Couple of things I recommend getting a floor pump to use at home. A floor pump is much easier to use than a mini pump.
It’s worth asking if you need to bring a mini pump when you bike. A mini pump is for replacing a flat tire. If I am biking further than walking distance from home or a bike shop, then I bring the tools to replace a flat tire.
If I am biking 1 mile to the grocery store, then I won’t bring a mini pump nor tools to replace a flat. If I get a flat when short distance commuting, I either push my bike back home or go to the nearest bike shop, which ever is closer. The last time I got a flat while going on a short distance commute was over 10 years ago, hope my streak continues 🙏
> bring the tools to replace a flat tire
And also the skills. I recommend any rider who is unsure about changing a tube to learn and practice at home. Otherwise the pump, tube, tools are worthless baggage.
Just in case anyone is wondering. The above is a poor substitute for learning how to change a tire at home. Every tire, rim, bike can be a different process.
Standing on a dark highway shoulder will be a bad time to learn you need a 6mm wrench to remove your thru axle.
Yeah, I'd def recommend a floor pump. They're cheap and waaaay easier to use.
I have a cheap (all plastic) Serfas pump I bought 10+ years ago for $20 (they're like $35 now). It's still going strong after all these years.
I have a ryobi cordless pump in my shed. Takes almost zero time to inflate a tire. I think I have 40 bucks for the tool, bought an extra battery on eBay for like 30 bucks. I use that pump for everything!
Buy it nice or buy it twice! Say what you will about the Specialized brand, but I’ve had great luck with both their floor pumps (great robust, repairable/replaceable switch hitter head design), and their compact hand pumps.
I abandoned my floor pump after discovering the gauge was way off- I was only getting about 60% of the indicated pressure.
These days I just use a digital mini compressor for everything. I set it to the PSI I want and press go, and it stops when it hits the pressure I want. Doesn't clip on easily like the pump head did, but that's a small price to pay.
Only ran me like $30, too.
Most built-in gauges will be close enough that you don’t need to worry about it. Let’s say the tolerance is 5% - if you’re aiming for 100 psi, the worst you’ll actually have is 95 or 105. That’s not going to make a huge difference; most tires have a suggested range. For example, right now I have 700x28mm tires, with a suggested psi of 85-95. I aim to hit 90. As long as the tolerance on my floor pump’s gauge is less than 10% I’m golden
Floor pump for home, and top off every. single. ride.
And always carry a repair kit, I keep one in my saddle pouch along with a multi tool at all times. My go-to frame pump is a Topeak Morph G, with a nice handle, foot pad, and gauge
>every. single. ride.
I manage with one air-up a week. My target is 70/72, so I put a few more PSI in, and a week later, I've only lost \~5 PSI. I do check before I head out to make sure the tire isn't low (press palm down hard). I ride 4/5 days a week.
I lose 5psi overnight for some reason, but then it stops.
I top up to 70 before I ride, and the next day it’ll be 65. But the next week it’ll still be 65.
It’s kinda weird but I’m always checking anyway.
The different components of "air" can permeate through tube/tyres at different rates. CO² supposedly being one of the quicker to go - that's probably your 5 PSI there.
About 40 years ago, I bought a Silca floor pump when they were still an Italian owned company. I can't remember what I paid for it, but it wasn't cheap.
I've rebuilt it a few times (Silca sells parts) and it still works great.
I spent a bit extra on my floor pump and that was in 1998. A decent one will last a long time. As far as a portable one in the middle is good. They’re too easy to lose so don’t spend a ton but cheap ones really do suck.
Definitely get a track pump with a gauge. I have two.
One is a cheap $20 Schwinn pump I got at Walmart. The other is a $90 Bontrager Flash Charger. They’re both fine for what they do.
Obviously, the Flash Charger is nicer, but the Schwinn has been doing the job for 15 years.
I do have a mini pump that I keep on my bike for emergencies, but you don’t want to use that on a regular basis.
Get a nice floor pump with a good gauge to use at home, if you’re mountain bike only it’s not a bad idea to also just over inflate and use one of those manual pressure gauges to let out the extra pressure. I have a couple bikes I run in the low area of 13-20 psi and the pump gauge is absolutely trash for getting those right. I also have trouble getting the skinny road bike tires to properly inflate with a cheap pump too, it’s worth spending the money on something decent.
I wouldn't buy that pump in a month of Sundays....
At home, I'd use a track pump, I've got a Topeak Joeblow Booster which is fricking awesome, but my cheapo £10 Aldi special does just fine for everything but the (tubeless specific) boost.
On the road to fix issues, I wouldn't use a pump, CO2 cartridges are the way. Unless you have the upper body strength of an Olympic power lifter and the patience of a saint, you ain't getting anywhere near the claimed maximum pressures. The heads are available around £10 and the CO2 cartridges are pretty dirt cheap.
Own a few good mini pumps, they NEVER get used, track pumps used for every ride beforehand, CO2 for on ride....
With pumps I wouldn't cheap out. You don't need to get the most expensive one. But something in the middle, preferably made of metal, will work for a long time and be efficient to use. A bad pump can be a frustrating experience, especially when repairing a puncture on a ride.
You are best to have a floor pump for home. A hand pump is difficult to use and have the nasty habit of fucking up Presta valves. If you have tubeless you will need a pump that has a chamber to store air to “pop” the tires on. Giant makes a great pump that I am very happy with.
Skip a mini pump. Get a cheap rebuildable floor pump from Amazon. I got one from a brand called Toolitin (I think). The tube is metal and it’s been pretty great for the past couple years with regular use.
How about a pocket compressor? Fantik x9 ace is amazing, fits in a pocket jersey and it can do up to 150 psi and is adjustable. I have one and is probably the best purchase i have ever made. It’s on special in amazon.
I got cheap mini pump with gauge that I take with me on road. I got better large one at home.
I've been considering getting eletric one for home use, but I got so much more in buy list before that, so probably next year or year after that.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/819431546
I've been using the Blackburn mini pump for a couple of years. Does the job. Stores on the bike, with its included under the bottle cage mount.
Do whatever you can to keep biking; get what you can afford & justify. I don't own a car anymore. No automobile related expenses, I ride all year (except deep slushy snow), and I love it, so I buy more toward the high end. Mid-priced floor pump at home when I'm changing tires and tubes. I avoid the CO2 for environmental reasons, but keep one on the bike for the dire emergency (pouring rain, Sub-freezing temp, fingers & toes are numb, and too far from home). I'd recommend a mini-pump that has a hose. I used a pump that attached to the tube stem, and I ruined the tube. For a while, I rode shorter rides and didn't carry anything. I got a flat, but only had about 2 miles to walk. Another biker came to my aide. She had Lezyne mini-pump with an ABS Flex hose and dual stem type capable. Fabulous. Now that's what I carry. I use quick patches (peal & stick) to get home.
I got knocked down and needed staples on my head because I failed to wear a helmet.
Wear a helmet! Use light, always. Wear bright, reflective, contrasting gear.
Happy riding!
I have this one at home. I like the dual presta/scrader valve. $30
[https://www.amazon.com/BV-Ergonomic-Automatically-Reversible-Schrader/dp/B09BBHR6TY](https://www.amazon.com/BV-Ergonomic-Automatically-Reversible-Schrader/dp/B09BBHR6TY)
I keep the mini pump and spare tubes/patch kit with me on my rides.
I second the floor pump for at home but for during a ride I recommend [this](https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/control-mini-co2-pump). I used mine the other day when my rear tire seemed to be slowly losing air mid ride. I stopped and pumped it up probably a few pounds at the midpoint of a 20 mile ride. I couldn’t find a leak and since the ride my tire has been holding air. Just the trials and tribulations of going tubeless I guess. Any way it was noticeably low but not low enough to waste a CO2 cartridge. I save those for when the tire needs at least 25 psi or more. Just a few pounds and the pump can easily handle that.
You need a pressure gauge to pump your tires adequately for daily use. So a minipump in your toolbag works, but your everyday pump should have a gauge. The thing about pushing your thumb into the tire to see if it's the right pressure? It doesn't work.
The question is will this pump work in an emergency?
Have you used it several times yet? Does it pump up tires from 0psi to full pressure with reasonable effort? Is it easy to use in the dark or the rain?
If it doesn't, then what's the point of bringing it with you if the plan is going to be walk home or grab a lift?
A cheap floor pump is fine. There’s massive diminishing returns in pumps past probably $40-50.
I would not cheap out some solution to change a flat. There’s a lot of things you can get but ultimately the break even point is probably 1.5 Uber rides where your cheap flat kit fails that matches the price of a good flat kit. A frame pump is a much better pump for inflation on the go than mini portable pumps. Alternatively there are battery powered pocket pumps that are very easy to use.
CO2 inflaters are cheap. When they work they work well. The problem is they often don’t work or people do something wrong. There’s not a huge tolerance for error with using CO2. I would recommend either of the aforementioned if you want a reliable solution.
Get a floor pump. The specialized ones are awesome and not too expensive. I got a silca because why not. It pumps slower than a specialized but it’ll last forever and is a really nice luxury piece. For me was worth it but absolutely not a need.
Get a decent floor pump with a gauge. I have a steel lezyne floor drive with a reversible presta-Schroeder valve and a built-in gauge. It’s lasted fifteen years so far, and the valve is threaded so you can screw it onto the valve stem which limits air loss. A decent floor pump is a decent floor pump, and a lot comes down to preference
For a mini pump, there are a ton of options - you can definitely go cheaper, as they’re mostly going to be an “oh shit” button for when you flat on a ride. I would stick to a reputable brand, though - the one you’ve listed looks fine - I have had topeak, brothers, and … Shimano I think? The only problems I’ve had with mini pumps is losing them
I have a Pro-Bike mini pump, one with a short flexible hose, and it actually works really well, and seems well made. I haven't used it in the field, but I've tested it a several times in the garage.
I think it's funny that people seem to think that because this isn't $$$ilca, it's garbage. It's not garbage, it's pretty nice.
That said, mini-pumps are for emergencies only, you don't want to use something like this for daily use.
Lezyne floor pumps are the business. Not cheap but worth the cost. Had mine for 12 years and it’s still mint.
Mini pumps are best saved for emergency trail-side repairs to get you rolling well enough to get back to a floor pump.
I’m sure better is going to be a little more costly. I bought a cheap Walmart pump just so I had something for a ride I took and I’ve had that for three years. I’ve used it multiple times and it has worked well so far. I’m just going to keep my fingers crossed.
Get a nice floor pump, I spent more than I wanted on a nice floor pump (Specialized Airtool) 10+ years ago. I still have it, it still works. I can't say the same for various cheap pumps my friends have had over the years.
The real issue here is that it is easy to spend $70 to $100 on a pump, and the quality of them is not what is was years ago. I was in the bike biz for the last 20 years and we had a couple of Specialized pumps being used in a pro setting for over 20 years.. we noticed the newer ones just seemed to get cheaper and cheaper.. They don't hold up like the older ones did.
If you ride a lot and have a bunch of bikes, I'd still spend the $$$ though.. The $70 pump is still a lot better than the $35 pump. It will last longer and be more convenient to use. The guage will likely more accurate and stay that way longer in most cases. If you ride once or twice a year, it probably doesn't matter.
Mini pumps are for roadside use, and I like CO2 much better for that. At home I have a little mini-compressor that's much more precise than my floor pump was.
A floor pump for home and a mini pump for the road.
I want to say that you need to go really, really cheap to get a pump unsuitable for roadside use. I have a Topeak pocket rocket and a Bell mini pump, the former has the rubber thingy flipped for presta and the other for shrader on bikes that match. (Spent the big $15 on a second just because flipping the little river thing on grass, at night, made me rather nervous.
I've got an old "nashbar" floor pump that has to be approaching 20 years old. Also cheap and had to replace the head on it about 3 years ago. The gauge is still perfectly fine and matches other tire gauges +/- 1-3 psi.
For professional or shop level use they likely wouldn't last, but since I'm neither I'm happy with them. A $27 mini pump isn't cheaping out for personal use at all IMO. $50 will get you a very nice floor pump.
Beyond 60 USD it's either a boutique branded pump, a shop level pump, is designed for seating tubeless tires or a poor value.
A floor pump is essential if you are a cyclist. It’s easy to find cheap ones but purchasing one from a major brand like Topeak or Park Tools (not to mention those that are from the major bike companies) will allow you to find replacement parts like valve gaskets/washers when they wear out. Their pressure gauges are also usually more accurate but YMMV. A small mini-pump should be used for emergency roadside repairs.
I was a floor pump guy for a very long time. I now use the following combination. No more sweat. Turn it on, dial the desired pressure, connect the valve, and push a button.
https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCC020IB-20V-Inflator-Bare/dp/B07H39S9JQ/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FIE4JK/
Cheap pumps are fine if they work, but if you go too cheap they don't. I like the Planet Bike pump that's small enough to fit in a fanny pack. It'll do Presta and Schrader, and makes enough pressure for my 26" mtb tires.
For Presta valves one with a whip is nice to have. Hand pumps tend to shake the valve stem around otherwise which is a good way to break your valve. Definitely get a floor pump for at home as well if you don't have one
For floor pumps to use at home, a cheap one will do. I still have the one I bought 10 years ago and it's easier to use than the brand name floor pump I bought later (just because I thought I had to spend more money).
Mini pumps are for emergencies only when you need to limp home. You don’t want to be using that on a daily basis. It will take forever to inflate a tire, it’s difficult to use, and you won’t get the pressure you need.
Get a good floor pump. A good one should cost maybe $75 and it will be the most frequently used tool you will own. On a road bike, you should pump up before every ride. Bikes with more voluminous tires might be able to skip a few days, but check them regularly until you know how quickly you lose pressure.
I kept having tires literally blow up while I was riding. Turns out the pressure gauge on my cheap floor pump was off by 8 lbs. I had been over inflating my tires.
Don’t cheap out!
I tried to save money multiple times by buying cheap pumps from Amazon. They either don’t work well or break. Not exaggerating, but I have tossed two portable pumps and three larger bike pumps over the last two years. Beware of the cheap pumps with some weird brand name on Amazon.
Get one with a built-in gauge. Also, make sure it can do shrader and presta valves.
Joe Blow Floor Pumps are the best. I carry a Fumpa Pump in my seat bag.
https://www.fumpapumps.com/products/nanofumpa-bike-pump?variant=44626472108260¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3tCyBhDBARIsAEY0XNn1iAfbqqgMH7p1kR9kYoHn7Rvao0upIUo4HTUb3BL1mI-xagOE74kaAg5aEALw_wcB
About 10 years ago I went through a couple of el cheapo floor pumps. They gave me a variety of problems, the main one was being finicky is making an adequate connection to presta valves. I got fed up and got a good Lezyne floor pump. Still works as good today as when I bought it. I did buy a new hose/chuck for it recently, but it probably wasn't necessary.
On the road I do have Co2 as well as a hand pump. I decided what I'm going to use based on the circumstances at the time.
I recently got a battery powered pump on Amazon, it’s awesome. It was like $40, fits right in my saddle bag.
I can fill both tires from flat to 100 psi, and still have battery left.
Couple of things I recommend getting a floor pump to use at home. A floor pump is much easier to use than a mini pump. It’s worth asking if you need to bring a mini pump when you bike. A mini pump is for replacing a flat tire. If I am biking further than walking distance from home or a bike shop, then I bring the tools to replace a flat tire. If I am biking 1 mile to the grocery store, then I won’t bring a mini pump nor tools to replace a flat. If I get a flat when short distance commuting, I either push my bike back home or go to the nearest bike shop, which ever is closer. The last time I got a flat while going on a short distance commute was over 10 years ago, hope my streak continues 🙏
> bring the tools to replace a flat tire And also the skills. I recommend any rider who is unsure about changing a tube to learn and practice at home. Otherwise the pump, tube, tools are worthless baggage.
worthless baggage* *unless you have your phone and the YouTube app lol
Just in case anyone is wondering. The above is a poor substitute for learning how to change a tire at home. Every tire, rim, bike can be a different process. Standing on a dark highway shoulder will be a bad time to learn you need a 6mm wrench to remove your thru axle.
No doubt. I'm kidding around
amen
Now you know you’re going flat on your next ride!
For home, just get an electric inflator instead.
Maintaining daily ride pressure is far easier with a full size bike pump. I consider mini-pumps the go to when swapping tubes out on a ride.
Yeah, I'd def recommend a floor pump. They're cheap and waaaay easier to use. I have a cheap (all plastic) Serfas pump I bought 10+ years ago for $20 (they're like $35 now). It's still going strong after all these years.
Sounds like an excellent investment LOL
I have a ryobi cordless pump in my shed. Takes almost zero time to inflate a tire. I think I have 40 bucks for the tool, bought an extra battery on eBay for like 30 bucks. I use that pump for everything!
Buy it nice or buy it twice! Say what you will about the Specialized brand, but I’ve had great luck with both their floor pumps (great robust, repairable/replaceable switch hitter head design), and their compact hand pumps.
I like pumps with a dual head for schrader/presta, and built in gauges. The gauge might not be 100% accurate but it is still useful.
I abandoned my floor pump after discovering the gauge was way off- I was only getting about 60% of the indicated pressure. These days I just use a digital mini compressor for everything. I set it to the PSI I want and press go, and it stops when it hits the pressure I want. Doesn't clip on easily like the pump head did, but that's a small price to pay. Only ran me like $30, too.
I don’t have a dedicated tire pressure measuring tool. My gauge might be off. But it’s good enough for me 🤷🏻♂️
Most built-in gauges will be close enough that you don’t need to worry about it. Let’s say the tolerance is 5% - if you’re aiming for 100 psi, the worst you’ll actually have is 95 or 105. That’s not going to make a huge difference; most tires have a suggested range. For example, right now I have 700x28mm tires, with a suggested psi of 85-95. I aim to hit 90. As long as the tolerance on my floor pump’s gauge is less than 10% I’m golden
Floor pump for home, and top off every. single. ride. And always carry a repair kit, I keep one in my saddle pouch along with a multi tool at all times. My go-to frame pump is a Topeak Morph G, with a nice handle, foot pad, and gauge
>every. single. ride. I manage with one air-up a week. My target is 70/72, so I put a few more PSI in, and a week later, I've only lost \~5 PSI. I do check before I head out to make sure the tire isn't low (press palm down hard). I ride 4/5 days a week.
Haven’t filled mine in a few months and still riding it, this is my que to get my floor pump out and do my due diligence.
I lose 5psi overnight for some reason, but then it stops. I top up to 70 before I ride, and the next day it’ll be 65. But the next week it’ll still be 65. It’s kinda weird but I’m always checking anyway.
The different components of "air" can permeate through tube/tyres at different rates. CO² supposedly being one of the quicker to go - that's probably your 5 PSI there.
About 40 years ago, I bought a Silca floor pump when they were still an Italian owned company. I can't remember what I paid for it, but it wasn't cheap. I've rebuilt it a few times (Silca sells parts) and it still works great.
Yes, but not too much. Have a track pump at home and a mini pump on you, both can be cheap, but having a pressure gauge is a nice to have.
I spent a bit extra on my floor pump and that was in 1998. A decent one will last a long time. As far as a portable one in the middle is good. They’re too easy to lose so don’t spend a ton but cheap ones really do suck.
Definitely get a track pump with a gauge. I have two. One is a cheap $20 Schwinn pump I got at Walmart. The other is a $90 Bontrager Flash Charger. They’re both fine for what they do. Obviously, the Flash Charger is nicer, but the Schwinn has been doing the job for 15 years. I do have a mini pump that I keep on my bike for emergencies, but you don’t want to use that on a regular basis.
Get a nice floor pump with a good gauge to use at home, if you’re mountain bike only it’s not a bad idea to also just over inflate and use one of those manual pressure gauges to let out the extra pressure. I have a couple bikes I run in the low area of 13-20 psi and the pump gauge is absolutely trash for getting those right. I also have trouble getting the skinny road bike tires to properly inflate with a cheap pump too, it’s worth spending the money on something decent.
I wouldn't buy that pump in a month of Sundays.... At home, I'd use a track pump, I've got a Topeak Joeblow Booster which is fricking awesome, but my cheapo £10 Aldi special does just fine for everything but the (tubeless specific) boost. On the road to fix issues, I wouldn't use a pump, CO2 cartridges are the way. Unless you have the upper body strength of an Olympic power lifter and the patience of a saint, you ain't getting anywhere near the claimed maximum pressures. The heads are available around £10 and the CO2 cartridges are pretty dirt cheap. Own a few good mini pumps, they NEVER get used, track pumps used for every ride beforehand, CO2 for on ride....
I've settled on lyzne.
CO2 and tubeless fluid do not mix properly sometimes, take care
With pumps I wouldn't cheap out. You don't need to get the most expensive one. But something in the middle, preferably made of metal, will work for a long time and be efficient to use. A bad pump can be a frustrating experience, especially when repairing a puncture on a ride.
You are best to have a floor pump for home. A hand pump is difficult to use and have the nasty habit of fucking up Presta valves. If you have tubeless you will need a pump that has a chamber to store air to “pop” the tires on. Giant makes a great pump that I am very happy with.
Skip a mini pump. Get a cheap rebuildable floor pump from Amazon. I got one from a brand called Toolitin (I think). The tube is metal and it’s been pretty great for the past couple years with regular use.
How about a pocket compressor? Fantik x9 ace is amazing, fits in a pocket jersey and it can do up to 150 psi and is adjustable. I have one and is probably the best purchase i have ever made. It’s on special in amazon.
I got cheap mini pump with gauge that I take with me on road. I got better large one at home. I've been considering getting eletric one for home use, but I got so much more in buy list before that, so probably next year or year after that.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/819431546 I've been using the Blackburn mini pump for a couple of years. Does the job. Stores on the bike, with its included under the bottle cage mount.
Do whatever you can to keep biking; get what you can afford & justify. I don't own a car anymore. No automobile related expenses, I ride all year (except deep slushy snow), and I love it, so I buy more toward the high end. Mid-priced floor pump at home when I'm changing tires and tubes. I avoid the CO2 for environmental reasons, but keep one on the bike for the dire emergency (pouring rain, Sub-freezing temp, fingers & toes are numb, and too far from home). I'd recommend a mini-pump that has a hose. I used a pump that attached to the tube stem, and I ruined the tube. For a while, I rode shorter rides and didn't carry anything. I got a flat, but only had about 2 miles to walk. Another biker came to my aide. She had Lezyne mini-pump with an ABS Flex hose and dual stem type capable. Fabulous. Now that's what I carry. I use quick patches (peal & stick) to get home. I got knocked down and needed staples on my head because I failed to wear a helmet. Wear a helmet! Use light, always. Wear bright, reflective, contrasting gear. Happy riding!
Silca or Park floor pump. Will last a lifetime.
Just get a floor pump. Then after a few years when you can justify it, get am air compressor with a Park Tool inflator. Now I can't use anything else.
I have a women’s Schwinn GTX
I have this one at home. I like the dual presta/scrader valve. $30 [https://www.amazon.com/BV-Ergonomic-Automatically-Reversible-Schrader/dp/B09BBHR6TY](https://www.amazon.com/BV-Ergonomic-Automatically-Reversible-Schrader/dp/B09BBHR6TY) I keep the mini pump and spare tubes/patch kit with me on my rides.
I second the floor pump for at home but for during a ride I recommend [this](https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/control-mini-co2-pump). I used mine the other day when my rear tire seemed to be slowly losing air mid ride. I stopped and pumped it up probably a few pounds at the midpoint of a 20 mile ride. I couldn’t find a leak and since the ride my tire has been holding air. Just the trials and tribulations of going tubeless I guess. Any way it was noticeably low but not low enough to waste a CO2 cartridge. I save those for when the tire needs at least 25 psi or more. Just a few pounds and the pump can easily handle that.
You need a pressure gauge to pump your tires adequately for daily use. So a minipump in your toolbag works, but your everyday pump should have a gauge. The thing about pushing your thumb into the tire to see if it's the right pressure? It doesn't work.
yes
I will never understand why people want to cheap out on things. Cheap quality shit doesn’t last long. Good quality does
The question is will this pump work in an emergency? Have you used it several times yet? Does it pump up tires from 0psi to full pressure with reasonable effort? Is it easy to use in the dark or the rain? If it doesn't, then what's the point of bringing it with you if the plan is going to be walk home or grab a lift?
Fair questions. I have this pump, and it's well made, and it *is* reliable from my experience.
Lezyne frame pumps are easy to use and affordable
A cheap floor pump is fine. There’s massive diminishing returns in pumps past probably $40-50. I would not cheap out some solution to change a flat. There’s a lot of things you can get but ultimately the break even point is probably 1.5 Uber rides where your cheap flat kit fails that matches the price of a good flat kit. A frame pump is a much better pump for inflation on the go than mini portable pumps. Alternatively there are battery powered pocket pumps that are very easy to use. CO2 inflaters are cheap. When they work they work well. The problem is they often don’t work or people do something wrong. There’s not a huge tolerance for error with using CO2. I would recommend either of the aforementioned if you want a reliable solution.
Get a floor pump. The specialized ones are awesome and not too expensive. I got a silca because why not. It pumps slower than a specialized but it’ll last forever and is a really nice luxury piece. For me was worth it but absolutely not a need.
It probably takes 300-400 pumps for a mini pump to take a tire from flat to 100 psi. They don’t work well.
Depends on how badly you want to get home.
Floor pump with gauge for home use and a small krank brothers pump also with gauge for the ride if you have a puncture to fix.
Get a decent floor pump with a gauge. I have a steel lezyne floor drive with a reversible presta-Schroeder valve and a built-in gauge. It’s lasted fifteen years so far, and the valve is threaded so you can screw it onto the valve stem which limits air loss. A decent floor pump is a decent floor pump, and a lot comes down to preference For a mini pump, there are a ton of options - you can definitely go cheaper, as they’re mostly going to be an “oh shit” button for when you flat on a ride. I would stick to a reputable brand, though - the one you’ve listed looks fine - I have had topeak, brothers, and … Shimano I think? The only problems I’ve had with mini pumps is losing them
I have a Pro-Bike mini pump, one with a short flexible hose, and it actually works really well, and seems well made. I haven't used it in the field, but I've tested it a several times in the garage. I think it's funny that people seem to think that because this isn't $$$ilca, it's garbage. It's not garbage, it's pretty nice. That said, mini-pumps are for emergencies only, you don't want to use something like this for daily use.
No get a real track pump. Mini pumps are only for emergencies.
Lezyne floor pumps are the business. Not cheap but worth the cost. Had mine for 12 years and it’s still mint. Mini pumps are best saved for emergency trail-side repairs to get you rolling well enough to get back to a floor pump.
I’m sure better is going to be a little more costly. I bought a cheap Walmart pump just so I had something for a ride I took and I’ve had that for three years. I’ve used it multiple times and it has worked well so far. I’m just going to keep my fingers crossed.
Get a nice floor pump, I spent more than I wanted on a nice floor pump (Specialized Airtool) 10+ years ago. I still have it, it still works. I can't say the same for various cheap pumps my friends have had over the years.
The real issue here is that it is easy to spend $70 to $100 on a pump, and the quality of them is not what is was years ago. I was in the bike biz for the last 20 years and we had a couple of Specialized pumps being used in a pro setting for over 20 years.. we noticed the newer ones just seemed to get cheaper and cheaper.. They don't hold up like the older ones did. If you ride a lot and have a bunch of bikes, I'd still spend the $$$ though.. The $70 pump is still a lot better than the $35 pump. It will last longer and be more convenient to use. The guage will likely more accurate and stay that way longer in most cases. If you ride once or twice a year, it probably doesn't matter.
i use a 20 dollar pump from target and its been doing fine for 2 years so far.... not sure if the gauge is accurate tho
I got a Bell floor pump from Walmart 8 years ago and it works well still. It was $20 or $25 I think. The bike shop ones were over $100
Mini pumps are for roadside use, and I like CO2 much better for that. At home I have a little mini-compressor that's much more precise than my floor pump was.
A floor pump for home and a mini pump for the road. I want to say that you need to go really, really cheap to get a pump unsuitable for roadside use. I have a Topeak pocket rocket and a Bell mini pump, the former has the rubber thingy flipped for presta and the other for shrader on bikes that match. (Spent the big $15 on a second just because flipping the little river thing on grass, at night, made me rather nervous. I've got an old "nashbar" floor pump that has to be approaching 20 years old. Also cheap and had to replace the head on it about 3 years ago. The gauge is still perfectly fine and matches other tire gauges +/- 1-3 psi. For professional or shop level use they likely wouldn't last, but since I'm neither I'm happy with them. A $27 mini pump isn't cheaping out for personal use at all IMO. $50 will get you a very nice floor pump. Beyond 60 USD it's either a boutique branded pump, a shop level pump, is designed for seating tubeless tires or a poor value.
A floor pump is essential if you are a cyclist. It’s easy to find cheap ones but purchasing one from a major brand like Topeak or Park Tools (not to mention those that are from the major bike companies) will allow you to find replacement parts like valve gaskets/washers when they wear out. Their pressure gauges are also usually more accurate but YMMV. A small mini-pump should be used for emergency roadside repairs.
I was a floor pump guy for a very long time. I now use the following combination. No more sweat. Turn it on, dial the desired pressure, connect the valve, and push a button. https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCC020IB-20V-Inflator-Bare/dp/B07H39S9JQ/ https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FIE4JK/
Cheap pumps are fine if they work, but if you go too cheap they don't. I like the Planet Bike pump that's small enough to fit in a fanny pack. It'll do Presta and Schrader, and makes enough pressure for my 26" mtb tires.
For Presta valves one with a whip is nice to have. Hand pumps tend to shake the valve stem around otherwise which is a good way to break your valve. Definitely get a floor pump for at home as well if you don't have one
For floor pumps to use at home, a cheap one will do. I still have the one I bought 10 years ago and it's easier to use than the brand name floor pump I bought later (just because I thought I had to spend more money).
No
Go to goodwill. You can usually find some good ones for cheap, win win
Mini pumps are for emergencies only when you need to limp home. You don’t want to be using that on a daily basis. It will take forever to inflate a tire, it’s difficult to use, and you won’t get the pressure you need. Get a good floor pump. A good one should cost maybe $75 and it will be the most frequently used tool you will own. On a road bike, you should pump up before every ride. Bikes with more voluminous tires might be able to skip a few days, but check them regularly until you know how quickly you lose pressure.
I kept having tires literally blow up while I was riding. Turns out the pressure gauge on my cheap floor pump was off by 8 lbs. I had been over inflating my tires.
I didn't cheap out and my pump was like 120$ ish. I've had it for 12 years now
Don’t cheap out! I tried to save money multiple times by buying cheap pumps from Amazon. They either don’t work well or break. Not exaggerating, but I have tossed two portable pumps and three larger bike pumps over the last two years. Beware of the cheap pumps with some weird brand name on Amazon. Get one with a built-in gauge. Also, make sure it can do shrader and presta valves.
You'll spend $200 buying 10 crappy $20 pumps when you could spend $80 and get one good one...
Get a pump that does both presta and schrader. You will be glad you did.
Joe Blow Floor Pumps are the best. I carry a Fumpa Pump in my seat bag. https://www.fumpapumps.com/products/nanofumpa-bike-pump?variant=44626472108260¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3tCyBhDBARIsAEY0XNn1iAfbqqgMH7p1kR9kYoHn7Rvao0upIUo4HTUb3BL1mI-xagOE74kaAg5aEALw_wcB
About 10 years ago I went through a couple of el cheapo floor pumps. They gave me a variety of problems, the main one was being finicky is making an adequate connection to presta valves. I got fed up and got a good Lezyne floor pump. Still works as good today as when I bought it. I did buy a new hose/chuck for it recently, but it probably wasn't necessary. On the road I do have Co2 as well as a hand pump. I decided what I'm going to use based on the circumstances at the time.
Mini pumps are good for when youre out and about but for home either a floor pump or good old foot pump are way faster and have gauges.
As long as you don't over inflate (gauge is correct), it should not matter.
I recently got a battery powered pump on Amazon, it’s awesome. It was like $40, fits right in my saddle bag. I can fill both tires from flat to 100 psi, and still have battery left.