- Extras, spare parts Valve adapter for balls etc., on the Topeak website you will find many spare parts that are also available from specialist dealers
Valuation
Conclusion: Top pump, beautifully smooth-running and high-quality workmanship; shortest hose in the test, which can make handling in confined spaces more difficult
Zéfal Profile Max FP30
- Price 37 Euro
- Weight / hose length 1,235 grams / 1,035 mm
- Height / max. extension / stroke 670 / 1,145 / 475 mm
- Strokes/bar / Decrease pressure gauge¹ 16 / 0.1 bar
- Extras, spare parts The pump head and hose are available online from Paul Lange and from specialist dealers
Valuation
Conclusion: Inexpensive, large base, but tends to tilt; clever switch on the pump head; somewhat flexible construction overall
All 10 pumps in the test: The evaluation at a glance
Floor pumps - how we tested them
The pumping function | 40 per cent The pressure piston should slide up and down in the cylinder as smoothly as possible without jamming and be buffered by springs at the stops. Good ergonomics are characterised by the fact that the stroke length matches the overall height. In our experience, pumps with a height of 65 centimetres and the same stroke length fit very well for people between 1.75 and 1.80 metres tall.
The pressure gauge | 20 per cent An easy-to-read display paired with precision is crucial. The best pressure gauges deviate by less than 0.1 bar. The LCD from Lezyne is the easiest to read, but only works with a battery.
The pump head | 20 per cent It must be easy to attach and detach from the valve and seal properly; a stable and flat clamping lever improves ergonomics. The Lezyne screw head seals very well and its drain valve is practical.
The handle | 10 per cent The round wooden handle works best with the Rose pump. It has a good grip, sits comfortably in the hand and has no annoying ridges that could pinch.
The stand | 10 per cent A foot based on the three-point principle offers the best stability, as with the pump from Rose with the pressure gauge as additional support. The feet from NG Sports and Pedros are narrow and tend to tip over.
Matthias Borchers
Editor
