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Jun 19, 2023

The best bike pumps for 2023

A proper bike pump for the home shop or when you’re out riding should be mandatory kit for any serious cyclist. After all, without enough air in the tires, you’re not going to be riding very far. So,

A proper bike pump for the home shop or when you’re out riding should be mandatory kit for any serious cyclist. After all, without enough air in the tires, you’re not going to be riding very far. So, to make sure your tires are always properly inflated, we’ve selected a variety of pumps that should cover most cyclists’ needs.

Here are our top ten best bike pumps for 2023.

A compact high-volume pump for trailside emergencies.

With its relatively large-diameter barrel, this compact pump is ideal for inflating larger mountain bike tires. The pump features a machined aluminum barrel and piston for durability, while the flexible hose reduces stress on valve stems. The pump comes with a handy bottle cage mount and is rated to inflate tires up to 90 p.s.i. This pump is a must-have bit of insurance for gravel and mountain bike riders.

A compact high-pressure pump for roadside emergencies.

This slender little pump can easily fit in a jersey pocket, ready to be deployed during a roadside flat. The pump features machined aluminum construction for low weight and exceptional durability. The Presta-compatible flexible hose minimizes stress on delicate valve stems and has an integrated valve core tool. The pump can hit up to 160 p.s.i. and comes with a bottle-cage mount for optional on-the-frame mounting.

A mini pump with a CO2 air cartridge.

CO2 air cartridges are incredibly convenient until you realize that they may not always provide you with the necessary air pressure to finish your ride. Rather than succumbing to this reality and limping home on a semi-flaccid tire, check out the Planet Bike Air Smith CO2 Mini Pump. This tiny pump combines the convenience of a CO2 air cartridge with the just-in-case backup of a mini pump. The pump provides the option of topping up tires or, in a worst-case scenario, manually inflate your tire if a CO2 cartridge fails.

A robust floor pump for inflating a variety of tires.

Constructed with a durable steel barrel and piston, the Sport Floor Drive Pump can handle any tire-inflation task you can throw at it. The pump has a 1.9-m long hose, allowing for easy attachment to any tire regardless of whether the bike is on the ground or perched on a repair stand. The chuck easily affixes onto both Schraeder and Presta valves and has an integrated Presta valve-core wrench. Finally, a large, easy-to-read gauge lets you know when you might be approaching the pump’s 220-p.s.i.-rated limit.

A versatile high-volume pump for seating and inflating tubeless tires.

Tubeless tires offer some amazing advantages over conventional tires. Unfortunately, unlike regular tires and tubes, tubeless options require a quick, high-volume blast of air for the bead to mate correctly with the rim, something that’s difficult to achieve with traditional floor pumps—unless, of course, you’re using the Beto Tubeless Air Tank. With the Beto, you use your floor pump to fill the tank, attach the tank to the tire, and then simply flip the switch to inflate and properly seat the tire. You get up to five seconds of inflation with a 160 p.s.i.-charged tank. If you need more air volume or pressure, you can attach your floor pump to the tank and continue pumping. This is a valuable inflation tool that will also work with conventional tires.

A floor pump that can easily switch from high volume to high pressure.

Thanks to its innovative foot-activated switch, the Sterling floor pump can easily switch between high-volume air for mountain bike tires to high-pressure air for skinny road tires. The feature reduces the force and the number of strokes required to inflate tires and is especially useful when pumping larger tires at either extreme end of the spectrum. The pump also features an easy-to-read pressure gauge, aluminum construction for durability, and a chuck that accommodates both Schraeder and Presta valves.

A no-compromise floor pump for the cyclist who wants the best.

What do you get when you take the best-made floor pump (manufactured in the U.S.A.) and add the best available chuck (made in Japan)? Allow me to introduce you to the SuperPista Ultimate Hiro Edition. Constructed with stainless steel, aluminum, brass and wood for the handle (no plastics), this pump is the darling of pro mechanics. Still not sold? Well, consider that the pump also employs IGUS linear bearings for unmatched smoothness and a chunky leather piston gasket that will outlast rubber alternatives. Remember that Japanese chuck I mentioned earlier? It’s made by Hiro, features all-metal construction and has an easy-to-use side-release locking mechanism. This is widely regarded as the best chuck on the market, which explains why Silca spec’d it on this pump. And yes, the pump is not cheap, but it really is the best you can currently purchase.

A versatile and efficient floor pump with features from the higher-end Pro version.

Built with trickle-down tech from the Pro version pump, the Blackburn Core 3 delivers similar performance at a much more affordable price. The pump is nearly 28 inches tall, resulting in plenty of air volume and pressure for efficient tire inflation. Blackburn specs a 3-inch-wide aviation pressure gauge that can easily be viewed when pumping. The 48-inch-long hose is mated to Blackburn’s Airtap head, which accommodates Schraeder, Presta, and Dunlop valves and also features a built-in air-bleed button. This is a solid and versatile floor pump for home use.

A well-priced CO2 cartridge three-pack.

CO2 cartridges are (with a few caveats) a total game-changer when it comes to fixing roadside flats. Unfortunately, they are a one-shot deal, and if you blow it, and don’t have a spare cartridge (or mini pump), you are looking at a long walk home or at least an awkward conversation when you call your spouse to pick you up. Avoid the walk of shame or the relationship-compromising phone call by making sure you always have a few spare CO2 cartridges in your jersey pocket. This Planet Bike three-pack is reasonably priced and will inflate 26-inch and 700c tires.

A high-volume pump with additional storage in the body.

On the surface, the OneUp EDC 100cc Pump looks like many other small high-volume pumps on the market, but looks can be deceiving. Constructed of machined aluminum, the pump not only delivers the highest ratio of air volume to weight, but it also has internal storage for a number of critical bike tools available separately as part of EDC’s V2 tool. It’s a smart system that ultimately reduces the amount of gear you carry on your rides.

As mentioned earlier in the article, CO2 air cartridges are game changers for emergency tire inflation. Unfortunately, they are a one-shot deal, so if you botch the inflation or get multiple flats during your ride (it does happen), you had better have spare cartridges if you want to avoid walking home. You also need to ensure the cartridges you use are appropriate for the air pressure and volume required for your tires. Pumps avoid these issues, but inflating a tire with a tiny mini pump may have you hitting your VO2 max. Seriously, it will take longer than you expect, and it will tax you more than you think. This brings us to our next question: does pump size really matter?

Small mini pumps are all the rage because they can easily fit in a jersey pocket or be attached to most bike frames. This setup ensures you’ll always have a pump with you during your rides. The downside of these smaller pumps is that they don’t move a lot of air. If you are trying to inflate larger tires, you may be at it for some time. The solution is a larger pump, but then you are trading off portability. You also want to consider the pump’s diameter. Larger diameter pumps are more suitable for inflating lower-pressure, larger air-volume tires, while slender pumps are ideal for higher-pressure skinny tires. In a pinch, either one will work, but if you have the option, carry a pump that is most suitable for the tires you ride.

Yes. Floor pumps allow you to quickly and efficiently pump up your tires before your rides. Floor pumps also have a gauge so you can inflate your tires to the correct pressure. When purchasing a floor pump, you should also make sure it has a sufficiently long hose, a chuck that accommodates Schraeder and Presta valves, and a wide, stable base.

Lezyne Sport Drive HV Pump

Buy Now - $29.95

Buy Now - $20.49 (18% Off)

Lezyne Road Drive HP Pump

Buy Now - $74.95

Buy Now - $49.99

Planet Bike Air Smith CO2 Mini Pump

Buy Now - $45.95

Lezyne Sport Floor Drive Pump

Buy Now - $84.95

Buy Now - $54.99

Beto Tubeless Air Tank Inflator

Buy Now - $68.99 (23% Off)

Buy Now - $53.49 (24% Off)

Crankbrothers Sterling Floor Pump

Buy Now - $79.94 (20% Off)

Silca SuperPista Ultimate Hiro Edition Pump

Buy Now - $644.99

Buy Now - $495.00 (21% Off)

Blackburn Core 3 Bike Floor Pump

Buy Now - $109.99

Planet Bike 16-g Threaded CO2 Cartridge 3-Pack

Buy Now - $8.93 (31% Off)

OneUp EDC 100cc Pump

Buy Now - $84.50