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If you only look at the pressure gauge, stroke volume or maximum pressure when testing a floor pump, you often overlook the most important component of the entire construction: the pump head. It is the only interface between the pump and the tyre - and is therefore largely responsible for whether air lands precisely in the tube or escapes with a hiss. Frequent riders in particular know this: A bad pump head is annoying every time, a good one stands out positively by not falling out.
But not all pump heads are the same. The market offers different concepts, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. A good pump head must be able to do two things above all: It must hold absolutely tight and be easy to operate with little effort. Here is a check of the most common concepts:
1. the classic: the double head (TwinHead / MultiValve)
Most pumps (e.g. from SKS or Topeak) rely on this system. This type of pump head usually has two openings - one for the thick car valve (Schrader) and one for the slim Sclaverand valve (Presta). The whole thing is fixed in place by moving a lever. In practice, levers that you press down to clamp have proved to be more practical than levers that have to be folded upwards. A slightly longer neck on the pump head also makes handling easier.
- Advantages: Inexpensive, intuitive to use and usually quite robust.
- Disadvantages: The lever often requires a lot of manual force. With narrow spoke layouts or small wheels, the protruding head quickly reaches its limits.
2. the screw pump head (Lezyne ABS Chuck)
Lezyne goes its own way. Instead of clamping, the head is screwed directly onto the valve thread. Via a Drain valve (air bleed system) This also prevents the valve core from being unintentionally unscrewed from the valve and all the air escaping again abruptly.
- Advantages: Holds bombproof, no slipping possible, extremely narrow design - ideal for disc wheels or tricky spoke layouts and small wheels.
- Disadvantages: It takes longer to unscrew. The biggest drawback: If the valve core is not firmly seated, it can sometimes be unscrewed when the pump is removed - the "super disaster" just before the start of the tour. When switching between the Auto and Sclaverand valves, the attachment on the pump head has to be unscrewed.
3. the automatic pump head (SmartHead / SwitchHitter)
There is only one hole here. The pump head mechanically recognises whether it is fitted to a thick or thin valve and automatically adjusts the seal inside.
- Advantages: No rethinking, no rebuilding. Just plug it in and start pumping.
- Disadvantages: The mechanics inside are more complex and therefore more susceptible to dirt and wear.
4. the high-end solution: the plug-in attachment (Silca Hiro / Schwalbe Clik Valve)
Professional mechanics often swear by pure stainless steel plug-in heads (such as the legendary Silca Hiro). Brand new in the game is the Schwalbe Clik Valvewhich aims to revolutionise operation: the pump head is simply attached to the valve and engages with a short "click". The pump head sits securely and closes airtight, without any lever acrobatics.
- Advantages: One-handed operation, minimal wear of the valve seals, extremely durable and very compact in design - therefore also ideally suited for smaller wheels or narrow spokes.
- Disadvantages: Some are very expensive (Silca) or require special valve inserts (Schwalbe Clik Valve).
BIKE recommendation: What to look out for when buying a bike
A bad pump head is like a squeaking bicycle chain: it drains energy and is simply annoying. If you are looking for a new floor pump, pay attention to these three points:
- Sealing sleeve: The rubbers should be replaceable. Nothing is more annoying than throwing away an 80 euro pump just because a 50 cent seal is brittle.
- Hebelweg: Try out the clamping lever. Can it be moved smoothly without the pump head tilting around on the valve? In the worst case, this could bend the valve head. A long lever offers more force, but often collides with the spokes.
- Choice of material: Plastic is okay, but metal inlays or completely milled heads (as with Lezyne or Silca) are worth the investment. In a workshop where you pump your bike weekly, these will last almost forever.
My personal tip: If you have a really good pump with an annoying head, you don't have to dispose of everything straight away. Many manufacturers offer their top pump heads as an upgrade kit for the hose. An old SKS racing compressor with a retrofitted high-end plug is often the best combination of tradition and modern performance. The new Clik-Valve pump heads from Schwalbe are unbeatable in terms of handling.
Stefan Frey
Editor
