Test bike pump: Pro Performance - plenty of stroke, but too imprecise

Hightower would also have been a good name for the Pro pump, as the Performance is one of the largest pumps in the test. It measures a full 125 centimetres the pro when extended - not necessarily ideal for small people, but certainly beneficial for pump efficiency.

When it comes to features, the Pro really goes the extra mile: steel base with grip tape, rubberised Ergo handle, extra-long tube and a practical snap lock that fits all common valve types. The adapters for balls and mattresses are also concealed in the handle ends. The pressure gauge, on the other hand, is rather small at 7.8 centimetres, and the scale only shows the current pressure in 0.25 increments and is not really easy to read.

Pro Performance - Info & Price

Practical test: lots of height, little precision

The pump has a high design and therefore offers a large stroke volume. A positive feature is the long hose, which makes handling on the bike easier. The pump head is easy to attach and engages automatically - an advantage in everyday use. In addition, the inner workings are available as spare parts, which increases durability.

The handle is made of slightly rubberised plastic, is rounded and sits comfortably in the hand. However, the workmanship shows weaknesses: The inserts in the handle (e.g. for ball pins) come loose when pumping and the grip tape on the base starts to peel off after just a short period of use. Overall, the pump looks functional, but not particularly high-quality.

Pumping behaviour & effort

Thanks to its high design, the Pro Performance delivers a lot of volume per stroke, so that comparatively few strokes are required. However, the effort required is very high - significantly higher than with many other models in the test. Pumping quickly becomes strenuous, especially at higher pressures. Although the base is large, the pump remains surprisingly wobbly. With the long extension, it tends to tilt forwards or to the side - this reduces control and the pumping sensation.

Valve head: practical, but not perfect

The valve head is generally well designed, is easy to attach and engages automatically. It also seals reliably. With car valves, however, you have to make sure that the head is pushed on far enough. If it is not seated correctly, the pumping resistance increases significantly.

Pressure gauge: inaccurate and difficult to read

The pressure gauge is one of the biggest points of criticism: The deviation of around 0.5 bar is too inaccurate for sporty use, and the scale is difficult to read, especially for intermediate steps. The pump is therefore hardly suitable for precise tyre pressures.

Conclusion & evaluation Pro Performance

In theory, the Pro floor pump offers good prerequisites: plenty of stroke, long hose, practical pump head. In practice, however, high manual force, lack of stability, poor workmanship and an inaccurate pressure gauge prevent a better rating. It is sufficient for occasional use - there are much better alternatives for ambitious riders.

Advantages

• Large stroke, high volume per pump stroke
• long hose
• Practical pump head, spare parts available
• Handle sits comfortably in the hand

Disadvantages

• Very high effort required
• Wobbly stand despite large foot
• Inaccurate, difficult to read pressure gauge
• Processing defects (handle inserts, grip tape)
• Valve head for car valves sensitive in positioning