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These are the best bike pumps for quick inflation of your tires.
If you want an affordable bike pump, go for the Beto Floor Bike Pump. It does its job well and is ideal for the occasional inflation of your tires.
The Lezyne CNC Drive is perfect for the most demanding cyclists and bike shop owners. Thanks to its steel construction, it is sturdy and durable, making it perfect for day-to-day use.
Below, you will find out why I think these are worth your money.
In this article, you also learn much more about bike floor pumps – you can decide what type of bike pump is the best for you and what to be aware of when choosing it.
What Are the Best Floor Pumps for Bikes?
Topeak Joe Blow Mountain (Best Floor Pump for MTB)
Main Features
- Max pressure: 60 PSI
- Weight: 3.84 lb / 1.74 kg
- Made of aluminum
- Compatible with Presta & Schrader valves
- Air release button
- Sport ball needle and inflatable device included
I chose the Topeak Joe Blow Mountain pump as the best pump for MTB for several reasons:
Mountain bikes have wide tires that don’t need high pressure but rather a high air volume. This pump was designed with this fact in mind. Trust me, 60 PSI will be enough for your mountain bike tires.
You will be able to inflate a large volume of air with it, thanks to a 44.4mm diameter barrel. Joe Blow Mountain is a sturdy pump made of aluminum that allows easy and fast inflation.
The gauge is very easy to read, and if you over-inflate your tires, you can take advantage of the air bleed button on the head.
These features make this pump the best pump for mountain bikes.
BV Floor Bike Pump (Most Popular)
Main Features
- Max pressure: 160 PSI
- Weight: 2 lb / 0.91 kg
- Made of steel
- Compatible with Presta & Schrader valves
- Sport ball needle and inflatable device included
This BV pump belongs to the most popular floor bike pumps on the market. It offers everything you expect from a floor bike pump.
It can inflate your tires for up to 160 PSI. This is enough even for road bikes. You can measure the pressure with a gauge that is easy to read.
By turning the dial, you can set the arrow to your preferred pressure. This makes inflating even easier. Yet, some users report the gauge is not very accurate. So if you need to inflate tires with one PSI precision, this pump is not for you.
The barrel is made of steel, and the whole construction is relatively solid, even if it contains many plastic parts. So when inflating high pressures, you will feel the pump is not as sturdy as full metal pumps (Lezyne CNC Drive or Lezine Steel Drive).
Overall, this is a good entry-level pump for the money. It does its job well, and you can rely on it.
Topeak Joe Blow Booster (Best Floor Pump for Tubeless Tires)
Main Features
- Max pressure: 160 PSI
- Weight: 7.6 lb / 3.45 kg
- Made of aluminum
- Compatible with Presta & Schrader valves
- Quick air burst mode for inflating tubeless tires
The Topeak Joe Blow Booster differs significantly from other pumps in this overview. It has 2 barrels. You can either inflate the tire directly, or you can ‘charge’ the barrel and then release the air at once.
Charging the second baller is especially useful if you want to inflate tubeless tires, where you need a quick air burst to seat them properly. This pump will allow you to do that. It works similarly to an air compressor. However, it is powered manually.
Of course, you can also use it for inflating hybrid, MTB, and road bikes. The maximum pressure is up to 160 PSI, which is enough for all types of bike tires.
Its main disadvantage is the pumping time of a high volume of air. It is slightly higher compared to other pumps with a larger barrel.
Also available at wiggle.com
Crankbrothers Gem Floor Bike Pump
Main Features
- Max pressure: 160 PSI
- Weight: 1.75 lb / 0.8 kg
- Made of aluminum
- Compatible with Presta & Schrader valves
- Sport ball needle and inflatable device included
- Available in 3 colors
- Easy to read gauge
Crankbrothers is well known for its bike accessories focused on mountain bikers. Yet, they produce products for regular cyclists as well.
Their ‘Gem’ bike pump is made of aluminum, and its base is from steel. This means the pump feels sturdy and stiff when inflating tires, even at high pressures (up to 160 PSI).
The gauge is easy to read also, thanks to its higher position. Unfortunately, the flexible hose is not very long, which may be a downside for some people.
On the other hand, you can switch between high volume / high-pressure modes using the lever you can switch with your foot. This makes the inflating more time effective.
In the handle, you can find a hidden sport ball needle and an inflatable device. These accessories are handy, especially if your kids have sports balls or you need to inflate an inflatable bed.
You can also choose from 3 available colors – red, black, and green.
Also available at rei.com and performancebike.com
Lezyne CNC Drive
Main Features
- Max pressure: 220 PSI
- Weight: 3.2 lb / 1.45 kg
- Made of aluminum
- Compatible with Presta & Schrader valves
- Available in 2 colors
- Long hose (170 cm)
The Lezyne CNC drive bike pump is my personal favorite. I love its super clean look. But this is just my personal preference. What are the real benefits you can take advantage of?
It is made almost completely of aluminum. This makes it super sturdy and stiff. So you don’t have to be afraid of breaking the pump when inflating high pressures. Speaking of high pressures, you will be able to inflate up to 220 PSI!
What I also find useful is the very long hose. Thanks to it, you can reach more wheels from one place. Imagine that you are preparing for a bunch ride with your friends, and you need to double-check your tires’ pressures.
Find a scapegoat that will inflate and an assistant to switch the head from valve to valve. You will be done within a few minutes!
I would also like to point out that the head has no thumb lock-on system. You have to screw it onto the valve. It takes longer than the thumb lock, but there won’t be any air leaks.
Choose from 2 colors – gloss silver or gloss black.
Also available at competitivecyclist.com and performancebike.com
Topeak Joe Blow Sport III (Best Floor Pump for Road Bike)
Main Features
- Max pressure: 160 PSI
- Weight: 3.7 lb / 1.68 kg
- Made of steel
- Compatible with Presta & Schrader valves
- Easy to read gauge
- Sport ball needle and inflatable device included
The Topeak Joe Blow Sport III is the best floor pump for a road bike. Here is why:
You can inflate high pressures (up to 160 PSI) without any problem because the pump is made of hardened steel. This makes it very sturdy, and you don’t have to be afraid to put much power into every push.
The handle of the pump is padded, so it is comfortable to hold and press. You won’t feel any hand pain even after pumping several wheels. I admit, your muscles may burn a little because you still have to do the work!
Joe Blow Sport III is, of course, compatible with Presta & Schrader valves. The thumb lock-on lever is large enough, so it is easy to lock onto the valve.
The head is well made, so there won’t be any air leaks. Yet, it’s bulky, which is also this pump’s main downside. It may not fit all valves – especially those close to spokes. I have never seen a road bike wheel with a valve close to a spoke, so this should not be a problem for roadies.
Overall, this pump offers an excellent price-to-performance ratio. Thanks to its high quality, it will last, and you can rely on it.
Also available at rei.com and performancebike.com
Bell Air Glide 550
Main Features
- Max pressure: 120 PSI
- Weight: 2 lb / 0.9 kg
- Made of steel
- Compatible with Presta & Schrader valves
- Sport ball needle and inflatable device included
The Bell Air Glide 550 is a pretty lightweight and compact (its height is 22.9 inches only) floor pump. With its narrow barrel that allows easy inflation, it is a perfect pump for shorter people, women, and casual riders who need to get the job done.
The max pressure you can inflate with Air Glide 550 is 120 PSI. Yet, the pump is not as stiff as Lezyne CNC Drive, for example. This means that when you try to inflate pressures over 100 PSI, you won’t get the ‘I can push even harder’ feeling.
Although Bell claims the gauge is easy to read, I don’t think so. The dials are pretty small, making it hard to read if you don’t have the eyes of an eagle.
The pump also features a sports ball needle and an inflatable device so you can inflate these with it.
Schwinn Air Center Plus (Best Budget Floor Pump)
Main Features
- Max pressure: 120 PSI
- Weight: 2.4 lb / 1.1 kg
- Made of steel
- Compatible with Presta & Schrader valves
- Sport ball needle and inflatable device included
Although this pump is relatively cheap, it offers many cool features. The first thing I like is the padded handle that makes pumping more pleasant and comfortable.
The second cool feature is the ‘pressure guide’ included in the gauge. You can see the recommended tire pressures for MTB, hybrid, and road bikes. This is a feature that all less experienced riders will appreciate.
And last but not least, the head includes 2 colors that change based on the lever’s position – red and green. The red indicates that the head is not properly locked onto the valve. The green means you can start pumping.
Some owners report that inflating pressures above 100 PSI is challenging, so I don’t recommend this pump if you want to inflate your road bike tires.
On the other hand, the above-mentioned details and included sports ball needle & inflatable device make this the best budget floor pump. Period.
Lezyne Steel Drive
Main Features
- Max pressure: 220 PSI
- Weight: 3.3 lb / 1.5 kg
- Made of steel
- Compatible with Presta & Schrader valves
- Available in 5 colors
- Long hose (170 cm)
Do you remember the Lezyne CNC Drive? If so, this pump is almost the same. Yet, there are 3 main differences.
The first difference is the wooden handle. It creates a more ‘retro’ look, especially when you choose the black color.
The second difference is the material. The CNC Drive is made of aluminum. The Steel Drive is made out of steel. Both these pumps are very sturdy and stiff, making inflating high pressures very easy.
The last difference is the color availability. Steel Drive is available in black, red, silver, and yellow.
If you are looking for a pump that is well-made, reliable, and will last long, this one is the way to go.
Also available at competitivecyclist.com and performancebike.com
Beto Floor Bike Pump
Main Features
- Max pressure: 160 PSI
- Weight: 2.6 lb / 1.2 kg
- Made of aluminum
- Compatible with Presta & Schrader valves
- Sport ball needle and inflatable device included
- Easy to read gauge on the top
- Air bleed button
This floor pump by Beto is an affordable pump suitable for various types of bikes. Whether you need to inflate your hybrid, mountain, or road bike, this pump can take care of it.
You can inflate pressures of up to 160 PSI displayed on the easy-to-read gauge at the top of the pump.
The handle is ergonomic and allows you a good grip. It also includes storage space for the sports ball needle and inflatable device.
This Beto Pump is also the only pump with the ‘air bleed’ button in this selection. You can use it to release excess tire pressure if you overinflate it.
Lezyne Micro Floor Drive (Best Mini Floor Pump)
Main Features
- Max pressure: 160 PSI
- Weight: 0.44 lb / 0.2 kg
- Made of aluminum
- Compatible with Presta & Schrader valves
- Fold-out footpeg
I have also added one mini floor pump to this selection of floor pumps. The Lezyne Micro Floor Drive is very compact. It is suitable not only for regular bike maintenance but also for storing in the trunk of your car if you plan to go on a cycling trip or if you need to inflate your car tires.
Thanks to the T shape handle, you will be able to pump high pressure without getting sore hands.
Pumping stability is provided by a fold-out footpeg, which you can step on with one foot to make the inflating easier.
The pump is made of aluminum, which ensures low weight and high rigidity. You can rely on it at any time.
Its main disadvantage is that it does not have a pressure gauge, so you will have to inflate tires based on your feeling and experience.
Also available at competitivecyclist.com, jensonusa.com, and wiggle.com
Floor Pumps | Max PSI | Weight | Buy |
---|---|---|---|
Topeak Joe Blow Mountain | 200 PSI | 8 lbs / 3.6 kg | Check Price |
BV Floor Bike Pump | 160 PSI | 2 lbs / 0.91 kg | Check Price |
Topeak Joe Blow Booster | 160 PSI | 7.6 lbs / 3.45 kg | Check Price |
Crankbrothers Floor Bike Pump | 160 PSI | 1.75 lbs / 0.8 kg | Check Price |
Lezyne CNC Drive | 220 PSI | 3.2 lbs / 1.45 kg | Check Price |
Topeak Joe Blow Sport III | 160 PSI | 3.7 lbs / 1.68 kg | Check Price |
Bell Air Glide 550 | 120 PSI | 2 lbs / 0.9 kg | Check Price |
Schwinn Air Center Plus | 120 PSI | 2.4 lbs / 1.1 kg | Check Price |
Lezyne Steel Drive | 220 PSI | 3.3 lbs / 1.5 kg | Check Price |
Beto Floor Bike Pump | 160 PSI | 2.6 lbs / 1.2 kg | Check Price |
Lezyne Micro Floor Drive | 90 PSI | 0.44 lb / 0.2 kg | Check Price |
My Verdict
My personal favorite floor bike pump is the Lezyne CNC Drive. Yet, I don’t think it is the best overall for most of you. It is pretty expensive, and only the most demanding cyclist would be able to take full advantage of it.
So, the best bike floor pump in this selection is the Vibrelli floor pump. It is an affordable bike pump that includes a puncture repair kit, does its job well, and will be your reliable pump for several years.
Yet, if you need to inflate tubeless tires, you should consider buying the Topeak Joe Blow Booster. It allows you to pressurize one of its barrels for a quick air burst that simplifies inflating tubeless tires.
What Types of Bike Pumps Are There?
It is easy to get lost among a large number of types of bike pumps. Let me help you sort them out and find the best for your needs.
Floor Bike Pumps
Floor bike pumps make it easy to inflate your bike. They are the largest of all bike pump types. Thanks to their size, they can inflate a large amount of air per push. This makes them the fastest way to inflate your tires. Yes, I hear you. There are also CO2 inflators that are much quicker, but more about them later.
They are often equipped with a gauge so you can see the pressure you inflate. I explain the types of gauges in more detail below.
With this type of pump, you can also inflate the highest pressures (easily 120+ PSI). However, there are also pumps on the market that can inflate pressures around 250 PSI. You can use such high pressures in the suspension forks of MTB bikes.
There are also mini floor bike pumps (Lezyne Micro Floor Drive), which are more compact and are suitable, for example, if you go on vacation and take a lot of things with you. They don’t take up as much space as standard floor pumps.
If you don’t have a floor pump yet, I recommend you buy one. Your bike maintenance will be much easier. Check the selection of the best floor pumps above.
Mini Bike Pumps
Mini bike pumps (also known as portable bike pumps) exist in 3 types.
- Mini bike pumps that fit into your saddle bag, jersey pocket, or you can attach them to the frame mount under a bottle cage. They are suitable for most cyclists, thanks to their compactness and ability to inflate the tire after you get a puncture.
- Mini bike pumps, also called frame bike pumps, are very similar to the previous type. However, they are slightly longer, and the best place to store them is under the top tube. Frame bike pumps are more suitable for riders who do not mind having a larger pump attached to the frame and want to inflate the bike quickly.
- The third type is shock bike pumps. These are used to adjust the pressure in the shock suspension of mountain bikes. They should be part of every mountain biker’s equipment so that you can adjust the shock pressure to suit your weight and riding style.
READ MORE: The selection of The Best Mini Bike Pumps, including comparisons with CO2 inflators and much more.
A mini bike pump (or CO2 inflator) should be part of every cyclist’s equipment, together with the floor pump. This combination will allow you to inflate your tires at home and also during your bike trips if you get a puncture.
CO2 Inflators
CO2 inflators form a special category. They are not a ‘pump,’ but they are used to inflate tires quickly. You can inflate tires with them within seconds.
This makes them very convenient for cyclists who need to quickly return to their bike after puncturing and replacing the inner tube.
Yet, they have a few downsides too. You can use the cartridge only once. This means inflating your bike with CO2 inflators can get costly in the long term. And this option is also not very eco-friendly because CO2 cartridges are often not reusable.
READ MORE: Here are the Best CO2 Inflators & Cartridges to quickly inflate your tires after a puncture.
How to Choose the Best Bike Pump for Your Needs?
I have already outlined this in the previous section. I recommend every cyclist buy two pumps – a floor pump and a mini bike pump. You can use the floor pump at any time during regular bike maintenance.
The mini bike pump will save you from calling help when you get a puncture 20 miles from your home.
All types of bike pumps come in various shapes, sizes, types, compatibilities, etc. Below, I explain what you should know when choosing your next bike pump.
Inflator Head
The design of the inflator head belongs among the most fundamental differences between bike pumps. They differ in the lock-on system and valve compatibility.
Inflator Head Lock-On System
There are 3 basic head lock-on systems used on bike pumps:
- The first type of inflator head is attached directly to the valve. This is the simplest system, and it is used on mini bike pumps. The pump head is not bulky and is lightweight. However, it may be difficult to inflate tires for pressures above 100 PSI. The connection between the valve and the pump head is not sealed, and the air can escape. And you can also damage the valve if you are not careful enough.
- The second system is the so-called thumb lock. It is often used with floor pumps (in combination with a flexible hose). Some portable and mini pumps have it too. It ensures that the head will hold well on the valve and there will be no air leaks. Therefore, it is easy to inflate tires for pressures above 100 PSI.
- The third type of inflator head is the extendable hose. You can screw the head on the valve. This ensures a perfect seal and allows you to pump pressures above 100 PSI easily. It is also the safest system to prevent damage to the valve because the flexible hose absorbs the energy you put into every push.
Inflator Head Valve Compatibility
Most bike pumps available on the market are compatible with Schrader and Presta valves. These valves are the most used on road, mountain, and hybrid bikes.
Schrader valve
The Schrader valve was patented as early as 1893. It was named after the founder of The Schrader company, August Schrader. It is also called the American valve.
Compared to Presta valves, they are slightly wider and do not require as many steps when inflating. Just unscrew the plastic cover and start inflating. Also, they are more durable than Presta valves.
Nowadays, they are used mainly in cars, motorcycles, and bicycles with wider rims.
Presta valve
Presta valves are frequently used on inner tubes for road and MTB bikes. However, some cyclists don’t like them very much because they require more steps when pumping than Schrader valves, and they are also fragile.
Before you can inflate the Presta valve at all, you must release the valve and press it to make sure the air will go through. Once you inflate your tire, you have to tighten the valve.
Inflator Head CO2 Cartridge Compatibility
Some inflator heads are compatible with CO2 cartridges. You can find this feature on mini bike pumps because it doesn’t make any sense to make a floor pump compatible with a CO2 cartridge.
Read the Best Mini Pumps and How to Choose Them article to learn more.
Material and Pump Build Quality
I had the opportunity to pump my bike with several different pumps. And I can tell you that you notice whether the floor pump is well-made.
Cheaper pumps or pumps with plastic parts tend to be ‘softer.’ You will feel they are not as stiff as pumps made from aluminum or steel. This means that you have to be more careful with intensive inflating to avoid pump damage.
Yet, plastic floor pumps are light and suitable, for example, to be stored in the trunk of your car when you go to a race or on vacation with your family.
Higher quality pumps are made of materials such as aluminum or steel. Thanks to these materials, they are much stiffer and more durable.
You will appreciate these features when pumping higher pressures (100+ PSI). My first pump was made of plastic, and pumping with it was not a good experience. I was afraid I would break it.
Remember, pumps made of metals are more expensive than their plastic alternatives. On the other hand, they will last longer than a plastic pump.
Gauge
Most floor pumps are equipped with a gauge. If the floor pump does not have a gauge, I recommend avoiding it.
Thanks to the gauge, you can inflate your tires exactly the pressure you want. There are 2 basic types of gauges – analog and digital. I prefer analog because they are more reliable.
A digital gauge can look attractive but offers no advantages over analog gauges. And, if the battery runs out of power, you won’t be able to see what pressure you’re inflating.
Tire pressure is given in 2 basic units.
- PSI is a unit of pressure expressed in pounds of force per square inch of area. It stands for Pounds per Square Inch.
- Bar is a metric unit of pressure. It is defined as exactly equal to 100,000 Pa (100 kPa).
1 bar = 14.50377 PSI
The table below shows indicative tire pressure values for different types of tires. Remember that adjusting the tire pressure to your weight, riding style, and surface is important.
Tires | PSI | Bar |
---|---|---|
Road bike tires | 80 to 130 | 5.5 to 9 |
Mountain bike tires | 25 to 35 | 1.7 to 2.4 |
Hybrid bike tires | 40 to 70 | 2.8 to 4.8 |
Indicative tire pressure for different types of tires | Source bicycling.com
Quick Air Burst Pumps for Tubeless Tires
There are pumps on the market with 2 barrels (cylinders, air canisters, etc.). You can switch the inflating modes of these pumps. The first mode works like a classic pump, so you inflate the tire directly.
If you activate the second mode, you first pump air into the air canister. Once you inflate the required pressure, you can burst the air at once directly into the tubeless tire.
Pumps like Topeak Joe Blow Booster will save you a lot of work, thanks to this feature.
Tubeless tires can also be inflated with a regular pump.
Bike Floor Pumps FAQ
This post is regularly updated to provide the most up-to-date product tips. If you find a product that is not up to date, please, contact me.